[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35272-35273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15918]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0317; FRL-9978-00]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Reinstatement 
of an Expired Collection (EPA ICR No. 1198.11); Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces that EPA is planning to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 
The ICR, entitled: ``Chemical-Specific Rules, TSCA Section 8(a)'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 1198.11 and OMB Control No. 2070-0067, 
represents the reinstatement of an ICR that expired on June 30, 2018. 
Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and 
accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and 
comment.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0317, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For technical information contact: Harlan Weir, Chemical Control 
Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-9885; email address: 
[email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. What information is EPA particularly interested in?

    Pursuant to PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information,

[[Page 35273]]

including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected.
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply 
to?

    Title: Chemical-Specific Rules, TSCA Section 8(a).
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1198.11.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0067.
    ICR status: This ICR expired on June 30, 2018. An Agency may not 
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 
collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 
40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), after appearing in the 
Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are 
displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other 
appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or 
form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers for certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
authorizes the Administrator of EPA to promulgate rules that require 
persons who manufacture, import or process chemical substances and 
mixtures, or who propose to manufacture, import, or process chemical 
substances and mixtures, to maintain such records and submit such 
reports to EPA as may be reasonably required. Any chemical covered by 
TSCA for which EPA or another Federal agency has a reasonable need for 
information and which cannot be satisfied via other sources is a proper 
potential subject for a chemical-specific TSCA section 8(a) rulemaking. 
Information that may be collected under TSCA section 8(a) includes, but 
is not limited to, chemical names; categories of use; production or 
processing volume, byproducts of chemical production, processing, use 
or disposal; existing data concerning environmental and health effects; 
exposure data; and disposal information. Generally, EPA uses chemical-
specific information under TSCA section 8(a) to evaluate the potential 
for adverse human health and environmental effects caused by the 
manufacture (including import), processing, use or disposal of 
identified chemical substances and mixtures. Additionally, EPA may use 
TSCA section 8(a) information to assess the need or set priorities for 
testing and/or further regulatory action. To the extent that reported 
information is not considered confidential, environmental groups, 
environmental justice advocates, state and local government entities 
and other members of the public will also have access to this 
information for their use.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 704). Respondents may claim all or part of a response 
confidential. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a claim 
of confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance 
with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to range between 
60.75 and 70.75 hours per response, depending upon whether the response 
is by electronic means or paper-based, respectively. Burden is defined 
in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    The ICR, which is available in the docket along with other related 
materials, provides a detailed explanation of the collection activities 
and the burden estimate that is only briefly summarized here:
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are primarily those businesses that enter the marketplace to 
manufacture (import) or process a chemical substance listed in 40 CFR 
part 704. These entities fall under NAICS codes 325, Chemical 
Manufacturers and Processors, and 324110, Petroleum Refineries.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 4.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.0.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 281 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $20,480. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $20,480 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs.

III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    There is an increase of 6 hours in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This increase reflects new reporting requirements in the Frank R. 
Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act to substantiate CBI 
claims. This change is the result of a program change.

IV. What is the next step in the process for this ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another 
Federal Register document pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to 
announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit 
additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or 
the approval process, please contact the technical person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

    Dated: July 13, 2018.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-15918 Filed 7-24-18; 8:45 am]
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