[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35271-35272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15921]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0646; FRL-9980-27]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 0575.16); 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: ``Health and Safety Data Reporting, Submission of 
Lists and Copies of Health and Safety Studies'' and identified by EPA 
ICR No. 0575.16 and OMB Control No. 2070-0004, represents the renewal 
of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on November 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-2017-0646, 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: Andrea Mojica, Chemical Control 
Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-0599; 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, 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: Health and Safety Data Reporting, Submission of Lists and 
Copies of Health and Safety Studies.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 0575.16.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0004.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on November 
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(d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
and 40 CFR part 716 require manufacturers and processors of chemicals 
to submit lists and copies of health and safety studies

[[Page 35272]]

relating to the health and/or environmental effects of certain chemical 
substances and mixtures. In order to comply with the reporting 
requirements of TSCA section 8(d), respondents must search their 
records to identify any health and safety studies in their possession, 
copy and process relevant studies, list studies that are currently in 
progress, and submit this information to EPA.
    EPA uses this information to construct a complete picture of the 
known effects of the chemicals in question, leading to determinations 
by EPA of whether additional testing of the chemicals is required. The 
information enables EPA to base its testing decisions on the most 
complete information available and to avoid demands for testing that 
may be duplicative. EPA will use information obtained via this 
collection to support its investigation of the risks posed by chemicals 
and, in particular, to support its decisions on whether to require 
industry to test chemicals under section 4 of TSCA. This information 
collection request addresses the reporting requirements found in TSCA 
section 8(d).
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 716). 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 average 11.0 
hours per response. 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 persons who manufacture, process, or distribute in 
commerce chemical substances or mixtures, or who propose to do so.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 21.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.2.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 302 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $24,435. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $24,435 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 a decrease of 1,303 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease reflects the realization that the 
methodology used in the previous ICR overestimated the burden resulting 
from the addition of chemicals to the TSCA section 8(d) rule. The ICR 
supporting statement provides a detailed analysis of the change in 
burden estimate. This change is an adjustment.

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 16, 2018.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-15921 Filed 7-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P