[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36928-36929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16369]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0648; FRL-9980-28]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 1884.10); 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: ``Partial Update of the TSCA Section 8(b) Inventory 
Data Base, Production and Site Reports (Chemical Data Reporting)'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 1884.10 and OMB Control No. 2070-0162, 
represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire 
on October 31, 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 October 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0648, 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: Meredith Comnes, Chemical 
Control Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-3193; 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: Partial Update of the TSCA Section 8(b) Inventory Data Base, 
Production and Site Reports (Chemical Data Reporting).
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1884.10.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0162.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on October 
31, 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

[[Page 36929]]

(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: The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by 
the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, 
requires EPA to compile and keep current a complete list of chemical 
substances manufactured (including imported) or processed in the United 
States. EPA updates this inventory of chemicals every four years by 
requiring manufacturers, including importers, to provide production 
volume, plant site information and other chemical manufacturing, 
processing, and use information. Through the CDR regulation, EPA 
collects basic exposure-related manufacturing, processing, and use 
information used by the Agency and others in a wide range of activities 
This information allows EPA to identify what chemicals are currently in 
commerce and to take appropriate regulatory action as necessary. The 
information collected enables EPA to better understand and interpret 
the state of U.S. chemical manufacturing, processing, and use, and 
further enhances EPA's ability to identify, evaluate, and manage 
potential chemical risks. This ICR addresses the collection of 
inventory-related information.
    Responses to the collection of required information are mandatory 
(see 40 CFR part 710). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice 
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 described in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden statement: The annual per-response public reporting and 
recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to 
average 126.44 hours per year for the average multi-chemical submission 
of 7.5 chemicals per site with 22% of reports consisting of partial 
reports. Additionally, for CDX electronic reporting activities, the 
average per response burden is estimated at .53 hours per registration 
for those respondents not already registered in CDX. Burden is defined 
in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    The ICR Supporting Statement, 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 companies that manufacture (including import) or process 
chemical substances, mixtures or categories into the United States.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 5,662.
    Frequency of response: Every four years (estimates below are on an 
annual basis).
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 716,024 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $56,959,323. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $59,959,323 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 73,179 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease reflects a combination of program 
changes and adjustments. Program changes involving updated CBI 
substantiation requirements as a result of the Lautenberg Act are 
estimated at 4,877 hours. Agency adjustments include changes due to 
methodology corrections at--184,158 hours, and changes due to increased 
counts of sites at 106,102 hours. The ICR supporting statement provides 
a detailed analysis of the change in burden estimate. This change is an 
adjustment and 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 16, 2018.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-16369 Filed 7-30-18; 8:45 am]
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