[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 42289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17873]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2017-0752; FRL-9982-48-OEI]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Background Checks for Contractor Employees 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), Background Checks for Contractor 
Employees (EPA ICR No. 2159.07, OMB Control No. 2030-0043) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed 
extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through August 31, 
2018. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal 
Register on February 13, 2018, during a 60-day comment period. This 
notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller 
description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden 
and cost to the public. 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.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before September 20, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OARM-2017-0752, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by email to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email to 
[email protected]. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for 
EPA.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Valentino, Policy, Training and 
Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management (3802R), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-4522; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents, which explain in 
detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are available 
in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: The EPA uses contractors to perform services throughout 
the nation with regard to environmental emergencies involving the 
release, or threatened release, of oil, radioactive materials, or 
hazardous chemicals that may potentially affect communities and the 
surrounding environment. The Agency may request contractors responding 
to any of these types of incidents to conduct background checks and 
apply Government-established suitability criteria in Title 5 CFR 
Administrative Personnel 731.104 Appointments Subject to Investigation, 
732.201 Sensitivity Level Designations and Investigative Requirements, 
and 736.102 Notice to Investigative Sources when determining whether 
employees are acceptable to perform on given sites or on specific 
projects. In addition to emergency response contractors, EPA may 
require background checks for contractor personnel working in sensitive 
sites or sensitive projects. The background checks and application of 
the Government's suitability criteria must be completed prior to 
contract employee performance. The contractor shall maintain records 
associated with all background checks. Background checks cover 
citizenship or valid visa status, criminal convictions, weapons 
offenses, felony convictions, and parties prohibited from receiving 
federal contracts.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Private Contractors.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain a benefit 
per Title 5 CFR Administrative Personnel 731.104 Appointments Subject 
to Investigation, 732.201 Sensitivity Level Designations and 
Investigative Requirements, and 736.102 Notice to Investigative 
Sources.
    Estimated number of respondents: 1,000 (total).
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Total estimated burden: 1,000 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)
    Total estimated cost: $195,070 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-17873 Filed 8-20-18; 8:45 am]
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