[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43675-43676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18530]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0647; FRL-9982-52]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Exiting Collection (EPA ICR No. 1446.12); 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: ``PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1446.12 and OMB Control 
No. 2070-0112, 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 October 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0647, 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: Erik Winchester, National 
Programs Chemical Division (7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-6450; 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, specifically the assumptions used for 
industry burden on Tables 6-2, 6-3, and 6-4 found in the Supporting 
Statement.
    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: PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1446.12.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0112.
    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 6(e)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2605(e), directs EPA to regulate the marking and 
disposal of PCBs. Section 6(e)(2) bans the manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of PCBs in other than a totally 
enclosed manner. Section 6(e)(3) establishes a process for obtaining 
exemptions from the prohibitions on the manufacture, processing, and 
distribution in commerce of PCBs. Since 1978, EPA has promulgated 
numerous rules addressing all aspects of the life cycle of PCBs as 
required by the statute. The regulations are intended to prevent the 
improper handling and disposal of PCBs and to minimize the exposure of 
human beings or the environment to PCBs. These regulations have been 
codified in the various subparts of 40 CFR 761. There are approximately 
100 specific reporting, third-party reporting, and recordkeeping 
requirements covered by 40 CFR 761.
    To meet its statutory obligations to regulate PCBs, EPA must obtain 
sufficient information to conclude that specified activities do not 
result in an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. 
EPA uses the information collected under the 40 CFR 761 requirements to 
ensure that PCBs are managed in an environmentally safe manner and that 
activities are being conducted in compliance with the PCB regulations. 
The information collected by these requirements will update the 
Agency's knowledge of ongoing PCB activities, ensure that individuals 
using or disposing of PCBs are held accountable for their activities, 
and demonstrate compliance with the PCB regulations. Specific uses of 
the information collected include determining the efficacy of a 
disposal technology; evaluating exemption requests and exclusion 
notices; targeting compliance inspections; and ensuring adequate 
storage capacity for PCB waste. This collection addresses the several 
information reporting requirements found in the PCB regulations.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 761). 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

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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 1.36 
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 currently possess PCB items, PCB-contaminated 
equipment, or other PCB waste.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 548,298.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 745,926 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $34,581,690. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $34,581,690 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 no change in the total estimated respondent burden 
(745,926 hours) from that currently in the OMB inventory. The changes 
in the total annual respondent reporting and recordkeeping costs are 
due to updates to the most current wage rate data. The up-to-date wage 
rates and the change from the previous ICR are as follows:
     Manager--new rate, $77.86; prior rate; $77.81; (less than 
1 percent) percent increase).
     Clerical--new rate, $37.76; prior rate, $30.36 (24 percent 
increase).
     Professional/technical--new rate, $78.33; prior rate, 
$64.55 (21 percent increase).

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: August 19, 2018.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-18530 Filed 8-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P