[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47285-47287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19401]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0356; FRL-9998-06]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection Activity; 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: ``School Integrated Pest Management Awards'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 2531.02 and OMB Control No. 2070-0200, 
represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire 
on May 31, 2020. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and 
approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
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 November 8, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0356 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: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 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: Carolyn Siu, FEAD (7506P), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: Insert (703) 347-

[[Page 47286]]

0159; 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: School Integrated Pest Management Awards Program
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2531.02.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0200.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31, 
2020. 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.
    Abstract: This ICR covers the paperwork activities associated with 
EPA's program to encourage the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 
as the preferred approach to pest control in the nation's schools. IPM 
is a smart, sensible, and sustainable approach to pest control that 
emphasizes the remediation of pest conducive conditions. IPM combines a 
variety of pest management practices to provide effective, economical 
pest control with the least possible hazard to people, property, and 
the environment. These practices involve exclusion of pests, 
maintenance of sanitation, and the judicious use of pesticides.
    The Agency intends to use the information collected through this 
ICR to encourage school districts to implement IPM programs and to 
recognize those that have attained a notable level of success. Since 
IPM implementation occurs along a continuum, the School IPM (SIPM) 
incentive program will recognize each milestone step a school district 
takes to begin, grow, and sustain an IPM program. This program has five 
award categories--Great Start, Leadership, Excellence, Sustained 
Excellence, and Connector. The first four categories are stepwise 
levels that are reflective of the effort, experience, and, ultimately, 
success that results from implementing EPA-recommended IPM tactics that 
protect human health and the environment.
    EPA's vision is that all students in the U.S. will experience the 
benefits provided by an IPM program in their school district. The 
Agency's IPM implementation efforts are based on a wholesale approach 
aimed at kindergarten through 12th grade public and Tribal schools. 
Schools with pest infestations are not only exposed to potential harm 
to health and property, but also to stigmatization. The School IPM 
recognition program will give districts across the nation the 
opportunity to receive positive reinforcement through public 
recognition of their efforts in implementing pest prevention and 
management strategies.
    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:
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16.5 
hours per response. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are school districts or entities that represent them. Entities 
potentially affected by this ICR are represented by the following North 
American Industry Classification System (NACIS) Codes: 6111--Elementary 
and Secondary Schools, 6244--Child Day Care Services, 56172--Janitorial 
Services, 56173--Landscaping Services, 56171--Exterminating and Pest 
Control Services, and 5617--Services to Buildings and Dwellings.
    Obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 53.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
One per application.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 875 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $81,000. There are no capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs.

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

    EPA does not expect any changes in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. However, there is an increase in the estimated burden costs for 
both the Agency and the respondents. This increase reflects increases 
in the wage rates since the creation of the ICR. We note that in the 
creation of the ICR, the benefits (46.3 percent of the unloaded wage) 
was mistakenly excluded from the calculation of the fully loaded wages 
for the Agency, resulting in the latter being much lower than the 
actual values. Correcting this in the renewal results in an increase 
for the Agency's estimated burden costs that is disproportionately 
larger than the estimated burden cost increase for the respondents. 
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 person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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


[[Page 47287]]


    Dated: September 3, 2019.
Alexandra Dapolito Dunn,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2019-19401 Filed 9-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P