[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30696-30697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10898]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0262; FRL-10008-21]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 1246.14 and OMB Control No. 2070-
0072); 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: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement 
Worker Protection'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1246.14 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0072, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that 
is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020. 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 July 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2020-0262, using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 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. Please note that due to the public 
health emergency the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room was 
closed to public visitors on March 31, 2020. There is also a temporary 
suspension of mail delivery to EPA and no hand deliveries are currently 
accepted. Our EPA/DC staff will continue to provide customer service 
via email, phone, and webform. For further information on EPA/DC 
services, docket contact information and the current status of the EPA/
DC and Reading Room, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Cox, National Program Chemicals 
Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 564-3961; 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: Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker 
Protection.
    EPA ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1246.14.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0072.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through December 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 
regulations in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 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: This ICR covers reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
associated with EPA's Asbestos Worker Protection Rule (WPR) (40 CFR 
part 763, subpart G), which establishes workplace standards for the 
protection of state and local government employees who work with 
asbestos and who are not covered by a state plan approved by the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Currently, state 
and local government employees in 24 states, the District of Columbia 
(DC), and three additional U.S. territories (DC and the territories are 
counted as one ``state equivalent'') who perform construction work, 
including building construction, renovation, demolition, and 
maintenance activities, and employees who perform brake and clutch 
repair work, are covered by EPA's WPR. The WPR requires state and local 
government employers to use engineering controls and appropriate work 
practices to control the release of asbestos fibers. Covered employers 
must also monitor employee exposure to asbestos and provide employees 
with personal protective equipment, training, and medical surveillance 
to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure. Exposure monitoring records 
must be maintained for 30 years, medical surveillance records for the 
duration of employment of the affected employees plus 30 years, and 
training records for the duration of employment plus one year. 
Employers must also establish written respiratory protection programs 
and maintain procedures and records of respirator fit tests for one 
year.

[[Page 30697]]

    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: States and local government 
employers in the 24 states, DC, and the U.S. territories of American 
Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands that have employees 
engaged in asbestos-related construction, custodial, and brake and 
clutch repair activities without OSHA-approved state plans.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 25,312.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total annual burden: 372,969 hours. Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Estimated total annual burden costs: $16,894,178, includes no 
annualized capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

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

    There was no change from the burden hours from the last approval. 
Estimated annual burden hour costs showed an increase of $1,00,000 due 
to increasing wage rates.

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.

    Dated: May 8, 2020.
Alexandra Dapolito Dunn,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-10898 Filed 5-19-20; 8:45 am]
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