[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 58 (Monday, March 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16347-16348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06417]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0688; FRL-10018-27]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an
Existing Collection and Request for Comment; Recordkeeping and
Reporting Requirements for Allegations of Significant Adverse Reactions
to Human Health or the Environment
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: ``Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for
Allegations of Significant Adverse Reactions to Human Health or the
Environment'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1031.12 and OMB Control No.
2070-0017, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled
to expire on October 31, 2021. 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 May 28, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0688, by 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.
Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is closed to visitors with
limited exceptions. The staff continues to provide remote customer
service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status
information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For technical information contact: Thomas Forbes (7407M), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:
(202) 566-0810; 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.
[[Page 16348]]
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: Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for Allegations of
Significant Adverse Reactions to Human Health or the Environment.
ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1031.12.
OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0017.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on October
31, 2021. 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: TSCA section 8(c) requires companies that manufacture,
process, or distribute chemicals to maintain records of significant
adverse reactions to health or the environment alleged to have been
caused by such chemicals. Since section 8(c) includes no automatic
reporting provision, EPA can obtain and use the information contained
in company files only by inspecting those files or requiring reporting
of records that relate to specific substances of concern. Therefore,
under certain conditions, and using the provisions found in 40 CFR part
717, EPA may require companies to report such allegations to the
Agency. EPA uses such information on a case specific basis to
corroborate suspected adverse health or environmental effects of
chemicals already under review by EPA. The information is also useful
to identify trends of adverse effects across the industry that may not
be apparent to any one chemical company. This ICR addresses the
information reporting and recordkeeping requirements found in 40 CFR
part 717.
Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40
CFR part 717). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice as CBI.
EPA will disclose information that is covered by a CBI claim only to
the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in 40
CFR part 2.
Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8
hours per report. 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 companies that manufacture, process, import, or distribute
in commerce chemical substances or mixtures.
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 13,160.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:
1.4.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 25,527 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: 1,987,487.00.
III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
There is an increase in the total cost associated with this ICR as
a result in an increase in the wage rate from $1,911,477 to $1,987,487.
This change is an adjustment.
In addition, OMB has requested that EPA move towards using the 18-
question format for ICR Supporting Statements used by other federal
agencies and departments and is based on the submission instructions
established by OMB in 1995, replacing the alternate format developed by
EPA and OMB prior to 1995. EPA intends to update this Supporting
Statement during the comment period to reflect the 18-question format,
and has included the questions in an attachment to this Supporting
Statement. In doing so, the Agency does not expect the change in format
to result in substantive changes to the information collection
activities or related estimated burden and costs.
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: March 18, 2021.
Michal Freedhoff,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-06417 Filed 3-26-21; 8:45 am]
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