[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 31, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16720-16721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06589]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0692; FRL-10019-41]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection and Comment Request; Pesticide Environmental 
Stewardship Program Annual Measures Reporting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
planning to submit an information collection request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: ``Pesticide 
Environmental Stewardship Program Annual Measures Reporting'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 2415.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0188, 
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 June 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0692, 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: Carolyn Siu, Mission Support Division, 
Office of Program Support, (7101M), Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 
(703) 347-1249; 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: Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Annual Measures 
Reporting.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2415.04.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0188.
    ICR status: The existing 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

[[Page 16721]]

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: This ICR covers the information collection activities 
associated with voluntary participation in the Pesticide Environmental 
Stewardship Program (PESP). The program uses the information collected 
to establish partner membership, develop stewardship strategies, 
measure progress towards stewardship goals, and award incentives. PESP 
is an EPA partnership program that encourages the use of integrated 
pest management (IPM) strategies to reduce pests and pesticide risks. 
IPM is an approach that involves making the best choices from among a 
series of Pest management practices that are both economical and pose 
the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
    PESP member includes pesticide end-users and organizations which 
focus on training, educating, and/or influencing pesticide users. To 
become a PESP member, an organization submits an application and a 
five-year strategy outlining how environmental and human health risk 
reduction goals will be achieved through IPM implementation and/or 
education. The program encourages PESP members to track progress 
towards IPM goals such as: reductions in unnecessary use of pesticides, 
cost reductions, and knowledge shared about IPM methodologies. Entities 
participating in PESP also benefit from technical assistance, and 
through incentives for achievements at different levels.
    Form Numbers: EPA Form No. 9600-01, 9600-02, and 9600-03.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are pesticide user companies and organizations, or entities 
that practice IPM or promote the use of IPM through education and 
training.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 419 (total).
    Frequency of response: Annual and on occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 50,093 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)
    Total estimated cost: $3,501,544 (per year). This is the estimated 
burden cost; there are no capital investment or maintenance and 
operational costs for this information collection.

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

    There is an increase of 2,428 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This 
increase reflects EPA's updating of burden estimates for this 
collection based upon historical information on the number of PESP 
members. Based on revised estimates, the number of IPM Promoters has 
decreased, while the number of IPM users has increased, and the number 
of National IPM users has decreased since the last ICR renewal. 
Although the estimated burden per response has not changed for any 
category, the shift in membership types has resulted in a net increase 
in the overall burden.
    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: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

    Dated: March 25, 2021.
Michal Freedhoff,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-06589 Filed 3-30-21; 8:45 am]
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