[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44129-44130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14593]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2040-0299; FRL-11055-01-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Use of 
Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder and Flux for Drinking Water 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Use of Lead Free 
Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder and Flux for Drinking Water 
(Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2563.02, OMB Control No. 2040-0299) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is 
soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension 
of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2023. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2040-0299, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Roland, Drinking Water 
Infrastructure Development Division, Office of Ground Water and 
Drinking Water, (4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-
4588: fax number: 202-564-3755; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to enable it to: (i) 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; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of 
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (iv) 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. 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. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act of 2011 
(RLDWA, the Act) modified the technical definition of ``lead free'' by 
lowering the maximum lead content of pipes, fittings, and fixtures from 
8% to 0.25% and introduced greater complexity to calculating lead free 
by requiring that level be met based on a weighted average of wetted 
surfaces. The Act also created exemptions for certain plumbing products 
from pre-existing lead free requirements. The Lead Free Rule was 
promulgated on September 1, 2000 and made conforming changes to 
existing regulations based on the RLDWA and the Community Fire Safety 
Act enacted by Congress. The final rule established product 
certification requirements for products intended for potable use 
applications in public water systems and residential or non-residential 
facilities to demonstrate compliance with the lead free requirements.

[[Page 44130]]

Manufacturers with 10 or more employees or importers entering products 
purchased from or manufactured by manufacturers with 10 or more 
employees must demonstrate compliance with the lead free definition by 
obtaining third party certification by an American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI) accredited, third party certification body. Firms with 
fewer than 10 employees can use a third party certification body or 
self-certify that their products conform to the Safe Drinking Water 
Act's (SDWA) lead free requirements. This self-certification option 
also extends to custom fabricated products regardless of a 
manufacturer's number of employees. The final rule required that 
manufacturers or importers certify that their products meet the 
requirements using a consistent verification process before September 
2023.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: manufacturers of lead-free pipes, 
fixtures and fittings.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: mandatory for compliance with 
Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act of 2011.
    Estimated number of respondents: 2,193 (total).
    Frequency of response: annual.
    Total estimated burden: 77,838 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $9.14 million (per year), includes $2.5 
million annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is an expected decrease of hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB due to removing the burden for initial rule 
implementation, which is complete.

Jennifer McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2023-14593 Filed 7-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P