[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30356-30357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08637]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0413; FRL-11604-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(b) Reporting and Requirements for TSCA 
Inventory Notifications

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on 
the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning 
to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): ``TSCA Section 
8(b) Reporting Requirements for TSCA Inventory Notifications,'' 
identified by EPA ICR No. 2565.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0201. This 
ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved 
through January 31, 2025. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review 
and approval under the PRA, 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 June 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0413, through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://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. Additional 
instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sleasman, Mission Support 
Division (7602M), Office of Program Support, Office of Chemical Safety 
and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 566-1206; 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: TSCA Section 8(b) Reporting Requirements for TSCA Inventory 
Notifications.
    EPA ICR No.: 2565.04.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-0201.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through January 31, 
2025. Under the PRA, 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 
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 addresses the reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements under TSCA section 8(b) that are associated with the TSCA 
Chemical Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory), as codified in 40 CFR 
part 710. TSCA section 8(b) specifically requires that EPA compile and 
keep current a list of chemical substances manufactured or processed 
for commercial purposes in the United States. That mandate was amended 
in 2016 and TSCA section 8(b)(4) requires EPA to designate chemical 
substances on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory as either 
``active'' or ``inactive'' in U.S. commerce. The first TSCA Inventory 
with all chemical substances designated as ``active'' or ``inactive'' 
published in February 2019.
    This ICR addresses the activities and burdens associated with the 
ongoing reporting (EPA Form No. 9600-06; Notice of Activity Form B), 
including the substantiation of CBI and related recordkeeping 
requirements in 40 CFR part 710, and accounts for estimates from the 
ICR titled ``Final Rule; Procedures for Review of CBI Claims for the 
Identity of Chemicals on the TSCA Inventory (Notice of Activity Form 
As)'' (OMB Control No. 2070-0210; EPA ICR No. 2594.03). EPA finalized 
the requirements for regulated entities to substantiate certain CBI 
claims made under the TSCA to protect the specific chemical identities 
of chemical substances on the confidential portion of the TSCA 
Inventory, and the Agency's plan for reviewing certain CBI claims for 
specific chemical identities in

[[Page 30357]]

a final rule titled ``Procedures for Review of CBI Claims for the 
Identity of Chemicals in the TSCA Inventory'' (85 FR 13062, March 6, 
2020 (FRL-10005-48)). The substantiation requirements describe the 
applicable procedures and provide instructions for regulated entities. 
The Agency's plan set out the review criteria and related procedures 
that EPA will use to complete the reviews within the five-year 
timeframe set in TSCA, and the ongoing reporting and recordkeeping 
activities are incorporated into this ICR.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 147 
hours per response. 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 are 
those that manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or 
process chemical substances that are regulated under TSCA. The 
following North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes 
have been provided to assist in determining whether this action might 
apply to certain entities:
     NAICS Code 325 Chemical Manufacturers; and
     NACIS Code 324 Petroleum and Coal Products.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, per 40 CFR part 710 
and TSCA section 8.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 57.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.5.
    Total estimated annual respondent burden hours: 143.6 hours.
    Total estimated annual respondent costs: $19,956.68, which includes 
$0 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

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

    There is a decrease of 90 hours in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This decrease reflects a reduction in the estimated number of 
chemicals reported in each submission, i.e., from 18 to an average one 
chemical. 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.

    Dated: April 18, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-08637 Filed 4-22-24; 8:45 am]
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