[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 83 (Monday, April 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33344-33345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09095]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0054; FRL-11671-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Pesticide Registration 
Fees Program

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): ``Pesticide 
Registration Fees Program,'' identified by EPA ICR No. 2330.05 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0179. 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 28, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0054, through 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: Carolyn Siu, 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: 
(703) 719-1649; 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

[[Page 33345]]

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 Registration Fees Program.
    EPA ICR No.: 2330.05.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-0179.
    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 9.
    Abstract: This ICR covers the paperwork burden hours and costs 
associated with the information collection activities under the 
pesticide registration fee program. Pesticide registrants are required 
by statute to pay an annual registration maintenance fee for all 
products registered under sections 3 and 24(c) of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). In addition, the 
Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) amended FIFRA in 2004 to 
create a registration service fee system for applications for specific 
pesticide registration, amended registration, and associated tolerance 
actions as per FIFRA section 33. This ICR specifically covers the 
activities related to the collection of the annual registration 
maintenance fees, the registration service fees, and the burden 
associated with the submission of requests for fees to be waived.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.17 
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 are pesticide importers, which include the following North 
American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes ranging from 
Pesticide and other agricultural chemical manufacturing (NAICS 3250A1); 
Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 32518); Other Basic 
Organic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 32519); and Regulation of 
Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (NAICS 9641).
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, per FIFRA sections 
4(i)(5) and 33.
    Forms: EPA Form 8570-30.
    Frequency of response: Annually and on occasion.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 2,252.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Total estimated annual burden hours: 8,732 hours.
    Total estimated annual respondent costs: $ 821,741, which includes 
an estimated cost of $0 for capital investment or maintenance and 
operational costs.

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

    There is an increase of 511 hours in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB, which is due to an increase of 369 in the estimated number of 
respondents. There is an increase of $134,440 in labor costs for the 
regulated community related to updated wage rates. These are 
adjustments.
    In addition, OMB has asked us to replace the format EPA has 
historically used for ICR Supporting Statements with the 18-question 
format that is used by other federal agencies and departments. The 18-
question format is based on the submission instructions to agencies 
that appear on the OMB submission form. Although this supporting 
statement has been modified to reflect the 18-question format, the 
change in format has not changed the information collection activities 
or related estimated burden and costs. EPA welcomes your feedback on 
whether this improves the presentation of the information collection 
activities and related burden and costs estimates.

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 23, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-09095 Filed 4-26-24; 8:45 am]
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