[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38895-38897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10009]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0245; FRL-11924-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; EPA's Safer Choice 
Program Product and Partner Recognition Activities (Consolidation)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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): ``EPA's Safer 
Choice Program Product and Partner Recognition Activities 
(Consolidation),'' identified by EPA ICR No. 2692.02 and OMB Control 
No. 2070-0221. This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is 
currently approved through May

[[Page 38896]]

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 July 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0245, 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) 566-1204; 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: EPA's Safer Choice Program Product and Partner Recognition 
Activities (Consolidation).
    EPA ICR No.: 2692.02.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-0221.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through May 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 renewal covers the information collection 
activities associated with the reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
for individuals, businesses, organizations, and government entities 
participating in or collaborating with EPA's Safer Choice and Design 
for the Environment (DfE) programs (referred to collectively as ``the 
Safer Choice program'' in this document unless otherwise indicated). 
This ICR also includes additional sections for the Safer Choice 
cleaning service certification and third-party profiler (TPP) 
solicitations. These components are designed to:
     Improve data efficiency by electronic data collection via 
a cloud-based Salesforce system called the Safer Choice Community;
     Monitor the public's awareness of the Safer Choice program 
and the Safer Choice label and DfE logo;
     Clarify the Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards 
application process and form;
     Describe information collected through the new Safer 
Choice cleaning service certification program; and,
     Clarify the TPP application process and form.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average of 17 
to 58 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 involve a wide range of sectors that participation in the 
Safer Choice Program including chemical manufactures, paint and coating 
manufacturing, mechant wholesalers, janitorial services, and 
environmental consulting firms. The ICR includes a list of potentially 
affected entities with North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes provided to assist in determining potential 
applicability.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    EPA Form Numbers: 9600-017, 9600-018, 9600-019, 9600-020, 9600-021, 
9600-022, 9600-023, 9600-058, 9600-059, 9600-60, 9600-061.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 4,539.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Total estimated annual burden hours: 4,511 hours.
    Total estimated annual respondent costs: $854,358, 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 1,279 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This change reflects increase in annual consumer 
online surveys, which increased from 2,000 to 4,000 annually, the 
inclusion of a new program, the ``Safer Choice Cleaning Service 
Certification,'' and the inclusion of the TPP solicitation process. 
These changes qualify as a program change.

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.

[[Page 38897]]

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

    Dated: May 2, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-10009 Filed 5-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P