[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76470-76471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21227]



[[Page 76470]]

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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0078; FRL-11918-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Toxic Chemical Release 
Reporting

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): ``Toxic 
Chemical Release Reporting,'' identified by EPA ICR No. 2613.07 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0212. This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR 
that is currently approved through June 30, 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 November 18, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0078, 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: Toxic Chemical Release Reporting.
    EPA ICR No.: 2613.07.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-0212.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through June 30, 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: Pursuant to section 313 of the Emergency Planning and 
Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), certain facilities that 
manufacture, process, or otherwise use specified toxic chemicals in 
amounts above reporting threshold levels as provided in 40 CFR 372.25 
must submit annually to EPA and to their designated state or Indian 
country officials toxic chemical release forms containing information 
specified by EPA; (see 42 U.S.C. 11023). In addition, pursuant to 
section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA), facilities 
reporting under section 313 of EPCRA must also report pollution 
prevention and waste management data, including recycling information, 
for such chemicals; (see 42 U.S.C. 13106). EPA compiles and stores 
these reports in a publicly accessible database known as the Toxics 
Release Inventory (TRI). Regulations at 40 CFR part 372, subpart B, 
require facilities that meet the above criteria to report annually.
    This ICR consolidates the following final rule ICRs titled ``Rule-
Related ICR Amendment; Changes to Reporting Requirements for Per- and 
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; Community Right-to-Know Toxic Chemical 
Release Reporting, Final Rule (RIN 2070-AK97)'' (OMB Control No. 2070-
0225; EPA ICR No. 2724.02), ``Addition of Natural Gas Processing 
Facilities to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) (Final Rule)'' (OMB 
Control No. 2070-0206; EPA ICR No. 2560.02); and ``Parent Company 
Definition for TRI Reporting (Final Rule)'' (OMB Control No. 2070-0216; 
EPA ICR No. 2597.02) into this renewal ICR. Upon OMB approval of this 
ICR, EPA intends to discontinue OMB Control Nos. 2070-0225, 2070-0206, 
and 2070-0216.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 22 to 
36 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 apply to owners and operators of facilities covered under 
EPCRA section 313(a). EPCRA section 313(a) includes facilities that 
meet the following three criteria: have 10 or more full-time employee 
equivalents (i.e., a total of 20,000 hours worked per year or greater; 
see 40 CFR 372.3). The full list of potentially affected entities by 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for 
facilities that must report to TRI (including exemptions and/or 
limitations), if all other reporting thresholds are met, can be found 
at 40 CFR 372.23.

[[Page 76471]]

    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, 40 CFR 372 and EPCRA 
section 313.
    Forms: 9350-1 and 9350-2.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 24,742.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 3.
    Total estimated annual burden hours: 3,600,970 hours.
    Total estimated annual costs: $285.304,888, which includes $0 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

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

    There is an overall average decrease of 698 Form Rs and an increase 
of 1600 Form As estimated to be submitted to EPA as a result of EPA's 
exercise of its discretionary authority to apply TRI reporting 
requirements to 2,990 particular facilities, for specified chemicals. 
There is a decrease in 15,858 burden hours. However, there is an 
overall increase of 839,052 non-form (constant) burden hours from the 
current approved ICR; this increase reflects the increase in supplier 
notification burden as a result of the Changes to Reporting 
Requirements for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and to Supplier 
Notifications for Chemicals of Special Concern rule publish on October 
31, 2023 (88 FR 74360 (FRL-8741-04-OCSPP)). This is program 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: September 12, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-21227 Filed 9-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P