Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions; EPA ICR No. 1780.04, OMB Control No. 2070-0156, 47805-47807 [E6-13607]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 160 / Friday, August 18, 2006 / Notices
Place: Weiser Senior Center.
Address: 115 E. Main Street, Weiser,
ID.
At these meetings, resource agency
personnel and other interested persons
will have the opportunity to provide
oral and written comments and
recommendations regarding the draft
EIS. The meetings will be recorded by
a court reporter, and all statements
(verbal and written) will become part of
the Commission’s public record for the
project. These meetings are posted on
the Commission’s calendar located at
https://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related
information.
Whether or not you attend one of
these meetings, you are invited to
submit written comments on the draft
EIS. Comments should be filed with
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
All comments must be filed by October
3, 2006, and should reference Project
No. 1971–079. Comments may be filed
electronically via the Internet in lieu of
paper. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filings. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and instructions
on the Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link.
The Commission staff will consider
comments made on the draft EIS in
preparing a final EIS for the project.
Before the Commission makes a
licensing decision, it will take into
account all concerns relevant to the
public interest. The final EIS will be
part of the record from which the
Commission will make its decision.
For further information, contact Alan
Mitchnick at (202) 502–6074,
alan.mitchnick@ferc.gov; or Emily
Carter at (202) 502–6512,
emily.carter@ferc.gov.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–13624 Filed 8–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2006–0499; FRL–8072–6]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Voluntary Cover
Sheet for TSCA Submissions; EPA ICR
No. 1780.04, OMB Control No. 2070–
0156
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
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18:35 Aug 17, 2006
Jkt 208001
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document
announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing
approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). This
ICR, entitled: ‘‘Voluntary Cover Sheet
for TSCA Submissions’’ and identified
by EPA ICR No. 1780.04 and OMB
Control No. 2070–0156, is scheduled to
expire on June 30, 2007. Before
submitting the ICR to OMB for review
and approval, EPA is soliciting
comments on specific aspects of the
proposed information collection.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before October 17, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2006–0499, by
one of the following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: oppt.ncic@epa.gov.
• Mail: Document Control Office
(7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–
0001.
• Hand Delivery: OPPT Document
Control Office (DCO), EPA East Bldg.,
Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID
number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2006–0499.
The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
DCO is (202) 564–8930. Such deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPPT–
2006–0499. EPA’s policy is that all
comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and
may be made available on-line at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through regulations.gov or email. The regulations.gov website is an
‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an e-mail comment directly
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47805
to EPA without going through
regulations.gov your e-mail address will
be automatically captured and included
as part of the comment that is placed in
the public docket and made available on
the Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact
information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD ROM
you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form
of encryption, and be free of any defects
or viruses. For additional information
about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general information contact: Colby
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator,
Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone
number: (202) 554–1404; e-mail address:
TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
For technical information contact:
Ron Carlson, Information Management
Division (7407M), Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 564–631; fax
number: (202) 564–7480; e-mail address:
carlson.ron@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What Information is EPA Particularly
Interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the PRA, 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
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
18AUN1
47806
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 160 / Friday, August 18, 2006 / Notices
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 Should I Consider when I
Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following
suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as
possible and provide specific examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you
used.
3. Provide copies of any technical
information and/or data you used that
support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or
costs, explain how you arrived at the
estimate that you provide.
5. Provide specific examples to
illustrate your concerns.
6. Offer alternative ways to improve
the collection activity.
7. Make sure to submit your
comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA,
be sure to identify the docket ID number
assigned to this action in the subject
line on the first page of your response.
You may also provide the name, date,
and Federal Register citation.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
III. What Information Collection
Activity or ICR Does this Action Apply
to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially
affected by this action are companies
that manufacture, process, use, import
or distribute in commerce chemical
substances that are subject to reporting
requirements under sections 4, 8(d) or
8(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA), or are subject to voluntary
reporting under the Voluntary
Children’s Chemical Evaluation
Program (VCCEP).
Title: Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA
Submissions.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1780.04,
OMB Control No. 2070–0156.
ICR status: This ICR is currently
scheduled to expire on June 30, 2007.
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 CFR,
after appearing in the Federal Register
when approved, are listed in 40 CFR
part 9, are displayed either by
publication in the Federal Register or
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18:35 Aug 17, 2006
Jkt 208001
by other appropriate means, such as on
the related collection instrument or
form, if applicable. The display of OMB
control numbers in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR
part 9.
Abstract: TSCA requires industry to
submit information and studies for
existing chemical substances under
sections 4, 6, and 8, and requests
voluntary submission of such
information under the VCCEP. EPA
typically receives thousands of such
submissions each year; each submission
represents on average three studies. In
addition, EPA can impose specific Data
Call-Ins on industry.
As a follow-up to industry experience
with a 1994 TSCA Data Call-In, the
Chemical Manufacturers Association
(CMA), now known as the American
Chemistry Council (ACC), the Specialty
Organics Chemical Manufacturers
Association (SOCMA), and the
Chemical Industry Data Exchange
(CIDX), in cooperation with EPA, took
an interest in pursuing electronic
transfer of TSCA summary data and of
full submissions to EPA. In particular,
ACC developed a standardized cover
sheet for voluntary use by industry as a
first step to an electronic future and to
begin familiarizing companies with
standard requirements and concepts of
electronic transfer. This form is
designed for voluntary use as a cover
sheet for submissions of information
under TSCA sections 4, 8(d), 8(e) and
VCCEP. The cover sheet facilitates
submission of information by displaying
certain basic data elements, permitting
EPA more easily to identify, log, track,
distribute, review and index
submissions, and to make information
publicly available more rapidly and at
reduced cost, to the mutual benefit of
both the respondents and EPA.
Responses to the collection of
information are voluntary. Respondents
may claim all or part of a notice
confidential. EPA will disclose
information that is covered by a claim
of confidentiality only to the extent
permitted by, and in accordance with,
the procedures in TSCA section 14 and
40 CFR part 2.
Burden statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average 0.5 hours per
response. Burden means the total time,
effort, or financial resources expended
by persons to generate, maintain, retain,
or disclose or provide information to or
for a Federal Agency. This includes the
time needed to review instructions;
develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes
of collecting, validating, and verifying
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information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements which have subsequently
changed; train personnel to be able to
respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and
review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the
information.
The ICR provides a detailed
explanation of this estimate, which is
only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential
respondents: 1,206.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of
responses for each respondent: 1.8.
Estimated total annual burden hours:
1,061.5 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: 52,779.
This includes an estimated burden cost
of 52,779 and an estimated cost of 0 for
capital investment or maintenance and
operational costs.
IV. Are There Changes in the Estimates
from the Last Approval?
There is a decrease of 8,074.5 hours
(from 9,136 hours to 1,061.5 hours) in
the total estimated respondent burden
compared with that identified in the ICR
currently approved by OMB. This
decrease reflects a decrease in the
estimated number of submissions under
TSCA sections 4, 8(d) and 8(e), offset by
the estimated number of submissions
under VCCEP, for which the Voluntary
TSCA Cover Sheet could be used, in
particular a substantial decrease in the
estimated number of TSCA section 4
submissions. Since the use of the
Voluntary TSCA Cover Sheet is a direct
reflection of the number of submissions
received under TSCA sections 4, 8(d),
8(e) and VCCEP, any change in the
estimated numbers of submissions
under those requirements will result in
a parallel change in the burden hours
associated with this information
collection. The change is an adjustment.
V. 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 notice 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 technical
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 160 / Friday, August 18, 2006 / Notices
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: August 7, 2006.
James D. Gulliford,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. E6–13607 Filed 8–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2003–0004; FRL–8087–7]
Access to Confidential Business
Information by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
EPA has authorized the
National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) access to
information which has been submitted
to EPA under all sections of the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA). Some of
the information may be claimed or
determined to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI).
DATES: Access to the confidential data
will occur no sooner than August 25,
2006.
SUMMARY:
For
general information contact: Colby
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator,
Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 554–1404; e-mail address:
TSCA-Hotline@.epa.gov.
For technical information contact:
Scott M. Sherlock, TSCA Security Staff,
Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 564–8257; e-mail address:
sherlock.scott@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
I. General Information
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
A. Does this Notice Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public
in general. This action may, however, be
of interest to those persons who are or
may be subject to TSCA reporting
requirements. Since other entities may
also be interested, the Agency has not
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18:35 Aug 17, 2006
Jkt 208001
attempted to describe all the specific
entities that may be affected by this
action. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this action
to a particular entity, consult the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this
Document and Other Related
Documents?
1. Docket. EPA has established an
official public docket for this action
under docket identification (ID) number
EPA–HQ–OPPT–2003–0004. The
official public docket consists of the
documents specifically referenced in
this action, any public comments
received, and other information related
to this action. Although a part of the
official docket, the public docket does
not include CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
The official public docket is the
collection of materials that is available
for public viewing at the EPA Docket
Center, Rm. B102-Reading Room, EPA
West, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket
Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
legal holidays. The EPA Docket Center
Reading Room telephone number is
(202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the OPPT Docket, which is
located in EPA the Docket Center, is
(202) 566–0280.
2. Electronic access. You may access
this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet
under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at
https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
II. What Action is the Agency Taking?
NIOSH needs access to TSCA
information, including CBI, in order to
meet its obligations to conduct special
research, experiments, and
demonstrations relating to occupational
safety and health as are necessary to
explore new problems, including those
created by new technology in
occupational safety and health.
Specifically, in response to its
authorities and stakeholder requests,
NIOSH is pursuing a nanotechnology
research program including a strategic
mix of laboratory studies, field studies,
and support for extramural studies. To
assist in these activities, NIOSH is
seeking information on nano-substances
and other materials in the possession of
EPA.
EPA is issuing this notice to inform
all submitters of information under all
sections of TSCA that the Agency will
be providing NIOSH access to these CBI
materials on a need-to-know basis only.
All access to TSCA CBI under this
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47807
arrangement will take place at EPA
Headquarters and the NIOSH
Headquarters located at 4676 Columbia
Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.
Clearance for access to TSCA CBI
under this arrangement may continue
until August 1, 2016.
NIOSH personnel will be requried to
sign non-disclosure agreements and be
briefed on appropriate security
procedures before they are permitted
access to CBI.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection,
Confidential business information.
Dated: August 7, 2006.
Brion Cook,
Director, Information Management Division,
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 06–7004 Filed 8–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[ER–FRL–6678–4]
Environmental Impact Statements and
Regulations; Availability of EPA
Comments
Availability of EPA comments
prepared pursuant to the Environmental
Review Process (ERP), under section
309 of the Clean Air Act and Section
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act as amended. Requests for
copies of EPA comments can be directed
to the Office of Federal Activities at
202–564–7167.
An explanation of the ratings assigned
to draft environmental impact
statements (EISs) was published in FR
dated April 7, 2006 (71 FR 17845).
Draft EISs
EIS No. 20060149, ERP No. D–AFS–
L65509–WA, School Fire Salvage
Recovery Project, Salvage Harvest
Fire-Killed (dead) and Fire-Damaged
(dying) Trees, Implementation,
Pomeroy Ranger District, Umatilla
National Forest, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, WA.
Summary: EPA expressed
environmental concerns about the
potential for increased sediment
delivery to streams, the potential for
mass wasting from logging on steep
slopes and the uncertainty associated
with using the WEPP model to predict
sediment loading to streams. Rating
EC2.
EIS No. 20060150, ERP No. D–BLM–
K65306–CA, Alturas Field Office
Project, Resource Management Plan,
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 160 (Friday, August 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47805-47807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13607]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0499; FRL-8072-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions; EPA ICR
No. 1780.04, OMB Control No. 2070-0156
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR,
entitled: ``Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions'' and identified
by EPA ICR No. 1780.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0156, is scheduled to
expire on June 30, 2007. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review
and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the
proposed information collection.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 17, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0499, by one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: oppt.ncic@epa.gov.
Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
Hand Delivery: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA
East Bldg., Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC.
Attention: Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0499. The DCO is open from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the DCO is (202) 564-8930. Such deliveries are
only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and
special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed
information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2006-0499. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available on-line
at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-
mail. The regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov your
e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of
the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on
the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that
you include your name and other contact information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Colby
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: TSCA-
Hotline@epa.gov.
For technical information contact: Ron Carlson, Information
Management Division (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-631; fax number:
(202) 564-7480; e-mail address: carlson.ron@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, 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
[[Page 47806]]
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 Should I Consider when I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
6. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
III. What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does this Action Apply
to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
companies that manufacture, process, use, import or distribute in
commerce chemical substances that are subject to reporting requirements
under sections 4, 8(d) or 8(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA), or are subject to voluntary reporting under the Voluntary
Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP).
Title: Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1780.04, OMB Control No. 2070-0156.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on June 30,
2007. 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 CFR, after appearing in the Federal
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, 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 in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: TSCA requires industry to submit information and studies
for existing chemical substances under sections 4, 6, and 8, and
requests voluntary submission of such information under the VCCEP. EPA
typically receives thousands of such submissions each year; each
submission represents on average three studies. In addition, EPA can
impose specific Data Call-Ins on industry.
As a follow-up to industry experience with a 1994 TSCA Data Call-
In, the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), now known as the
American Chemistry Council (ACC), the Specialty Organics Chemical
Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), and the Chemical Industry Data
Exchange (CIDX), in cooperation with EPA, took an interest in pursuing
electronic transfer of TSCA summary data and of full submissions to
EPA. In particular, ACC developed a standardized cover sheet for
voluntary use by industry as a first step to an electronic future and
to begin familiarizing companies with standard requirements and
concepts of electronic transfer. This form is designed for voluntary
use as a cover sheet for submissions of information under TSCA sections
4, 8(d), 8(e) and VCCEP. The cover sheet facilitates submission of
information by displaying certain basic data elements, permitting EPA
more easily to identify, log, track, distribute, review and index
submissions, and to make information publicly available more rapidly
and at reduced cost, to the mutual benefit of both the respondents and
EPA.
Responses to the collection of information are voluntary.
Respondents may claim all or part of a notice confidential. EPA will
disclose information that is covered by a claim of confidentiality only
to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in
TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.5
hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal Agency. This
includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire,
install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train
personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search
data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and
transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is
only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 1,206.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:
1.8.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 1,061.5 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: 52,779. This includes an estimated
burden cost of 52,779 and an estimated cost of 0 for capital investment
or maintenance and operational costs.
IV. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?
There is a decrease of 8,074.5 hours (from 9,136 hours to 1,061.5
hours) in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that
identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease reflects
a decrease in the estimated number of submissions under TSCA sections
4, 8(d) and 8(e), offset by the estimated number of submissions under
VCCEP, for which the Voluntary TSCA Cover Sheet could be used, in
particular a substantial decrease in the estimated number of TSCA
section 4 submissions. Since the use of the Voluntary TSCA Cover Sheet
is a direct reflection of the number of submissions received under TSCA
sections 4, 8(d), 8(e) and VCCEP, any change in the estimated numbers
of submissions under those requirements will result in a parallel
change in the burden hours associated with this information collection.
The change is an adjustment.
V. 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 notice 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 technical
[[Page 47807]]
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: August 7, 2006.
James D. Gulliford,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. E6-13607 Filed 8-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S