Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Conflict of Interest Rule #1, EPA ICR Number 1550.06, OMB Control Number 2030-0023; and Invitation for Bids and Request for Proposals (IFBs and RFPs), EPA ICR Number 1038.11, OMB Control Number 2030-0006, 20534-20536 [E7-7894]
Download as PDF
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20534
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 25, 2007 / Notices
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OARM–2007–0341; EPA–HQ–
OARM–2007–0342; FRL–8305–9]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Conflict of Interest
Rule #1, EPA ICR Number 1550.06,
OMB Control Number 2030–0023; and
Invitation for Bids and Request for
Proposals (IFBs and RFPs), EPA ICR
Number 1038.11, OMB Control Number
2030–0006
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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AGENCY:
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 existing
approved Information Collection
Requests (ICRs) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). These
ICRs are scheduled to expire on 07/31/
2007. Before submitting the ICRs to
OMB for review and approval, EPA is
soliciting comments on specific aspects
of the proposed information collections
as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before June 25, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by the Docket ID numbers
provided for each item in the text, by
one of the following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: oei.docket@epa.gov.
• Mail: OEI Docket, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
• Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, OEI
Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room
B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. 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
the Docket ID number provided for each
item in the text. EPA’s policy is that all
comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and
may be made available online 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
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:21 Apr 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
restricted by statute. Do not submit
information that you consider to be CBI
or otherwise protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
https://www.regulations.gov Web site 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 https://
www.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:
Tiffany Schermerhorn, Policy, Training
and Oversight Division, Office of
Acquisition Management, Mail Code
3802R, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; e-mail address:
schermerhorn.tiffany@epa.gov,
telephone (202) 564–9902.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or
Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket
for each of the ICRs identified in this
document (see the Docket ID numbers
for each ICR that is provided in the
text), which is available for online
viewing at https://www.regulations.gov,
or in person viewing at the OEI Docket
in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC),
EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room
is open from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Reading Room
is 202–566–1744 and the telephone
number for the OEI Docket is 202–566–
1752.
Use https://www.regulations.gov to
obtain a copy of the draft collection of
information, submit or view public
comments, access the index listing of
the contents of the docket, and to access
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
those documents in the public docket
that are available electronically. Once in
the system, select ‘‘search,’’ then key in
the Docket ID number identified in this
document.
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:
(i) 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;
(ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the
Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(iv) 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 employees) for
examples of specific additional efforts
that EPA could make to reduce the
paperwork burden for very small
businesses affected by this collection.
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. Offer alternative ways to improve
the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your
comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. 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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 25, 2007 / Notices
What Information Collection Activities
or ICRs Does This Apply To?
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[Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OARM–2007–0341]
Affected entities: Entities potentially
affected by this action are those
businesses or organizations performing
contracts for the Agency.
Title: Conflict of Interest, Rule #1.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1550.06,
OMB Control No. 2030–0023.
ICR status: This ICR is currently
scheduled to expire on 07/31/07. 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: EPA contractors will be
required to disclose business
relationships and corporate affiliations
to determine whether EPA’s interests
are jeopardized by such relationships.
Because EPA has the dual responsibility
of cleanup and enforcement and
because its contractors are often
involved in both activities, it is
imperative that contractors are free from
conflicts of interest so as not to
prejudice response and enforcement
actions. Contractors will be required to
maintain a database of business
relationships and report information to
EPA on either an annual basis or when
each work order is issued.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average 1,078 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;
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15:21 Apr 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
and transmit or otherwise disclose the
information.
The ICR provides a detailed
explanation of the Agency’s estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential
respondents: 135.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total annual burden hours:
145,640.
Estimated total annual costs:
$8,144,585. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $8,144,585 and an
estimated cost of $0 for capital
investment or maintenance and
operational costs.
Are There Changes in the Estimates
From the Last Approval?
Although the number of respondents
has increased since the ICR was last
renewed and approved by OMB in 2004,
the total annual burden hours and
annual costs are not expected to
increase. The number of respondents
has increased due to a need to include
non-Superfund as well as Superfund
contractors in our information
collection activities related to conflicts
of interest. While this ICR was initiated
due to the need to ensure that
contractors supporting work under the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980 (CERCLA), commonly
known as ‘‘Superfund,’’ are free from
conflict so as not to prejudice CERCLA
actions, it has become clear in the past
few years that the potential for conflict
is not limited to contracts supporting
Superfund activities, but includes all
Agency contracts involving support of
regulatory activities. Other
environmental laws besides Superfund
that give the Agency the authority for its
programs and regulatory activities
include, but are not limited to, the Clean
Water Act (CWA); Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA); Marine Protection,
Research and Sanctuary Act (MPRSA);
Clean Air Act (CAA); Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA);
Oil Pollution Act (OPA); Pollution
Prevention Act (PPA); Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA); Superfund Reauthorization
and Amendments Act (SARA); Toxic
Substance Control Act (TSCA); Federal
Facility Compliance Act (FFCA);
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA); Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA); Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Asbestos
Hazard Emergency Response Act
(AHERA); and the Mercury-Containing
and Rechargeable Battery Management
Act (Battery Act). Despite the increase
in the number of respondents, the total
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20535
annual burden hours are not expected to
increase because this is an established
information collection effort and most of
the respondents are engaged primarily
in the recurring maintenance and
reporting activities rather than the onetime activities of greater burden that
were necessary when the ICR was
initiated. Also, the processes for storing,
retrieving, and reporting information on
a recurring basis have been streamlined
in recent years through greater use of
electronic methods.
[Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OARM–2007–0342]
Affected entities: Entities potentially
affected by this action are those
businesses or organizations that want to
provide the EPA with supplies or
services.
Title: Invitation for Bids and Request
for Proposals.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1038.11,
OMB Control No. 2030–0006.
ICR status: This ICR is currently
scheduled to expire on 07/31/07. 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: EPA requires contractors to
submit information in order to be
considered for the award of a contract.
Information requested includes: prices
for the supplies/services requested,
information on past performance,
technical and cost information, and
general financial and organizational
information. Information provided by
vendors in response to an RFP/IFB is
used to evaluate which vendor will
provide the best product in terms of
quality, timeliness and price. Responses
to IFBs/RFPs are required to be
considered for a contract award. The
legal authority for this collection is 41
U.S.C. 253. Contractor confidential
business information submitted in
connection with an IFB or RFP response
is protected from public release in
accordance with 40 CFR 2.201 et seq.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average 8 hours per
response for IFBs and 251 hours per
response for RFPs. Burden means the
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 25, 2007 / Notices
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 the Agency’s estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential
respondents: 981.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total annual burden hours:
219,015.
Estimated total annual costs:
$14,251,635. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $14,251,635 and an
estimated cost of $0 for capital
investment or maintenance and
operational costs.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for
These ICRs?
EPA will consider the comments
received and amend the ICRs as
appropriate. The final ICR packages will
then be submitted to OMB for review
and approval pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.12. At that time, EPA will issue
another Federal Register notice
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to
announce the submission of the ICRs 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 person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: April 19, 2007.
Daniel Humphries,
Acting Manager, Acquisition Policy and
Training Service Center.
[FR Doc. E7–7894 Filed 4–24–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0038; FRL-8125-8]
BeakerTree Corporation; Transfer of
Data
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
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15:21 Apr 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY: This notice announces that
pesticide related information submitted
to EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP) pursuant to the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), including
information that may have been claimed
as Confidential Business Information
(CBI) by the submitter, will be
transferred to BeakerTree Corporation in
accordance with 40 CFR 2.307(h)(3) and
2.308(i)(2). BeakerTree Corporation has
been awarded multiple contracts to
perform work for OPP, and access to
this information will enable BeakerTree
Corporation to fulfill the obligations of
the contract.
DATES: BeakerTree Corporation will be
given access to this information on or
before April 30, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Felicia Croom, Information Technology
and Resources Management Division
(7502P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460-0001; telephone number:
(703) 305-0786; e-mail address:
croom.felicia@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action applies to the public in
general. As such, the Agency has not
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
Information?
1. Docket. EPA has established a
docket for this action under docket
identification (ID) number EPA-HQOPP-2007-0038. Publicly available
docket materials are available either in
the electronic docket at https://
www.regulations.gov, or, if only
available in hard copy, at the Office of
Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory
Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One
Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S.
Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours of
operation of this Docket Facility are
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The Docket Facility telephone
number is (703) 305-5805.
2. Electronic access. You may access
this Federal Register document
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
electronically through the EPA Internet
under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at
https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.
II. Contractor Requirements
Under Contract No. EP-W-06-096,
under this contract number, the
contractor shall provide meeting
support for the Science Review Panel.
This involves providing detailed records
of the science review panel comments
and input to revised risk assessments.
EFED conducts workshops on technical
subjects to discuss the issues and to
determine how the experts in the field
feel these issues should be handled. A
workshop may be the best way to draw
conclusions and determine EFED’s
direction on handling and closing the
issues.
The OPP has determined that the
contract described in this document
involve work that is being conducted in
connection with FIFRA, in that
pesticide chemicals will be the subject
of certain evaluations to be made under
this contract. These evaluations may be
used in subsequent regulatory decisions
under FIFRA.
Some of this information may be
entitled to confidential treatment. The
information has been submitted to EPA
under sections 3, 4, 6, and 7 of FIFRA
and under sections 408 and 409 of
FFDCA.
In accordance with the requirements
of 40 CFR 2.307(h)(3), the contracts with
BeakerTree Corporation, prohibits use of
the information for any purpose not
specified in these contracts; prohibits
disclosure of the information to a third
party without prior written approval
from the Agency; and requires that each
official and employee of the contractor
sign an agreement to protect the
information from unauthorized release
and to handle it in accordance with the
FIFRA Information Security Manual. In
addition, BeakerTree Corporation is
required to submit for EPA approval a
security plan under which any CBI will
be secured and protected against
unauthorized release or compromise. No
information will be provided to
BeakerTree Corporation until the
requirements in this document have
been fully satisfied. Records of
information provided to BeakerTree
Corporation will be maintained by EPA
Project Officers for these contracts. All
information supplied to BeakerTree
Corporation by EPA for use in
connection with these contracts will be
returned to EPA when BeakerTree
Corporation has completed its work.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Business
and industry, Government contracts,
E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM
25APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20534-20536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7894]
[[Page 20534]]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0341; EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0342; FRL-8305-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Conflict of Interest Rule 1, EPA ICR Number
1550.06, OMB Control Number 2030-0023; and Invitation for Bids and
Request for Proposals (IFBs and RFPs), EPA ICR Number 1038.11, OMB
Control Number 2030-0006
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 existing approved Information Collection
Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These
ICRs are scheduled to expire on 07/31/2007. Before submitting the ICRs
to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the proposed information collections as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 25, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the Docket ID numbers
provided for each item in the text, by one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: oei.docket@epa.gov.
Mail: OEI Docket, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection
Agency, OEI Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 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 the Docket ID number provided
for each item in the text. EPA's policy is that all comments received
will be included in the public docket without change and may be made
available online 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 https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site
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 https://www.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: Tiffany Schermerhorn, Policy, Training
and Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management, Mail Code
3802R, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; e-mail address: schermerhorn.tiffany@epa.gov,
telephone (202) 564-9902.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for each of the ICRs identified
in this document (see the Docket ID numbers for each ICR that is
provided in the text), which is available for online viewing at https://
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the OEI Docket in the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744 and the telephone
number for the OEI Docket is 202-566-1752.
Use https://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the Docket ID number
identified in this document.
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:
(i) 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;
(ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
(iv) 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 employees) for
examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce
the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this
collection.
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. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. 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.
[[Page 20535]]
What Information Collection Activities or ICRs Does This Apply To?
[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0341]
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
those businesses or organizations performing contracts for the Agency.
Title: Conflict of Interest, Rule 1.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1550.06, OMB Control No. 2030-0023.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on 07/31/07.
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: EPA contractors will be required to disclose business
relationships and corporate affiliations to determine whether EPA's
interests are jeopardized by such relationships. Because EPA has the
dual responsibility of cleanup and enforcement and because its
contractors are often involved in both activities, it is imperative
that contractors are free from conflicts of interest so as not to
prejudice response and enforcement actions. Contractors will be
required to maintain a database of business relationships and report
information to EPA on either an annual basis or when each work order is
issued.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1,078
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 the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 135.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 145,640.
Estimated total annual costs: $8,144,585. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $8,144,585 and an estimated cost of $0 for
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?
Although the number of respondents has increased since the ICR was
last renewed and approved by OMB in 2004, the total annual burden hours
and annual costs are not expected to increase. The number of
respondents has increased due to a need to include non-Superfund as
well as Superfund contractors in our information collection activities
related to conflicts of interest. While this ICR was initiated due to
the need to ensure that contractors supporting work under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
of 1980 (CERCLA), commonly known as ``Superfund,'' are free from
conflict so as not to prejudice CERCLA actions, it has become clear in
the past few years that the potential for conflict is not limited to
contracts supporting Superfund activities, but includes all Agency
contracts involving support of regulatory activities. Other
environmental laws besides Superfund that give the Agency the authority
for its programs and regulatory activities include, but are not limited
to, the Clean Water Act (CWA); Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA); Marine
Protection, Research and Sanctuary Act (MPRSA); Clean Air Act (CAA);
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Oil Pollution Act (OPA);
Pollution Prevention Act (PPA); Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); Superfund Reauthorization and Amendments Act
(SARA); Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA); Federal Facility Compliance
Act (FFCA); National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA); Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA);
and the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act
(Battery Act). Despite the increase in the number of respondents, the
total annual burden hours are not expected to increase because this is
an established information collection effort and most of the
respondents are engaged primarily in the recurring maintenance and
reporting activities rather than the one-time activities of greater
burden that were necessary when the ICR was initiated. Also, the
processes for storing, retrieving, and reporting information on a
recurring basis have been streamlined in recent years through greater
use of electronic methods.
[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0342]
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
those businesses or organizations that want to provide the EPA with
supplies or services.
Title: Invitation for Bids and Request for Proposals.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1038.11, OMB Control No. 2030-0006.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on 07/31/07.
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: EPA requires contractors to submit information in order
to be considered for the award of a contract. Information requested
includes: prices for the supplies/services requested, information on
past performance, technical and cost information, and general financial
and organizational information. Information provided by vendors in
response to an RFP/IFB is used to evaluate which vendor will provide
the best product in terms of quality, timeliness and price. Responses
to IFBs/RFPs are required to be considered for a contract award. The
legal authority for this collection is 41 U.S.C. 253. Contractor
confidential business information submitted in connection with an IFB
or RFP response is protected from public release in accordance with 40
CFR 2.201 et seq.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8
hours per response for IFBs and 251 hours per response for RFPs. Burden
means the
[[Page 20536]]
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 the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 981.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 219,015.
Estimated total annual costs: $14,251,635. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $14,251,635 and an estimated cost of $0 for
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for These ICRs?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as
appropriate. The final ICR packages will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICRs 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: April 19, 2007.
Daniel Humphries,
Acting Manager, Acquisition Policy and Training Service Center.
[FR Doc. E7-7894 Filed 4-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
