Notice of Intent To Establish Voluntary Criteria for Radon Credentialing Organizations, 39993-39997 [2017-17860]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / Notices all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/esubscription.asp. Additional information about the Project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). Using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, select ‘‘General Search’’ from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and Docket Number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP17–26 and CP15–499), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings. Dated: August 17, 2017. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2017–0430; FRL–9966–07– OAR] Notice of Intent To Establish Voluntary Criteria for Radon Credentialing Organizations Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability; opening of a 60-day public comment period. AGENCY: Since 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has administered a statutorily-mandated program under the Indoor Radon Abatement Act to reduce exposure to indoor radon by promoting awareness, testing, installation of radon mitigation systems in existing homes, and use of radon-resistant new construction techniques. EPA works with state programs, industry and the public to reduce human exposure to radon and thereby reduce deaths due to lung cancer. Access to quality service providers responsible for measuring indoor radon levels and conducting mitigation when necessary is essential to this mission. Historically, EPA asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Aug 22, 2017 operated a program, the Radon Proficiency Program (RPP), to identify qualified radon service providers, a service to assist consumers and states receiving indoor radon grants. Upon its discontinuation, two organizations qualified to be designated as responsible parties for credentialing radon service providers in the absence of a state-run process established under a state’s regulatory requirements. Since that time, there has not been an ongoing and open evaluation process for organizations wanting to credential radon service providers. As the Federal agency responsible for implementing the national radon program, and in response to the needs of our state and private partners, EPA intends to establish voluntary criteria outlining a standard of competence for organizations that credential radon service providers. This notice provides interested parties with an opportunity to provide feedback on the Agency’s proposed approach. I. General Information DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 23, 2017. B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA? Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2017–0430, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/ commenting-epa-dockets. 1. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, remember to: • Identify the notice by docket number, subject heading, Federal Register date and page number. • Follow directions—EPA may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by including a specific reference. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/ or data that you used. • If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow it to be reproduced. • Illustrate your concerns with specific examples and suggest alternatives. • Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To learn more, please visit www.epa.gov/radon. Depending on interest and questions received, EPA may host a question and answer session via webinar during the comment period. Please visit the Web site regularly for updates. ADDRESSES: [FR Doc. 2017–17847 Filed 8–22–17; 8:45 am] Jkt 241001 39993 Katrin Kral, Indoor Environments Division, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air 6609T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; 202–343– 9454; kral.katrin@epa.gov. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 A. Does this action apply to me? This notice is directed to stakeholders working to reduce exposure to indoor radon. It may, however, be of particular interest to those involved with promoting and/or conducting testing and installation of radon mitigation systems, including, but not limited to: • Organizations credentialing radon service providers and other building construction and/or maintenance related providers. • Radon service providers. • Organizations who provide thirdparty accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17024:2012. • Organizations representing state health and environmental programs, green building initiatives, and the radon services industry. • State radon programs. • Federal agencies who own, influence or control housing. C. How can I learn more about this? E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1 asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES 39994 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / Notices D. Description of Terms Used in This Notice Accreditation: Third party validation that a conformity assessment body complies with established standards. Under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), accreditation refers to the formal recognition by an independent body, generally known as an accreditation body, that a conformity assessment body operates according to international standards. Accreditation Body/Organization: Authoritative body that performs accreditation. Certification: The provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, personnel, service or system in question meets specific requirements. Certification Scheme: Component of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 that outlines competence and other requirements related to specific occupational or skilled categories of persons including a scope of certification, job and task description (JTA), abilities (when applicable), prerequisites (when applicable), and a code of conduct (when applicable). Criteria for the initial certification and recertification must be part of the scheme and includes a description of the assessment methods, and the criteria for suspending and withdrawing the certification. Competence: Ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results. Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD): 501(c)(3) nonprofit non-governmental professional organization dedicated to radiation protection. CRCPD’s primary membership is made up of radiation professionals in state and local government that regulate the use of radiation sources. Credential: Recognition of qualification or competence issued to a person by an organization. Credentialing: Term applied to processes used to designate that an individual, program, institution or product have met established standards set by an agent (governmental or nongovernmental) recognized as qualified to carry out this task. Licensure, registration, accreditation, approval, certification, recognition or endorsement may be used to describe different credentialing processes. Credentialing Organization, Certification Body: Third-party conformity assessment body operating certification schemes for persons under ISO/IEC 17024:2012. A certification body can be non-governmental or governmental with or without regulatory authority. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Aug 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 EPA Proficiency Program: Voluntary program established under 15 U.S.C. 2665(a)(2) and run by EPA that assessed the proficiency of individuals and organizations and granted them a listing according to their measurement or mitigation service capabilities. The Radon Measurement Proficiency (RMP) Program was established in 1986, followed by the Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program in 1989. These two programs were consolidated into the Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) in 1995. Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment (15 CFR part 287): Provides guidance for each Federal agency to use in evaluating the efficacy and efficiency of its conformity assessment activities. Each agency should coordinate its conformity assessment activities with those of other appropriate government agencies and with those of the private sector to reduce unnecessary duplication. The guidance is intended to help Federal agencies improve the management and coordination of their own conformity assessment activities with respect to other government entities and the private sector. International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): International organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA; 1988): Subchapter III of the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA. Provides the authority for EPA’s indoor radon activities. International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 161 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant international standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. ISO/IEC: Joint technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its purpose is to develop, maintain and promote voluntary consensus standards. ISO/IEC 17024:2012, Conformity assessment: General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons: Voluntary international consensus standard containing principles and requirements for a body certifying persons against specific requirements, and includes the development and maintenance of a certification scheme for persons. PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Job Task Analysis: Foundational requirement of ISO/IEC 17024:2012, included with the certification scheme. Helps to identify the core knowledge areas, critical work functions, and/or skills that are common across the representative sampling of current practitioners. License: An official document that gives you permission to own, do, or use something. The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA): Directs Federal agencies with respect to their use of and participation in the development of voluntary consensus standards. The Act directs Federal agencies to adopt voluntary consensus standards, wherever possible, in lieu of creating proprietary, non-consensus standards. The Act also directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to coordinate the conformity assessment activities of Federal agencies, as well as state and local governments with the private sector in order to reduce unnecessary duplication and complexity of conformity assessment schemes. Office of Management and Budget Circular A–119 (OMB A–119): Establishes policies on Federal use and development of voluntary consensus standards and on conformity assessment activities. Personnel Certification: Voluntary process by which a non-governmental entity grants a time-limited recognition and use of a credential to an individual after verifying that he or she has met predetermined and standardized criteria. Radon Service Providers (also referred to as ‘‘radon providers’’ or ‘‘providers’’): Individuals who perform measurement and/or mitigation of radon. State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG, also referred to as ‘‘indoor radon grants’’): States and tribes receive grant funds from EPA that help finance their radon risk reduction programs; recipients must provide a minimum of 40% in matching funds. The Indoor Radon Abatement Act provides statutory authority for EPA to run the grant program under 15 U.S.C. 2666 (a–j). Voluntary Consensus Standards (VCS): Standard developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies, through the use of a voluntary consensus standards development process, as defined in OMB A–119. II. Background A. What authority does EPA have to establish voluntary criteria for radon credentialing organizations? The 1988 Indoor Radon Abatement Act (See Toxic Substances Control Act, E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES Title III; 15 U.S.C. 2661–2671) addresses risks associated with indoor radon levels and establishes provisions that focus on voluntary activities, including education and grant and technical assistance to states for radon programs. Under 15 U.S.C. 2665(a)(2), EPA was granted authority to operate a voluntary proficiency program for rating, among other things, the effectiveness of radon measurement and mitigation devices and methods, and ‘‘the effectiveness of private firms and individuals offering radon-related architecture, design, engineering, measurement, and mitigation services.’’ Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 2666(h)(3), state grant recipients are required to maintain, and make available to the public, a list of firms and individuals receiving a passing rating under such a program. B. What is the history of EPA’s voluntary Radon Proficiency Program for radon service providers? In February 1986, EPA established the Radon Measurement Proficiency (RMP) Program to assist consumers in identifying organizations capable of providing reliable radon measurement analysis services. The Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program was established in 1989 to evaluate the proficiency of radon mitigators in residences and provide information to the public on proficient mitigators. In 1994, EPA began working to consolidate the RMP and RCP into one streamlined program to better meet industry needs and reduce costs. The consolidated program officially became the Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) in October 1995. In response to stakeholder feedback as part of the RPP development-process, the Agency also began investigating the feasibility of transitioning oversight of the proficiency program away from EPA. The Agency tasked the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) with drafting a document containing the necessary components of a proficiency program. As part of this effort, a series of stakeholder meetings were held in 1997. Feedback was collected in five key areas critical to discontinuation of the EPA’s RPP: (1) Radon tester; (2) radon mitigator; (3) approval and accreditation requirements for radon and radon decay product measurement devices, radon chambers, and radon laboratories; (4) the operational board and committees; and (5) the transition to private proficiency programs. Ultimately, CRCPD developed a final document outlining a plan for transitioning oversight of the proficiency program outside of the VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Aug 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 Federal government, entitled: ‘‘Criteria for Certification of Radon Service Providers, the Accreditation of Radon Chambers and Laboratories, and the Approval of Measurement Devices.’’ This plan was used to conduct a onetime evaluation and identify two organizations that sufficiently addressed components of EPA’s RPP in the early 2000s. These two organizations—the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP; initially affiliated with the National Environmental Health Association and currently affiliated with the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists, or AARST) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)—became responsible for credentialing radon service providers in the absence of a state run process established under a state’s regulatory requirements. This service assisted consumers by identifying qualified radon providers. In addition, it assisted states receiving indoor radon grants, which are required to maintain and make available a list of qualified service providers to the public. Since the discontinuation of the RPP, the Agency has relied on NRPP, NRSB and state run certification programs to provide the national proficiency platform in the radon marketplace. C. What is the framework for EPA’s consideration of voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment activities? Taken together, the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA, Pub. L. 104–113), Office of Management and Budget Circular A–119 (OMB A–119) and Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment (15 CFR part 287) direct Federal agencies to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS) wherever possible as the basis of regulation and other programs, to participate in the development of VCS, and to coordinate conformity assessment activities (testing, certification, etc.) with the private sector to avoid duplication. OMB A–119 outlines considerations Federal agencies should make when addressing the need for conformity assessment, and considerations agencies should take into account when designing conformity assessment programs. Personnel certification has become an important element of verifying the competence of an increasingly mobile and global workforce. In response to this growing need, a joint technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (the ISO/IEC) developed an international standard to establish PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39995 uniform procedures for certifying the competence of personnel in different occupations or professions. The ISO/IEC 17024:2012 standard is designed to help ensure that personnel certification programs run by credentialing organizations (also referred to as a certifying body) operate in a consistent, comparable, impartial and reliable manner. In addition to ensuring the validity of individual certification programs, the ISO/IEC standard is intended to help ensure competence and quality of a workforce and promote consumer and public confidence. Key areas addressed in the standard include: The structure and governance of the certifying body and the characteristics of the certification program as it relates specifically to a job type (e.g., a certification scheme) and the assessment and recertification requirements. To verify compliance with ISO/IEC standard 17024:2012, credentialing organizations may seek accreditation from a third party. An organization accredited by a third party demonstrates ongoing compliance with a set of business standards and the necessary core competencies to perform the certification of persons and/or training functions. As a requirement of continuous accreditation recognition, an organization must demonstrate ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC standard 17024:2012 by periodically maintaining accreditation. III. Subject and Purpose of This Notice Radon exposure causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year and is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths. Many state programs and private industry stakeholders have, for years, asserted their belief that EPA should maintain a standard of competence for organizations credentialing radon service providers that reflect current industry standards and best practices. There is no current formal process to assess quality and competence of organizations wanting to credential radon service providers. The Agency believes it is necessary to establish an ongoing and open evaluation process moving forward and anticipates that it will take two to four years to establish a process and ensure ample opportunities for stakeholder involvement. Criteria establishing a standard of competence for organizations credentialing radon service provides will help ensure continued and sustained access to a qualified workforce. EPA recently issued a special term and condition to SIRG grantees clarifying guidance in the State and E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1 39996 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / Notices Tribal Indoor Radon Grants Program Guidance and Handbook https:// www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/ 2014-08/documents/guidance_and_ handbook.pdf related to satisfying requirements for 15 U.S.C. 2666(h)(3). Specifically, the Agency clarified that, to remain in compliance with 15 U.S.C. 2666(h)(3) requirements, states receiving SIRG funding must maintain and provide the public with a list of only those radon service providers who are credentialed either through: (1) An existing state-run process established under a state’s regulatory requirements for credentialing radon service providers (e.g., state license), or (2) one of the two currentlyrecognized national radon proficiency programs (i.e., NRPP or NRSB). The term and condition will remain in effect until the Agency issues voluntary criteria, at which time, states receiving SIRG funding would list only those radon service providers credentialed by organizations meeting the criteria. asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES A. What specific comments are being sought? While all comments regarding any aspect related to the development of voluntary criteria for radon credentialing organizations are welcomed, comments on the following key areas are specifically requested. 1. Overall Approach While EPA cannot require that radon credentialing bodies take any particular action in order to conduct business, EPA does have authority to require that states receiving indoor radon grants list only providers who meet certain standards of competence. By establishing criteria for organizations credentialing radon service providers, EPA would help states ensure highquality radon services are available to their citizens. States receiving SIRG funding would be required to list only radon service providers who are certified by organizations meeting these criteria (possibly including state-run credentialing programs). To satisfy the criteria, organizations that credential radon service providers would need to demonstrate and maintain compliance with ISO/IEC standard 17024:2012 through independent, third party accreditation. The voluntary criteria would specify a timeframe for organizations to demonstrate compliance with ISO/IEC 17024:2012 through third party accreditation. As a condition of continuous accreditation recognition, an organization would need to demonstrate VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Aug 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC 17024:2012 by periodically reapplying and earning accreditation. Credentialing organizations accredited to ISO/IEC 17024:2012 have to ensure that certificate holders meet requirements outlined in the certification scheme. The credentialing organization may use recertification to bring those who do not meet the current requirements into compliance. In this case, recertification may be required for service providers previously credentialed by one of the two national credentialing organizations. EPA is seeking comments on the overall feasibility, appropriateness and potential impacts of these criteria, in particular as they relate to: Time-frame for demonstrating compliance through third-party accreditation and options for a phased-in approach, maintaining continuous accreditation, and recertification as a means to bring existing certificate holders into compliance. 2. Application of Voluntary Criteria to State-Run Programs Currently, approximately twentythree states have regulatory requirements in place for credentialing of radon service providers and implement a process accordingly (e.g., state license). While some of these states require certification by one of the two currently recognized national credentialing organizations (i.e., NRPP and/or NRSB), there are states operating processes that do not require this certification. EPA is seeking comments on the feasibility, appropriateness and potential impacts of requiring states that operate independent programs (i.e., currently do not require certification by one of two recognized national credentialing organizations) to meet the criteria if receiving SIRG funding. 3. Requirements for Accreditation Organizations Organizations providing independent, third party accreditation may be required to demonstrate compliance with ISO/IEC 17011:2004 as a signatory of the International Accreditation Forum’s Multilateral Recognition Agreement, or MRA. EPA is seeking feedback on the value of including conditions for organizations providing independent, third party accreditation. 4. Development of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 Program-Related Components To help reduce the burden to credentialing organizations seeking accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17024:2012 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and to standardize competency and testing requirements for radon service providers, EPA recognizes that there may be value in the Agency supporting development of the certification scheme, a requirement of ISO/IEC 17024:2012. It should be noted that the choice of what role EPA plays ultimately will depend on both what the community needs and what resources the Agency can sustainably support. EPA is seeking comments on the feasibility, appropriateness, and potential impacts of each possible scenario presented below: (a) EPA develops basic framework for credentialing organizations to follow. EPA would define parameters for the certification scheme (e.g., scope(s) of practice, use of existing American National Standards Institute/American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (ANSI/AARST) measurement and mitigation voluntary consensus standards when developing the job task analysis (JTA), recertification requirements). Credentialing organizations might enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA committing to develop and maintain a certification scheme in compliance with specified parameters. (b) EPA supports development of initial certification scheme. EPA would support development of the initial certification scheme and then would transfer ownership of the scheme to a third party or individual credentialing organization(s) after a specified time-frame (e.g., five years). In this case, new scheme owners might sign a licensing agreement transferring ownership of the certification scheme and stipulating conditions for use and maintenance of the scheme. For example, the licensing agreement may specify that the scheme owner may only make changes to the scheme that are deemed more stringent. (c) EPA supports development and maintenance of certification scheme. EPA would retain ownership of the certification scheme, including development and maintenance. Organizations seeking accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024:2012 might enter into a licensing agreement with the Agency which would specify requirements for use of the certification scheme. 5. Scope of This Effort EPA’s RPP addressed labs and devices in addition to radon testing and mitigation service providers. The proposed approach outlined above does not directly address labs and devices. If the Agency were to address labs, a different ISO/IEC standard would apply E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / Notices (17025) and would require an independent process. Device requirements for certified radon service providers will be incorporated within the scope of this effort. (e.g., device must have demonstrated compliance with the voluntary consensus standard MS–PC 2015, Performance Specifications for Instrumentation Systems Designed to Measure Radon Gas in Air). EPA is seeking comments on the proposed scope for this effort, including the planned approach for including devices. Comments are also welcomed on job titles and scopes that should be included for radon testing and mitigation providers. Dated: August 3, 2017. David Rowson, Director, Indoor Environments Division. [FR Doc. 2017–17860 Filed 8–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPP–2016–0109; FRL–9944–78] I. What information is EPA particularly interested in? Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 2288.03); Comment Request Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and provides an opportunity for public comment. The ICR, entitled: ‘‘Pesticide Data Call-in Program’’ and identified by EPA ICR No. 2288.03 and OMB Control No. 2070–0174, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2017. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed 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 October 23, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPP–2016–0109, by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Aug 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/ DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001. • Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the instructions at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. 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: Cameo Smoot, Field and External Affairs Division (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (703) 305–5454, mail address: smoot.cameo@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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: Pesticide Data Call-in Program. PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39997 ICR Number: EPA ICR No. 2288.03. OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070–0174. ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 2017. 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 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 for certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9. Abstract: This ICR covers the information collection activities associated with the issuance of datacall-ins (DCIs) under section 3(c)(2)(B) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average between 20 hours and 8,182 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 by this ICR are pesticide registrant and are identified by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 325320 (Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing). Estimated Total Number of Potential Respondents: 122. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Estimated Total Average Number of Responses for Each Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 615,447 hours. Estimated Total Annual Costs: $43,792,523. There are no capital investment or maintenance and operational costs associated with this collection. III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval? There is an increase of 353,146 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase is a result of the program implementing new methodologies to calculate respondent burden, the inclusion of a new IC group— E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39993-39997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17860]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0430; FRL-9966-07-OAR]


Notice of Intent To Establish Voluntary Criteria for Radon 
Credentialing Organizations

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice of availability; opening of a 60-day public comment 
period.

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

SUMMARY: Since 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 
administered a statutorily-mandated program under the Indoor Radon 
Abatement Act to reduce exposure to indoor radon by promoting 
awareness, testing, installation of radon mitigation systems in 
existing homes, and use of radon-resistant new construction techniques. 
EPA works with state programs, industry and the public to reduce human 
exposure to radon and thereby reduce deaths due to lung cancer. Access 
to quality service providers responsible for measuring indoor radon 
levels and conducting mitigation when necessary is essential to this 
mission. Historically, EPA operated a program, the Radon Proficiency 
Program (RPP), to identify qualified radon service providers, a service 
to assist consumers and states receiving indoor radon grants. Upon its 
discontinuation, two organizations qualified to be designated as 
responsible parties for credentialing radon service providers in the 
absence of a state-run process established under a state's regulatory 
requirements. Since that time, there has not been an ongoing and open 
evaluation process for organizations wanting to credential radon 
service providers. As the Federal agency responsible for implementing 
the national radon program, and in response to the needs of our state 
and private partners, EPA intends to establish voluntary criteria 
outlining a standard of competence for organizations that credential 
radon service providers. This notice provides interested parties with 
an opportunity to provide feedback on the Agency's proposed approach.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2017-0430, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The 
EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not 
submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must 
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered 
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you 
wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, 
cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission 
methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrin Kral, Indoor Environments 
Division, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air 6609T, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
202-343-9454; kral.katrin@epa.gov.

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    This notice is directed to stakeholders working to reduce exposure 
to indoor radon. It may, however, be of particular interest to those 
involved with promoting and/or conducting testing and installation of 
radon mitigation systems, including, but not limited to:
     Organizations credentialing radon service providers and 
other building construction and/or maintenance related providers.
     Radon service providers.
     Organizations who provide third-party accreditation to the 
ISO/IEC 17024:2012.
     Organizations representing state health and environmental 
programs, green building initiatives, and the radon services industry.
     State radon programs.
     Federal agencies who own, influence or control housing.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    1. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the notice by docket number, subject heading, 
Federal Register date and page number.
     Follow directions--EPA may ask you to respond to specific 
questions or organize comments by including a specific reference.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow it to be 
reproduced.
     Illustrate your concerns with specific examples and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the 
use of profanity or personal threats.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

C. How can I learn more about this?

    To learn more, please visit www.epa.gov/radon. Depending on 
interest and questions received, EPA may host a question and answer 
session via webinar during the comment period. Please visit the Web 
site regularly for updates.

[[Page 39994]]

D. Description of Terms Used in This Notice

    Accreditation: Third party validation that a conformity assessment 
body complies with established standards. Under the International 
Organization for Standardization (ISO), accreditation refers to the 
formal recognition by an independent body, generally known as an 
accreditation body, that a conformity assessment body operates 
according to international standards.
    Accreditation Body/Organization: Authoritative body that performs 
accreditation.
    Certification: The provision by an independent body of written 
assurance (a certificate) that the product, personnel, service or 
system in question meets specific requirements.
    Certification Scheme: Component of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 that outlines 
competence and other requirements related to specific occupational or 
skilled categories of persons including a scope of certification, job 
and task description (JTA), abilities (when applicable), prerequisites 
(when applicable), and a code of conduct (when applicable). Criteria 
for the initial certification and recertification must be part of the 
scheme and includes a description of the assessment methods, and the 
criteria for suspending and withdrawing the certification.
    Competence: Ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve 
intended results.
    Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD): 
501(c)(3) nonprofit non-governmental professional organization 
dedicated to radiation protection. CRCPD's primary membership is made 
up of radiation professionals in state and local government that 
regulate the use of radiation sources.
    Credential: Recognition of qualification or competence issued to a 
person by an organization.
    Credentialing: Term applied to processes used to designate that an 
individual, program, institution or product have met established 
standards set by an agent (governmental or non-governmental) recognized 
as qualified to carry out this task. Licensure, registration, 
accreditation, approval, certification, recognition or endorsement may 
be used to describe different credentialing processes.
    Credentialing Organization, Certification Body: Third-party 
conformity assessment body operating certification schemes for persons 
under ISO/IEC 17024:2012. A certification body can be non-governmental 
or governmental with or without regulatory authority.
    EPA Proficiency Program: Voluntary program established under 15 
U.S.C. 2665(a)(2) and run by EPA that assessed the proficiency of 
individuals and organizations and granted them a listing according to 
their measurement or mitigation service capabilities. The Radon 
Measurement Proficiency (RMP) Program was established in 1986, followed 
by the Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program in 1989. These two 
programs were consolidated into the Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) in 
1995.
    Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment (15 CFR part 287): 
Provides guidance for each Federal agency to use in evaluating the 
efficacy and efficiency of its conformity assessment activities. Each 
agency should coordinate its conformity assessment activities with 
those of other appropriate government agencies and with those of the 
private sector to reduce unnecessary duplication. The guidance is 
intended to help Federal agencies improve the management and 
coordination of their own conformity assessment activities with respect 
to other government entities and the private sector.
    International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): International 
organization that prepares and publishes international standards for 
all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
    Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA; 1988): Subchapter III of the 
Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA. Provides the authority for EPA's 
indoor radon activities.
    International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Independent, 
non-governmental international organization with a membership of 161 
national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together 
experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, 
market relevant international standards that support innovation and 
provide solutions to global challenges.
    ISO/IEC: Joint technical committee of the International 
Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International 
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its purpose is to develop, maintain 
and promote voluntary consensus standards.
    ISO/IEC 17024:2012, Conformity assessment: General requirements for 
bodies operating certification of persons: Voluntary international 
consensus standard containing principles and requirements for a body 
certifying persons against specific requirements, and includes the 
development and maintenance of a certification scheme for persons.
    Job Task Analysis: Foundational requirement of ISO/IEC 17024:2012, 
included with the certification scheme. Helps to identify the core 
knowledge areas, critical work functions, and/or skills that are common 
across the representative sampling of current practitioners.
    License: An official document that gives you permission to own, do, 
or use something.
    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA): 
Directs Federal agencies with respect to their use of and participation 
in the development of voluntary consensus standards. The Act directs 
Federal agencies to adopt voluntary consensus standards, wherever 
possible, in lieu of creating proprietary, non-consensus standards. The 
Act also directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
(NIST) to coordinate the conformity assessment activities of Federal 
agencies, as well as state and local governments with the private 
sector in order to reduce unnecessary duplication and complexity of 
conformity assessment schemes.
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-119 (OMB A-119): 
Establishes policies on Federal use and development of voluntary 
consensus standards and on conformity assessment activities.
    Personnel Certification: Voluntary process by which a non-
governmental entity grants a time-limited recognition and use of a 
credential to an individual after verifying that he or she has met 
predetermined and standardized criteria.
    Radon Service Providers (also referred to as ``radon providers'' or 
``providers''): Individuals who perform measurement and/or mitigation 
of radon.
    State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG, also referred to as ``indoor radon 
grants''): States and tribes receive grant funds from EPA that help 
finance their radon risk reduction programs; recipients must provide a 
minimum of 40% in matching funds. The Indoor Radon Abatement Act 
provides statutory authority for EPA to run the grant program under 15 
U.S.C. 2666 (a-j).
    Voluntary Consensus Standards (VCS): Standard developed or adopted 
by voluntary consensus standards bodies, through the use of a voluntary 
consensus standards development process, as defined in OMB A-119.

II. Background

A. What authority does EPA have to establish voluntary criteria for 
radon credentialing organizations?

    The 1988 Indoor Radon Abatement Act (See Toxic Substances Control 
Act,

[[Page 39995]]

Title III; 15 U.S.C. 2661-2671) addresses risks associated with indoor 
radon levels and establishes provisions that focus on voluntary 
activities, including education and grant and technical assistance to 
states for radon programs. Under 15 U.S.C. 2665(a)(2), EPA was granted 
authority to operate a voluntary proficiency program for rating, among 
other things, the effectiveness of radon measurement and mitigation 
devices and methods, and ``the effectiveness of private firms and 
individuals offering radon-related architecture, design, engineering, 
measurement, and mitigation services.'' Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 
2666(h)(3), state grant recipients are required to maintain, and make 
available to the public, a list of firms and individuals receiving a 
passing rating under such a program.

B. What is the history of EPA's voluntary Radon Proficiency Program for 
radon service providers?

    In February 1986, EPA established the Radon Measurement Proficiency 
(RMP) Program to assist consumers in identifying organizations capable 
of providing reliable radon measurement analysis services. The Radon 
Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program was established in 1989 to 
evaluate the proficiency of radon mitigators in residences and provide 
information to the public on proficient mitigators. In 1994, EPA began 
working to consolidate the RMP and RCP into one streamlined program to 
better meet industry needs and reduce costs. The consolidated program 
officially became the Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) in October 1995.
    In response to stakeholder feedback as part of the RPP development-
process, the Agency also began investigating the feasibility of 
transitioning oversight of the proficiency program away from EPA. The 
Agency tasked the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors 
(CRCPD) with drafting a document containing the necessary components of 
a proficiency program. As part of this effort, a series of stakeholder 
meetings were held in 1997. Feedback was collected in five key areas 
critical to discontinuation of the EPA's RPP: (1) Radon tester; (2) 
radon mitigator; (3) approval and accreditation requirements for radon 
and radon decay product measurement devices, radon chambers, and radon 
laboratories; (4) the operational board and committees; and (5) the 
transition to private proficiency programs.
    Ultimately, CRCPD developed a final document outlining a plan for 
transitioning oversight of the proficiency program outside of the 
Federal government, entitled: ``Criteria for Certification of Radon 
Service Providers, the Accreditation of Radon Chambers and 
Laboratories, and the Approval of Measurement Devices.'' This plan was 
used to conduct a one-time evaluation and identify two organizations 
that sufficiently addressed components of EPA's RPP in the early 2000s. 
These two organizations--the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP; 
initially affiliated with the National Environmental Health Association 
and currently affiliated with the American Association of Radon 
Scientists and Technologists, or AARST) and the National Radon Safety 
Board (NRSB)--became responsible for credentialing radon service 
providers in the absence of a state run process established under a 
state's regulatory requirements. This service assisted consumers by 
identifying qualified radon providers. In addition, it assisted states 
receiving indoor radon grants, which are required to maintain and make 
available a list of qualified service providers to the public. Since 
the discontinuation of the RPP, the Agency has relied on NRPP, NRSB and 
state run certification programs to provide the national proficiency 
platform in the radon marketplace.

C. What is the framework for EPA's consideration of voluntary consensus 
standards and conformity assessment activities?

    Taken together, the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act (NTTAA, Pub. L. 104-113), Office of Management and Budget Circular 
A-119 (OMB A-119) and Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment (15 CFR 
part 287) direct Federal agencies to use voluntary consensus standards 
(VCS) wherever possible as the basis of regulation and other programs, 
to participate in the development of VCS, and to coordinate conformity 
assessment activities (testing, certification, etc.) with the private 
sector to avoid duplication. OMB A-119 outlines considerations Federal 
agencies should make when addressing the need for conformity 
assessment, and considerations agencies should take into account when 
designing conformity assessment programs.
    Personnel certification has become an important element of 
verifying the competence of an increasingly mobile and global 
workforce. In response to this growing need, a joint technical 
committee of the International Organization for Standardization and the 
International Electrotechnical Commission (the ISO/IEC) developed an 
international standard to establish uniform procedures for certifying 
the competence of personnel in different occupations or professions. 
The ISO/IEC 17024:2012 standard is designed to help ensure that 
personnel certification programs run by credentialing organizations 
(also referred to as a certifying body) operate in a consistent, 
comparable, impartial and reliable manner. In addition to ensuring the 
validity of individual certification programs, the ISO/IEC standard is 
intended to help ensure competence and quality of a workforce and 
promote consumer and public confidence. Key areas addressed in the 
standard include: The structure and governance of the certifying body 
and the characteristics of the certification program as it relates 
specifically to a job type (e.g., a certification scheme) and the 
assessment and recertification requirements.
    To verify compliance with ISO/IEC standard 17024:2012, 
credentialing organizations may seek accreditation from a third party. 
An organization accredited by a third party demonstrates ongoing 
compliance with a set of business standards and the necessary core 
competencies to perform the certification of persons and/or training 
functions. As a requirement of continuous accreditation recognition, an 
organization must demonstrate ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC standard 
17024:2012 by periodically maintaining accreditation.

III. Subject and Purpose of This Notice

    Radon exposure causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths every 
year and is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths. Many 
state programs and private industry stakeholders have, for years, 
asserted their belief that EPA should maintain a standard of competence 
for organizations credentialing radon service providers that reflect 
current industry standards and best practices. There is no current 
formal process to assess quality and competence of organizations 
wanting to credential radon service providers. The Agency believes it 
is necessary to establish an ongoing and open evaluation process moving 
forward and anticipates that it will take two to four years to 
establish a process and ensure ample opportunities for stakeholder 
involvement. Criteria establishing a standard of competence for 
organizations credentialing radon service provides will help ensure 
continued and sustained access to a qualified workforce.
    EPA recently issued a special term and condition to SIRG grantees 
clarifying guidance in the State and

[[Page 39996]]

Tribal Indoor Radon Grants Program Guidance and Handbook https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/guidance_and_handbook.pdf related to satisfying requirements for 15 
U.S.C. 2666(h)(3). Specifically, the Agency clarified that, to remain 
in compliance with 15 U.S.C. 2666(h)(3) requirements, states receiving 
SIRG funding must maintain and provide the public with a list of only 
those radon service providers who are credentialed either through:
    (1) An existing state-run process established under a state's 
regulatory requirements for credentialing radon service providers 
(e.g., state license), or
    (2) one of the two currently-recognized national radon proficiency 
programs (i.e., NRPP or NRSB).
    The term and condition will remain in effect until the Agency 
issues voluntary criteria, at which time, states receiving SIRG funding 
would list only those radon service providers credentialed by 
organizations meeting the criteria.

A. What specific comments are being sought?

    While all comments regarding any aspect related to the development 
of voluntary criteria for radon credentialing organizations are 
welcomed, comments on the following key areas are specifically 
requested.
1. Overall Approach
    While EPA cannot require that radon credentialing bodies take any 
particular action in order to conduct business, EPA does have authority 
to require that states receiving indoor radon grants list only 
providers who meet certain standards of competence. By establishing 
criteria for organizations credentialing radon service providers, EPA 
would help states ensure high-quality radon services are available to 
their citizens. States receiving SIRG funding would be required to list 
only radon service providers who are certified by organizations meeting 
these criteria (possibly including state-run credentialing programs).
    To satisfy the criteria, organizations that credential radon 
service providers would need to demonstrate and maintain compliance 
with ISO/IEC standard 17024:2012 through independent, third party 
accreditation. The voluntary criteria would specify a timeframe for 
organizations to demonstrate compliance with ISO/IEC 17024:2012 through 
third party accreditation.
    As a condition of continuous accreditation recognition, an 
organization would need to demonstrate ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC 
17024:2012 by periodically reapplying and earning accreditation.
    Credentialing organizations accredited to ISO/IEC 17024:2012 have 
to ensure that certificate holders meet requirements outlined in the 
certification scheme. The credentialing organization may use 
recertification to bring those who do not meet the current requirements 
into compliance. In this case, recertification may be required for 
service providers previously credentialed by one of the two national 
credentialing organizations.
    EPA is seeking comments on the overall feasibility, appropriateness 
and potential impacts of these criteria, in particular as they relate 
to: Time-frame for demonstrating compliance through third-party 
accreditation and options for a phased-in approach, maintaining 
continuous accreditation, and recertification as a means to bring 
existing certificate holders into compliance.
2. Application of Voluntary Criteria to State-Run Programs
    Currently, approximately twenty-three states have regulatory 
requirements in place for credentialing of radon service providers and 
implement a process accordingly (e.g., state license). While some of 
these states require certification by one of the two currently 
recognized national credentialing organizations (i.e., NRPP and/or 
NRSB), there are states operating processes that do not require this 
certification.
    EPA is seeking comments on the feasibility, appropriateness and 
potential impacts of requiring states that operate independent programs 
(i.e., currently do not require certification by one of two recognized 
national credentialing organizations) to meet the criteria if receiving 
SIRG funding.
3. Requirements for Accreditation Organizations
    Organizations providing independent, third party accreditation may 
be required to demonstrate compliance with ISO/IEC 17011:2004 as a 
signatory of the International Accreditation Forum's Multilateral 
Recognition Agreement, or MRA.
    EPA is seeking feedback on the value of including conditions for 
organizations providing independent, third party accreditation.
4. Development of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 Program-Related Components
    To help reduce the burden to credentialing organizations seeking 
accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17024:2012 and to standardize competency 
and testing requirements for radon service providers, EPA recognizes 
that there may be value in the Agency supporting development of the 
certification scheme, a requirement of ISO/IEC 17024:2012. It should be 
noted that the choice of what role EPA plays ultimately will depend on 
both what the community needs and what resources the Agency can 
sustainably support.
    EPA is seeking comments on the feasibility, appropriateness, and 
potential impacts of each possible scenario presented below:
    (a) EPA develops basic framework for credentialing organizations to 
follow.
    EPA would define parameters for the certification scheme (e.g., 
scope(s) of practice, use of existing American National Standards 
Institute/American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists 
(ANSI/AARST) measurement and mitigation voluntary consensus standards 
when developing the job task analysis (JTA), recertification 
requirements).
    Credentialing organizations might enter into a Memorandum of 
Understanding with EPA committing to develop and maintain a 
certification scheme in compliance with specified parameters.
    (b) EPA supports development of initial certification scheme.
    EPA would support development of the initial certification scheme 
and then would transfer ownership of the scheme to a third party or 
individual credentialing organization(s) after a specified time-frame 
(e.g., five years). In this case, new scheme owners might sign a 
licensing agreement transferring ownership of the certification scheme 
and stipulating conditions for use and maintenance of the scheme. For 
example, the licensing agreement may specify that the scheme owner may 
only make changes to the scheme that are deemed more stringent.
    (c) EPA supports development and maintenance of certification 
scheme.
    EPA would retain ownership of the certification scheme, including 
development and maintenance. Organizations seeking accreditation to 
ISO/IEC 17024:2012 might enter into a licensing agreement with the 
Agency which would specify requirements for use of the certification 
scheme.
5. Scope of This Effort
    EPA's RPP addressed labs and devices in addition to radon testing 
and mitigation service providers. The proposed approach outlined above 
does not directly address labs and devices. If the Agency were to 
address labs, a different ISO/IEC standard would apply

[[Page 39997]]

(17025) and would require an independent process. Device requirements 
for certified radon service providers will be incorporated within the 
scope of this effort. (e.g., device must have demonstrated compliance 
with the voluntary consensus standard MS-PC 2015, Performance 
Specifications for Instrumentation Systems Designed to Measure Radon 
Gas in Air).
    EPA is seeking comments on the proposed scope for this effort, 
including the planned approach for including devices. Comments are also 
welcomed on job titles and scopes that should be included for radon 
testing and mitigation providers.

    Dated: August 3, 2017.
David Rowson,
Director, Indoor Environments Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-17860 Filed 8-22-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.