Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Extension of an Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 0586.14); Comment Request, 44045-44046 [2018-18752]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44045-44046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18752]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0516; FRL-9981-64]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Extension of 
an Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 0586.14); Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: 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). 
The ICR, entitled: ``TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment 
Information Rule (PAIR)'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 0586.14 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0054, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that 
is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2019. 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 29, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0516, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: 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: For technical information contact: 
Andrea Mojica, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 564-0599; email address: [email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. What information is EPA particularly interested in?

    Pursuant to PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected.
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply 
to?

    Title: TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Rule 
(PAIR).
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 0586.14.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0054.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on April 30, 
2019. 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: On June 22, 1982, EPA promulgated the generic section 
8(a) PAIR (40 CFR part 712) under the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA). EPA uses PAIR to collect information to help identify, assess, 
and manage human health and environmental risks from chemical 
substances, mixtures and categories of chemical substances and 
mixtures. PAIR requires chemical manufacturers (including importers) to 
complete and submit standardized information about production, use, or 
exposure-related data to help evaluate the potential for human health 
and environmental risks caused by the manufacture of identified 
chemical substances or mixtures. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical 
Safety for the 21st Century Act amending TSCA was enacted on June 22, 
2016; however, the underlying authority for a Section 8(a) PAIR rule 
was not modified. While the Agency has not issued a Section 8(a) PAIR 
rule since 2006, given the new requirement under amended TSCA Section 
6(b)(1) to prioritize chemicals for risk evaluation, it is possible 
that the Agency may start requesting section 8(a) reporting more 
frequently.
    EPA or other federal agencies (e.g., the agencies that are part of 
the Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) as authorized under TSCA 
section 4(e)) can identify chemicals for a TSCA section 8(a) PAIR 
expediated rulemaking that have a justifiable need for production, use, 
or exposure-related data. In instances, such as when EPA must reach a 
decision on whether testing of a chemical is necessary, the information 
that EPA receives from a PAIR report may

[[Page 44046]]

contribute to satisfying EPA's information needs.
    This information collection activity also covers certain specific 
chemical testing and reporting requirements under Subpart B of 40 CFR 
part 766 that are in part very similar to the PAIR requirements. The 
Agency rarely receives submissions of the information required by 40 
CFR 766. EPA received less than five submissions over the course of the 
last OMB approval for this aspect of the information collection.
    The dibenzo-para-dioxin/dibenzofuran regulations at 40 CFR part 766 
require that any person who manufactures, imports, or processes a 
chemical substance listed at 40 CFR 766.25 test that chemical substance 
and submit appropriate information to EPA according to the schedules 
described at 40 CFR 766.35. Persons who commence manufacture, import, 
or processing of a chemical substance listed at 40 CFR 766.25 must 
submit a letter of intent to test or an exemption application within 
60-days of starting any of those activities. Each person who is 
manufacturing or processing a chemical listed in 40 CFR 766.25 must 
submit a protocol for testing according to the schedule at 40 CFR 
766.35(a)(2). Persons who manufacture or import a chemical substance 
listed under 40 CFR 766.25 must report positive test results, using the 
Dioxin/Furan Report Form (EPA Form 7710-51), of all existing test data 
that show that chemical substance has been tested for the presence of 
halogenated dibenzodioxins/halogenated dibenzofurans (HDDs/HDFs), as 
well as any health and safety studies for the chemical substance, as 
defined in the regulation, no later than 90 days after the date of 
submission of the positive test result. Additionally, any manufacturer 
or importer of a chemical substance listed in 40 CFR 766.25 in 
possession of unpublished health and safety studies on HDDs/HDFs is 
required to submit copies of such studies to EPA, in accordance with 
certain provisions of 40 CFR 716, no later than 90 days after the 
person first manufactures or imports the chemical substance.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 31 
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 companies that manufacture, import, or process chemical 
substances or mixtures.
    Estimated total annual number of potential respondents: 1.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total annual average number of responses for each 
respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 31 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $2,364. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $2,364 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs.

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

    There is a decrease of 1 hour in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This decrease reflects a correction in the ICR renewal which 
eliminates the burden from trade name notification by processors 
(included previously in error) and the increased CBI substantiation 
requirements in the 2016 Lautenberg Act amendments to TSCA. This change 
is an adjustment.

IV. What is the next step in the process for this ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another 
Federal Register document pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to 
announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit 
additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or 
the approval process, please contact the technical person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    Dated: August 20, 2018.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-18752 Filed 8-28-18; 8:45 am]
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