Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Collection of Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting, 35821-35822 [2024-09527]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35821-35822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09527]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0617; FRL-11648-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Collection of 
Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on 
the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning 
to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): ``Collection of 
Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting,'' identified by EPA 
ICR No. 2567.05 and OMB Control No. 2070-0207. This ICR represents a 
renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved through February 
28, 2025. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval 
under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and 
accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and 
comment.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0617, through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information 
you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Additional 
instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sleasman, Mission Support 
Division (7602M), Office of Program Support, Office of Chemical Safety 
and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 566-1206; 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; and
    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

[[Page 35822]]

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: Collection of Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory 
Reporting.
    EPA ICR No.: 2567.05.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-0207.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through February 28, 
2025. Under the PRA, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers 
for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are 
displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other 
appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or 
form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers for certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: As directed under TSCA, EPA is required to assist in the 
preparation and publication in the Federal Register of an ``inventory 
of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States'' (15 U.S.C. 
2607(b)(10)(B) and (D)). Based on the inventory of information 
collected through this ICR, the Agency is directed to ``identify any 
manufacturing processes or products that intentionally add mercury'' 
and ``recommend actions, including proposed revisions of Federal law or 
regulations, to achieve further reductions in mercury use'' (15 U.S.C. 
2607(b)(10)(C)).
    The primary purpose of this ICR is to support the development of 
that inventory. In turn, the inventory will help the Agency identify 
uses of mercury and recommend means to achieve further reductions of 
such uses in commerce. In addition, the Agency seeks to obtain the 
information necessary to achieve its goal to further reduce the use of 
mercury in products and certain manufacturing processes in order to 
prevent future releases to the environment, as well as assist the 
United States in reporting implementation under the Minamata 
Convention. EPA seeks to enhance its current information on how much 
mercury is used, in which products and manufacturing processes, and 
whether certain products are manufactured domestically, imported, or 
exported.
    Reporting is required from any person who manufactures (including 
imports) mercury or mercury-added products, as well as any person who 
otherwise intentionally uses mercury in a manufacturing process under 
TSCA section 8(b). The Agency promulgated reporting requirements at 40 
CFR part 713. To avoid duplication, EPA coordinated the reporting with 
the Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC).
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 
hours per respondent annually or a total of 75 hours per respondent 
over the three-year life cycle of the ICR. 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:
    Forms: 9600-024.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected are 
those that manufacture (including import) mercury, manufacture 
(including import) mercury containing products, and those who 
intentionally use mercury in a manufacturing process.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, per 40 CFR 713.
    Frequency of response: Triennial.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 105.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Total estimated annual respondent burden hours: 2573 hours.
    Total estimated annual respondent costs: $223,592, which includes 
$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 14,775 hours in the total estimated industry 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease reflects a change in EPA's method of 
estimating the number of expected reports. In 2021, EPA amended the 
original final rule to effectuate the vacatur ordered by the Second 
Circuit Court. In this ICR, with data available from the Mercury 
Inventory and with no new changes to the rule itself, this ICR utilizes 
data from the Reporting Year 2021 of the Mercury Inventory. In the RY 
2021, there were 105 submissions (the previous ICR used an estimate of 
252). This ICR assumes each respondent completes the entire form. Wages 
were also updated to 2022 dollars. These changes represent adjustments.

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

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another 
Federal Register document pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to 
announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit 
additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or 
the approval process, please contact the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

    Dated: April 26, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-09527 Filed 5-1-24; 8:45 am]
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