Statement Supporting the Renewal of the

Information Collection Procedure for EPCRA

Trade Secret Regulations

1. Identification of the Information Collection

1 (a) Trade Secrets Claims for Community Right-to-Know and Emergency 

Planning (EPCRA Section 322) (Renewal). EPA ICR No. 1428.10, OMB No. 

2050-0078

1 (b) Short Characterization

This information collection request pertains to trade secrecy claims submitted under 

section 322 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA). 

EPCRA contains provisions requiring facilities to report to State and local authorities, and EPA, 

the presence, use and release of extremely hazardous substances (described in sections 302 and 

304) and hazardous and toxic chemicals (described in sections 311, 312 and 313 respectively). 

Section 322 of EPCRA allows a facility to withhold the specific chemical identity from these 

EPCRA reports if the facility asserts a claim of trade secrecy for that chemical identity. The 

provision establishes the requirements and procedures that facilities must follow to request trade 

secret treatment of chemical identities, as well as the procedures for submitting public petitions 

to the Agency for review of the “sufficiency” of trade secret claims. EPA published the trade 

secret regulations on July 29, 1988 (58 FR 28772), codified in 40 CFR Part 350.

Trade secret protection is provided for specific chemical identities contained in reports 

submitted under each of the following provisions in EPCRA:

 303 (d)(2) Facility notification of changes that have or are about to occur;

 303 (d)(3) Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) requests for facility

information to develop or implement emergency plans;

 311 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) submitted by facilities, or list of those 

chemicals submitted in place of the MSDSs;

 312 Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms; and,

 313 Toxic Chemical Release Forms.

Section 322 requires that facilities requesting trade secret protection submit to EPA, in 

conjunction with their EPCRA report, an explanation showing that their claim for the chemical 

identity meets the four statutory criteria of trade secret enumerated in subsection (b) of that 

provision.

Facility owners and operators submit trade secret claims only to EPA. Claims consist of 
2

either one or two versions of the EPCRA report depending on the type of report, and two 

versions of an up-front substantiation of the trade secret claim. The substantiation is designed to 

gather sufficient factual support to indicate whether the claim will meet the four statutory criteria 

of trade secrecy. It is an EPA-developed form, and is discussed in detail in Part 3(b)(i) below.

Section 322(d) also provides for a public petition process to request the disclosure of 

chemical identities claimed as trade secret. EPA regulations do not specify a petition format, but 

does require that a petition contain certain elements set forth below in Part 3(b)(ii) of this 

supporting statement..

EPA is required by section 322(h) to identify the adverse health and environmental 

effects associated with the section 313 toxic chemicals claimed as trade secret and to include this 

information in the Toxic Chemical Release Inventory database required by section 313(j).

This provision also instructs the governor or State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) to 

identify the adverse health effects of the chemicals claimed as trade secret under sections 303, 

311 and 312 and provide this information to persons requesting the information. 

Section 323 regulations contain provisions allowing health professionals to gain access to 

trade secret chemical identities under three different circumstances:

 Non-emergency treatment and diagnosis. The chemical identity of a hazardous chemical, 

extremely hazardous substance or toxic chemical must be given to a health professional if 

the information is needed in the diagnosis or treatment of an exposed individual;

 Medical emergencies. Expedited access to the identity of chemicals to which people 

have been exposed is provided for health professionals; and,

 Preventative measures. Health professionals studying chemical exposure and health 

effects for local governments are also given access to chemical identities upon written 

request.

Two preconditions must be met in order for health professionals to gain access to trade 

secret chemical identity in non-emergency and preventative measure situations: they must submit 

a written statement of need and a written confidentiality agreement to the facility owner or 

operator prior to obtaining the information. No such requirements exist in the medical 

emergency situation, but the owner or operator disclosing the information may require a written 

confidentiality agreement and statement of need as soon as circumstances permit. 

The Offices that manages trade secret information submitted to EPA are the Office of 

Emergency Management (OEM) in the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

(OSWER) and the TRI Program Division in the Office of Environmental Information (OEI). 

Trade secrecy claims are stored in areas designed to assure the confidentiality of the collected 

information. 

2. Need/Authority for Collection; Use/Users of the Data
3

2 (a) Need/Authority for Collection

The specific provision of EPCRA authorizing this collection is section 322 of EPCRA. 

Congressional intent in writing trade secrecy provisions under EPCRA was to balance industry's 

concern with the protection of legitimate trade secrets with communities’ right-to-know chemical 

identification information. Congress established procedures for companies to assert claims, for 

the public to obtain review of their validity, and for an Agency claim review process which 

eliminates legally invalid and frivolous claims.

Section 322(a)(1)(B) requires a facility that requests trade secrecy protection for a 

EPCRA chemical to substitute a generic chemical class or category name in the place on the 

EPCRA submittal where the withheld specific chemical identity is normally reported. A copy of 

this EPCRA submittal, as well as the chemical identification information that is withheld, are to 

be submitted separately to the EPA pursuant to sections 322(a)(2)(A)(iii) and (a)(2)(B)(ii).

A facility is entitled to withhold chemical identification information according to section 

322(a)(2)(A)(i), only if that facility claims that such information is a trade secret on the basis of 

the following four factors which are enumerated in the provisions of section 322(b)(1)-(4):

 The facility has not disclosed the chemical identity to any other person, other than a 

member of a local emergency planning committee, an officer or employee of the United 

States or a State or local government, an employee of such person, or a person who is 

bound by a confidentiality agreement, and the facility has taken reasonable measures to 

protect the confidentiality of such information and will continue to take such measures;

 The information is not required to be disclosed or otherwise made available to the public 

under any other Federal or State law;

 Disclosure of the information is likely to cause substantial harm to the competitive 

position of the facility; and,

 The chemical identity is not readily discoverable through reverse engineering.

A facility is required under section 322(a)(2)(A) to make its claim of trade secrecy by

submitting, in conjunction with its EPCRA report, an explanation containing the reasons, 

including specific descriptions, why the subject information satisfies the four statutory criteria. 

Within 30 days after receipt of a public petition, EPA is required under section 322(d) to review 

the information contained in a claimant’s explanation to determine whether a claim is 

“sufficient.” If the Agency determines a claim is sufficient, section 322(d)(3)(A) provides for 

the claimant's submission of supplemental information to establish the veracity of the assertions 

contained in the substantiation. If the Agency determines that a claim is insufficient, or that the 

chemical identity is not a trade secret, and further determines that the claim is frivolous, section 

325(d) requires that the Agency assess a civil or administrative penalty for the claim.
4

Section 322(f) permits a facility to designate, apart from the specific chemical identity,

information which is contained in their claim explanation to be entitled to protection under the 

Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C., section 1905. Except for information entitled to such protection, 

the provision requires that the Agency make all claim explanations publicly available. Further, 

EPCRA section 324(a) mandates that EPA, the States, and local authorities, make each EPCRA

report publicly available during normal working hours at locations designated by the above 

entities, as appropriate, in a manner consistent with the provisions of section 322, (i.e., with the 

generic chemical name substituted for the specific chemical identity where a trade secrecy claim 

is made for the latter).

The regulations contained in 40 CFR Part 350 provides for the submission of two 

versions of the report and the substantiation, enabling EPA, SERCs and LEPCs to fulfill the 

statutory mandate that public access be readily available to documents containing only the 

generic chemical descriptions, and that the specific chemical identity and other designated trade 

secret information be accorded confidential treatment. 

The regulations also provides for submission to EPA of a sanitized and an unsanitized 

version of the substantiation form, a sanitized and where indicated, an unsanitized version of the 

EPCRA report by a facility requesting trade secrecy protection for a EPCRA reported chemical. 

The sanitized and unsanitized versions of these documents are identical in all respects except that 

the trade secret chemical identification information reported in the unsanitized version is deleted 

from the sanitized version and a generic class or category name is substituted in its place. Also, 

other information provided in the unsanitized substantiation that is designated as a trade secret by 

a facility is deleted from the sanitized substantiation. Claimants submit only a sanitized version 

of section 303(d)(2) and (d)(3) reports, and section 311 MSDSs to appropriate State and local 

authorities.

Answers to the substantiation questions described below provide the “specific 

description” stipulated in section 322(a)(2)(ii) on why a facility believes trade secrecy should 

apply. Without this information, the Agency would not be in a position to evaluate whether or 

not a claim to withhold the chemical identity is sufficient, nor would it have the time (statutorily

set at 30 days) required to request and review the data in response to a petition for identity

disclosure. Further, this information is needed in order for the Agency to evaluate claims for 

frivolousness and seek related penalties under section 325. On a broader scale, the information 

collection request is also necessary in order for EPA to evaluate whether the claim is complete 

under sections 322(a)(1) and (a)(2).

The Agency developed a standardized claim substantiation form to help it assess the 

sufficiency, validity and frivolousness of claims. The Agency anticipated that the form would 

reduce confusion about what information is to be supplied to meet the four statutory criteria. 

The Agency also anticipated that the form would help submitters more easily determine if they

have a sufficient basis to make trade secrecy claims, ensure that all submissions are evaluated on 

the basis of comparable information, and “flag” the documents for procedural safeguards to 

quickly identify, review and protect the confidentiality of the claim.
5

Based on reviews of the substantiations submitted in past reporting years, EPA's 

experience has been that use of a standardized substantiation form has: (1) enabled submitters to 

adequately understand and develop information necessary to submit a sufficient claim; (2) 

enabled EPA to ensure that all submissions are evaluated on the basis of comparable 

information, and; (3) served as an efficient identifier of the trade secret status of the document 

and associated report, and hence, has ensured the use of appropriate Agency handling and 

routing procedures protective of their confidentiality.

2 (b) Use/Users of the Data

The trade secrecy claim information is used only by OEM and TRI offices in order to: (1) 

perform the Agency’s review of claims as required by section 322(d) to determine whether the 

claims are sufficient to support a finding that the specific chemical identity withheld is a trade 

secret; (2) ensure that claims for all withheld chemical identities are complete in accordance with 

the requirements of sections 322 (a)(1) and (a)(2), and; (3) evaluate claims for frivolousness and 

the attendant assessment of penalties stipulated in section 325 (d)(1).

3. Nonduplication, Consultations, and other Collection Criteria

(a) Nonduplication

The information that EPA requires from trade secrecy claim submitters is not duplicated 

by any other Agency collection because the collection of information is entirely EPCRA 

oriented. In addition, unlike other statutes permitting confidential business information claims, 

EPCRA: (1) permits trade secrecy claims only for specific chemical identification information; 

(2) permits claims for a chemical identity only in very narrowly defined circumstances which are 

stipulated in the statute; and, (3) requires an up-front substantiation of the applicability of those 

narrowly defined circumstances by a claimant at the time the report for a chemical claimed as 

trade secret is filed.

(b) Public Notice

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Agency

notified the public through a Federal Register notice on the resubmission of this ICR on June 19, 

2015 (80 FR 35355). EPA did not receive any comments.

(c) Consultations

EPA contacted a few facilities that submitted trade secrecy claims to develop an average 

estimate on how much burden the trade secrecy regulations impose on the facilities. The 

following facilities were contacted.

Omega Chemicals Inc. TenCate Protective Fabrics

Cowpens, SC Molena GA

Lubrizol Invista
6

Deer Park, TX Lugoff SC 

Oxiteno Simpson Strong-Tie Anchor

Pasadena TX Addison IL

American Acryl

Harris, TX

(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection

Although submitting answers to the questions on the trade secrecy substantiation form is 

a necessary step towards ensuring eventual protection of a chemical identity, the decision to seek 

that protection is entirely voluntary. The submission process involves one initial collection of 

information for sufficiency, with the possibility of a request for supplementary information [as 

provided in section 322 (d)(3)(A)] to establish veracity of the assertions stated in the 

substantiation if EPA determines that a claim is initially sufficient during a review initiated by

public petition or the Agency.

(e) Confidentiality and Sensitive Questions

All trade secrecy claims submitted to EPA under EPCRA are handled and stored 

according to procedures set out in the Manual for Physical Handling, Security, and Protection of 

files containing Trade Secret Claims submitted under Sections 303, 311 and 312 of the 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), December 2014. The 

procedures for handling reports submitted under section 313 and the trade secret claims 

submitted under section 313 are set out in the Trade Secret Manual for TRIPS Data Processing 

Center, September 2014.

These procedures were developed expressly for EPCRA trade secrecy claims with the 

knowledge that these documents are sensitive. Handling and review of documents containing 

EPCRA trade secret information is permitted only by persons who have obtained formal 

clearance to access the information based on a work-related need to engage in these activities. 

When not being processed or reviewed by authorized individuals, the claim submissions 

containing trade secret information are stored in restricted access areas. To ensure that 

appropriate handling procedures are activated and the confidentiality of EPCRA trade secret 

submissions is maintained, the Agency attaches a cover sheet to the top of each trade secret 

document and otherwise marks the document to clearly identify the document as EPCRA 

confidential.

4. Respondents/SIC/NAICS Codes; Information Requested

4 (a) Respondents/SIC/NAICS Codes
7

Sections 303, 311 and 312 claims maybe submitted by manufacturing and nonmanufacturing sectors. Section 313 claims are submitted by facilities in covered sectors that 

trigger TRI reporting thresholds. Sectors covered by Section 313 include: metal mining; coal 

mining; manufacturers; electric utilities (limited to facilities that combust coal and/or oil for the 

purpose of generating electricity for distribution in commerce); commercial hazardous waste 

treatment (limited to facilities regulated under the RCRA Subtitle C, 42 U.S.C. section 6921 et 

seq.)); chemical and allied products-wholesale; petroleum bulk terminals and plants (also known 

as stations)-wholesale; and, solvent recovery services (limited to facilities primarily engaged in 

solvents recovery services on a contract or fee basis). To determine whether your sector is 

covered by Section 313, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria in Part 372, 

Subpart B, of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. EPA has required reporting using 

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes beginning with TRI Reporting 

Year 2006. The following table provides a crosswalk from TRI-covered Standard Industrial 

Classification (SIC) codes to TRI-covered NAICS codes. For a complete list of TRI-covered 

NAICS codes that includes certain industry exceptions and limitations, please refer to the EPA 

TRI web site at http://www.epa.gov/tri/lawsandregs/naic/ncodes.htm. 

TRI SIC-NAICS Table 

INDUSTRY SIC NAICS

Coal Mining 1221, 1222, 

1231

212111, 212112, 212113

Metal Mining 10a212221, 212222, 212231, 212234, 212299 

Electric Utilities 4911, 4931, 

4939

221111, 221112, 221113, 221118, 221121, 221122, 

221330* 

Food 20 311b, 111998* 

Beverage and Tobacco 

Products

20, 21 312c

Textiles 22 313d

Textiles Products 22 314e

Apparel and Accessories 23 315f

Leather and Allied 

Products

31 316

Wood Products 24 321, 113310

Paper 26 322

Printing and Publishing 27 323g, 511110, 511120, 511130, 511140*,511191, 

511199, 512220, 512230*, 519130*

Petroleum and Coal 

Products

29 324

Chemicals 28 325h, 211112*

Plastics and Rubber 30 326i

Stone, Clay, Glass and 

Cement

32 327j, 212324*, 212325*, 212393*, 212399*

Primary Metals 33 331
8

* --> With limitations

a --> Does not include SIC 1011, 1081, 1094

b --> Does not include NAICS 311811; Exemptions exist for NAICS 311119, 311330, 311340, 

311611, 311612

C --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 312112, 312229

d --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 313311, 313312

e --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 314121, 314129, 314999

f --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 315222, 315223, 315233.

g --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 323114.

h --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 325998.

i --> Does not include NAICS 326212.

j --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 327112.

k --> Does not include NAICS 334611; Exemptions exist for NAICS 334612

l --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 335312

m --> Exemptions exist for NAICS 337110, 337121, 337122.

n --> Does not include NAICS 339111, 339116; Exemptions exist for NAICS 339113, 339115

4 (b) Information Requested

 

 (i) Data Items for Trade Secrecy Claims

Based on the four substantiation requirements in section 322(b), the Agency developed 

six core questions to comprise a standard substantiation form. 

Questions one and two refer directly to the first criterion of section 322(b). The first 

question, on “specific measures” is the detail required by the submitter to prove to the EPA 

reviewer that reasonable safeguards have been taken to prevent unauthorized disclosure of the 

specific chemical identity. Answers to the second question will be used by the Agency to 

Fabricated Metal 

Products

34 332

Machinery 35 333

Computers 35 334k

Electronic Products 36, 38 335l

Transportation 

Equipment

37 336, 488390*, 541712*, 811490 

Furniture 25 337m

Miscellaneous 

Manufacturing

39 339n

Chemical Wholesalers 5169 424690, 425110*, 425120*

Petroleum Bulk 

Terminals

5171 424710

Hazardous Waste 4953 562211*, 562212*, 562213*, 562219*, 562920*

Solvent Recovery 7389 562112*
9

evaluate the facility's claim that the specific chemical identity has not been disclosed to anyone 

not bound by a confidentiality agreement.

Question three corresponds to the statute’s second criterion that the submitter show either 

that a State or Federal agency has not already determined that the chemical identity is not a trade 

secret, or that no existing State or Federal statutes prohibit claiming the chemical identity as a 

trade secret.

Questions four and five require information about the facility’s known connection with 

the use of the chemical, and estimates of competitive harm that would result from disclosure. 

Submitters must provide EPA with a description of their unique use of the chemical (3.4i), 

known linkages of the chemical to the facility in publications and patents (3.4ii), an explanation 

of how competitors could deduce use from disclosure of the chemical identity (3.4iii), and why

knowledge of this use would be valuable to competitors (3.4iv). Specific indications of the 

competitive harm resulting from disclosures must be provided in question five. These questions 

refer back to the third criterion of section 322.

Question six enables EPA to identify the prevalence of the chemical in the company’s 

products or releases, and the corresponding ability of competitors to identify the chemical 

through reverse engineering. This issue is specifically addressed in the fourth criterion.

In addition, blocks on the first page of the form provide space for accurate identification 

of the claimed trade secret chemical (CAS number, chemical identity), a field for substitution of 

the generic class or category, a check-off box to clearly identify the type of EPCRA report for 

which the claim is being asserted, and the facility’s Dun and Bradstreet number (for precise 

facility and record identification). Collecting this information generates no additional burden 

because it is transferred directly from the reports required under the various sections of EPCRA

for which a claim is being made.

Finally, the submitter must sign a certification statement, found on the last page of the 

form that the information is true to the best knowledge and belief of the submitter.

Trade secret claim package must include the following and the complete package should 

be submitted to EPA at the same time the EPCRA report is submitted. Section 312 and 313

reports are due annually, March 1 and July 1, respectively. Facilities that wish to file trade secret 

claim for a specific chemical identity, must submit trade secret claim package annually with 

section 312 and section 313 reports. 

 (ii) Data Items for Public Petition Process

No specific petition format is required. However, the rule does require that the following 

be included in a petition:

 The name, address and telephone number of the petitioner;
10

 The name and address of the company claiming the chemical identity as trade secret;

 A copy of the relevant sanitized EPCRA report (e.g., MSDS, Tier II or toxic chemical 

release form); and,

 A specific indication of the chemical identity that is being requested for disclosure.

EPA requires a copy of the EPCRA report in order to prevent any confusion about the 

particular disclosure in question. By statute, copies of facility filings are available at the offices 

of designated State or local entities. In writing the proposed and final regulations, the Agency

considered these elements to be the minimum needed to successfully identify and begin the 

review of a trade secrecy claim.

5. The Information Collected -- Agency Activities, Collection Methodology, and 

Information Management

5 (a) Agency Activities

 Process and store the data;

 Review the claims for completeness, sufficiency, and frivolousness;

 Respond to requests for confidential information from State governors, and nonconfidential information from the public;

 Respond to petitions from the public for disclosure of chemical identities claimed as trade 

secret; and,

 Prepare adverse health and environmental effects data for relevant chemical identities 

claimed as trade secret.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

The collection of trade secrecy claims is accomplished by respondents sending their 

claim submissions to EPA. The sanitized or non-trade secret versions of the EPCRA report and 

the substantiation are stored so as to be easily accessible to the public. Data reported on the 

sanitized version of a EPCRA, section 313 report are entered in the Toxic Chemical Inventory

database. The unsanitized versions of the EPCRA report and the substantiation are handled, 

labeled and stored in a manner protective of their confidentiality.

The unsanitized trade secret versions of these documents are reviewed to determine the 

sufficiency, validity and frivolousness of the claims. Both the sanitized and unsanitized 

documents are used to review the generic chemical class or category name in light of the specific 

chemical identity claimed as trade secret, to ensure the appropriateness of the generic 
11

description. For section 313 claims, both chemical descriptions are reviewed and used to 

develop adverse health and environmental effects data which are representative of the 

characteristics of the specific chemical identity withheld, and protective of the trade secret 

chemical identity.

While use of information technology is being encouraged in the relatively uniform 

EPCRA reporting sections, the unique nature and length of trade secrecy substantiation 

responses will not confer any special advantage to their being reported on alternative media. 

Standardized responses are not expected, or encouraged, to questions about facility safeguards to 

protect confidentiality of a chemical; the extent of disclosure to local, State and Federal 

government entities; discussions of the use of the chemical and competitors’ ability to discover 

it; and, statements on harm to competitive position.

The public petition process applies only to a chemical identity that a facility claims as 

trade secret, and not to other information contained in a substantiation which a facility has 

claimed as a trade secret. After receiving a petition, EPA has 30 days to determine whether the 

assertions on a facility’s substantiation form (if true) would form a sufficient basis for a trade 

secrecy claim. If the form meets the criteria of sufficiency, EPA will notify the submitter that 

they have 30 days to submit supplemental material supporting the truth of the assertions made in 

the substantiation. If the claim does not meet the criteria of sufficiency, EPA will notify the 

submitter that the claim will be denied. The facility may appeal to the Office of General Counsel 

or submit a statement of good cause to amend the substantiation. EPA will then accept or reject 

the statement, allowing or disallowing the submission of additional information. Finally, based 

on all the information a facility has submitted, EPA will determine whether the claim warrants 

trade secrecy protection.

EPA-initiated reviews are conducted following the same steps involved in the public 

petition process and may result in an Agency decision regarding the sufficiency of the trade 

secrecy claims. However, EPA-initiated reviews may be less formal and culminate in the 

withdrawal of a claim by a facility prior to the issuance of a formal Agency decision on the 

merits of the claim. The less formal reviews usually involve claims which are determined 

incomplete upon EPA review or complete claims which are thought by EPA to demonstrate 

obvious problems or weaknesses. In the circumstance of an incomplete package (no 

substantiation form), the Agency issues an NDC (Notice of Data Change). In those instances 

when a complete but deficient package is submitted, the Agency issues a notice of insufficiency

which is sometimes accepted by the facility and on one occasion during the last ICR timeframe, 

appealed to OGC. 

5 (c) Small Entity Flexibility

The regulatory provisions of sections 311/312 and the statutory provision of section 313 

inherently minimize the burden for small entities. Sections 311/312 have reporting thresholds 

below which facilities are not required to report. Section 313 applies only to facilities with 10 or 

more full-time employees.
12

The decision to submit a trade secrecy claim on a EPCRA report is voluntary. Facilities 

that submit trade secrecy claims are doing so because they believe it is to their benefit. In 

addition, the need to claim trade secrecy protection for a chemical identity is just as important to 

small companies as it is to large companies. Therefore, the need to supply information to 

support a submission, as well as to review it, is dependent upon a firm’s demonstration that it can 

adequately answer the four criteria found in the statute. Any firm, regardless of size, need only

provide as much, or as little, detail as it feels necessary to support its claim under the statute. 

5 (d) Collection Schedule

Under section 322, a specific chemical identity claimed as a trade secret is withheld from 

EPCRA reports. That provision requires that claim explanations, and the information claimed as 

a trade secret, be submitted concurrently with the submission of the EPCRA reports. Apart from 

the statutory mandate that requires the filing of a claim each time the subject chemical is reported 

in a EPCRA submission, an updated claim is necessary to establish the current applicability of 

the four statutory criteria of trade secrecy. Even the slightest change in the circumstances which 

support the claim can be pivotal to the sufficiency, validity, and frivolousness of the claim. Even 

where previously created substantiations are relevant and appropriate for use at a later time, EPA 

encourages submitters to carefully review the substantiations.

In the case of sections 312 and 313, the reporting is annual and facilities submit usually

trade secret claims annually to EPA the same time that the reports are submitted. Under section 

311, a claim must be resubmitted to EPA if an MSDS or list is updated. Under section 311, an 

initial MSDS or list must be updated within three months after the facility owner or operator 

discovers significant new information regarding an aspect of a hazardous chemical. Under 

section 303(d)(2) and (d)(3), a claim need not be resubmitted to EPA after the initial 

communication to the relevant LEPC unless further communication follows between the facility 

and LEPC which discusses the specific chemical identity in question.

6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection

(a) Estimated Number of Trade Secrecy Claims

Costs to the Government and to respondents are based on actual numbers of trade secrecy

claims received during reporting years (RYs) 2009 through 2011 and on estimates of future 

activity for the upcoming three-year period. The reporting year corresponds to the calendar year. 

Trade secret claims are due at the same time the EPCRA reports are submitted. For example, 

the deadline for submitting claims under section 312 for RY 2012 was March 1, 2013, which is 

the deadline for submitting the Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Form under 

section 312. The deadline for RY 2012 for section 313 claims is July 1, 2013, which is the 

deadline for submitting Toxic Chemical Release Reporting Form. Any facilities that wish to file 

trade secrecy claims in these reporting forms must submit the trade secrecy claim package with 

these reports to EPA. Although Section 312 report is submitted to the SERC, LEPC and the 

local fire department, the trade secret claims with substantiation should be submitted to EPA. 
13

Table 1 presents the actual number of submissions indicating trade secret claims for all 

sections of EPCRA for RY12, RY13 and RY14. For the three-year period, the total number of 

claims submitted under section 313 was 14. In summary, there were 5 claims by 1 facility in RY 

12, 4 claims by 2 facilities in RY 13, and 5 claims by 3 facilities in RY 14. Some of the claims 

were repeated during successive reporting years. Total number of claims submitted under 

Sections 311 and 312 for RY12, RY13 and RY14 were108 and 830, respectively. There were no 

claims submitted under Sections 303(d)(2) and (d)(3). 

Table 2 shows the estimated numbers of trade secret claims under sections 303, 311, 312 

and 313 expected to be filed by facilities in the new ICR period of RY15 through RY17. No 

claims are expected to be filed under section 303. 
14

Table 1

Actual Number of Trade Secret Claims

_________________________________________________________________________

SARA Section

RY12 RY13 RY14 Total

_________________________________________________________________________

303(d)2 and (d)(3) 0 0 0 0

311 26 41 41 108 

312 302 220 308 830 

313 5 4 5 14

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

Total 333 265 354 952

Table 2

Estimated Number of Trade Secret Claims

__________________________________________________________________________

SARA Section

RY15 RY16 RY17 Total 

__________________________________________________________________________

303(d)2 and (d)(3) 0 0 0 0

311 36 36 36 108

312 276 276 276 830

313 5 5 5 15

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

Total 317 317 317 317

(b) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost

Costs to the Federal Government for processing trade secret claims, the petition and 

review processes are explained below.

(i) Processing and Storage of Trade Secret Claims
15

EPA incurs expenses to process and store each trade secret claim submission. These 

activities include affixing document control number labels and trade secret cover sheets, 

processing basic information about the claims, checking for completeness, and storing the 

submissions. EPA must store all trade secret submissions and be prepared to respond to public 

petitions for disclosure of the subject chemical identities. Both fixed and variable costs are 

estimated.

Fixed costs are incurred for maintenance and operation of the existing storage and filing 

system for trade secret claims. Fixed costs for the three-year period (RY12 through RY14) 

covered by the expiring ICR for storage space for section 313 claims were $2,185 ($728 

annually). Fixed costs for 311/312 claims for the three-year period (RY12 through RY14) 

covered by the expiring ICR were approximately $5,200 ($1,734 annually). We assume the 

same for the period covered by this ICR. 

Variable costs are estimated by program. For sections 311 and 312 of EPCRA, costs 

supporting inventory of new claims; storage, retrieval, and logging the claims on a database, are 

estimated to be approximately $15,000 annually. Variable costs associated with processing 

section 313 claims are estimated to be approximately $2,000 annually.

Based on these figures, costs for processing trade secret submissions for OEI and OEM

are estimated to be $19,462 per year or a total of $58,386 for the three-year period covered by 

this ICR.

(ii) Petition/Claim Review

In addition to the costs associated with processing and storing trade secret claim 

documents, the Federal government will also incur costs by responding to petitions filed by the 

public requesting the Agency’s review of specific claims, and as a result of EPA initiated review 

of claims.

The actual number of petitions which has been filed over the history of the program is 

two; the first petition in 1989 pertained to one claim, and the second in 1990 pertained to 10 

claims asserted by one facility. No new petitions have been received by the Agency since 1990. 

In the previous ICR, the Agency based its estimates of future burden and costs for 

complex reviews on data pertaining to actual reviews conducted under section 313, which were 

estimated to be five per year. However, no high level, complex reviews were performed in the 

previous three-year ICR period. This ICR is estimating that three high-level Agency reviews will 

take place during the next three-year period. The average burden per complex review is 

estimated at 37 hours, and the average cost per review is estimated to be $1,824.84 (all labor at 

fully-loaded GS-13, Step 5, rate for Washington, DC for 2015). The annual burden for three 

complex reviews is thus estimated to be 111 hours and the total annual cost, $5,474.52. For the 

three-year period, the total burden is estimated to be 333 hours, and the cost, $16,423.56. The 

Agency have not initiated reviews of claims made under sections 311 and 312 but may review in 

the next ICR period.
Under section 322(g), EPA has the responsibility to provide trade secret information to 

States that request such information. However, EPA does not receive such requests so this ICR 

does not estimate costs or burdens because no additional requests are expected, and the Agency

does not have adequate experience on which to base an estimate.

6(c) Estimating Respondent Burden and Costs

One of the major cost components associated with trade secret claims is the cost to 

facilities to prepare substantiations. The time required to complete this process for each 

chemical will vary with the complexity of the situation, the number of chemicals that a facility 

seeks to claim as trade secrets, and the amount of detail that a facility includes in each answer. 

EPA contacted a few facilities (see section 5 of this document) to estimate the time it 

takes to fill out the substantiation forms and prepare the package for each claim. The average 

number of hours per chemical reported by facilities is 2.0 to 5.0 hours. Although the facilities 

that the Agency contacted informed us that it takes less time to re-submit claims that were 

submitted previously, EPA is using the conservative estimate of 9.5 hours that has been used in 

previous ICRs. One of the facilities that EPA contacted is a first-time submitter but the 

representative informed us that it took the facility 16 hours to prepare trade secret claim package 

for 3 chemicals. 

For each claim, EPA assumes that the technical personnel will spend 6.0 hours to prepare 

answers to each question in the substantiation form, management will spend 3.0 hours to review 

the claim and substantiation and the clerical staff will spend 0.5 hours to make copies and mail 

the package to EPA.

The cost to respondents is estimated based on the time needed to complete the 

substantiation forms and submit to EPA. Hourly wage rates, including fringe costs and 

overhead, are $67.22 for management labor, $54.21 for technical labor, and $30.52 for clerical 

labor. (Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics, June 2015). The unit cost for submitting 

package for one claim is estimated to be $725.30. 

EPA estimates that approximately 317 trade secret claims (see Table 2) may be submitted 

annually under sections 311, 312 and 313 of EPCRA. The estimated burden for the 317 claims 

is 3,011 hrs at a cost of $229,920 annually (9,033 hours at a cost of $689,760 for three years 

covered by this ICR).

ii) Petition and Review

As mentioned in the previous section of this document, EPA does not expect any 

petitions under any of the sections of EPCRA during the period covered by this ICR. EPA only
has received two petitions as of 1990. Therefore, we do not expect any burden associated with 

this activity. 

(iv) Capital and O&M Costs

No capital and operation and maintenance costs are associated with any requirements in 

this ICR.

(v) Explanation of Difference of Annual Reporting Burden

The previous ICR requested an average annual burden of 3,154 hours, while this ICR 

requests 3,011 hours. The decrease in burden is due to the slight decrease in the number of 

claims that EPA estimates for the next three years covered by this ICR. The annual number of 

claims estimated in the previous ICR was 332, while this ICR estimates 317 claims.

6(d) Burden Statement

The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 9.5 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial 

resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information 

to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, 

acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 

verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing 

information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and 

requirements; 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. 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 are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15. 

To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden 

estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the use of 

automated collection techniques, EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket 

ID Number EPA-HQ-SFUND-2006-0361, which is available for online viewing at 

www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Superfund Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA 

West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. The EPA Docket Center 

Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 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 Superfund docket is (202) 566-0276. An electronic version of the 

public docket is available at www.regulations.gov. This site can be used to submit or view 

public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access 

those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. When in the system, 

select “search,” then key in the Docket ID Number identified above. Also, you can send 

comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 

Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA. Please 
include the EPA Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-SFUND-2006-0361and OMB Control Number 

2050-0078 in any correspondence.