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###### Environmental Protection Agency

          - [EPA-HQ-OARM-2011-0803, FRL-9512-3]

# AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency.

# ACTION:

Notice.

# SUMMARY:

                        In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501*et seq.*), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.                    

# DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before March 23, 2012.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2011-0803 to, (1) EPA online using                         *www.regulations.gov*                         (our preferred method), by email to                         *oei.docket@epa.gov,*                         or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket, Mailcode 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Staci Ramrakha, Policy Training and Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management (3802R), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-2017; email address:                         *ramrakha.staci@epa.gov.*

EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On October 31, 2011, 76 FR 67182, EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received two comments, which are addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

                        EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2011-0803, which is available for online viewing at                         *www.regulations.gov,*                         or in person viewing at the Office of Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Office of Environmental Information Docket is 202-566-1752.                    

                        Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at                         *www.regulations.gov,*                         to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “docket search,” then                               ( print page 10509)                            key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at                         *www.regulations.gov*                         as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to                         *www.regulations.gov.*

*Title:*                         Background Checks for Contractor Employees.                    

*ICR numbers:*                         EPA ICR No. 2159.05, OMB Control No. 2030-0043.                    

*ICR Status:*                         This ICR is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2012. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the                         **Federal Register**                         when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the                         **Federal Register**                         or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.                    

*Abstract:*                         The EPA uses contractors to perform services throughout the nation with regard to environmental emergencies involving the release, or threatened release, of oil, radioactive materials, or hazardous chemicals that may potentially affect communities and the surrounding environment. The Agency may request contractors responding to any of these types of incidents to conduct background checks and apply Government-established suitability criteria in determining whether employees are acceptable to perform on given sites or on specific projects. In addition to emergency response contractors, EPA may require background checks for contractor personnel working in sensitive sites or sensitive projects. The background checks and application of the Government's suitability criteria must be completed prior to contract employee performance. The contractor shall maintain records associated with all background checks. Background checks cover citizenship or valid visa status, criminal convictions, weapons offenses, felony convictions, and parties prohibited from receiving federal contracts.                    

*Burden Statement:*                         The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated on average to be one hour per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.                    

*Respondents/Affected Entities:*                         EPA Contractor Employee Who Work at Sensitive Sites.                    

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                         1,000.                    

*Frequency of Response:*                         Annual.                    

*Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden:*                         1,000.                    

*Estimated Total Annual Cost:*                         $186,730 includes $0 annualized capital or O&M costs.                    

*Changes in the Estimates:*                         There is no change in the hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens.                    

John Moses,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.

[FR Doc. 2012-4022 Filed 2-21-12; 8:45 am]

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