1 Supporting Statement for a Request for OMB Review under the Paperwork Reduction Act

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION

l(a) Title of the Information Collection

TITLE: Toxic Substance Control Act Section 8(a) Chemical-Specific Information Gathering Rules

EPA ICR No.: 1198.05

OMB Control No: 2070-0067

1(b) Short Characterization

This information collection request require s OMB’s approval for the continued collection of chemical-specific information under section 8(a) of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). TSCA section 8(a) authorizes the Administrator of the EPA to promulga te rules that require persons who manufacture, import or process chem ical substances and mixtures, or who propose to manufacture, import, or process chemical subs tances and mixtures, to maintain such records and submit such reports to EPA as may be reas onably required. Information that may be collected under TSCA section 8(a) includes, but is not limited t o, chemical names, categories of use, production volume, byproducts of chemi cal production, existing data on deaths and environmental effects, exposure data, and disposal information. These data are collected by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and may be used by other EPA offices and/or Federal agencies to ensure knowledge of specific practices that may affect human health and the

environment.

There may be circumstances when EPA may re quire different information than is readily

available or information that is different from that availa ble through existing regulatory information collection tools, like the TSCA s ection 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Rule (PAIR) which is discussed in another I CR under a different OMB control number. EPA promulgated PAIR on June 22, 1982 (see 40 CFR Part 712). Whenever a substance is added to the PAIR, manufacturers and importers of the subs tance are required to complete a PAIR report form. The PAIR report requests a very limited amount of information on listed chemicals regarding activities occurring over a speci fic time period.

Any chemical covered by TSCA for which OPPT, other EPA Offices or another Federal agency has a reasonable need for information, and which cannot be satisfied via readily available sources or by use of PAIR, is a proper potentia l subject for a chemical-specific TSCA section 8(a) rulemaking. For instance EPA may wish to as k detailed questions in regard to how industry oversees the use and production of a chemical. These specific monitoring capabilities could allow EPA to react to change in market c onditions that may warrant a change in EPA’s2 regulatory strategy. Therefore, EP A could promulgate a TSCA secti on 8(a) rule to gather this information by requesting that curre nt or potential manufacturers, im porters or processors of the substance provide chemical-specific information.

EPA’s OPPT, other EPA Offices and/or othe r Federal agencies will generally be the primary groups for which information will be coll ected. However, to the extent that reported

information is not considered to be confiden tial business information (CBI), environmental groups, environmental justice a dvocates, state and local governm ent entities and other members of the public will have access to th is information for their own use.

Rather than requiring respondents to submit information on reporting forms such as those used for PAIR, EPA has in the past allowed i ndividual firms to choose the reporting means and format that is best suited to their recordkeepi ng resources. EPA believes that for TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rules, this allowance keeps reporting costs low.

Total annual cost of a rule varies depending upon the number of chemicals per rule and the number of respondents per chemical. Based on the recent past usage of chemical-specific TSCA section 8(a) rules and expected future us age, EPA assumes that it will promulgate one TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specifi c rule with four res pondents (notices) per year for the threeyear duration of the ICR (see Section 6(b), below). The maximum total annual number of burden hours for respondents range from 134 hours to 594 hours per TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule. The maximum cost associ ated with the promulgation of a TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule is $9,056 to $39,976. Ho wever, the cost per respondent varies with the type of chemical-specific information reque sted, and subsequently, the tasks required to comply with a TSCA section 8(a) chemical-speci fic rule. Because all re spondents may not have to provide information on all data items listed (see Sections 3 and 6(b), below), the ranges presented above are maximums. Assuming that all respondents do not have to complete all tasks identified to comply with a TSCA sec tion 8(a) chemical-specific rule, total annual reporting costs to all respondents range from $4,465 to $18,529 per rule.

2. NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection

Generally, EPA may need chemical-specifi c information under TSCA section 8(a) to evaluate the potential for adverse human h ealth and environmental effects caused by the manufacture, importation, processing, use or dis posal of identified chemical substances and mixtures. Additionally, EPA may use TSCA secti on 8(a) information to assess the need or set priorities for testing and/ or further regulatory action.

The information required in TSCA section 8( a) chemical-specific rules can be customtailored to aid in achieving EPA’s goals of pr otecting human health and the environment.3 Information collected may vary depending on the s ubstance, its current and potential uses and EPA’s concerns about potential human or e nvironmental risks cause d by exposures to the substance. Promulgated TSCA section 8(a) rules may require persons manufacturing, importing or processing the chemical substance to re port to EPA on specific information such as: a chemical’s composition, byproducts , quantity produced, employee exposure and environmental release. Persons have in the past also been re quired to notify EPA of a management decision to initiate the manufacturing, importing, or proce ssing of a chemical substance or mixture.

The legal authority for this information colle ction is TSCA section 8(a), U.S.C. 2607(a). TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rules ha ve been codified at 40 CFR 704, subpart B.

2(b) Use/Users of the Data

EPA will use the information obtained thr ough the TSCA section 8( a) reporting rules to satisfy specifically identified data needs. The information collected will be relevant to risk identification, all stages of risk assessment, a nd/or control action functions. Receipt of TSCA section 8(a) information may also give the Agency an opportunity to work with the respondent, if necessary, to minimize exposure risks associated with specific uses. Generally, a specific information collection request would be made by the Chemical Control Division, Chemical Management Division, or the Chemical Screen ing and Risk Assessment Division in OPPT. However, other regulatory agencies and departme nts, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Food and Drug Admi nistration (FDA), and other members of the Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) may also pr esent a need for and subsequently use TSCA section 8(a) data to, for example, assess worker or consumer exposures.

An example of a use of a TSCA section 8( a) chemical-specific rule that was key in affecting a benefit to human health was 1,1-aminoundecanoic acid (1,1-AA). From submitted TSCA section 8(e) “substantial risk” reports, EPA discovered that 1,1-AA is a carcinogen in one sex of one rodent species (male rat), and that exposure is limited to workers producing the nylon in which the chemical is an ingredient. The ma nufacturer was contacted to obtain exposure data

for this chemical. From this contact EPA lear ned: (1) 1,1-AA was import ed and converted into nylon by one company and there was no domestic manufacture; (2) 1,1-AA was handled and transferred in a closed system and all 1,1-AA was converted during th e reaction to produce nylon. Consequently, because of limited exposu re potential, 1,1-AA was dropped from further review. However, concern would arise if 1,1-AA were to be manufactured domestically because of the greater likelihood for work er exposure. To alert EPA to domestic manufacture, on May 28, 1987, OPPT promulgated a TSCA section 8(a) /5 (SNUR) rule for 1,1-AA (52 FR 19860) . Users of TSCA section 8(a) chem ical-specific data rarely make a judgment based solely on the content of the TSCA section 8(a) information r eceived but rather use the TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific information as part of the larger risk management strategy. 1,1-AA TSCA section 8(a) information would be instrumental in affecting a benefit to human health if a company were to begin to manufacture the substance.

3. THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED4 3(a) Respondents/Standard I ndustrial Classification (SIC)

Respondents affected by this collection activity primarily include those businesses that fall under SIC codes 28, Chemicals and Allied Products Manufacturers, and 29, Petroleum Refining and Related Industries.

3(b) Information Requested

3(b)(i) Data Items

Section 8(a) of TSCA specifica lly lists a wide range of data items that may be required by EPA, including information on use, production volu me, exposure, and health and safety. Data items requested of manufacturers, importers, or processors of cer tain chemicals vary with each collection request, but will not repeat informati on previously requested in the PAIR or other information gathering tools. Some data item s requested under TSCA section 8(a) chemicalspecific rules in the past include: notification and description of cha nges in the end use of identified substances and mixtures, info rmation on planned manufacturing and on-site processing, and notification of changes to the method of manufacturing the substance (see 40 CFR subpart B).

An example of a past TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule is one issued on 4,4,1- methylenebis (2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA). It required persons who propose to manufacture MBOCA to notify EPA of that in tent and to submit information on their planned manufacturing and on-site processing activities. The rule also required persons who are manufacturing MBOCA to notify the Agency if they propose to alter their manner or method of manufacturing

the substance.

3(b)(ii) Respondent Activities

Activities a respondent may be required to pe rform as a result of TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule are as follows:

9 to 29.5 Hours of Managerial Labor

Identify listed chemicals;

Assign principal technical contact person;

Identify by-product; Review marketing data;

Research the date of the initiation of manufacture or importation of the chemical;5 Research occupational exposure, environmenta l release, health and environmental data, disposal methods;

Process, compile, and review informati on for accuracy, substantiate a claim of

confidential business information.

17.5 to 98 Hours of Technical Labor

Identify chemical and trade name and chemical composition;

Identify by-product;

Describe use of chemical;

Report quantity manufactured or imported;

Research workplace exposures, environmental releases, health and environmental data, and disposal methods;

Provide occupational description.

7 to 21 Hours of Clerical Labor

Format research on occupational exposure s, environmental releases, health and environmental data;

Format attachments;

Prepare notice.

Recordkeeping Estimate

TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rules may contain recordkeeping requirements. The recordkeeping estimate is rough, but it is reasona bly related to the maximum reporting burden. EPA estimates that recordkeeping will account fo r approximately five percent of the reporting burden, or a maximum of 12 hours (see Table 1.)6 4. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED -- AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

4(a) Agency Activities Inventory

For any TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specifi c rule the Agency would have to perform a number of tasks. They are:

@ Industry/Public Assistance (ans wering questions regarding rule)

@ Data Processing and System Support Personnel

@ Storage and Distribution

@ Compliance Monitoring

4(b) Collection Methodology and Management

An improved information technology to minimize burden of a TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule has not been found. EPA ha s not been able to iden tify a more efficient, less expensive, or more flexible means of obtai ning the required data, than the one currently being used. To the extent data is not CBI, all information coll ected is made available to the public through the public docket office. At the pr esent time, EPA is not requiring firms to submit this information on one standard reporting form. Reporting facilities will be able to choose the format that best suits their reporting resources. TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rules typically require one-time reporting. As futu re data needs arise, EPA will consider the use of electronic or other types of reporting methods. EPA believes the flexibility alr eady allowed in the reporting structure significantly eases burden.

4(c) Small Entity Flexibility

Section 8(a) of TSCA generally exempts sm all manufacturers and processors. However, under TSCA section 8(a)(3), EPA may require sm all manufacturers and processors to report or keep records if the substance or mixture is su bject to a rule proposed or promulgated under TSCA sections 4, 5(b)(4), or 6 or with respect to which relief has been gran ted pursuant to a civil action brought under sections 5 or 7 of TSCA. All respondents to TSCA section 8(a) chemicalspecific rules, including small businesses, are granted flexibil ity in their reporting methods.

4(d) Collection Schedule

TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rules ar e generally one-time co llections of specific information, usually regarding one chemical subs tance. Proposed TSCA section 8(a) chemicalspecific rules request comments. The comments are then addressed and incorporated as appropriate in the final rule, wh ich specifies the reporting deadline. Generally, EPA requires that information be reported no sooner than 30 days after the effective date of a final rule.7 5. NON-DUPLICATION, CONSULTATION, AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA

5(a) Non-Duplication

Section 8(a)(2) of TSCA states, “To the ex tent feasible, the Administrator shall not require any reporting which is unnecessary or dup licative.” The reporting requirements of TSCA section 8(a) rules only require information that EPA believes will assist in a reasoned evaluation

of the human health and environmental effects of chemical substances and mixtures. This information is unlikely to be duplicative since, (1 ) EPA estimates that each rule will generate only a few notices, (2) the information required by the TSCA section 8(a) rule is unique to the manufacturer, importer or processor (e.g., the pr oposed date of production or importation, the amount produced or imported, the chemical compos ition, and uses of the chemical substance or mixture), and (3) EPA thoroughly checks other p ublic and unpublished so urces to see if the required data may already be available. Fi nally, once EPA became aware of a source of substantially similar information, for example via comments on a proposed rule, EPA would not

continue with the information collection.

5(b) Consultations

EPA has not published a proposed or fina l TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific information gathering rule for more than twelve years and, therefore, has received no comments

since that time. EPA has rece ived comments on the use of TSCA section 8(a) reporting rules through published Federal Register notices. Various organizations responded to EPA’s request for comments during the 1985 to 1988 ICR period. For example, the Agency originally proposed a SNUR for 4,4,1-methylenebis (2-c hloroaniline) (MBOCA) but public comments received in July and August of 1986 on the proposed SNUR suggested that a TSCA section 8(a) rule would be more appropriate. This sugge stion was followed, reducing the burden on the public since the TSCA section 8(a) rule exempt ed small manufacturers, whereas the proposed SNUR would not have had this exemption.

Also, after receiving public comment on the proposed SNUR/8(a) rule for 1,1- aminoundecanoic acid (July 22, 1986), the proposed definition of the term “enclosed process” was modified to account for possible releases th rough emergency pressure relief, thus expanding the number of processes that would be consider ed “enclosed” and lessening compliance costs.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRD C) has also responded to several TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specifi c rules. The NRDC is a national nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection of hu man health and the environment. The NRDC generally urges EPA to adopt a more extensive, detailed set of information requirements.

Finally, in proposing to renew this ICR, EPA provided a 60-day public notice and comment period that ended on April 28, 1997 (62 FR 8725, February 26, 1997) . The Agency8 received no comments on this request to renew the ICR or on the ICR itself.

5(c) Effects of Less Frequent Collection

Generally companies are required to re port only once under a TSCA section 8(a) reporting rule. EPA may consid er requiring reporting on an a nnual, semiannual, monthly or

other basis if the Administra tor deems this necessary to protect human health and the

environment. EPA tailors each rule to meet ch emical-specific data requi rements, thus reducing the potential for too frequent data collections.

5(d) General Guidelines

This information collection activity is nece ssary to implement the statutory requirements of section 8(a) of TSCA and is consistent with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.6.

5(e) Confidentiality

Submitters may designate information as confidential, trade secret or proprietary. EPA has implemented procedures to protect any confid ential, trade secret or proprietary information from disclosure. These procedure comply with EPA’s confidentiality regulation, 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart B.

5(f) Sensitive Questions

This section is not applic able. TSCA section 8(a) re porting rules do not include any questions of a sensitive nature.

6. ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AN D COST OF THE COLLECTION

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden

Costs in this report have been updated using the most recently available, revised wage rates. These wage rates, in cluding fringe benefits and ove rhead, were developed by EPA for each labor category using the methodology developed for EPA’s Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule (CAIR). Wage data used in de veloping the basic wage ra tes for this analysis were derived from 1993 wage information publishe d by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for white collar occupations in al l goods-producing private industrie s, and further adjusted for benefits and overhead. Wages have been updated to the fourth-quarter 199 9 using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Cost Index. This ICR maintains the assumption of the previous ICR that an average of four notices per year are submitted in response to one section 8(a) Chemical-Specific rule per year. Current labor rates and burden hour s used to calculate cost to respondents are listed below.9 Labor Category Burden Hours Hourly Rate Managerial 9 to 29.5 $ 92.33

Technical 17.5 to 98 $ 68.35

Clerical 7 to 21 $27.24

6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs

The following are the tasks that managers, t echnical, and clerical personnel are expected to perform in preparing a notice. However, as di scussed at the end of th is section and presented in Table 1, not all respondents are likely to be required to perform all tasks under each labor category. Therefore, the ranges of labor hours pres ented below for each labor category (ie., 9 to 29.5 hours for managers), are the maximums, and ar e based on the assumption that all tasks are performed for each notice.

Managerial Labor

1. Manufacturer identifies listed chemicals;

2. Assign principal tech nical contact person;

3. Identify by-product;

4. Review marketing data;

5. Research the date of th e initiation of manu facture or importation of the chemical;

6. Research occupational exposure, environm ental release, health and environmental data, disposal methods;

7. Process, compile, and review informa tion for accuracy, substantiate a claim of

confidential business information.

In performing these tasks, managerial labor hours have been estimated to range from 9.5 to 29.5 hours per TSCA section 8(a) chemical-sp ecific rule. At $92.33 per hour for management labor times the range of hours predicted, [$92.33 x (9.5 to 29.5)], the range of cost formanagement work is $877 to $2,724 per notice resulting from a TSCA section 8(a) chemicalspecific rule. With an average of four notices per year for the three-year I CR period, the range of costs per year for managerial labor is [4 x ($877 to $2,724)] = $3,508 to $10,896.

Technical Labor

1. Identify chemical and trade name and chemical composition;10 2. Identify by-product;

3. Describe use of chemical;

4. Report quantity manufactured or imported;

5. Research occupational expos ures, environmental releases , health and environmental data, and disposal methods;

6. Provide occupational description.

In performing these tasks, technical labor hour s have been estimated to range from 17.5 to 98 hours per notice resulting from a TSCA secti on 8(a) chemical-specific rule. At $68.35 per hour for technical labor, times the range of hour s predicted, ($68.35 x [17.5 to 98]), a range of

cost for technical work is estimated to be $1,196 to $6,698 per notice resulting from a TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule. With four no tices per year for a thre e-year period, the range

of annual costs for technical labor is [4 x ($1,196 to $6,698)] = $4,784 to $26,792.

Clerical Labor

1. Format research on occupational exposur e, environmental releases, health and environmental data;

2. Format attachments;

3. Prepare Notice.

In performing these tasks, clerical labor ha s been estimated to range from 7 to 21 hours per notice resulting from a TSCA section 8(a) ch emical-specific rule. At $27.24 per hour for clerical labor, times the range of hours predic ted, ($27.24 x [7 to 21]), the range of cost for clerical work is estimated to be $191 to $572 per notice resulting from a TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule. With four notices per TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule, the range of costs per year for clerical labor is [4 x ($191 to $572)] = $764 to $2,288.

The cost to a respondent for filing a TSCA section 8(a) notice depends upon the various tasks performed. These tasks could include gathering the required data, preparing and submitting the TSCA section 8(a) notice, and pos sibly keeping records. Based on promulgated TSCA section 8(a) rules, EPA estimates that each respondent will submit one notice per TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule. EPA anticipat es issuing one TSCA sec tion 8(a) rule per year and expects to receive an averag e of four notices per year.

The cost to a respondent for submitting a TSCA section 8(a) notice is a function of the number of hours and the hourly labor costs for the individuals developing and preparing the notice. The annual estimated range of cost to the respondent is $2,264 ($877 + $1,196 + $191)11 to $9,994 ($2,724 + $6,698 + $572) per notice, a nd $9,056 to $39,976 per TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule (above estimates multiplie d by four, the number of notices expected per rule.) However, as mentioned above, these figures are likely to overstate the true cost because not all respondents may be required to supply information regarding each activity. Thus, the average actual cost to the respondent will be lower than the $2,264 to $9,994 per notice estimate

calculated above. The estimated fr equency of each activity, along w ith total respondent cost and burden calculations, is presented in Table 1. The total cost to a ll respondents of reporting under a TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule is estimated to range from $4,465 to $18,529 per year. On a per respondent basis, the annual cost is estimated to range from $1,116 to $4,632 per notice, based on four notices per year.12 Table 1. Total Annual Respondent Burden and Costs Associated with Preparing and Filing a TSCA Section 8(a) Notice

Activity Managerial Technical Cl erical Notices Annual Annual

Hours Hours Hours Per Year Burden Costs $92.33/hr $68.35/hr $27.24/hr Hours

Manufacturer ID and Principal

Technical Contact 1 - 4 4 4 - 16 $369- $1,477

Chemical and

Trade Name 1 - 4 3 3 - 12 $205-
$820

Chemical Composition 0.5 - 2 4 2 - 8 $137-
$547

Byproduct ID 1 1 - 4 2 4 - 10 $322-
$732

Use Description 1 - 4 4 4 - 16 $233-
$933

Quantity

Manufactured or Imported 1 - 4 4 4 - 16 $273- $1,094

Marketing Data 1 - 2 2 2 - 4 $185-
$369

Date of Initiation

of Manufacture or Importation 0.5 4 2 $185

Occupational Exposure 1 - 4 2 - 16 1 - 3 2 8 - 46 $512- $3,089

Environmental

Release 1 - 4 1 - 8 1 - 3 2 6 - 30 $376- $1,995

Occupational Description 1 - 10 1 1 - 10 $68-
$683

Health and Environmental Data 2 - 8 8 - 40 1-3 1 11 - 51 $759- $3,555Disposal Methods 1 - 2 1 - 6 1 2 - 8 $160-
$595

Attachments 2 - 6 1 2 - 6 $54-
$163

Preparation of

Notice 1 - 3 4 4 - 12 $109-
$327

Managerial/Legal

Review of

Submission 1 - 4 4 4 - 16 $369- $1,477

Recordkeeping 1 - 3 4 4 - 12 $109-$327

TOTAL 9.5 - 29.5 17.5 - 98 7 - 21 67 - 275 $4,465 - $18,529

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost

The Agency has developed the following burde n hour estimates for activities related to promulgating a section 8(a) Chemical Specific rule.

Activity Burden

o Industry/Public Assistance .1 FTE (answering questi ons regarding the rule) o Data processing and systems support personnel .2 FTE o Storage and Distribution .1 FTE o Compliance monitoring .1 FTE

Total FTEs .5 FTE

The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics ba ses its burden hour and labor cost estimates on prior experience in gathering and pr ocessing information associated with other information collections. EPA has not promulgated a TSCA section 8(a) ch emical-specific rule in the past 12 years. Because Agency activities involve a team approach, the Agency has used a composite burden hour estimate containing workers at various GS le vels and calculated hourly costs ba sed upon the wage rate for a GS-12 Step 1. The year 2000 annual salary for a GS-12 Step 1 is $51,204. The cost for .5 FTE, based on a fulltime work year of 2,080 hours, is $25,602 (the hourly wage rate is $24.62 x 1,040 hours). Incorporating an

1314 overhead and benefits factor of .6 yields an annua l, fully loaded cost of $40,963 to the Agency of promulgating and supporting a TSCA sec tion 8(a) chemical-specific rule.

6(d) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Costs

The following tables display the annual bur den and costs borne by respondents and EPA, respectively, associated with preparing, filing and re viewing a notice resulting from a TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule.

Table 2

. Annual Burden and Cost of a TSCA S ection 8(a) Chemical-Specific Rule

Annual Burden Hours Annual Costs

Industry 67 to 275 $4,465 to $18,529

Agency 1,040 $40,963

6(e) Reasons for Change in Burden

The current request for renewal estimates a total annual burden to respondents of 275 hours, which is unchanged from the previous I CR renewal. EPA burden has been reduced from .8 FTE annually, to .5 FTE because two Agency activities, Chemical Nomination, Review and Selection (.1 FTE), and Rule Development (.2 FTE), were dropped from the list of Agency

Activities. These two activities are consider ed part of the Agency’s work, and are not attributable to a specific rule.

EPA anticipates issuing one TS CA section 8(a) chemical-speci fic rule per year with an average of four respondents submitting notices per rule. EPA may promulgate more than one TSCA section 8(a) chemical-specific rule per year over the next three year s. If EPA does this, the Agency will submit a technical amendment to OMB to reflect the change in estimated burden to the regulated industry and the government.

(6)(f) Burden Statement

The public burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 68.8 hours per response (one-quarter of maximum annual burden of 275 hours for four notices). Of the 68.8 hours, 65.8 hours are associated with reporting tasks such as revi ewing instructions, gathering the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The remaining

three hours are associated with recordkeeping. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintai n, retain, or disclose or provide informationto or for a Federal agency. This includes th e time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and syst ems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying 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; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor such a request, and a person or facility is not required to re spond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA’s regulations are liste d in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Part 15.

Send comments on the Agency’s need for th is information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated colle ction techniques, to the Director, Regulatory Information Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agen cy (2137), 401 M St., S.W., Washington D.C. 20460; and to the Office of Information and Re gulatory Affairs, Offi ce of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA.

Include the EPA ICR number and OMB control number in any correspondence.

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