[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88278-88279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25879]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0499; FRL-11938-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed New Collection 
and Request for Comment; Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 4 
Test Orders for Standardized Testing of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl 
Substances (PFAS)

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): ``Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 4 Test Orders for the 
Standardized Testing of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS),'' 
identified by EPA ICR No. 2797.01 and OMB Control No. 2070-NEW. This 
ICR represents a new request. 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 January 6, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0499, through 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) 566-1204; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2c1ded7d3c1dfd3dc9cd9d3c6dad7c0dbdcd7f2d7c2d39cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e5d424b4f5d434f4000454f5a464b5c47404b6e4b5e4f00494158">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 88279]]

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: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 4 Test Orders 
for the Standardized Testing of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances 
(PFAS).
    EPA ICR No.: 2797.01.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-NEW.
    ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. 
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: This ICR covers the information collection activities 
associated with the submission of information to EPA pursuant to TSCA 
section 4 for Test Orders on PFAS (15 U.S.C. 2603). Under TSCA, EPA has 
the authority to issue orders or rules designed to gather or develop 
information on chemical substances and mixtures. TSCA section 4 
authorities allow EPA to require the development of information related 
to chemicals and the use of prescribed ``protocols and methodologies'' 
to inform EPA and other federal agencies about chemical risks from 
manufacture, distribution in commerce, processing, use, or disposal of 
such substance or mixture, or any combination of such activities. The 
testing included in this ICR was informed by the National PFAS Testing 
Strategy. Data received pursuant to testing associated with this ICR 
will help inform the National PFAS Testing Strategy and any 
modifications to the Strategy.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 137 
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 are 
those that manufacture (including import) and processes chemical 
substances containing PFAS. The ICR includes a list of potentially 
affected entities with North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes provided to assist in determining potential 
applicability.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, per 15 U.S.C. 2603.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 13.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Total estimated annual burden hours: 29,162 hours.
    Total estimated annual respondent costs: $131,046,039 total costs, 
which includes $128,648,300, for laboratory costs.

III. 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: November 2, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-25879 Filed 11-6-24; 8:45 am]
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