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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93574-93575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27816]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0838; FRL-12379-01-OCSPP]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Assessment of 
Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal 
Procurement

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): ``Assessment of 
Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal 
Procurement,'' identified by EPA ICR No. 2516.05 and OMB Control No. 
2070-0199. This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is 
currently approved through September 30, 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 January 27, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0838, 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: Carolyn Siu, 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: 
(703) 719-1649; 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.
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic,

[[Page 93575]]

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: Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and 
Ecolabels for Federal Procurement.
    EPA ICR No.: 2516.05.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-0199.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through September 30, 
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: This ICR covers the information collection activities 
associated with the Agency's evaluation of private sector standards and 
ecolabels per EPA's Framework for the Assessment of Environmental 
Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing (Framework), 
formerly referred to as the Guidelines. EPA's goal in developing this 
Framework is to create a transparent, fair, and consistent approach to 
selecting product environmental performance standards and ecolabels to 
support the Agency's mission and federal sustainable acquisition goals 
and mandates. The fundamental aim of this Framework is to establish a 
cross-sector approach to be used in recognizing private sector 
environmental performance standards (and consequently, environmentally 
preferable products and services meeting these standards) for use in 
federal purchasing.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8.5 
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 
standard development organizations, ecolabel programs, and 
certification entities that manage product or service environmental 
performance standards and/or ecolabels that could be considered for use 
in United States federal sustainable procurement efforts.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary. See 15 U.S.C. 3701 
and 42 U.S.C. 13103(b)(11).
    Forms: EPA Form No. 9600-038.
    Frequency of response: On Occasion.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 100.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 2.
    Total estimated annual burden hours: 613 hours.
    Total estimated annual respondent costs: $49,284 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 in burden of 94 hours. The burden decrease is a 
result of the decrease of respondents that were not previously assessed 
per EPA Framework. This change is an adjustment.

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: November 21, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-27816 Filed 11-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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