[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 12166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6507]



[[Page 12166]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5710-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Manufacturing, Processing and 
Distribution in Commerce Exemptions
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) entitled: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Manufacturing, 
Processing and Distribution in Commerce Exemptions [EPA ICR No. 
0857.07; OMB Control No. 2070-0021] has been forwarded to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval pursuant to the OMB 
procedures in 5 CFR 1320.12. The ICR, which is abstracted below, 
describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated 
cost and burden.
    The Agency is requesting that OMB renew for 3 years the existing 
approval for this ICR, which is scheduled to expire on May 31, 1997. A 
Federal Register notice announcing the Agency's intent to seek the 
renewal of this ICR and the 60 day public comment opportunity, 
requesting comments on the request and the contents of the ICR, was 
issued on September 12, 1996 (61 FR 48152). EPA did not receive any 
comments on this ICR during the comment period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before April 14, 
1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 
260-2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 0857.07 and OMB Control No. 2070-
0021.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 0857.07 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0021, to the following addresses:

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Information 
Management Division (Mailcode: 2137) 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20460

    And 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Review Requested: This is a request to renew a currently approved 
information collection pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 0857.07; OMB Control No. 2070-0021.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on May 31, 
1997.
    Title: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Manufacturing, Processing 
and Distribution in Commerce Exemptions.
    Abstract: Section 6(e)(3)(A) of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA) prohibits the manufacture, processing and distribution in 
commerce of PCBs. TSCA section 6(e)(3)(B) provides that any person may 
petition the EPA for an exemption from these prohibitions and that the 
EPA may grant such an exemption for a one-year period if (1) an 
unreasonable risk of injury to health or environment would not result, 
and (2) good-faith efforts have been made to develop a substitute 
chemical substance for PCBs that does not present an unreasonable risk 
of injury to health or the environment.
    Interim Procedural Rules at 40 CFR Part 750 Subparts B and C 
outline the procedures for filing exemption petitions, the procedures 
that EPA will follow when a petition is submitted and the procedures 
for filing a request to renew an exemption previously granted. Under 
these rules, EPA may request information from each petitioner to 
determine whether the petitioner meets the statutory requirements to 
qualify for an exemption.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 750). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice 
confidential. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a claim 
of confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance 
with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average approximately two to 
eight hours per response for three respondents. These estimates include 
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. No 
person is 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 displayed in 40 CFR Part 9.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are those persons who petition the Environmental Protection 
Agency for exemptions from the prohibition on the manufacture, 
processing and distribution in commerce of PCBs.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: There is a decrease of 37 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden as compared with that identified in 
the information collection request most recently approved by OMB, from 
55 hours currently to an estimated 18 hours. This reflects the fact 
that new procedures that EPA has or plans to put in place with respect 
to the regulation of PCBs will reduce the number of exemption petitions 
that respondents need to file, and will eliminate the need to file 
renewal requests for exemptions previously granted. This, in turn, will 
reduce the burden associated with this information collection.
    According to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12, EPA has 
submitted this ICR to OMB for review and approval. Any comments related 
to the renewal of this ICR should be submitted as described above.

    Dated: March 10, 1997.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-6507 Filed 3-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P