Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0838-0036
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Procurement
Posted Date: 2022-03-01T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11426-11427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04237]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0838; FRL-9117-01-OCSPP]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Reinstatement 
of an Existing 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 that EPA is planning to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
entitled: ``Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and 
Ecolabels for Federal Procurement'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 
2516.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0199. This is a request to reinstate a 
previously approved ICR as revised in order to allow the information 
collection to implement the Framework for the Assessment of 
Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal 
Purchasing (Framework). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and 
approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects 
of the proposed 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 on the proposed ICR must be received on or before May 
2, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments on the proposed ICR identified by 
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0838, though the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://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 http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is opened to visitors by 
appointment only. For the latest status information on EPA/DC and 
docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: 
Katherine Sleasman, Regulatory Support Branch (7101M), 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: [email protected].
    For technical information contact: Alison Kinn Bennett, Data 
Gathering and Analysis Division (7406M), Office of Pollution Prevention 
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-8859; 
[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, 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/organizations (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/organizations 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.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2516.04; OMB Control No. 2070-0199.
    ICR status: This ICR is a reinstatement. 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 that will be requested to 
be submitted to the Agency to evaluate private sector standards and 
ecolabels under the updated Framework for the Assessment of 
Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal 
Purchasing. EPA's goal in developing this Framework is to create a 
transparent, fair, and consistent approach to evaluate product 
environmental performance standards and ecolabels for inclusion in 
EPA's Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for 
Federal Purchasing (``Recommendations''). The Recommendations help 
federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally preferable 
products and services which in turn, help to meet their sustainability 
goals and requirements.
    EPA is engaging in this collection pursuant to the authority in the 
Pollution Prevention Act (42 U.S.C.A. section 13103(b)(11) which 
requires EPA to ``Identify opportunities to use Federal procurement to 
encourage source reduction'' and section 12(d) of

[[Page 11427]]

the ``National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995'' (15 
U.S.C. 3701), which requires Federal agencies to ``use technical 
standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies, using such technical standards as a means to carry 
out policy objectives or activities.'' In addition, OMB Circular A-119 
(titled ``Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary 
Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities'') 
reaffirms Federal agency use of private sector standards in procurement 
and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23.703(b)(1) directs 
Federal agencies to ``Maximize the utilization of environmentally 
preferable products and services (based on EPA-issued guidance)''. On 
December 8, 2021, Executive Order 14057, titled ``Catalyzing Clean 
Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability'' was issued 
(86 FR 70935, December 8, 2021). Pursuant to section 510(a) of the 
Executive Order, a memorandum was issued by the Director of the OMB, in 
coordination with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) and the National Climate Advisor that provides direction on 
immediate actions and further requirements to meet the policies and 
goals of the Executive Order available here at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/M-22-06.pdf. The 
memorandum establishes EPA Recommendations of Specifications, 
Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing as a program that 
identifies sustainable products and services for purposes of meeting 
the Executive Order goals and requirements available here at: https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/recommendations-specifications-standards-and-ecolabels-federal-purchasing.
    The fundamental aim of this Framework is to establish a cross-
sector approach to be used in recognizing private sector environmental 
standards (and consequently, environmentally preferable products and 
services meeting these standards) for use in federal purchasing. The 
Framework includes scoping questions and four sections:
     Criteria for the Process for Developing Standards refers 
to the procedures used to develop, maintain, and update an 
environmental performance standard.
     Criteria for the Environmental Effectiveness of the 
Standards refers to the criteria in the environmental performance 
standard or ecolabel that support the claim of environmental 
preferability.
     Criteria for Conformity Assessment refers to the 
procedures and practices by which products are assessed for conformity 
to the requirements specified by standards and ecolabeling programs.
     Criteria for Management of Ecolabeling Programs refers to 
the organizational and management practices of an ecolabeling program.
    In 2016, EPA conducted a pilot to test the original set of criteria 
within the Framework against standards and ecolabels in the flooring, 
furniture, and paints/coatings categories. EPA has made several edits 
to the Framework based on lessons learned from the pilot and the desire 
to address a broader range of sectors with a more streamlined set of 
criteria. In this next phase of work, EPA intends to expand its 
recommendations by assessing standards and ecolabels in purchase 
categories that support Executive Order 14057 and Executive Order 
14008, entitled: ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad'' (86 
FR 7619, February 1, 2021).
    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.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 8.5 hours 
per response on average. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Respondents/Affected Entities: You may be potentially affected by 
this action if you develop, manage, or certify products/services to 
environmental performance standards and ecolabels.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary. See 15 U.S.C. 3701 
and 42 U.S.C. 13103(b)(11).
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 100.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 2.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 707 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $45,322, which includes an estimated 
cost of $0 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    This is a request to reinstate an ICR approval that is currently 
not active. That means that there is currently no approved burden hours 
or costs, and this ICR will therefore be treated as resulting in 
increased burden of 707 hours.

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: February 23, 2022.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-04237 Filed 2-28-22; 8:45 am]
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