Document ID: EPA-HQ-OARM-2017-0752-0008
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Background Checks for Contractor Employees
Posted Date: 2021-07-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39019-39020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15639]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2017-0752; FRL-8766-01-OMS]

Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Background Checks for Contractor Employees 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), Background Checks for Contractor 
Employees (EPA ICR Number 2159.08, OMB Control Number 2030-0043) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed 
extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 
2021. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal 
Register on January 21, 2021 during a 60-day comment period. This 
notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller 
description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden 
and cost to the public. 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.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 23, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OARM-2017-0752, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 
20460. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in 
the public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
    Submit written comments and recommendations to OMB for the proposed 
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Clarke, Policy Training and 
Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Solutions (3802R), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-8414; email address: 
clarke.denise@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents, which explain in 
detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are available 
in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: The EPA uses contractors to perform services throughout 
the nation with regard to environmental emergencies involving the 
release, or threatened release, of oil, radioactive materials, or 
hazardous chemicals that may potentially affect communities and the 
surrounding environment. The Agency may request contractors responding 
to any of these types of incidents to conduct background checks and 
apply Government-established suitability criteria in Title 5 CFR 
Administrative Personnel 731.104 Appointments Subject to Investigation, 
732.201 Sensitivity Level Designations and Investigative Requirements, 
and 736.102 Notice to Investigative Sources when determining whether 
employees are acceptable to perform on given sites or on specific 
projects. In addition to emergency response contractors, EPA may 
require background checks for contractor personnel working in sensitive 
sites or sensitive projects. The background checks and application of 
the Government's suitability criteria must be completed prior to 
contract employee performance. The contractor shall maintain records 
associated with all background checks. Background checks cover 
citizenship or valid visa status, criminal convictions, weapons 
offenses, felony convictions, and parties prohibited from receiving 
federal contracts.
    Form numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Private Contractors.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain a benefit.
    Estimated number of respondents: 1,000 (total).
    Frequency of response: Annual.

[[Page 39020]]

    Total estimated burden: 1,000 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $208,720 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: There is no change in the hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-15639 Filed 7-22-21; 8:45 am]
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