Document ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0659-0009
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Participatory Science and Crowdsourcing Projects
Posted Date: 2023-08-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56815-56816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17931]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0659; FRL--11250-01-ORD]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Generic 
Clearance for Participatory Science and Crowdsourcing Projects 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Generic Clearance for 
Participatory Science and Crowdsourcing Projects (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR 
No. 2521.39, OMB Control No. 2080-0083) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments 
on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described 
below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through January 31, 2024. 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: Comments must be submitted on or before October 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2015-0659 referencing the Docket ID numbers provided for each item in 
the text, online using https://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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Drumm, ORD-OSAPE, (8104R), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-8239; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents that 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 http://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.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to: (i) 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; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's 
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (iii) 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (iv) 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. EPA 
will consider the comments

[[Page 56816]]

received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will 
then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA 
will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the submission 
of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to 
OMB.
    Abstract: EPA relies on scientific information to achieve its' 
mission of protecting human health and the environment. Participatory 
science and crowdsourcing techniques allow the Agency to collect 
qualitative and quantitative data that could inform scientific 
research, assessments, or environmental screening; validate 
environmental models or tools; or enhance the quantity and quality of 
data collected across the country's diverse communities and ecosystems 
in support of the Agency's mission. Information gathered under this 
generic ICR may be used by the Agency to support the activities listed 
above. Collections under this generic ICR will be: (i) from 
participants who actively seek to participate on their own initiative 
through an open and transparent process (the Agency does not select 
participants or require participation); (ii) low-burden for 
participants; (iii) low-cost for both the participants and the Federal 
Government; and (iv) available to support the scientific research 
(including assessments, environmental screening, tools, models, etc.) 
of the Agency, states, Tribal or local entities where data collection 
occurs. EPA may, by virtue of collaborating with nonfederal entities, 
sponsor the collection of this type of information in connection with 
participatory science projects. When applicable, all such collections 
will comply with Agency policies and regulations related to human 
subjects research and will follow the established approval paths 
through EPA's Human Subjects Research Review Official. Finally, 
personally identifiable information will only be collected when 
necessary and in accordance with applicable federal procedures and 
policies. If a new collection is not within the parameters of this 
generic ICR, the Agency will submit a separate information collection 
request to OMB for approval.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Participants/respondents will be 
individuals, not specific entities.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 17,500 (total).
    Frequency of response: The frequency of responses will range from 
once to on occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 389,083 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $16,209,198 (per year), includes $525,000 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: The dollar figures have been updated to 
reflect current wages.

Mary A. Ross,
Director, Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement, Office of 
Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-17931 Filed 8-18-23; 8:45 am]
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