Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0297-0004
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2017-10-10T04:00Z

ICR No. 2261.04; OMB Control No. 2070-0171

                                 ATTACHMENT B
                                       
          Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative  - Application Form
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                           OMB Control No. 2070-0171
                        Approval expires 03/31/2018   
                                        
       The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering information, posting information to the internet, and reviewing and completing the application. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed application to this address.
 Safer Detergents 
       Stewardship Initiative
       Instructions for Application Form
       
                                           
                                           
 EPA developed the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) to recognize environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to the use of safer surfactants. Leading product manufacturers have made great progress in developing safer, highly effective cleaners. These manufacturers believe that producing the safest products possible is important to their role as stewards of the environment and public health. A number of U.S. corporations have acted in advance of SDSI to use safer surfactants in their entire product lines.
 

Safer surfactants are surfactants that break down quickly to non-polluting compounds. EPA Safer Choice's Safer Chemical Ingredients List contains surfactants that meet Safer Choice's criteria for safer chemicals (https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-ingredients). CleanGredients(R) is also a resource for information on safer surfactants (www.cleangredients.org).

To be eligible for recognition under SDSI, candidates should do the following:
 Complete this application and have it signed by a company authority (e.g., CEO or vice president for health and environment).
 Post a statement on their website describing the actions that qualify them for recognition under SDSI.

EPA reserves the right to request at any time, on a confidential basis, appropriate documentation (including but not limited to bills of lading, invoices, material safety data sheets, and list of ingredients) to confirm that candidates have achieved the appropriate criteria for recognition. If documentation is requested but not received within a reasonable time, EPA may deny or withdraw recognition from that candidate.
There are two categories for recognition under SDSI: Champion and Partner. 
   
 Champion is the highest level of recognition offered under SDSI. At this level, the participant is listed on the EPA SDSI website as a champion and may use a special logo in their literature to help explain their participation in the program.
   
 The Partner category provides recognition of significant accomplishment towards the use of safer surfactants. Partners will be listed on the EPA SDSI website and may be granted recognition as a Champion in the future, if appropriate. Partner recognition will sunset on the commitment date provided in Section 3 of the Application.

Guidelines for achieving Champion or Partner Status are provided in Table 1. Both Champions and Partners will receive a certificate of recognition from Safer Choice. 
                                       
Application Process: The application is available online and may be filled out and submitted in hard copy by mail or scanned and emailed to saferchoice@epa.gov. Unless you claim information as confidential, all applications received will be considered public information and no materials submitted will be returned. For security purposes, confidential information should not be submitted electronically. If you choose to send the application electronically, the application and signed signature page must be scanned and sent to saferchoice@epa.gov.

If you choose to submit a hard copy application, send your completed application via regular / certified mail or overnight mail to the following address:

Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative 
Attn: Klara Zimmerman
4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 800 North
Bethesda, MD 20814-5341
301-634-1722

Confirmation of Receipt: EPA will confirm receipt of applications, usually by email. If you have not received an acknowledgment within two weeks of sending your applications, please contact David Difiore at saferchoice@epa.gov or 202-564-8786

Notification:  Winners will be notified prior to the official public announcement. Awards will be presented to the primary sponsor of the application.  

Questions: Questions about eligibility, nomination procedures, or the Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative should be directed to David Difiore of EPA's Safer Choice program at saferchoice@epa.gov or 202-564-8796

       
 Paperwork Burden Estimate 
 
 The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering information, posting information to the internet, and reviewing and completing the application. 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 number for this collection is 2070-0171. Approval expires on 03/31/2018.
 
 Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed application to this address.
       
 
Participant Type
                      Table 1:  Guidelines for Achieving:

                                Champion Status
                                Partner Status
Chemical Manufacturers
 Demonstrate that you only manufacture safer surfactants
 Document a strategy for ensuring that you manufacture only safer surfactants
 Commit to manufacturing only safer surfactants by a date that is reasonable for your circumstances
 Document a strategy for ensuring that you will manufacture only safer surfactants

Formulators
 Demonstrate that you only use safer surfactants in products
 Document a strategy for ensuring that only safer surfactants are used in products
 Commit to using only safer surfactants in your products by a date that is reasonable for your circumstances
 Document a strategy for ensuring that only safer surfactants will be used in products

Retailers / Distributors
 Demonstrate that only safer surfactants are included in products intended for sale
 Document a strategy for ensuring that only safer surfactants are included in products intended for sale
 Commit to sell only products containing safer surfactants by a date that is reasonable for your circumstances 
 Document your active encouragement of the use of safer surfactants

Institutional Purchasers
 Demonstrate that you only purchase products containing safer surfactants
 Document a strategy for ensuring that purchased products only contain safer surfactants
 Commit to only use products that only contain safer surfactants by a date that is reasonable for your circumstances
 Document your active encouragement of the use of safer surfactants
Others (e.g., non-profits, unions, academia)
 Demonstrate outstanding efforts to encourage the use of safer surfactants
 Document your active encouragement of the use of safer surfactants

Additional notes about Table 1 guidelines:
 Safer Choice's Safer Chemical Ingredients List and CleanGredients(R) are resources for information on safer surfactants.
 Products include those whose use routinely results in their discharge to the environment (e.g., all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergents, pesticides, airplane de-icers, fire-fighting foams and gels).
 An example of a strategy is a letter that is sent to suppliers requiring them to provide products with only safer surfactants. The retailer/distributor or institutional purchaser will not be eligible for Champion recognition until only safer surfactants are sold or purchased.
 Examples of efforts that would qualify include developing means for surfactant users to identify safer surfactants, taking action to educate industry or the public about safer surfactants, and encouraging business to move toward safer surfactants. 
Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative       	                  OMB No. 2070-0171

                                       
                                       
                                       
SECTION 1a:
Enter requested information for the authorized representative

Organization Name

Contact Name

Address

Address

Phone
Fax

Email

Website

SECTION 1b:
Indicate your type of organization

Chemical Manufacturer  -  Manufactures surfactants

Formulator  -  Purchases and blends chemicals (including surfactants) to create an end-use product for retailers and/or distributors

Retailer / Distributor  -  Sells products containing surfactants

Institutional Purchaser  -  Purchases or specifies cleaning products for use in multiple facilities (e.g., janitorial service provider)

Other  -  Influences use of surfactants (e.g., non-profit, trade association, academia)

SECTION 1c:  
Indicate the level of recognition for which you are applying (refer to the instructions for a description of Champion and Partner status for each organization type)

Champion (go to Section 2)

Partner (go to Section 3)

                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                             Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative       	                  Page 2 of 5
                                       
SECTION 2:
Fill out this section if you are applying for recognition as a Champion

If you are a...
Demonstrate in SECTION 2a that...
And then go to...

Chemical Manufacturer
You only manufacture safer surfactants
Section 2b

Formulator
You only use safer surfactants in products
Section 2b

Retailer / Distributor
Only safer surfactants are included in products intended for sale
Section 2c

Institutional Purchasers
All the products you purchase contain only safer surfactants
Section 2c

Other
You have made outstanding efforts to encourage the use of safer surfactants
Go to Section 4
                                                                               

SECTION 2a:
Use this space to explain how you meet the above requirements.
Please include supporting documents when appropriate and note these documents in your statement. You may attach extra sheets as needed.

To be eligible for recognition, candidates should post a statement on their website stating that they manufacture, use, or purchase products containing only safer surfactants. Use this space to provide the URL for that section of your website describing the actions that qualify you for recognition:

            Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative       	                  Page 3 of 5

SECTION 2b (Chemical Manufacturers and Formulators only): Indicate or describe your product stewardship strategy for ensuring the manufacture or use of safer surfactants

 Use Safer Choice's Safer Chemical Ingredients List or CleanGredients(R) to choose surfactants

 Other, please describe:

                                       
                                        
                                       
                                       
SECTION 2c (Retailers/ Distributors and Institutional Purchasers only):
Document your strategy for ensuring that all of your purchased products contain only safer surfactants. You may attach extra sheets as needed.*
If you are a...
Document a strategy for ensuring that...

Retailer / Distributor
Only safer surfactants are included in products intended for sale

Institutional Purchaser
Purchased products contain only safer surfactants

* An example of a strategy would be the establishment of a policy that requires suppliers to provide products that contain only safer surfactants. This strategy may be evidenced by a letter that is sent to suppliers requiring them to provide products with only safer surfactants, or a comparable statement posted on a company's website. The retailer / distributor will not be eligible for Champion recognition until it sells products with only safer surfactants.
                                             Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative       	                  Page 4 of 5

SECTION 3:
Fill out this section if you are applying for recognition as a Partner

If you are a...
Document in SECTION 3a your commitment to...

Chemical Manufacturer
Produce only safer surfactants

Formulator
Use only safer surfactants in your products

Retailer / Distributor
Only sell products that only contain safer surfactants

Institutional Purchasers
Only purchase products that only contain safer surfactants

Other
(e.g., trade association, NGO, etc.)
Encouragement of safer surfactants
                                       
                                       
                                       
SECTION 3a:
Use this space to describe how you meet the above requirements.*

To be eligible for recognition, candidates should post a statement on their website stating their commitment to completely transitioning to safer surfactants. Use this space to provide the URL for that section of your website describing the actions that qualify you for recognition:

* You should describe your commitment to a complete transition to safer surfactants by a date that is reasonable for your circumstances. Please state this date explicitly and explain briefly why it is a reasonable date for your circumstances. Include supporting materials when appropriate and note these materials in your statement. You may attach extra sheets as needed.

                                        Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative       	                 Page 5 of 5

SECTION 4:
Certification of Application
Please have the appropriate company authority (e.g., CEO, vice president for health and environment, division head, or other authorized signatory) sign here to verify the accuracy of the application's content.

                                       
                        Signature of Authorizing Entity
                                     Date
                            Printed Name and Title
                                     Date
                                       
 I hereby affirm that the contents of this application are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that I am an authorized representative of the company or organization named above and am duly authorized to sign this application.