Document ID: EPA-HQ-OARM-2018-0028-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Contractor Conflicts of Interest
Posted Date: 2018-03-02T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8987-8988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04310]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2018-0028; FRL-9974-93-OARM]

Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Contractor Conflicts of Interest; EPA ICR 1550.11, OMB 
Control No. 2030-0023

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), ``Conflict of 
Interest'' (EPA ICR No. 1550.11, OMB Control No. 2030-0023) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 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 June 30, 2018. 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 May 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-
2018-0028, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], 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: Pamela Leftrict, Policy, Training, and 
Oversight Division, Acquisition Policy and Training Service Center 
(3802R), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-9463; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public

[[Page 8988]]

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.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to enable it 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, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. 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. 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 contractors will be required to disclose business 
relationships and corporate affiliations to determine whether EPA's 
interests are jeopardized by such relationships. Because EPA has the 
dual responsibility of cleanup and enforcement and because its 
contractors are often involved in both activities, it is imperative 
that contractors are free from conflicts of interest so as not to 
prejudice response and enforcement actions. Contractors will be 
required to maintain a database of business relationships and report 
information to EPA on either an annual basis or when each work order is 
issued.
    Form numbers: ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1550.11, OMB Control No. 
2030-0023.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are businesses or organizations performing contracts for 
the EPA.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory to continue 
performance on the respective contract, in accordance with respective 
contract clause terms.
    Estimated number of respondents: 45 (total).
    Frequency of response: 1,245.67 hours per response.
    Total estimated burden: 14,652 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: Estimated total annual costs are 
$3,214,288.05. This includes an estimated contractor burden cost of 
$2,798,168.85 and an estimated agency burden cost of $416,119.20. These 
amounts were calculated using the hours above and the labor rates from 
the 2017 Bureau of Labor National Mean Statistics and the General 
Schedule.
    Changes in estimates: There is no change in the number of hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden compared to the ICR currently 
approved by OMB.

    Dated: February 21, 2018.
Kimberly Y. Patrick,
Director, Office of Acquisition Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-04310 Filed 3-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P