Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0436-0015
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders, Enforceable Consent Agreements, Voluntary Testing Agreements, Voluntary Data Submissions, and Exemptions from Testing Requirements (Reinstatement) (Renewal)
Posted Date: 2020-06-01T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 105 (Monday, June 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33151-33152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11665]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0436; FRL-10008-29]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Revisions to 
an Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 1139.12; OMB Control No. 2070-
0033); Comment Request

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) revision to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: ``TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent 
Orders, Enforceable Consent Agreements, Voluntary Testing Agreements, 
Voluntary Data Submissions, and Exemptions from Testing Requirements 
(Reinstatement)'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1139.12 and OMB Control 
No. 2070-0033, represents an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire 
on October 31, 2021. This ICR is being revised to include TSCA section 
4 program updates associated with TSCA, as amended by the Frank R. 
Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. Before submitting 
the ICR revision to OMB for review and approval, 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 must be received on or before July 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0436, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: 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.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
Harlan Weir, Chemical Control Division, Mail Code 7405M, Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202 
564-9885; email address: weir.harlan@epa.gov.
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.

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 (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 affected by this collection.

II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply 
to?

    Title: ``TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders, Enforceable 
Consent Agreements, Voluntary Testing Agreements, Voluntary Data 
Submissions, and Exemptions from Testing Requirements 
(Reinstatement),'' revised to now be ``TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Test 
Orders, Enforceable Consent Agreements (ECAs), Voluntary Data 
Submissions, and Exemptions from Testing Requirement.''
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1139.12.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0033.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on October 
31, 2021. 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 listed in 40 CFR 
part 9, 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: Under TSCA section 4, EPA has the authority to promulgate 
rules, issue orders, and enter into consent agreements requiring 
manufacturers and processors to develop information on chemical 
substances and mixtures. The revisions to this ICR cover the 
information collection activities associated with the submission of 
information to EPA pursuant to TSCA section 4, as amended by the Frank 
R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. Under TSCA 
section 4, EPA has the authority to issue regulatory actions designed 
to gather or develop information related to human and environmental 
health, including hazard and exposure information, on chemical 
substances and mixtures. This information collection addresses the

[[Page 33152]]

burden associated with industry activities involved in the reporting 
and recordkeeping pursuant to TSCA section 4. 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:
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are manufacturers (including importers) or processors of 
chemical substances or mixtures, which are mostly chemical companies 
classified under NAICS Codes 325 and 324.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 175.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.5.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 32,147 hours. Burden is 
defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Estimated total annual costs: $7,650,663, includes no annualized 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

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

    There is an overall increase of 29,020 hours in the total 
respondent burden that is currently approved by OMB for this ICR. This 
increase reflects changes in the number of actions, CBI substantiation 
requirements, and methodological updates. However, there is a reduction 
in annual cost estimates due to a change in the assumed battery of 
tests that may be required for this three-year period under potential 
testing actions. The assumption is based on statutory changes under the 
Lautenberg Act, such as the mandated tiered testing approach. Further 
details about these changes are included in this ICR supporting 
statement.

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 technical person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

    Dated: May 15, 2020.
Alexandra Dapolito Dunn,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-11665 Filed 5-29-20; 8:45 am]
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