[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69823-69824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28208]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0631; FRL-9361-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
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 a request for a new
Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). This ICR is entitled: ``Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction
Technologies,'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 2472.01 and OMB Control
No. 2070-NEW. Before submitting the ICR 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 January 22, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0631 by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online
[[Page 69824]]
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: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 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.htm.
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: Kathryn Boyle, Field and External
Affairs Division, (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6304; fax number: (703) 305-5884;
email address: boyle.kathryn@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?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by the voluntary
collection activities under this ICR include pesticide application
equipment manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, pesticide registrants,
university researchers, and others who have an interest in reducing
spray drift. The North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) code for the principal respondents is:
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Producers of pesticide products............................... 32532
Crop Production............................................... 111
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, Life 541710
Sciences.....................................................
Colleges, universities, and professional schools.............. 611310
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This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this
action.
Title: Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction Technologies.
ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2472.01.
OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-NEW.
ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity.
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: EPA intends to initiate a voluntary information
collection for research to verify the effectiveness of application
technologies for agricultural pesticide sprays that have the potential
to significantly reduce pesticide spray drift. The focus of this
research is on technologies, including spray nozzles, shrouds and
shields, and drift reducing adjuvant chemicals used for aerial or
groundboom applications to row and field crops. Collectively these
technologies are referred to as drift reduction technologies (DRTs).
The voluntary program would encourage the identification and use of
DRTs that can substantially reduce drift of pesticide spray droplets
from the target application site (e.g., a corn field) downwind to non-
target areas. Exposures and adverse effects to humans, wildlife, and
crops and other vegetation from pesticide spray drift are well
recognized. Published research suggests 1-10% or more of applied
agricultural pesticide sprays drift from the target field. EPA believes
there are application technologies that have the potential to
significantly reduce the amount of spray drift. As these technologies
are identified, their drift-reducing potential needs to be verified.
Burden statement: The average cost per response is $10,476. Burden
is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
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:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 12 companies.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1
or 2 submissions by each company.
Estimated total annual costs: $73,000. There are no costs for
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
III. 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 notice 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 person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: November 5, 2012.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-28208 Filed 11-20-12; 8:45 am]
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