[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40577-40578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17986]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0264; FRL-9966-65-OEI]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Reporting and
Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection; Submitted to
OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA has submitted the following information collection request
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA):
``Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker
Protection'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1246.13 and OMB Control No.
2070-0072. 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 in
this document. EPA did not receive any comments in response to the
previously provided public review opportunity issued in the Federal
Register on January 3, 2017 (82 FR 115). With this submission, EPA is
providing an additional 30 days for public review.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 25, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0264, to both EPA and OMB as follows:
To EPA online using http://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.
To OMB via email to [email protected]. Address
comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA.
EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the
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. Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be CBI or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Lintner, Environmental
Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; email
address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Docket: Supporting documents, including the ICR that explains in
detail the information collection activities and the related burden and
cost estimates that are summarized in this document, are available in
the docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, West William
Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 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.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31,
2017. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or
sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending
at OMB.
Under PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., 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 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's asbestos worker protection rule is designed to
provide occupational exposure protection to state and local government
employees who are engaged in asbestos abatement activities in states
that do not have state plans approved by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA). The rule provides protection for public
employees not covered by the OSHA standard from the adverse health
effects associated with occupational exposure to asbestos.
Specifically, the rule requires state and local governments to monitor
employee exposure to asbestos, take action to reduce exposure to
asbestos, monitor employee health and train employees about asbestos
hazards.
The rule includes a number of information reporting and
recordkeeping requirements. State and local government agencies are
required to provide employees with information about exposures to
asbestos and the
[[Page 40578]]
associated health effects. The rule also requires state and local
governments to notify EPA before commencing any asbestos abatement
project. State and local governments must maintain medical surveillance
and monitoring records and training records on their employees, must
establish a set of written procedures for respirator programs and must
maintain procedures and records of respirator fit tests. EPA will use
the information to monitor compliance with the asbestos worker
protection rule. This request addresses these reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Respondents/Affected Entities: State and local government employers
in 24 states, DC, and certain U.S. Territories that have employees
engaged in asbestos-related construction, custodial and brake and
clutch repair activities without OSHA-approved state plans.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (see 40 CFR 763
Subpart G). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice confidential.
EPA will disclose information that is covered by a claim of
confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance
with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 23,437.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total burden: 372,969 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Estimated total costs: $ 15,763,007 (per year), includes no
annualized capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
Changes in the estimates: There is a net increase of 9,452 hours in
the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in
the ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase reflects an increase
of 24,371 hours to account for updates made from previous ICRs to
standardize methodology, and a decrease of 14,919 hours due to Maine's
new status of having an OSHA-approved state plan whereby its entities
are no longer covered under this ICR. This change is an adjustment.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-17986 Filed 8-24-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P