[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50565-50568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24118]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00177; FRL-4980-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting
the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on
specific aspects of the following information collections as described
below. The ICRs are: (1) A
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proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE) Screen
Printing Survey,'' (2) a proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the
Environment (DfE) Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information,''
and (3) a continuing ICR entitled ``TSCA Section 12(b) Notification of
Chemical Exports,'' ICR No. 795, OMB No. 2070-0030. 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 are
listed in 40 CFR part 9.
Dates: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 28,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit three copies of all written comments to: TSCA
Document Receipts (7407), Rm. NE-G99, Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-7099. All comments should be
identified by the respective administrative record numbers: Comments on
the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE) Screen
Printing Survey'' should reference administrative record number 145;
comments on the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment
(DfE) Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information'' should
reference administrative record number 146; and comments on ICR No.
795, ``TSCA Section 12(b) Notification of Chemical Exports,'' should
reference administrative record number 147. These ICRs are available
for public review at, and copies may be requested from, the docket
address and telephone number listed above.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Electronic comments
must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be
accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by
the appropriate administrative record number and ICR number. No
Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-
mail. Electronic comments on this document may be filed online at many
Federal Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic
submissions can be found in Unit III. of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Susan
B. Hazen, Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-554-1404, TDD: 202-554-
0551, e-mail: TSCA-H[email protected].
For technical information contact the following individuals:
For the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE)
Screen Printing Survey,'' contact Jed Meline, Economics, Exposure and
Technology Division (7406), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460,
Telephone: 202-260-0695.
For the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE)
Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information,'' contact Irina
Vaysman, Economics, Exposure and Technology Division (7406), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-1312.
For ICR No. 795, ``TSCA Section 12(b) Notification of Chemical
Exports,'' contact Wanda Woodburn, Environmental Assistance Division
(7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone:
202-260-3795.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of each ICR are available
from the EPA Public Access Gopher (gopher.epa.gov) at the Environmental
Sub-Set entry for this document under ``Rules and Regulations.''
I. Background
Entities potentially affected by this action are those: which
export or engage in wholesale sales of chemicals; which are engaged in
screen printing or other graphics imaging activities; or which are part
of industry sectors that may interact with EPA in the Agency's Design
for the Environment (DfE) program. For the collections of information
addressed in this notice, EPA would like to solicit comments 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.
(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.
II. Information Collections
This unit addresses three ICRs, which are identified and discussed
separately below.
Title: Design for the Environment (DfE) Screen Printing Survey
(proposed collection; ICR number, OMB control number, and expiration
date not applicable).
Abstract: EPA's Design for the Environment program, administered by
the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, is a voluntary, non-
regulatory approach to encourage industry to adopt technologies and use
materials that result in lower levels of pollution, lessened reliance
on toxic materials, higher energy efficiency and lower environmental
health risks. Through DfE, EPA creates partnerships with industry,
professional organizations, state and local governments, other federal
agencies, and the public to develop and disseminate technical
information.
The proposed study will focus on facilities that print graphic arts
materials, such as fine art prints, billboard advertisements, posters,
and electronic equipment. EPA, the Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging
Association International (SGIA, the principal association of the
screen printing industry), and the University of Tennessee Center for
Clean Products and Clean Technologies have developed technical
information for screen printing facilities on the use of screen
reclamation processes and other workplace practices that may lower
health risks to workers and prevent pollution. The purpose of the study
is to evaluate the impact of such DfE technical information on screen
printing industry practices, use of materials, and waste generation.
The proposed study would involve two telephone surveys of owners or
operators of screen printing establishments: an initial survey of a
sample of 350 screen printing establishments, and a follow-up survey to
be administered about 2 years later. This notice addresses burden
estimates only for the initial survey.
Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. EPA and
the EPA contractor administering the survey
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will observe strict confidentiality precautions, based on the Privacy
Act of 1974, which are outlined in detail in the ICR.
Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this
ICR is estimated to total 438 hours at a total cost of $10,938. These
totals are based on an average burden of approximately 1.25 hours per
response for 350 respondents, responding once to this survey. There are
no recordkeeping requirements associated with this collection. This
estimate includes the time needed to review instructions; develop,
acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to
a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review
the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the
information.
Title: Design for the Environment (DfE) Collection of Impact Data
on Technical Information (proposed collection; ICR number, OMB control
number, and expiration date not applicable).
Abstract: This is a generic ICR for a series of studies to
undertake data collection in support of EPAs DfE program. The concept
of the DfE program is detailed above. These studies are referred to as
the DfE Technical Information Impact Studies. The studies will focus on
various industrial sectors such as printing, printed wiring board
circuitry, and dry cleaning. (The ICR entitled ``DfE Screen Printing
Survey,'' described above, is a specific example of the type of
collection envisioned by this generic ICR.) The purpose of all DfE
Technical Information Impact Studies will be to evaluate the impact of
DfE technical information on industry practices, use of materials and
waste generation. In each case, EPA, often in collaboration with
industry associations and universities, will have developed technical
information for industry on the use of product reclamation processes
and other workplace practices that may lower health risks to workers
and prevent pollution. The proposed studies would each involve two
separate surveys of owners or operators of target industry
establishments. The initial survey would establish a baseline
representing pre-technical information receipt. A follow-up survey will
be administered approximately 2 years later to establish longer-term
impacts of the technical materials. The overall goal of this before-
and-after design is to understand the impacts of DfE technical
information on workplace practices and technologies that generate or
prevent pollution. This generic ICR will allow EPA to conduct a series
of small conceptually interrelated surveys. It will permit the DfE
program the ability to collect information in a timely manner and to
evaluate the effectiveness of the technical materials EPA provides to
industry. EPA will be the principal user of information developed from
the survey findings, but EPA expects that tens of thousands of small
businesses in a variety of industry sectors will benefit from the
results of the studies.
Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. EPA and
any EPA contractor administering the surveys will observe strict
confidentiality precautions, based on the Privacy Act of 1974, which
are outlined in detail in the ICR.
Burden Statement: Because it is not known how many surveys will be
conducted, it is not possible to estimate the total burden or cost of
the information collection. However, EPA expects that there will be an
average burden of approximately 1.25 hours per response, and that the
number of respondents will be in the range of 300 to 500 for each
survey, with each respondent responding once to a given survey. There
are no recordkeeping requirements associated with these surveys. These
estimates include the time needed to review instructions; develop,
acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to
a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review
the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the
information.
Title: Notification of Chemical Exports, ICR No. 795, OMB No. 2070-
0030, expires February 28, 1996.
Abstract: Section 12(b)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) requires that any person who exports or intends to export to a
foreign country a chemical substance or mixture that is regulated under
TSCA sections 4, 5, 6 and/or 7 submit to EPA notification of such
export or intent to export. Upon receipt of notification, EPA will
advise the government of the importing country of the U.S. regulatory
action with respect to that substance. EPA uses the information
obtained from the submitter via this collection to advise the
government of the importing country.
Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40
CFR part 707). 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. However,
notwithstanding any claims of confidentiality, the government of the
importing country will be notified of the export of the substances in
question.
Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this
ICR is estimated to total 3,800 hours per year, with an annual cost of
$111,856. These totals are based on an average burden of approximately
0.5 hours per response for an estimated 200 annual respondents,
reporting generally once annually per each country to which the
respondent exports chemicals. There are no recordkeeping requirements
associated with this collection. This estimate includes the time needed
to review instructions; develop, acquire, install and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating and
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
III. Public Docket
A record has been established for this action under docket number
``OPPTS-00177'' (including comments and data submitted electronically
as described below). A public version of this record, including
printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include
any information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection from noon
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The public
record is located in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, Rm.
NE-B607, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
[email protected]
Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
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The official record for this action, as well as the public version,
as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will
transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form
as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official
record which will also include all comments submitted directly in
writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection and Information collection requests.
Dated: September 22, 1995.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 95-24118 Filed 9-28-95; 8:45 am]
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