[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 1922-1923] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-881] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPP-00422; FRL-4991-8] Pesticides; Renewal of Agency Information Collection Activities AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces that the following Information Collection Request (ICR) is coming up for renewal. This ICR, Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) Petitions for Pesticides on Food/Feed and New Inert Ingredients (ICR No. 0597) will expire on May 31, 1996. Before submitting the renewal packages to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the collection as described below. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 25, 1996. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the docket control number ``OPP-00422'' and ICR number ``0597'' by mail to: Public Response Section, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments directly to the OPP docket which is located in Rm. 1132 of Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Electronic comments must be submitted as a ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form or 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 docket number ``OPP-00422'' and the ICR number ``0597.'' 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. Information submitted as a comment concerning this document may be claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice. All written comments will be available for public inspection in Rm. 1132 at the Virginia address given above from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Kramer, Policy and Special Projects Staff, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code (7501C), 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: (703) 305-6475, e-mail: [email protected]. Copies of the complete ICR and accompanying appendices may be obtained from Ellen Kramer at the above address or by contacting the OPP docket at the location under ADDRESSES. 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. Information Collection Requests EPA is seeking comments on the following Information Collection Request (ICR). Title: Maximum Residue Limits Petitions on Food/Feed and New Inert Ingredients. ICR No. 0597. OMB No. 2070-0024. Expiration date: May 31, 1996. Affected entities: Parties affected by this information collection are manufacturers of pesticide chemicals. Abstract: The use of pesticides on crops often results in pesticide residues in or on the crop. To protect the public health from unsafe pesticide residues, EPA sets limits, formerly known as tolerances, on the nature and level of residues permitted. EPA is mandated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended, to ensure that the maximum residue levels likely to be found in or on food/feed are safe for human consumption through a careful review and evaluation of residue chemistry and toxicology data. In addition, EPA must ensure that adequate enforcement of the maximum residue limits (MRL) can be achieved through testing by submitted analytical methods. EPA will establish an MRL or grant an exemption from the requirement of an MRL once the data reviewed are deemed adequate. Burden Statement: This information is a one-time collection. The overall respondent burden hours associated with this collection has decreased from the current ICR estimate of 856,920 hours to 216,300 hours per year. This change is the result of the decrease in the number of residue petitions per year. Cost estimates, however, have increased due to more realistic labor rates supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics which reflect more accurately the costs borne by the pesticide manufacturers. The annual respondent burden for this program is estimated to average 1,442 hours per response, including time for: reading any instructions, conducting required studies, compiling the information/ data, completing paperwork, and storing/filing/maintaining the data. There is no third party notification or public disclosure burden associated with this collection. Any 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 contained in 40 CFR part 9. II. Request for Comments EPA solicits comments to: (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information described above are 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 estimates of the burdens of the proposed collections of information. (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. (iv) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated or electronic collection technologies or [[Page 1923]] other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Send comments regarding this matter, or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the docket under the ADDRESSES unit listed above. III. Public Record A record has been established for this action under docket number ``OPP-00422'' (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 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Fri0day, excluding legal holidays. The public record is located in Rm. 1132 of the Public Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. 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. 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 rulemaking record which will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official rulemaking 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: December 15, 1995. Susan H. Wayland, Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. [FR Doc. 96-881 Filed 1-23-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F