[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14771-14772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8141]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00182; FRL-5360-1]
Agency Information Collection Activities
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of
the information collection as described below. The ICR is a continuing
ICR entitled ``TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders and Test Rule
Exemptions,'' EPA ICR No. 1139, OMB No. 2070-0033. 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 June 3, 1996.
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
reference administrative record number AR-155. This ICR is available
for public review at, and copies may be requested from, the docket
address and phone 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 administrative record number ``AR-155'' and ICR number ``1139.'' No
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: Keith Cronin, Chemical Control Division (7405), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-8157, Fax: 202-260-
1096, e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Entities potentially affected by this action are those companies
that manufacture, process, use, distribute or dispose of chemicals. For
the collection 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 Collection
EPA is seeking comments on the following Information Collection
Request.
Title: TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders and Test Rule
Exemptions, EPA ICR No. 1139, OMB No. 2070-0033, expires August 31,
1996.
Abstract: Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is
designed to assure that chemicals that may pose serious risks to human
health or the environment undergo testing by manufacturers or
processors, and that the results of such testing is made available to
EPA. EPA uses the information collected under the authority of TSCA
section 4 activity to assess risks associated with the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use or disposal of a chemical, and to support
any necessary regulatory action with respect to that chemical.
EPA must assure that appropriate tests are performed on a chemical
if it decides: (1) That a chemical being considered under TSCA section
4(a) may pose an ``unreasonable risk'' or is produced in
``substantial'' quantities that may result in substantial or
significant human exposure or substantial environmental release of the
chemical; (2) that additional data are needed to determine or predict
the impacts of the chemical's manufacture, processing, distribution,
use or disposal; and (3) that testing is needed to develop such data.
Rules and consent orders under TSCA section 4 require that one
manufacturer or processor of a subject chemical perform the specified
testing and report the results of that testing to EPA. TSCA section 4
also allows a manufacturer or processor of a subject chemical to apply
for an exemption from the testing requirement if that testing will be
or has been performed by another party.
Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40
CFR part 790). 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.
Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this ICR
is estimated to total 95,728 hours per year, with an annual cost of
$3,865,600. These totals are based on an average burden of
approximately 486 hours per test rule and consent order response for an
estimated 152 respondents, submitting one or more reports of
information annually. There are also 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
[[Page 14772]]
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 Record
A record has been established for this action under docket number
``OPPTS-00182'' (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.
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.
Lists of Subjects
Environmental protection and Information collection requests.
Dated: March 27, 1996.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 96-8141 Filed 4-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F