[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3533-3535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01295]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0318; FRL-9098-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection and Request for Comment; Request for Contractor 
Access to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Confidential Business 
Information (CBI)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on 
the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning 
to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): ``Request for 
Contractor Access to TSCA Confidential Business Information (CBI),'' 
identified by EPA ICR No. 1250.12 and OMB Control No. 2070-0075. This 
ICR represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is currently 
approved through October 31, 2022. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for 
review and approval under the PRA, 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 March 25, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0318, through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 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. Additional 
instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is open to visitors by 
appointment only. For the latest status information on EPA/DC services 
and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sleasman, Office of Program 
Support, Mission Support Division (7101M), Office of Chemical Safety 
and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 566-1204; email address: [email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

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?

    Title: Request for Contractor Access to TSCA Confidential Business 
Information (CBI).
    EPA ICR No.: 1250.12.
    OMB Control No.: 2070-0075.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through October 31, 
2022. Under the PRA, 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 
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 procures contract support to facilitate the 
performance of certain duties that may require contractors to handle 
TSCA CBI. Each contractor employee who will use TSCA CBI in the 
performance of his or her duties must be authorized for access to TSCA 
CBI through a multi-step process. The TSCA CBI Protection Manual 
provides Federal and contractor employees with guidelines and operating 
procedures for handling TSCA CBI while performing their official 
duties, as well as the procedures to obtain authorization for access to 
TSCA CBI.
    Specifically, for purposes of this information collection, 
contractor personnel must submit to EPA the form entitled ``TSCA CBI 
Access Request, Agreement, and Approval'' (EPA Form 7740-6). EPA uses 
Form 7740-6 to collect information about contractor personnel so that 
EPA can evaluate their suitability for access to TSCA CBI. EPA stores 
the information on the OPPT Chemical Information System.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.6 
hours per response. 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:
    Respondents/affected entities: The following North American 
Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to 
assist in determining whether this action might apply to certain 
entities: NAICS codes 514 (Information Services) and 561 
(Administrative and Support Services).
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory; 15 U.S.C. 2614.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated number of potential respondents: 23.
    Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 
214.
    Total estimated annual burden hours: 340.8 hours.
    Total estimated annual costs: $19,740. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $19,740 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs.

III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    There is no increase in number of hours in the estimated total 
annual burden and costs compared with that identified in the ICR 
currently approved by OMB. This increase in estimates results from an 
increase in the hourly wages and a change in the methodology to 
calculate loaded wages (wages plus fringe benefits and overhead). This 
change is an adjustment.
    In addition, OMB has requested that EPA move towards using the 18-
question format for ICR Supporting Statements used by other federal 
agencies and departments and is based on the submission instructions

[[Page 3535]]

established by OMB in 1995, replacing the alternate format developed by 
EPA and OMB prior to 1995. The Agency does not expect this change in 
format to result in substantive changes to the information collection 
activities or related estimated burden and costs.

IV. 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 document 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.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501)

    Dated: January 19, 2022.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-01295 Filed 1-21-22; 8:45 am]
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