[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20402-20403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07442]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0647; FRL-9243-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection and Request for Comment; PCBs, Consolidated 
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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 
an Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: 
``PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 1446.14 and OMB Control No. 2070-0112, 
represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire 
on November 30, 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 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 June 6, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0647, using the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
at https://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 https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) is by appointment only. For the latest status 
information on EPA/DC and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sleasman, Regulatory Support 
Branch (7101M), Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 420-0580; 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: PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1446.14; OMB control number: 2070-0112.
    ICR status: The existing ICR is currently scheduled to expire on 
November 30, 2022. 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 
listed in 40 CFR part 9, 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: Section 6(e)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2605(e), directs EPA to regulate the marking and 
disposal of PCBs. Section 6(e)(2) bans the manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of PCBs in other than a totally 
enclosed manner. TSCA section 6(e)(3) establishes a process for 
obtaining exemptions from the prohibitions on the manufacture, 
processing, and distribution in commerce of PCBs. Since 1978, EPA has 
promulgated numerous rules addressing all aspects of the life cycle of 
PCBs as required by the statute. The regulations are intended to 
prevent the improper handling and disposal of PCBs and to minimize the 
exposure of human beings or the environment to PCBs. These regulations 
have been codified in the various subparts of 40 CFR 761. There are 
approximately 100 specific reporting, third-party reporting, and 
recordkeeping requirements covered by 40 CFR 761. To meet its

[[Page 20403]]

statutory obligations to regulate PCBs, EPA must obtain sufficient 
information to conclude that specified activities do not result in an 
unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. EPA uses the 
information collected under the 40 CFR 761 requirements to ensure that 
PCBs are managed in an environmentally safe manner and that activities 
are being conducted in compliance with the PCB regulations. The 
information collected by these requirements will update the Agency's 
knowledge of ongoing PCB activities, ensure that individuals using or 
disposing of PCBs are held accountable for their activities, and 
demonstrate compliance with the PCB regulations. Specific uses of the 
information collected include determining the efficacy of a disposal 
technology; evaluating exemption requests and exclusion notices; 
targeting compliance inspections; and ensuring adequate storage 
capacity for PCB waste. This collection addresses the several 
information reporting requirements found in the PCB regulations.
    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.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is 7.28 hours. Burden is 
defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are persons who currently possess PCB items, PCB-contaminated 
equipment, or other PCB waste.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, per 40 CFR 761 and 
TSCA section 6(e).
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 76,258.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 678,043 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $31,818,441, which includes an 
estimated burden cost of $31,815,826 and an estimated cost of $2,615 
for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

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

    This ICR reflects a decrease of 3,364 hours (from 681,407 hours to 
675,043 hours) in the total estimated respondent burden from that 
currently in the OMB inventory. This change is due to updates to the 
most current wage rate data and to revisions to the total number of 
respondents. The revisions to total number of respondents are the 
result of new data gathered for this ICR effort, updated Agency data 
regarding total numbers of regulated entities, and the overlapping 
coverage of the recently revised ICR for Universal Hazardous Waste 
Manifest, identified as EPA ICR No. 0801.25 and approved under OMB 
Control No. 2050-0039 through January 31, 2025.
    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 that is based on the submission 
instructions 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 et seq.

    Dated: April 1, 2022.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-07442 Filed 4-6-22; 8:45 am]
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