[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9879-9880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03139]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2022-0773; FRL-10208-01-OCSPP]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection and 
Request for Comment; Pollution Prevention (P2) Grantee Data Collection 
in Standard Electronic Format

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: 
``Pollution Prevention (P2) Grantee Data Collection in Standard 
Electronic Format'' (EPA ICR No. 2728.01; OMB Control No. 2070-NEW), 
represents a new ICR. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and 
approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects 
of the 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 submitted on or before April 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2022-0772, through 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 and visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For general information contact: Katherine Sleasman, Regulatory 
Support Branch (7602M), Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 566-1205; 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

[[Page 9880]]

burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply 
to?

    Title: Pollution Prevention (P2) Grantee Data Collection in 
Standard Electronic Format.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No.2728.01 and OMB Control No. 2070-NEW.
    ICR status: This ICR is a new information collection activity. 
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, 
after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are displayed 
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate 
means, such as with the related collection instrument or form, if 
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers for certain EPA 
regulations in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is 
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: This ICR presents EPA's estimates for the burden and 
costs associated with the information collection activities related to 
pollution prevention grant programs and the collection of activity and 
results data from the grantees via a standard electronic format.
    Pollution prevention (P2) means reducing or eliminating pollutants 
from entering any waste stream or otherwise being released into the 
environment prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. EPA's P2 
program operates three grant programs and is developing two new grant 
programs. The three existing programs are: The Pollution Prevention 
State Tribal Assistance Grants (P2 STAG); the Bipartisan Infrastructure 
Law Pollution Prevention Grants (P2 BIL); and the Source Reduction 
Assistance (SRA) Grants. The P2 STAG and SRA grants are funded through 
recurring appropriations and require grantees to provide matching 
funds. The P2 BIL grants, which are funded through the 2021 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also referred to as the 
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), are also STAG but do not require 
grantees to provide matching funds. The two new grant programs under 
development are: The Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice 
Through Safer/Sustainable Products (P2 EJ Products); and the Pollution 
Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice in Communities (P2 EJ 
Facilities). The P2 EJ Products and P2 EJ Facilities grants will also 
be supported by BIL funding and, as such, do not require grantee 
matching funds.
    EPA's goal in developing a standard electronic format is to provide 
a consistent manner of data collection from grant-funded projects so 
that ultimately the information collected can be inputted into a 
database which is searchable and sharable. To date, EPA has developed 
two templates in MS Excel format. The templates include two forms for 
two types of P2 and SRA projects: one for projects providing direct 
technical assistance to businesses (EPA Form 9600-047 (Template #1)) 
and one for projects supporting recognition and leadership programs or 
providing P2 technical assistance to broad audiences, including 
webinars, roundtables, tool development, research and demonstration 
projects (EPA Form 9600-048 (Template #2)). The completed templates 
will be collected annually by Regional grant administrators, who will 
be responsible for reviewing the data prior to database upload. EPA is 
in the process of completing similar templates for the two new grant 
programs and anticipates the reporting burden will be similar to the 
two existing grant programs.
    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 estimated to average 14 to 
20 per response. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR may include entities identified by the North American 
Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 99200, i.e., State 
Governmental entities.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory for grant recipients.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 275 (total).
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1 
(per year).
    Estimated total annual estimated burden hours: 5,123 hours (per 
year).
    Estimated total annual costs: $431,778 (per year), includes $0 
annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs.

III. 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: February 2, 2023.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023-03139 Filed 2-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


