Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 1884.10); Comment Request

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: “Partial Update of the TSCA Section 8(b) Inventory Data Base, Production and Site Reports (Chemical Data Reporting)” and identified by EPA ICR No. 1884.10 and OMB Control No. 2070-0162, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2018. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, 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 October 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0648, by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: 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.
• Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001.
• Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.

Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For technical information contact: Meredith Comnes, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-3193; email address: comnes.meredith@epa.gov.

For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422 South Clinton Ave. Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.

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: Partial Update of the TSCA Section 8(b) Inventory Data Base, Production and Site Reports (Chemical Data Reporting).

ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1884.10.

OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0162.

ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on October 31, 2018. 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: The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, requires EPA to compile and keep current a complete list of chemical substances manufactured (including imported) or processed in the United States. EPA updates this inventory of chemicals every four years by requiring manufacturers, including importers, to provide production volume, plant site information and other chemical manufacturing, processing, and use information. Through the CDR regulation, EPA collects basic exposure-related manufacturing, processing, and use information used by the Agency and others in a wide range of activities This information allows EPA to identify what chemicals are currently in commerce and to take appropriate regulatory action as necessary. The information collected enables EPA to better understand and interpret the state of U.S. chemical manufacturing, processing, and use, and further enhances EPA's ability to identify, evaluate, and manage potential chemical risks. This ICR addresses the collection of inventory-related information.

Responses to the collection of required information are mandatory (see 40 CFR part 710). 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 described in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.

Burden statement: The annual per-response public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 126.44 hours per year for the average multi-chemical submission of 7.5 chemicals per site with 22% of reports consisting of partial reports. Additionally, for CDX electronic reporting activities, the average per response burden is estimated at .53 hours per registration for those respondents not already registered in CDX. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).

The ICR Supporting Statement, 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: Entities potentially affected by this ICR are companies that manufacture (including import) or process chemical substances, mixtures or categories into the United States.

Estimated total number of potential respondents: 5,662.

Frequency of response: Every four years (estimates below are on an annual basis).

Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.

Estimated total annual burden hours: 716,024 hours.

Estimated total annual costs: $56,959,323. This includes an estimated burden cost of $59,959,323 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 a decrease of 73,179 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease reflects a combination of program changes and adjustments. Program changes involving updated CBI substantiation requirements as a result of the Lautenberg Act are estimated at 4,877 hours. Agency adjustments include changes due to methodology corrections at—184,158 hours, and changes due to increased counts of sites at 106,102 hours. The ICR supporting statement provides a detailed analysis of the change in burden estimate. This change is an adjustment and the result of a program change.

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 technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Authority:44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.