Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: October 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 202)]

[Notices]

[Page 59284-59286]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19oc07-51]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0853; FRL-8485-2]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1246.10, OMB Control No. 2070-0072

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the

[[Page 59285]]

information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 19, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID Number EPA-HQ- OPPT-2006-0853 to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to oppt.ncic@epa.gov or by mail to:

Document Control Office (DCO), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 7407T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Cunningham, Director, Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 7408-M, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202- 554-1404; e-mail address: TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On February 1, 2007 (72 FR 4705), EPA sought comments on this renewal ICR. EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments during the comment period. Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0853, which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person inspection at the OPPT Docket

in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Pollution Prevention and Toxics Docket is 202-566-0280.

Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the

index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives

them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection (Renewal).

ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1246.10, OMB Control No. 2070-0072.

ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2007. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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 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 in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: EPA's asbestos worker protection rule is designed to provide occupational exposure protection to state and local government employees who are engaged in asbestos abatement activities in states that do not have State plans approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The rule provides protection for public employees not covered by the OSHA standard from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. Specifically the rule requires State and local governments to monitor employee exposure to asbestos, take action to reduce exposure to asbestos, monitor employee health and train employees about asbestos hazards.

The rule includes a number of information reporting and recordkeeping requirements. State and local government agencies are required to provide employees with information about exposures to asbestos and the associated health effects. The rule also requires state and local governments to notify EPA before commencing any asbestos abatement project. State and local governments must maintain medical surveillance and monitoring records and training records on their employees, must establish a set of written procedures for respirator programs and must maintain procedures and records of respirator fit tests. EPA will use the information to monitor compliance with the asbestos worker protection rule. This request addresses these reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 CFR 763 Subpart G). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice as CBI. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a CBI claim only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in 40 CFR part 2.

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 CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register, are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and included on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.32 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This 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 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.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are state and local government employers in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and certain U.S. Territories that have employees engaged in asbestos-related construction, custodial and brake and clutch repair activities without OSHA-approved State plans.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 50.

[[Page 59286]]

Estimated No. of Respondents: 25,312.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 402,749 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: $14,980,583.

Changes in Burden Estimates: This request reflects a net decrease of 9,494 hours (from 412,243 hours to 402,749 hours) in the total estimated respondent burden from that currently in the OMB inventory. This net decrease principally reflects EPA's correction of certain training burdens that results from correctly annualizing the training requirement over five years rather than over a three-year period. The Supporting Statement provides details on the change in burden estimate. The change is an adjustment.

Dated: October 15, 2007. Sara Hisel-McCoy, Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. E7-20663 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P