81 FR 12097 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 2302.03); Comment Request

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 45 (March 8, 2016)

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: ``Safer Choice Product Recognition Program'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 2302.03 and OMB Control No. 2070-0178, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2016. 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.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12097-12098]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05175]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0437; FRL-9942-87]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 2302.03); Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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: ``Safer Choice Product Recognition Program'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 2302.03 and OMB Control No. 2070-0178, 
represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire 
on August 31, 2016. 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 May 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0437, 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: 
Chen Wen, Chemistry, Economics & Sustainable Strategies Division 
(7409M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 564-8849; 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: Safer Choice Product Recognition Program.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2302.03.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0178.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 
2016. 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: EPA's Safer Choice program formally recognizes safer 
products where all ingredients have an environmental and human health 
profile showing that they are the safest in their functional use class. 
Under the encouragement of this program, leading companies have made 
great progress in developing safer, highly effective chemical products. 
Since the program's inception in 1997, formulators have used the 
program as a portal to EPA's unique chemical expertise, information 
resources, and guidance on greener

[[Page 12098]]

chemistry. Safer Choice program partners enjoy Agency recognition, 
including the use of the Safer Choice program logo on products with the 
safest possible formulations. In the future, EPA expects much greater 
program participation due to rising demand for safer products. This 
information collection enables EPA to accommodate participation by more 
than nine formulators each year and to enhance program transparency.
    Information collection activities associated with this program will 
assist the Agency in meeting the goals of the Pollution Prevention Act 
(PPA) by providing resources and recognition for businesses committed 
to promoting and using safer chemical products. In turn, the program 
will help businesses meet corporate sustainability goals by providing 
the means to, and an objective measure of, environmental stewardship. 
Investment analysts and advisers seek these types of measures in 
evaluating a corporation's sustainability profile and investment 
worthiness. Safer Choice Product Recognition program partnership is an 
important impetus for prioritizing and completing the transition to 
safer chemical products. The Safer Choice Product Recognition program 
is also needed to promote greater use of safer chemical products by 
companies unaware of the benefits of such a change.
    EPA has tailored its request for information, and especially the 
Safer Choice Product Recognition program application forms, to ensure 
that the Agency requests only that information essential to verify 
applicants' eligibility for recognition.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. 
Respondents may claim all or part of a response 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 in 
TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to range between 
8 and 16 hours per response, depending upon the type of respondent. 
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: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are companies engaged in the formulation of end-use, for-sale 
products that have furthered the goals of the Safer Choice program 
through active and exemplary participation in and promotion of the 
program, and that wish to receive recognition for their achievements.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 157.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.0.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 1,596 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $652,359. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $ 652,359 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 an increase of 362 hours in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This increase reflects EPA's estimate of a greater number of 
respondents, due to historical experience and increases in the expected 
future number of responses due to greater consumer awareness and demand 
for products with the Safer Choice label. This increase is partially 
offset by reduced per-response burden estimates based on expected 
efficiencies created by using the Salesforce-based Safer Choice 
Community on the part of respondents. This change is an adjustment.

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.

    Dated: March 1, 2016.
Louise P. Wise,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2016-05175 Filed 3-7-16; 8:45 am]
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