SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through April 30, 2026. 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.

Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on June 25, 2025 during a 60-day comment period (90 FR 27016). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. Supporting documents, which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

Abstract: EPA procures contract support to facilitate the performance of certain duties. EPA may require contractors to handle Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Confidential Business Information (CBI). Each contractor employee who will use TSCA CBI in the performance of his or her duties must be authorized for access to TSCA CBI through a multi-step process. The TSCA CBI Protection Manual (EPA Publication 7700 A2, revised October 2003) provides Federal and contractor employees with guidelines and operating procedures for handling TSCA CBI while performing their official duties, as well as the procedures to obtain authorization for access to TSCA CBI.

Specifically, for purposes of this information collection, contractor personnel must submit to EPA the EPA form titled “TSCA CBI Access Request, Agreement, and Approval” (EPA Form 7740-6). The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), uses EPA Form 7740-6 to collect information about contractor personnel so that the Agency can evaluate their suitability for access to TSCA CBI. EPA stores the information on the OPPT Chemical Information System (CIS).

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:

Form Numbers: 7740-6.

Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this ICR include North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes 514 Information Services and 561 Administrative and Support Services.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, per TSCA section 14 (15 U.S.C. 2613).

Estimated number of respondents: 288 (total).

Frequency of response: On occasion.

Total estimated burden: 461 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $25,220 (per year), which includes $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 120 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase reflects the increase in the number of contractors requesting CBI access from 214 to 288. This change is an adjustment.

91 FR 21808