Agency Information Collection Activities; Design for the Environment Reporting; Submission of ICR No. 1768.02 to OMB; Agency Information Collection Activities

Review Requested: This is a request to renew a currently approved information collection pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1768.02; OMB Control No. 2070-0152. Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on October 31, 1999. Title: DfE Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information. Abstract: EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) program is a voluntary, non-regulatory approach to encourage industry to adopt technologies and use materials that result in lower levels of pollution, lessened reliance on toxic materials, higher energy efficiency and lower environmental health risks. Through DfE, EPA creates partnerships with industry, professional organizations, state and local governments, other federal agencies and the public to develop and disseminate technical information. This information collection is a generic ICR for a series of surveys, referred to as DfE Technical Information Impact Studies, to undertake data collection in support of EPA's DfE program. The studies will focus on various industrial sectors such as printing, printed wiring board circuitry and dry cleaning. The purpose of all DfE Technical Information Impact Studies is to evaluate the impact of DfE technical information on industry practices, use of materials and waste generation. In each case, EPA, often in collaboration with industry associations and universities, will have developed technical information for industry on the use of product reclamation processes and other workplace practices that may lower health risks to workers and prevent pollution. The proposed studies will each involve two separate surveys of owners or operators of target industry establishments. The initial survey will establish a baseline representing pre-technical information receipt. A follow-up survey will be administered approximately two years later to establish longer-term impacts of the technical materials. The overall goal of this before- and-after design is to understand the impacts of DfE technical information on workplace practices and

technologies that generate or prevent pollution. This generic ICR will allow EPA to conduct a series of small, conceptually interrelated surveys. It will permit the DfE program the ability to collect information in a timely manner and to evaluate the effectiveness of the technical materials EPA provides to industry. EPA will be the principal user of information developed from the survey findings, but EPA expects that tens of thousands of small businesses in a variety of industry sectors will benefit from the results of the studies. Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. 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 in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 2 hours per response for an estimated 7,500 respondents making one or more submissions of information annually. These estimates include 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. No person is required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for these regulations are displayed in 40 CFR Part 9. Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are companies or industries that are part of industry sectors that may interact with EPA in the Agency's DfE program. Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,500. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15,000 hours. Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Changes in Burden Estimates

There is an increase (from 1,000 hours to 15,000 hours) in the total estimated respondent burden as compared with that identified in the information collection request most recently approved by OMB. This increase reflects the expectation that greater numbers of respondents in more industry sectors will participate in surveys, as EPA's DfE program becomes better known and more popular and increases its scope. The earlier ICR anticipated 800 annual respondents to surveys, whereas the current request projects 7,500 respondents annually. According to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12, EPA has submitted this ICR to OMB for review and approval. Any comments related to the renewal of this ICR should be submitted within 30 days of this notice, as described above.

Dated: July 26, 1999. Stephen T. Vineski, Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 99-19589 Filed 7-29-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P