[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]
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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.
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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]
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