Notice2021-16493
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an Existing Collection and Request for Comment; Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Training, Notification and Recordkeeping
Primary source
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Published
August 3, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: "Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Training, Notification, and Recordkeeping" and identified by EPA ICR No. 2491.05 and OMB Control No. 2070-0190, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2022. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 146 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 146 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41840-41842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16493]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0316; FRL-8734-01-OCSPP]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an
Existing Collection and Request for Comment; Agricultural Worker
Protection Standard Training, Notification and Recordkeeping
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this
document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on
an Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled:
``Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Training, Notification, and
Recordkeeping'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 2491.05 and OMB Control
No. 2070-0190, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is
scheduled to expire on April 30, 2022. Before submitting the ICR to OMB
for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on
specific aspects of the 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 October 4, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0316, online through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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.
Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along
with more information about dockets generally, is available at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/dockets">http://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
Please note that due to the public health concerns related to
COVID-19, the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is closed to
visitors with limited exceptions. The staff continues to provide remote
customer service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status
information on EPA/DC and
[[Page 41841]]
docket access, visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Siu, Mission Support Division
(7101), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:
(703) 34-0159; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#34475d411a5755465b584d5a745144551a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="592a302c773a382b36352037193c2938773e362f">[email protected]</span></a>.
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: Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Training,
Notification, and Recordkeeping.
ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2491.05.
OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0190.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on April 30,
2022. 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: This Information Collection Request (ICR) estimates the
recordkeeping and third-party response burden of paperwork activities
that covers the information collection requirements contained in the
Worker Protection Standard (WPS) regulations at 40 CFR part 170. The
requirements in 40 CFR part 170 were established to protect
agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from the hazards of
pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants on
agricultural establishments. The paperwork activities include
respondent activities associated with training and notification of
pesticide-related information for workers who enter pesticide-treated
areas after pesticide application to perform crop-related tasks, as
well as for handlers who mix, load, and apply pesticides. Agricultural
employers and commercial pesticide handling establishments (CPHEs) are
responsible for providing required training, notifications and
information to their employees to ensure worker and handler safety.
In 2015 (80 FR 67495, November 2, 2015 (FRL-9931-81), EPA revised
the requirements associated with training for workers and handlers,
improved posting of pesticide-treated areas, required additional
information for workers before they enter a pesticide-treated area
while a restricted entry interval (REI) is in effect, access to more
general and application-specific information about pesticides used on
the establishment, and revised recordkeeping of training to improve
enforceability and compliance.
Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6
minutes per response. 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: Respondents affected by the
collection activities under this ICR are agricultural employers on
agricultural establishments, including employers in farms as well as in
nursery, forestry, and greenhouse establishments.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory under 40 CFR 170.
Estimated total number of potential respondents: Approximately
985,000 agricultural establishments and approximately 1,995,000
agricultural workers/handlers.
Frequency of response: Annually or on occasion, depending on the
activity.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:
Varies.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 10,449,889 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $ 486,621,459. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $ 0 for capital investment or maintenance and
operational costs.
III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
There is no change in the number of hours requested and those
identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. There is an estimated
increase of 3,220 respondents, which is the result of a correction to
the Agency's previously reported bottom-line annual estimates. Although
the full burden analysis for the currently approved ICR properly
accounted for burden imposed on these respondents, these respondents
were inadvertently omitted from the total number of respondents
reported to OMB. This change is an adjustment.
In addition, this ICR reflects a change in format. OMB has
requested that EPA move towards using the 18-question format for ICR
Supporting Statements used by other federal agencies and departments
and is based on the submission instructions established by OMB in 1995,
replacing the alternate format developed by EPA and OMB prior to 1995.
The Agency does not believe that this change in format resulted in
substantive changes to the information collection activities or related
estimated burden and costs.
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 person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
[[Page 41842]]
Dated: July 27, 2021.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-16493 Filed 8-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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