Notice2022-04237
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Reinstatement of an Existing Collection and Request for Comment; Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Procurement
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 1, 2022
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
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) entitled: "Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Procurement" and identified by EPA ICR No. 2516.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0199. This is a request to reinstate a previously approved ICR as revised in order to allow the information collection to implement the Framework for the Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing (Framework). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval under the PRA, 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11426-11427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04237]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0838; FRL-9117-01-OCSPP]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Reinstatement
of an Existing Collection and Request for Comment; Assessment of
Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal
Procurement
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)
entitled: ``Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and
Ecolabels for Federal Procurement'' and identified by EPA ICR No.
2516.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0199. This is a request to reinstate a
previously approved ICR as revised in order to allow the information
collection to implement the Framework for the Assessment of
Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal
Purchasing (Framework). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and
approval under the PRA, 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 on the proposed ICR must be received on or before May
2, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments on the proposed ICR identified by
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0838, though 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>.
Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is opened to visitors by
appointment only. For the latest status information on EPA/DC and
docket access, visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact:
Katherine Sleasman, Regulatory Support Branch (7101M), Office of
Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone
number: (202) 566-1204; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bfccd3dadeccd2ded191d4decbd7dacdd6d1daffdacfde91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="34475851554759555a1a5f55405c51465d5a51745144551a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>.
For technical information contact: Alison Kinn Bennett, Data
Gathering and Analysis Division (7406M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-8859;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a51535454145b56534955547a5f4a5b145d554c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="42292b2c2c6c232e2b312d2c022732236c252d34">[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/organizations (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/organizations affected
by this collection.
II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply
to?
Title: Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and
Ecolabels for Federal Procurement.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2516.04; OMB Control No. 2070-0199.
ICR status: This ICR is a reinstatement. 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 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 ICR covers the information that will be requested to
be submitted to the Agency to evaluate private sector standards and
ecolabels under the updated Framework for the Assessment of
Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal
Purchasing. EPA's goal in developing this Framework is to create a
transparent, fair, and consistent approach to evaluate product
environmental performance standards and ecolabels for inclusion in
EPA's Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for
Federal Purchasing (``Recommendations''). The Recommendations help
federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally preferable
products and services which in turn, help to meet their sustainability
goals and requirements.
EPA is engaging in this collection pursuant to the authority in the
Pollution Prevention Act (42 U.S.C.A. section 13103(b)(11) which
requires EPA to ``Identify opportunities to use Federal procurement to
encourage source reduction'' and section 12(d) of
[[Page 11427]]
the ``National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995'' (15
U.S.C. 3701), which requires Federal agencies to ``use technical
standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies, using such technical standards as a means to carry
out policy objectives or activities.'' In addition, OMB Circular A-119
(titled ``Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary
Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities'')
reaffirms Federal agency use of private sector standards in procurement
and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23.703(b)(1) directs
Federal agencies to ``Maximize the utilization of environmentally
preferable products and services (based on EPA-issued guidance)''. On
December 8, 2021, Executive Order 14057, titled ``Catalyzing Clean
Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability'' was issued
(86 FR 70935, December 8, 2021). Pursuant to section 510(a) of the
Executive Order, a memorandum was issued by the Director of the OMB, in
coordination with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ) and the National Climate Advisor that provides direction on
immediate actions and further requirements to meet the policies and
goals of the Executive Order available here at: <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/M-22-06.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/M-22-06.pdf</a>. The
memorandum establishes EPA Recommendations of Specifications,
Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing as a program that
identifies sustainable products and services for purposes of meeting
the Executive Order goals and requirements available here at: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/recommendations-specifications-standards-and-ecolabels-federal-purchasing">https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/recommendations-specifications-standards-and-ecolabels-federal-purchasing</a>.
The fundamental aim of this Framework is to establish a cross-
sector approach to be used in recognizing private sector environmental
standards (and consequently, environmentally preferable products and
services meeting these standards) for use in federal purchasing. The
Framework includes scoping questions and four sections:
<bullet> Criteria for the Process for Developing Standards refers
to the procedures used to develop, maintain, and update an
environmental performance standard.
<bullet> Criteria for the Environmental Effectiveness of the
Standards refers to the criteria in the environmental performance
standard or ecolabel that support the claim of environmental
preferability.
<bullet> Criteria for Conformity Assessment refers to the
procedures and practices by which products are assessed for conformity
to the requirements specified by standards and ecolabeling programs.
<bullet> Criteria for Management of Ecolabeling Programs refers to
the organizational and management practices of an ecolabeling program.
In 2016, EPA conducted a pilot to test the original set of criteria
within the Framework against standards and ecolabels in the flooring,
furniture, and paints/coatings categories. EPA has made several edits
to the Framework based on lessons learned from the pilot and the desire
to address a broader range of sectors with a more streamlined set of
criteria. In this next phase of work, EPA intends to expand its
recommendations by assessing standards and ecolabels in purchase
categories that support Executive Order 14057 and Executive Order
14008, entitled: ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad'' (86
FR 7619, February 1, 2021).
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.
Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 8.5 hours
per response on average. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Respondents/Affected Entities: You may be potentially affected by
this action if you develop, manage, or certify products/services to
environmental performance standards and ecolabels.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary. See 15 U.S.C. 3701
and 42 U.S.C. 13103(b)(11).
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 100.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 2.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 707 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $45,322, which includes an estimated
cost of $0 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
This is a request to reinstate an ICR approval that is currently
not active. That means that there is currently no approved burden hours
or costs, and this ICR will therefore be treated as resulting in
increased burden of 707 hours.
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.)
Dated: February 23, 2022.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-04237 Filed 2-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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