Notice2024-09527
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Collection of Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting
Primary source
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Published
May 2, 2024
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 the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): "Collection of Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting," identified by EPA ICR No. 2567.05 and OMB Control No. 2070-0207. This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved through February 28, 2025. 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 89 Issue 86 (Thursday, May 2, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35821-35822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09527]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0617; FRL-11648-01-OCSPP]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an
Existing ICR Collection and Request for Comment; Collection of
Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting
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
the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning
to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): ``Collection of
Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting,'' identified by EPA
ICR No. 2567.05 and OMB Control No. 2070-0207. This ICR represents a
renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved through February
28, 2025. 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 July 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0617, through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sleasman, Mission Support
Division (7602M), Office of Program Support, Office of Chemical Safety
and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:
(202) 566-1206; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c5b6a9a0a4b6a8a4abebaea4b1ada0b7acaba085a0b5a4eba2aab3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96e5faf3f7e5fbf7f8b8fdf7e2fef3e4fff8f3d6f3e6f7b8f1f9e0">[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; and
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
[[Page 35822]]
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: Collection of Information for TSCA Mercury Inventory
Reporting.
EPA ICR No.: 2567.05.
OMB Control No.: 2070-0207.
ICR status: This ICR is currently approved through February 28,
2025. Under the PRA, 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: As directed under TSCA, EPA is required to assist in the
preparation and publication in the Federal Register of an ``inventory
of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States'' (15 U.S.C.
2607(b)(10)(B) and (D)). Based on the inventory of information
collected through this ICR, the Agency is directed to ``identify any
manufacturing processes or products that intentionally add mercury''
and ``recommend actions, including proposed revisions of Federal law or
regulations, to achieve further reductions in mercury use'' (15 U.S.C.
2607(b)(10)(C)).
The primary purpose of this ICR is to support the development of
that inventory. In turn, the inventory will help the Agency identify
uses of mercury and recommend means to achieve further reductions of
such uses in commerce. In addition, the Agency seeks to obtain the
information necessary to achieve its goal to further reduce the use of
mercury in products and certain manufacturing processes in order to
prevent future releases to the environment, as well as assist the
United States in reporting implementation under the Minamata
Convention. EPA seeks to enhance its current information on how much
mercury is used, in which products and manufacturing processes, and
whether certain products are manufactured domestically, imported, or
exported.
Reporting is required from any person who manufactures (including
imports) mercury or mercury-added products, as well as any person who
otherwise intentionally uses mercury in a manufacturing process under
TSCA section 8(b). The Agency promulgated reporting requirements at 40
CFR part 713. To avoid duplication, EPA coordinated the reporting with
the Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC).
Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25
hours per respondent annually or a total of 75 hours per respondent
over the three-year life cycle of the ICR. 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:
Forms: 9600-024.
Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected are
those that manufacture (including import) mercury, manufacture
(including import) mercury containing products, and those who
intentionally use mercury in a manufacturing process.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, per 40 CFR 713.
Frequency of response: Triennial.
Total estimated number of potential respondents: 105.
Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
Total estimated annual respondent burden hours: 2573 hours.
Total estimated annual respondent costs: $223,592, which includes
$0 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
There is a decrease of 14,775 hours in the total estimated industry
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This decrease reflects a change in EPA's method of
estimating the number of expected reports. In 2021, EPA amended the
original final rule to effectuate the vacatur ordered by the Second
Circuit Court. In this ICR, with data available from the Mercury
Inventory and with no new changes to the rule itself, this ICR utilizes
data from the Reporting Year 2021 of the Mercury Inventory. In the RY
2021, there were 105 submissions (the previous ICR used an estimate of
252). This ICR assumes each respondent completes the entire form. Wages
were also updated to 2022 dollars. These changes represent adjustments.
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: April 26, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-09527 Filed 5-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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