Notice2026-03763
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal Collection and Request for Comment; Confidential Business Information Claims Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
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
February 25, 2026
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): Confidential Business Information Claims under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (EPA ICR No. 2706.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0223). This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved through August 31, 2026. 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 91 Issue 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9250-9251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03763]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2025-3955; FRL-13210-01-OCSPP]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal
Collection and Request for Comment; Confidential Business Information
Claims Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
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): Confidential
Business Information Claims under the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) (EPA ICR No. 2706.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0223). This ICR
represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved
through August 31, 2026. 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 April 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2025-3955, online 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: Sleasman, Katherine, Office of Mission
Critical Operations (Mail Code 7602M), 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#8af9e6efebf9e7ebe4a4e1ebfee2eff8e3e4efcaeffaeba4ede5fc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a69767f7b69777b7434717b6e727f6873747f5a7f6a7b347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>.
For general information contact: The TSCA Assistance Information
Service Hotline, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, 422 South Clinton Ave.,
Rochester, NY
[[Page 9251]]
14620; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8edaddcdcfa3c6e1fae2e7e0ebceebfeefa0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb9f98888ae683a4bfa7a2a5ae8baebbaae5aca4bd">[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: Confidential Business Information Claims under the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA).
EPA ICR No.: 2706.04.
OMB Control No.: 2070-0223.
ICR Status: This ICR is currently approved through August 31, 2026.
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: EPA is renewing the information collection concerning the
assertion and maintenance of claims of business confidentiality (also
known as Confidential Business Information or ``CBI'') under the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2601, et seq. The Frank R.
Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, Public Law 114-182
referred to in this Notice as ``Lautenberg''), made significant
amendments to TSCA including new provisions governing the assertion of
CBI claims and requirements concerning Agency review and treatment of
confidentiality claims. Among the changes to TSCA are new provisions on
EPA review, submitter maintenance, time limitations for CBI claims, and
an option to extend confidentiality claims for up to 10 additional
years. 40 CFR 703 specifies Agency procedures for reviewing and
communicating with TSCA submitters about confidentiality claims,
including requirements for submitters to maintain contact information,
procedures EPA will use to provide notices to submitters concerning
their claims, and the manner in which EPA will notify submitters
concerning the impending expiration of certain claims.
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:
Form number(s): PFN-7710-56, 7710-25, 7710-056, 6300-07, 9600-010,
9600-011, 9600-012, 9600-013, 9600-014, 9600-015, 9600-030, 9600-031,
9600-032, 9600-034, 9600-035, 9600-036, 9600-049, and 9600-060.
Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by
this ICR include North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes identified in question 12 of the ICR.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, as per 15 U.S.C.
2713 and 40 CFR 703.
Estimated number of potential respondents: 1,100.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Total estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 2.
Total estimated burden: 1,160 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Total estimated costs: $53,050.10 (per year) and includes $0
annualized capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
There is a decrease of 709 hours in the total estimated respondent
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by
OMB. This decrease reflects EPA's successful implementation of the
Lautenberg provisions governing the assertion of CBI claims through the
finalization of the Confidential Business Information Claims Under the
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) rule published on June 7, 2023 (88
FR 37155 (8223-02-OCSPP)) which amended and reorganized requirements
concerning Agency review and treatment of confidentiality claims. This
information collection also accounts for provisions that allow for
submitters the opportunity to request an extension of CBI claims and
for EPA to review time limitations for CBI claims and extension of
confidentiality claims for up to 10 additional years. This change is an
adjustment.
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 21, 2026.
Douglas M. Troutman,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-03763 Filed 2-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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