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Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Confidentiality Rules (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1665.07, OMB Control No. 2020-0003
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: July 17, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 40510-40512]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy06-64]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OEI-2006-0515; FRL-8198-1]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Confidentiality Rules (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1665.07,
OMB Control No. 2020-0003
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit the following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to
expire on November 30, 2006. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of
the proposed information collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OEI-2006-0515, by one of the following methods:
? http://www.regulations.gov: 
Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
? Email: docket.oei@epa.gov.
? Fax: 202-566-0224.
? Mail: Office of Environmental Information Docket (OEI),
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
? Hand Delivery: 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20460, Room B102. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's
normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-
2006-0515. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business
[[Page 40511]]
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by
statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://
www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless
you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment
directly to EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of
the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry F. Gottesman, National FOIA
Officer, Collection Strategies Division, Office of Information
Collection, 2822T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-2162; fax
number: 202-566-2147; e-mail address: gottesman.larry@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OEI-2006-0515, which is available for online viewing at http://
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the OEI Docket in the
EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC 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 OEI Docket is 202-566-1752.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in
the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system,
select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified in this
document.
What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
(i) 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;
(ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
(iv) 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.
What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
businesses or other for-profit entities.
Title: Confidentiality Rules (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1665.07, OMB Control No. 2020-0003.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on November
30, 2006. 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: In the course of administering environmental protection
statutes, EPA collects data from thousands of facilities in many
sectors of the U.S. economy. In many cases, industry marks the data it
submits to EPA as CBI. In addition, businesses submit information to
EPA without the Agency requesting the information. EPA established the
procedures described in 40 CFR part 2, subparts A and B, to protect the
confidentiality of information as well as the rights of the public to
obtain access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA). In accordance with these regulations, when EPA finds it
necessary to make a final confidentiality determination (e.g., in
response to a FOIA request or in the course of rulemaking or
litigation), or in advance confidentiality determination, it shall
notify the effected business and provides an opportunity to comment
(i.e., to submit a substantiation of confidentiality claim). This ICR
relates to the collection of information that will assist EPA in
determining whether previously submitted information is entitled to
confidential treatment.
Current Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and
recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to
average 14 hours to prepare and submit each substantiation or 6,302
hours. 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,
[[Page 40512]]
install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;
adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; training
personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
searching data sources; completing and reviewing the collection of
information; and transmitting or otherwise disclosing the information.
In addition, EPA utilizes the services of contractors/
subcontractors under the authority of 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, all
contractors/subcontractors who may be given access to confidential
business information must first sign confidentiality agreements state
that they will honor the terms of the contract/subcontract which
requires the protection of CBI. The annual total burden for signing and
maintaining the agreements would be 130.3 hours.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 1,330.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 6,432.3 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $212,185.24. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $0 for capital investment or maintenance and
operational costs.
Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?
No.
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. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit comments to OMB. If you have any questions about
this ICR or the approval process, please contact the technical person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: July 8, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Division Director, Collection Strategies Division, Office of
Information Collection.
[FR Doc. E6-11255 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am]
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