[Federal Register: November 16, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 221)]
[Notices]
[Page 64611-64613]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16no07-59]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0299; FRL-8156-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Worker Protection Standard Training and Notification;
EPA ICR No. 1759.05, OMB Control No. 2070-0148
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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 a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR,
entitled: ``Worker Protection Standard Training and Notification'' and
identified by EPA ICR No. 1759.05 and OMB Control No. 2070-0148, is
scheduled to expire on May 31, 2008. Before submitting the ICR to OMB
for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects
of the proposed information collection.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0299, by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South
Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-
2007-0299. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business 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 regulations.gov or e-
mail. The regulations.gov website 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 regulations.gov,
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part
of the comment that is placed in the 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.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index
available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to
http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Advanced Search,'' then ``Docket
Search.'' Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the
``Submit'' button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov
website to view the docket index or access available documents.
Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly
available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are
available either in the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov
, or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPP
Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.),
2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this
Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703)
305-5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Hogue, Field and External
Affairs Division (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 308-9072; fax number: (703) 305-5884; e-
mail address: hogue.joe@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. 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:
1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including
[[Page 64612]]
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 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. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
6. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
8. 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.
III. What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does this Action Apply
to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
agricultural employers, including employers in farms as well as
nursery, forestry, and greenhouse establishments.
Title: Worker Protection Standard Training and Notification.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1759.05, OMB Control No. 2070-0148.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31,
2008. 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: EPA is responsible for the regulation of pesticides under
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The
Worker Protection Standard (WPS), codified at 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 170, established requirements to protect
agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from hazards of pesticides
used on farms, on forests, in nurseries, and in greenhouses. 40 CFR
part 170 contains the standard and workplace practices, which are
designed to reduce or eliminate exposure to pesticides and establish
procedures for responding to exposure-related emergencies. The
practices include prohibitions against applying pesticides in a way
that would cause exposure to workers and others; a waiting period
before workers can return to areas treated with pesticides (restricted
entry interval); basic safety training (and voluntary training
verification) and posting of information about pesticide hazards, as
well as pesticide application information; arrangements for the supply
of soap, water, and towels in case of pesticide exposure; and
provisions for emergency assistance. The training verification program
facilitates compliance with the training requirements by providing a
voluntary method for employers to verify that the required safety
information has been provided to workers and handlers.
This renewal ICR estimates the third party response burden from
complying with the Worker Protection Standard requirements. Information
is exchanged between agricultural employers and employees at farm,
forest, nursery, and greenhouse establishments to ensure worker safety.
No information is collected by the Agency under this ICR. Responses to
this ICR are mandatory. The authority for this information collection
is provided under section 25 of FIFRA and 40 CFR part 170.
Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.15
hours (about 9 minutes) per response, ranging from two minutes to 45
minutes for the various types of responses. 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, install, and utilize technology and systems for the
purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information,
processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing
information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously
applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently
changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is
only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 3,245,393.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 3.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,293,364 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $102,612,181.
IV. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?
There is no change in the total estimated respondent burden
compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB.
V. 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 notice 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.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
[[Page 64613]]
Dated: November 7, 2007.
James Jones,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. E7-22368 Filed 11-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S