[Federal Register: January 14, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 9)]
[Notices]
[Page 2136-2139]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja04-59]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2003-0241; FRL-7317-9]
Request to State Governments for Ecological Incident Reports;
Proposed Pesticide Information Collection and Request for Comments
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this
notice announces that EPA is seeking public comment on the following
proposed Information Collection Request (ICR): Request to State
Governments for Ecological Incident Reports (EPA ICR No. 2135.01, OMB
Control No. 2070-TBD). The ICR describes the nature of the information
collection activity and its expected burden and costs. Before
submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval under PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the collection.
DATES: Written comments, identified by the docket ID number OPP-2003-
0241, must be received on or before March 15, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as
provided in Unit III. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Vogel, Field and External
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6475; fax number: (703) 305-5884; e-
mail address: vogel.nancy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Does this Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you are a State
government agency that collects data on bird kills, fish kills, and
other nonhuman animal incidents caused by pesticide poisoning
(``ecological incidents''), or incidents which occur to plant species
via spray drift from pesticides. Potentially affected entities may
include, but are not limited to:
[sbull] Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities, NAICS
92614 (State agencies engaged in the planning, administration, and
coordination of agricultural programs for production, marketing, and
utilization, including educational and
[[Page 2137]]
promotional activities. Included in this industry are government
establishments responsible for regulating and controlling the grading
and inspection of food, plants, animals, and other agricultural
products.)
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this
action. Other types of entities not listed could also be affected. The
North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been
provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action
might apply to certain entities. To determine whether you or your
business may be affected by this action, you should carefully examine
the applicability provisions in sections 20(c) and 22(b) of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity,
consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
II. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related
Information?
A. Docket
EPA has established an official public docket for this action under
docket identification (ID) number OPP-2003-0241. The official public
docket consists of the documents specifically referenced in this
action, any public comments received, and other information related to
this action. Although a part of the official docket, the public docket
does not include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official
public docket is the collection of materials that is available for
public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch
(PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy.,
Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone
number is (703) 305-5805.
B. Electronic Access
You may access this Federal Register document electronically
through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
An electronic version of the public docket is available through
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,''
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets.
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the
index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the
document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket.
Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you
may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through
the docket facility identified in Unit II.A. EPA intends to work
towards providing electronic access to all of the publicly available
docket materials through EPA's electronic public docket.
For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper,
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the docket will
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief
description written by the docket staff.
III. How Can I Respond to this Action?
A. How and To Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the
appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of
your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the
specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider
these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is
otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit
III.B. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information
protected by statute.
1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name,
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in
the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or
contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included
as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket,
and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. 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.
i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/
, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number
OPP-2003-0241. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to opp-docket@epa.gov,
Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2003-0241. In contrast to EPA's
electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail
[[Page 2138]]
system is not an ``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail
comment directly to the docket without going through EPA's electronic
public docket, EPA's e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail
address. E-mail addresses that are automatically captured by EPA's e-
mail system are included as part of the comment that is placed in the
official public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public
docket.
iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit III.A. These
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
2. By mail. Send your comments to: Public Information and Records
Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2003-0241.
3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Office of Pesticide
Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall
2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket
ID Number OPP-2003-0241. Such deliveries are only accepted during the
docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit II.A.
B. How Should I Submit CBI to the Agency?
Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM,
mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify
electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that
is CBI). Information so marked will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes
any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion
in the public docket and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's
electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any
questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
C. 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.
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 in this
notice.
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.
D. What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of PRA, EPA specifically solicits
comments and information to enable it to:
1. Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are
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 burdens
of the proposed collections of information.
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected.
4. Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated
or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
IV. What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does this Action Apply
to?
EPA is seeking comments on the following proposed ICR:
Title: Request to State Governments for Ecological Incident
Reports.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2135.01, OMB Control No. 2070-TBD.
ICR status: This is a request for a new information collection.
Abstract: This data collection program is designed to provide EPA
with data on bird kills, fish kills, and other nonhuman animal
incidents caused by pesticide poisoning (``ecological incidents''). In
addition, incidents which occur to plant species via spray drift from
pesticides will be collected. These data will be requested from state
government offices that are involved in investigating and writing
reports on such incidents. Data extracted from the incident reports
will be stored in the Ecological Incident Information System (EIIS), a
national database of ecological incidents maintained by the
Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EFED), Office of Pesticide
Programs. These data provide vital information on the field effects of
pesticides that is necessary to conduct ecological risk assessments and
make informed decisions for regulation of pesticides. The data
collection ensures that the Agency is systematically collecting the
ecological incidents, and therefore avoiding biased ecological risk
assessments based on reports from one specific location or a particular
pesticide. Ultimately, collection of these data will provide the
capability for sound ecological comparative risk assessment analysis.
V. What are EPA's Burden and Cost Estimates for this ICR?
Under the PRA, ``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. For this
collection it 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; 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 in this notice. The annual public burden for
this ICR is estimated to be 264 hours. The following is a summary of
the estimates taken from the ICR:
[[Page 2139]]
Respondents/affected entities: State government agencies that
collect data on bird kills, fish kills, and other nonhuman animal
incidents caused by pesticide poisoning (``ecological incidents''), or
incidents which occur to plant species via spray drift from pesticides.
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 75
Frequency of response: Annual
Estimated total/average number of responses for each respondent: 3
Estimated total annual burden hours: 264
Estimated total annual burden costs: $17,459
VI. 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.
Dated: December 24, 2003.
William H. Sanders, III,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 04-561 Filed 1-13-04; 8:45 am]
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