[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84321-84322]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26623]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-R08-OPPT-2020-0013; FRL-11574-01-R8]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information
Collection Request; Comment Request; Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request (ICR) entitled ``Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards Program'' (EPA
ICR Number: 2614.02, OMB Control Number: 2008-0004) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as
described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is
currently approved through August 31, 2024.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-R08-
OPPT-2020-0013, online using https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred
method), or by email to [email protected]. EPA's policy is that all
comments received will be included in the public docket without change
including any personal information provided, unless the comment
includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Payan, EPA R8 Land, Chemical
and Redevelopment Division, Pollution Prevention Program, (8LCR-CES),
Environmental Protection Agency R8, 1595 Wynkoop St., Denver, CO 80202
telephone number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
which is currently approved through August 31, 2024. 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.
    This document allows 60 days for public comments. Supporting
documents, which explain in detail the

information that the EPA will be collecting, are available in the
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at https://www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone
number for the Docket Center is<PHONE_NUMBER>. For additional
information about EPA's public docket, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paper Reduction Act (PRA),
EPA is soliciting 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 forms of information technology. 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. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register
document to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: EPA's Pollution Prevention (P2) Program is a voluntary
program that encourages businesses/facilities to adopt P2 projects that
reduces both financial costs (waste management and cleanup) and
environmental costs (health problems and environmental damage). In
passing the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) in 1990, Congress found that
``(T)here are significant opportunities for industry to reduce or
prevent pollution at the source through cost-effective changes in
production, operation, and raw materials use. Such changes offer
industry substantial savings in reduced raw material, pollution
control, and liability costs as well as help protect the environment
and reduce risks to worker health and safety.'' 42 U.S.C. 13101(a)(2).
Furthermore, the PPA states the Administrator shall ``establish an
annual award program to recognize a company or companies which operate
outstanding or innovative source reduction programs'' (PPA section
6604) 42 U.S.C. 13103(b)(13). The EPA P2 Awards Program is an annual,
voluntary, and non-monetary awards program that will recognize
companies that demonstrate leadership in innovative P2 practices and
encourage other entities to consider P2 approaches. This ICR may be
applicable to HQ, as well as any of the 10 Regional Offices that choose
to participate and implement a P2 Awards Program.
    Form numbers: EPA P2 Award Program Application--5800-005.
    Respondents/affected entities: Intended Respondents include various
types of businesses, companies, organizations, both for-profit and non-
profit, from all North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
codes. However, businesses need to be from a state in an EPA Region
implementing this awards program.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Respondents are not obligated
to respond. This is done on a voluntary basis.
    Estimated number of respondents: Approximately 7 per region
(total).
    Frequency of response: Annually on a voluntary basis.
    Total estimated burden: Average of 10 hours per respondent (per
year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $776.95 per respondent (per year), includes
$0 annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs.
    Changes in the estimates: There is a decrease of 9.5 hours in the
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This decrease is due to adjustments to the estimates
and receiving input from respondents over the past three years. The
original consultations were with state recognition programs, which are
more rigorous than the regional P2 award program. Regions who are
currently implementing Regional P2 Programs, consulted with applicants
who provided an average estimate of 10.9 hours to respond to questions
in the application. Based off these consultations we are decreasing the
respondent burden by 9.5 hours.

Kimberly Pardue Welch,
Branch Manager, Chemical, Safety Environmental Stewardship Branch, EPA
Region 8.
[FR Doc. 2023-26623 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P