[Federal Register: May 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 88)]
[Notices]
[Page 26760]
[DOCID:fr08my06-45]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP06-145-000]

Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

May 1, 2006.
    Take notice that on April 26, 2006, Southern Natural Gas Company
(Southern), P.O. Box 2563, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-2563, filed in
Docket No. CP06-145-000 an application pursuant to section 7(b) of the
Commission's regulations under the Natural Gas Act (NGA), as amended,
for authorization to abandon, by sale, to Denbury Onshore, LLC
approximately 142 miles of transmission pipelines predominantly ranging
from 8 to 18 inches in diameter and appurtenant facilities, including
nine meter stations, which extends in an easterly direction from Tensas
Parish, Louisiana, to its Gwinville Compressor Station in Jefferson
Davis County, Mississippi (Facilities), and the services provided by
those Facilities. Additionally, Southern requests that the Commission
make a determination that, upon the sale of the Facilities, neither the
Facilities nor the services provided through the Facilities will be
subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission under section 1(b) of the
Natural Gas Act. This filing is available for review at the Commission
in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Web at http://www.ferc.gov
 using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number

excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access
the document. For assistance, contact FERC at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call toll-free,<PHONE_NUMBER> or TYY,

(202) 502-8659.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to John
C. Griffin, Senior Counsel, Southern Natural Gas Company, P.O. Box
2563, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-2563 at<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of
this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by
becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or
before the comment date, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to
intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules
of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the
Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party
status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary
of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the
applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 14 copies of
filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant
and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the
proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the
proceeding.
    However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have
comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with
the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and
two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project.
The Commission will consider these comments in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will
not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's
rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project
provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly
involved in the protest.
    Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of
this project, or in support of or in opposition to this project, should
submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of
the Commission. Environmental commenters will be placed on the
Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the
environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated
with the Commission's environmental review process. Environmental
commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on
all other parties. The Commission's rules require that persons filing
comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests
only to the applicant. However, the non-party commenters will not
receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the
Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by
the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the
Commission's final order.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments,
protests, and interventions via the Internet in lieu of paper. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a) (1) (iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web
site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the ``e-Filing'' link.

    Comment Date: May 22, 2006.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-6897 Filed 5-5-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36321-36324]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14757]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-67185; File No. SR-NYSE-2012-17]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC;
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Independence Policy
of the Board of Directors of NYSE Euronext and Creating New
Independence Policy for Boards of Directors of the New York Stock
Exchange LLC, NYSE MKT LLC, NYSE Regulation, Inc. and NYSE Market, Inc.

June 12, 2012.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on June 6, 2012, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' or the
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and
II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Independence Policy of the Board
of Directors of NYSE Euronext (the ``NYSE Euronext Director
Independence Policy'') and create a new independence policy (the
``Subsidiary Director Independence Policy'') for the boards of
directors of the Exchange, NYSE MKT LLC (``NYSE MKT''), NYSE Market,
Inc. (``NYSE Market'') and NYSE Regulation, Inc. (``NYSE Regulation''
and, together, the ``Regulated Subsidiaries'').\3\ In addition, the
Exchange proposes to amend the Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE
Euronext, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Market, Inc., Third
Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation, Inc., the Third Amended
and Restated Operating Agreement of New York Stock Exchange LLC and the
Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE MKT LLC
(collectively the ``Organizational Documents'') to make certain
conforming changes described below. The text of the proposed rule
change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public
Reference Room.
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    \3\ NYSE MKT and NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'') are filing
substantially the same proposed rule change.
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of those statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B and C below, of the most significant parts of such
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this rule filing is to amend the NYSE Euronext
Director Independence Policy, create the Subsidiary Director
Independence Policy for the boards of directors of the Regulated
Subsidiaries, and make certain conforming changes to the Organizational
Documents, as set forth below.
NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy
    Under the Proposed Rule Change, the NYSE Euronext Director
Independence Policy would be amended to reflect the following changes
(the ``Proposed Amendments''):
    (i) A majority (as opposed to 75%) of the board of directors of
NYSE Euronext (the ``Board'') would be required to be independent;
    (ii) Executive officers of listed companies would no longer be
prohibited from being considered independent for purposes of the Board;
    (iii) The ``additional independence requirements'' at the end of
the current NYSE Euronext Director Independence

Policy--which provide that executive officers of foreign private
issuers, executive officers of NYSE Euronext and directors of
affiliates of member organizations must together comprise no more than
a minority of the total Board--would be eliminated;
    (iv) References to certain European regulatory authorities would be
updated, because their names have changed;
    (v) References to NYSE Alternext US LLC and NYSE Amex LLC would
refer instead to NYSE MKT LLC, because of this entity's previous name
changes; and
    (vi) Footnote 2 would be deleted because the NYSE Euronext Director
Independence Policy would not be applicable to the Regulated
Subsidiaries, each of which is proposed to have its own director
independence policy.
    The Commission previously considered and approved these aspects of
the director independence policy in connection with the previously
proposed combination of NYSE Euronext and Deutsche B[ouml]rse AG (the
``Combination'').\4\ Under the rule change approved in connection with
the Combination, Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding N.V. (``Holdco'')--
which was the holding company formed in connection with the Combination
that would have become the parent company of NYSE Euronext--would have
adopted a director independence policy that was substantially similar
to the current NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy, except for
the Proposed Amendments noted above and except for certain references
to the independence standards and criteria in the Dutch Corporate
Governance Code that would be added, given that Holdco was formed under
and subject to the laws of the Netherlands. Upon consummation of the
Combination, the NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy would have
ceased to apply. On February 2, 2012, following the European
Commission's decision to prohibit the Combination, NYSE Euronext and
Deutsche B[ouml]rse agreed to terminate the agreement to combine their
businesses.
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-66171 (January
17, 2012) File Nos. SR-EDGA-2011-34; SR-EDGX-2011-33; SR-ISE-2011-
69; SR-NYSE-2011-51; SR-NYSEAmex-2011-78; SR-NYSEArca-2011-72), 77
FR 3297.
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    The Exchange explained the reasons for incorporating the Proposed
Amendments in Holdco's director independence policy and believes the
rationale for making these amendments is substantially applicable with
equal force to the NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy.
    Summarized below are the principal reasons for the Proposed
Amendments listed in items (i), (ii) and (iii) above. The Exchange
believes that the Proposed Amendments listed in items (iv), (v) and
(vi) above are self-explanatory and technical in nature.
Majority Independence Requirement
    The Exchange believes that a majority independence standard is
appropriate to ensure that the Board as a whole consists of individuals
with independent, objective perspectives, while at the same time
affording NYSE Euronext sufficient flexibility to include persons with
expertise and qualifications that will contribute meaningfully to the
Board's performance of its oversight function. The importance of
allowing highly qualified individuals to serve on the Board is
underscored by the fact that NYSE Euronext serves as the holding
company for a complex, global business with highly specialized
operations and regulatory functions.
    Although NYSE Euronext has unique responsibilities and functions as
the holding company for several regulated subsidiaries, it is subject
to various corporate governance and regulatory obligations that are
addressed by means of ownership and voting limitations on its
shareholders, commitments to provide access to its books and records
and to submit to the jurisdiction of the Commission, director
qualification requirements and other undertakings.
    The Exchange submits that some of these undertakings call for in-
depth industry knowledge and expertise on the Board, such as the
requirement that NYSE Euronext directors take into consideration the
effect that NYSE Euronext's actions would have on the ability of its
U.S. regulated subsidiaries to (i) foster cooperation and coordination
with persons engaging in regulating, clearing, settling and processing
information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in
securities, and (ii) remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms
of a free and open market in securities and a U.S. national securities
market system.
Executives of Listed Companies
    The Exchange believes that a per se disqualification of listed
company executives from being deemed independent should not be
applicable to NYSE Euronext. The per se disqualification was initially
adopted by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. in early 2005 in the
context of its unique circumstances and history and its management
structure and board composition at that time.\5\ The Exchange submits
that those circumstances are no longer applicable, and the
disqualification of listed company executives tends to undermine rather
than facilitate NYSE Euronext's efforts to ensure a qualified and
balanced board composition and promote various other important
corporate governance objectives, such as ensuring appropriate expertise
and experience on the Board, as well as representation of the interests
of a diverse range of market constituencies and local European and U.S.
interests. A per se disqualification narrows the pool of potential NYSE
Euronext director candidates and arbitrarily eliminates from
consideration a large number of highly qualified, experienced
individuals who have proven track records as business leaders. Under
the NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy, the Board would still
need to assess whether a listed company executive meets the various
independence criteria, including whether he or she has any ``material
relationship'' with NYSE Euronext and its subsidiaries.
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-51217 (February
16, 2005) (File No. SR-NYSE-2004-54), 70 FR 9688.
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    Furthermore, the Exchange believes that the objectivity of Board
members is adequately protected by the various other independence
criteria in the NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy, such as the
requirement that independent directors may not be or have been within
the last year, and may not have an immediate family member who is or
within the last year was, a member of the Exchange, NYSE Arca or NYSE
MKT. In addition, if and to the extent that a matter concerning a
listed company whose executive is a NYSE Euronext director were ever to
come before the Board for consideration, such director would be
required to be recused from acting on such matter pursuant to the
Board's conflicts of interest policy.
Additional Independence Requirements
    Finally, the NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy provides
that the sum of (i) executive officers of foreign private issuers, (ii)
executive officers of NYSE Euronext and (iii) directors of affiliates
of ``members'' (as defined in Sections 3(a)(A)(3)(ii), 3(a)(A)(3)(iii)
and 3(a)(A)(3)(iv) of the Exchange Act \6\) of the Exchange, NYSE Arca
or NYSE MKT, may not constitute more than a minority of the total
number of directors of NYSE Euronext. The purpose of this requirement
is to ensure that, although executives of listed companies who are

foreign private issuers are not disqualified from serving on the Board,
such executives may not, together with NYSE Euronext executives and
directors of affiliates of members, constitute more than a minority of
the Board. In light of the Exchange's proposal to eliminate the
disqualification of listed company executives from the NYSE Euronext
Director Independence Policy, this requirement would serve no purpose
because the exception to such disqualification for foreign private
issuer executives would also be eliminated. The Exchange further notes
that under the proposed NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy,
executives of NYSE Euronext and directors of affiliates of exchange
members would not be deemed independent and, accordingly, could not in
any event constitute more than a minority of the Board.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78c.
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Subsidiary Director Independence Policy
    Currently, the independent directors of the Regulated Subsidiaries
must satisfy the requirements of the NYSE Euronext Director
Independence Policy. Under the Proposed Rule Change, each of the
Regulated Subsidiaries would have its own independence policy in the
form of the Subsidiary Director Independence Policy attached as Exhibit
5B to the Proposed Rule Change, in lieu of the NYSE Euronext Director
Independence Policy.
    The Commission previously considered and approved this form of
Subsidiary Director Independence Policy to be adopted by the Regulated
Subsidiaries in connection with the previously proposed Combination
(except that the prior form contained certain references to Holdco that
have been replaced in Exhibit 5B with references to NYSE Euronext). The
Exchange explained the reasons for creating the Subsidiary Director
Independence Policy to determine the independence of directors of the
Regulated Subsidiaries, and believes these reasons (as set forth below)
continue to be applicable.
    The Subsidiary Director Independence Policy is substantially
similar to the current NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy,
except for the following changes:
    (i) References to NYSE Euronext would refer instead to the relevant
Regulated Subsidiary;
    (ii) The requirement that at least three-fourths of the directors
must be independent would be deleted, since the organizational
documents of the Regulated Subsidiaries contain the independence and
other qualification requirements for directors;
    (iii) The requirement in the NYSE Euronext Director Independence
Policy that the board consider the special responsibilities of a
director in light of NYSE Euronext's ownership of U.S. regulated
subsidiaries and European regulated entities would be deleted, because
unlike NYSE Euronext, the Regulated Subsidiaries are not holding
companies;
    (iv) The requirement for directors to inform the Chairman of the
Nominating and Governance Committee of certain relationships and
interests would be deleted, since the boards of the Regulated
Subsidiaries do not have a Nominating and Governance Committee, except
that in the Subsidiary Director Independence Policy to be adopted by
NYSE Regulation, this provision would reference the Nominating and
Governance Committee of NYSE Regulation;
    (v) References to NYSE Alternext US LLC and NYSE Amex LLC would
refer instead to NYSE MKT LLC, because of this entity's previous name
changes;
    (vi) Because the NYSE Euronext Director Independence Policy
provides that a director of an affiliate of a ``Member Organization''
cannot qualify as an independent director of these Regulated
Subsidiaries, the conflicting language stating that a director of an
affiliate of a ``Member Organization'' shall not per se fail to be
independent would be deleted;
    (vii) Because language in the NYSE Euronext Director Independence
Policy provides that an executive officer of an issuer whose securities
are listed on a NYSE Exchange cannot qualify as an independent director
of these Regulated Subsidiaries, the conflicting language providing an
exception applicable only to NYSE Euronext directors would be deleted;
and
    (viii) The ``additional independence requirements'' at the end of
the current Independence Policy of NYSE Euronext, which provides that
executive officers of foreign private issuers, executive officers of
NYSE Euronext and directors of affiliates of member organizations must
together comprise no more than a minority of the total board, would be
eliminated. This provision is designed to ensure that although persons
who are directors of an affiliate of a Member Organization or who are
executive officers of a ``foreign private issuer'' listed on a NYSE
Exchange may in some circumstances qualify as independent for purposes
of NYSE Euronext board membership, such persons may not, together with
executive officers of NYSE Euronext, constitute more than a minority of
the total NYSE Euronext directors. Under the proposed Subsidiary
Director Independence Policy, such persons could not be deemed to be
independent directors of the relevant Regulated Subsidiary and,
accordingly, this limitation on the number of such persons who may
serve on the board is unnecessary.
    The Exchange believes that adopting a separate director
independence policy for the Regulated Subsidiaries that is more
tailored to their specific requirements--rather than applying the NYSE
Euronext Director Independence Policy with various carve-outs and
exceptions noted therein for the Regulated Subsidiaries--will add
clarity to the Exchange's rules.
Proposed Conforming Modifications to Organizational Documents
    The Organizational Documents would be modified to reflect the
changes indicated in Exhibits 5C through 5G, which are summarized as
follows:
    (i) References in the Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Market,
Inc., the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation, Inc.,
the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of New York Stock
Exchange LLC and the Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of
NYSE MKT LLC would be modified to refer to the applicable Subsidiary
Director Independence Policy rather than to the NYSE Euronext Director
Independence Policy;
    (ii) References to NYSE Alternext US LLC and NYSE Amex LLC in such
Organizational Documents would be amended to refer instead to NYSE MKT
LLC, because of this entity's previous name changes; and
    (iii) Section 3.4 of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE
Euronext would be modified to provide that a majority (rather than
three-fourths) of the Board members would be required to be
independent.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that this filing is consistent with Section
6(b) \7\ of the Exchange Act in general, and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(1) \8\ in particular, in that it enables the Exchange to
be so organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry out the
purposes of the Exchange Act and to comply with the provisions of the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of
the Exchange. The Proposed Rule Change

will help to ensure that the boards of directors of NYSE Euronext and
the Regulated Subsidiaries consist of individuals with independent,
objective perspectives, while at the same time affording them
sufficient flexibility to include persons with expertise and
qualifications that will contribute meaningfully to these boards'
performance of their oversight and other functions. For example, some
responsibilities of these boards call for in-depth industry knowledge
and expertise on the Board, such as the requirement that NYSE Euronext
directors take into consideration the effect that NYSE Euronext's
actions would have on the ability of its U.S. regulated subsidiaries to
(i) foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaging in
regulating, clearing, settling and processing information with respect
to, and facilitating transactions in securities, and (ii) remove
impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market in
securities and a U.S. national securities market system. The Exchange
also believes that adopting a separate director independence policy for
the Regulated Subsidiaries that is more tailored to their specific
requirements--rather than applying the NYSE Euronext Director
Independence Policy with various carve-outs and exceptions noted
therein for the Regulated Subsidiaries--will add clarity to the
Exchange's rules.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(1).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the Proposed Rule Change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on
the Proposed Rule Change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    A. By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change; or
    B. institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please
include File Number SR-NYSE-2012-17 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2012-17. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2012-17 and should be
submitted on or before July 9, 2012.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority. \9\
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-14757 Filed 6-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42723-42724]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17746]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0704; FRL-9520-9]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) this
document announces that the following Information Collection Request
(ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review and approval: Submission of Protocols and Study Reports for
Environmental Research Involving Human Subjects; EPA ICR No. 2195.04,
OMB Control No. 2070-0169. This is a request to renew an existing
approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the
nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 20,
2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPP-
2011-0704, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), or by mail to: OPP Docket, EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC.,
and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA,
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lily G. Negash, Field & External
Affairs Division (7605P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email
address<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB
for review and approval under the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq., and
according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On December 7,
2011 (76 FR 76399), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any additional comments on this
ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0704, which is available at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the OPP Docket in the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 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<PHONE_NUMBER>, and the
telephone number for the OPP Docket is<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made
available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA
receives them and without change, unless the comment contains
copyrighted material, Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other
information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For
further information about the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Submission of Protocols and Study Reports for Environmental
Research Involving Human Subjects.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2195.04, OMB Control No. 2070-0169.
    ICR Status: OMB approval of this ICR is currently scheduled to
expire on August 31, 2012. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may
continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this
submission is pending at OMB. 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.
    Abstract: EPA is responsible for the regulation of pesticides under
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). As revised in 2006, EPA
regulations at 40 CFR part 26 protect subjects of ``third-party'' human
research (i.e., research that is not conducted or supported by EPA). In
addition to other protections, the regulations require affected
entities to submit information to EPA and an Institutional Review Board
(IRB) prior to initiating, and to EPA upon the completion of, certain
studies that involve human research participants. The information
collection activity consists of activity-driven reporting and
recordkeeping requirements for those who intend to conduct research for
submission to EPA under the pesticide laws. If such research involves
intentional dosing of human subjects, these individuals (respondents)
are required to submit study protocols to EPA and a cognizant local
Human Subjects IRB before such research is initiated so that the
scientific design and ethical standards that will be employed during
the proposed study

may be reviewed and approved. Also, respondents are required to submit
information about the ethical conduct of completed research that
involved human subjects when such research is submitted to EPA.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2119
hours per response for research involving exposure of human subjects,
and 12 hours per response for all other submitted research with human
subjects. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Any entity that submits protocols
and study reports for environmental research involving human subjects
under FIFRA and/or FFDCA.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7 annually for research involving
intentional exposure of human subjects, and 10 annually for all other
submitted research with human subjects.
    Frequency of Response: Occasional.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 14,833 hours for research involving
intentional exposure of human subjects, and 120 hours for all other
submitted research with human subjects.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,299,759, which includes $0
annualized capital or O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 5,619 hours in the
total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of
Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is due to a decrease in the
anticipated number of responses per year. This change is an adjustment.

John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-17746 Filed 7-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P