[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56815-56816]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17931]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0659; FRL--11250-01-ORD]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Generic
Clearance for Participatory Science and Crowdsourcing Projects
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Generic Clearance for
Participatory Science and Crowdsourcing Projects (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR
No. 2521.39, OMB Control No. 2080-0083) to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA). 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 January 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2015-0659 referencing the Docket ID numbers provided for each item in
the text, online using https://www.regulations.gov/ (our preferred
method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection
Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460.
    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: Heather Drumm, ORD-OSAPE, (8104R),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email address:
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents that 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 http://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 http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting
comments and information 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. 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 notice to announce the submission
of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to
OMB.
    Abstract: EPA relies on scientific information to achieve its'
mission of protecting human health and the environment. Participatory
science and crowdsourcing techniques allow the Agency to collect
qualitative and quantitative data that could inform scientific
research, assessments, or environmental screening; validate
environmental models or tools; or enhance the quantity and quality of
data collected across the country's diverse communities and ecosystems
in support of the Agency's mission. Information gathered under this
generic ICR may be used by the Agency to support the activities listed
above. Collections under this generic ICR will be: (i) from
participants who actively seek to participate on their own initiative
through an open and transparent process (the Agency does not select
participants or require participation); (ii) low-burden for
participants; (iii) low-cost for both the participants and the Federal
Government; and (iv) available to support the scientific research
(including assessments, environmental screening, tools, models, etc.)
of the Agency, states, Tribal or local entities where data collection
occurs. EPA may, by virtue of collaborating with nonfederal entities,
sponsor the collection of this type of information in connection with
participatory science projects. When applicable, all such collections
will comply with Agency policies and regulations related to human
subjects research and will follow the established approval paths
through EPA's Human Subjects Research Review Official. Finally,
personally identifiable information will only be collected when
necessary and in accordance with applicable federal procedures and
policies. If a new collection is not within the parameters of this
generic ICR, the Agency will submit a separate information collection
request to OMB for approval.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Participants/respondents will be
individuals, not specific entities.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 17,500 (total).
    Frequency of response: The frequency of responses will range from
once to on occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 389,083 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $16,209,198 (per year), includes $525,000
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: The dollar figures have been updated to
reflect current wages.

Mary A. Ross,
Director, Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement, Office of
Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-17931 Filed 8-18-23; 8:45 am]
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