[Federal Register: November 27, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 227)]
[Notices]
[Page 66165-66167]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27no07-78]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OA-2007-0933; FRL-8499-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special
Government Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency; EPA ICR No. 2260.02, OMB Control No.
2090-0029
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
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 is
scheduled to expire on 2/29/2008. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of
the proposed information collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 28, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2007-0933 by one of the following methods:
[[Page 66166]]
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
E-mail: oei.docket.@epa.gov.
Fax: 202-566-9744
Mail: OEI Docket, USEPA, Mail Code: 2822T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Hand Delivery: EPA Docket
Center, EPA West Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20460. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal
hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-2007-
0933. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and may be made available online 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 http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail.
The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 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 http://www.regulations.gov
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part
of the comment that is placed in the public 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. For additional
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicki Ellis, Office of Cooperative
Environmental Management, Mail Code 1601M, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: 202-564-1203; fax number: 202-564-8129; e-mail address:
ellis.vicki@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OA-2007-0933, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Environmental
Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The EPA/DC
Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading
Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Environmental
Information Docket is 202-566-9744.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of
information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing
of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the
public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system,
select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified in this
document.
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:
(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, 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.
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. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. 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.
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
approximately 300 candidates for membership as Special Government
Employees (SGEs) on EPA Federal advisory committees. The Form 3110-48
is completed as part of the member selection process and before they
are invited to serve as a member of a Federal advisory committee (FAC)
at EPA.
Title: Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special
Government Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2260.02, OMB Control No. 2090-0029.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on 02/29/
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, and 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: The purpose of this information collection request is to
assist the United States Environmental
[[Page 66167]]
Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) in selecting Federal advisory
committee members who will be appointed as Special Government Employees
(SGEs), mostly to EPA's scientific and technical committees. To select
SGE members as efficiently and cost effectively as possible, the Agency
needs to evaluate potential conflicts of interest before a candidate is
hired as an SGE and appointed as a member to a committee by EPA's
Administrator or Deputy Administrator.
Agency officials developed the ``Confidential Financial Disclosure
Form for Special Government Employees Serving on Federal Advisory
Committees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,'' also referred
to as Form 3110-48, for a greater inclusion of information to discover
any potential conflicts of interest as recommended by the Government
Accountability Office.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one
hour per response. 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 the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 300.
Frequency of response: Annual.
Estimated total average number of responses for each
respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 300 hours/1 hour per
respondent.
Estimated total annual costs: $33,000. There are no
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?
The burden estimates have been changed to reflect an expected
increase of the number of respondents (from 276 to 300), as well as an
increase of respondents' costs to complete the form, to cover the next
3 years.
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. At that time, 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 Vicki
Ellis, Office of Cooperative Environmental Management, Mail Code 1601M,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-1203; fax number: 202-
564-8129; e-mail address: ellis.vicki@epa.gov.
Dated: November 20, 2007.
Rafael DeLeon,
Director, Office of Cooperative Environmental Management, Office of the
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-23052 Filed 11-26-07; 8:45 am]
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