In the course of administering
environmental protection statutes, EPA collects data from thousands
of facilities in many sectors of the U.S. economy. In many cases,
industry marks the data it submits to EPA as Confidential Business
Information (CBI). In addition, businesses submit information to
EPA without the Agency requesting the information. EPA established
the procedures described in 40 CFR part 2, subparts A and B, to
protect the confidentiality of information as well as the rights of
the public to obtain access to information under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). In accordance with these regulations, when
EPA finds it necessary to make a final confidentiality
determination (e.g., in response to a FOIA request or in the course
of rulemaking or litigation), or in advance confidentiality
determination, it shall notify the effected business and provides
an opportunity to comment (i.e., to submit a substantiation of
confidentiality claim). This ICR relates to the collection of
information that will assist EPA in determining whether previously
submitted information is entitled to confidential
treatment.
US Code:
5 USC
522 Name of Law: Freedom of Information Act
There is a decrease of 1,045
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the
ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to a change in
program requirements which reduces the reporting burden. The number
of respondents increased by 616, which was due to accounting for
the 650 individual employees who sign confidentiality
agreements.
$120,820
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Courtney Kerwin
202-566-1669
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.