Section 8(d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and 40 CFR part 716 require manufacturers and processors of chemicals to submit lists and copies of health and safety studies relating to the health and/or environmental effects of certain chemical substances and mixtures. In order to comply with these reporting requirements, respondents must search their records to identify any health and safety studies in their possession, copy and process relevant studies, list studies that are currently in progress, and submit this information to EPA. EPA uses this information to construct a complete picture of the known effects of the chemicals in question, leading to determinations by EPA of whether additional testing of the chemicals is required. The information enables EPA to base its testing decisions on the most complete information available and to avoid demands for testing that may be duplicative. EPA uses information obtained via this collection to support its investigation of the risks posed by chemicals and, in particular, to support its decisions on whether to require industry to test chemicals under section 4 of TSCA.
Although CBI substantiation has added 31.5 burden hours per year to the total estimated burden, there is an overall net decrease of 1,303 hours (from 1,605 to 302) in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that currently in the OMB inventory. This ICR assumes that a historical average (from 1996 to present) of 13 chemicals will be added to the section 8(d) list over the next three years. The previous ICR based the average number of chemicals to be added to the section 8(d) list on the period from 2006 2015. In 2006, 208 chemicals were added to the list, the largest addition since 1996. The final section 8(d) rule issued on January 20, 2008 (73 FR 5190) added 12 Lead and Lead Compounds to 40 CFR 716 120 was included in this ICR.
The number of chemicals added to the section 8(d) list has been zero since early 2008. The methodology used in the previous ICR overestimated the burden resulting from the addition of chemicals to the TSCA section 8(d) rule.
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.