Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Procurement (Reinstatment)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 9600-038 Private Sector Form and Instruction	Modified
2516.04 Attachment10_PublicCommentRFC.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-08-11
2516.04 Attachment 9_PublicComment_SFI.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-08-11
2516.04 Attachment 8_WageRates.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-08-11
2516.04 Attachment 7 -Consultation.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-08-11
2516ss04.docx Supporting Statement A	2022-08-11

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
217875	Private Sector Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2070-0199	ICR Reference No: 202208-2070-005
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201508-2070-001
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OCSPP	Agency Tracking No: 2516.04
Title: Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Procurement (Reinstatment)
Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/12/2022

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	200	0
Time Burden (Hours)	707	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: This ICR, which seeks to reinstate a previously approved ICR, covers the information collection activities associated with the Agency's evaluation of private sector standards and ecolabels per EPAs Framework for the Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing (Framework), formerly referred to as the Guidelines. EPAs goal in developing this Framework is to create a transparent, fair, and consistent approach to selecting product environmental performance standards and ecolabels to support the Agency's mission and federal sustainable acquisition goals and mandates. The fundamental aim of this Framework is to establish a cross-sector approach to be used in recognizing private sector environmental performance standards (and consequently, environmentally preferable products and services meeting these standards) for use in federal purchasing. The Framework includes scoping questions and four sections: 1.Criteria for the Process for Developing Standards refers to the procedures used to develop, maintain, and update an environmental standard. 2.Criteria for the Environmental Effectiveness of the Standards refers to the criteria in the environmental standard or ecolabel that support the claim of environmental preferability. 3.Criteria for Conformity Assessment refers to the procedures and practices by which products are assessed for conformity to the requirements specified by standards and ecolabeling programs. 4. Criteria for Management of Ecolabeling Programs refers to the organizational and management practices of an ecolabeling program. In 2016, EPA conducted a pilot to test the original set of criteria within the Framework against standards and ecolabels in the flooring, furniture, and paints/coatings categories. EPA has made several edits to the Framework based on lessons learned from the pilot and the desire to address a broader range of sectors with a more streamlined set of criteria. In this next phase of work, EPA intends to expand its recommendations by assessing standards and ecolabels in purchase categories that support Executive Order 14008 Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and Executive Order 14057 on Catalyzing American Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 272 note Name of Law: National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
   US Code: 42 USC 13103(b)(11) Name of Law: Pollution Prevention Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 11426	03/01/2022
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 49826	08/12/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Private Sector	9600-038	EPA Framework for the Assess. Of Env.

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	200	0	0	200	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	707	0	0	707	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a reinstatement, so there is currently no approved burden and costs. As described in more detail in the ICR, the program has been modified based on the previously approved activities associated with the 2016 pilot. For the pilot, respondents were asked to respond to all criteria and provide a broader range of supporting documentation as evidence. The average time spent per ecolabel on completing the final pilot Framework in 2016 was 15 hours. Given changes made to this new version of the Framework to streamline criteria required for response and to limit supporting documentation for submission the average burden is estimated to be 8.5 hours per response (average 12 hours for respondents that did not participate in the pilot; average 5 hours for respondents that did previously participate in the pilot).

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $32,081

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 08/12/2022

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