[Federal Register: August 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 150)]
[Notices]
[Page 47432-47434]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05au04-60]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OW-2004-0015, FRL-7798-1]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; ``Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program,'' EPA
ICR Number 1391.07, OMB Control Number 2040-0118
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing
approved
[[Page 47433]]
collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on 11/30/04. 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 October 4, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OW-2004-
0015, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to
OW-DOCKET@EPA.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, [Office of Water Docket, Mail Code-4101T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clifford Yee, Office of Wastewater
Management, Mail Code, 4204M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
564-0598; fax number: 202-501-2403; e-mail address:
yee.clifford@EPA.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this
ICR under Docket ID number OW-2004-0015, which is available for public
viewing at the Water Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA
Docket Center 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 Water Docket is (202) 566-2426. An electronic version of the public
docket is available through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
Use EDOCKET to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the public 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 above.
Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within
60 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public
viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the
comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose
public disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a
comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference
to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in
EDOCKET. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted
material, will be available in the public docket. Although identified
as an item in the official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose
disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the
official public docket, and will not be available for public viewing in
EDOCKET. For further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's
Federal Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102
(May 31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov./edocket.
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
State and Local Government officials.
Title: Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program (OMB Control
No. 2040-0118; EPA ICR No. 1391.06) expiring 11/30/04.
Abstract: The Clean Water Act, as amended by ``The Water Quality
Act of 1987'' (U.S.C. 1381-1387 et seq.), created a Title VI which
authorizes grants to States for the establishment of State Water
Pollution Control Revolving Funds (SRFs). The information collection
activities will occur primarily at the program level through the State
``Intended Use Plan'' and ``Annual Report''. The information is needed
annually to implement section 606 of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
The 1987 Act declares that water pollution control revolving funds
shall be administered by an instrumentality of the State subject to the
requirements of the act. This means that each State has a general
responsibility for administering its revolving fund and must take on
certain specific responsibilities in carrying out its administrative
duties. The information collection activities will occur primarily at
the program level through the State Intended Use Plan and Annual
Report. The information is needed annually to implement section 606 of
the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Act requires the information to ensure
national accountability, adequate public comment and review, fiscal
integrity and consistent management directed to achieve environmental
benefits and results. The individual information collections are: (1)
Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended Use Plan,
(2) Annual Report, (3) State Annual Audit, and (4) Application for SRF
Financial Assistance.
(1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended
Use Plan: The State will prepare a Capitalization Grant application
that includes an Intended Use Plan (IUP) outlining in detail how it
will use all the funds available to the fund. The grant agreement
contains or incorporates by reference the IUP, application materials,
payment schedule, and required assurances. The bulk of the information
is provided in the IUP, the legal agreement which commits the State and
EPA to execute their responsibilities under the Act.
(2) Annual Report: The State must agree to complete and submit an
annual Report that indicates how the State has met the goals and
objectives of the previous fiscal year as stated in the IUP and grant
agreement. The report provides information on loan recipients, loan
amounts, loan terms, project categories, and similar data on other
forms of assistance. The report describes the extent to which the
existing SRF financial operating policies, alone or in combination with
other State financial assistance programs, will provide for the long
term fiscal health of the Fund and carry out other provisions specified
in the grant operating agreement.
(3) Annual Audit: Most States have agreed to conduct or have
conducted a separate financial audit of the Capitalization Grant which
will provide opinions on the financial statements, and a report on the
internal controls and compliance with program requirements. The
remaining States will be covered by audits conducted under the
requirements of the Single Audit Act and by EPA's Office of Inspector
General.
(4) Application for SRF Financial Assistance: Local communities and
other eligible entities have to prepare and submit applications for SRF
assistance to their respective State Agency which manages the SRF
program. The State reviews the completed loan applications, and
verifies that the proposed projects will comply with applicable Federal
and State requirements.
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 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
The EPA would like to solicit comments 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,
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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.
Burden Statement: The information collection will involve about an
estimated 2,805 respondents per year, with about 2,754 average annual
responses per year. The time required for the responses will vary
depending on the respondent, but the total average annual number of
hours requested is estimated to be about 339,405 hours. The total
average annual respondent (State and Local) cost is estimated to be
about $6,830,850.
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;
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.
Dated: July 29, 2004.
Jane Moore,
Deputy Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 04-17883 Filed 8-4-04; 8:45 am]
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