[Federal Register: July 17, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 40508-40509]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy06-62]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0138; FRL-8197-8]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Applications for the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Discharge Permit and the Sewage
Sludge Management Permit, EPA ICR No. 0226.18, OMB Control No. 2040-
0086
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
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 an Information Collection
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing
approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on September 30,
2006. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or
sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending
at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and
its estimated burden and cost.
DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 16,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OW-2006-0138, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to ow-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Docket, Mail Code
4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB
at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management
and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Stabenfeldt, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: 202.564.0602; fax number: 202.501.2399; e-mail
address: stabenfeldt.lynn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR
1320.12. On March 7, 2006 (71 FR 11407-11411), EPA sought comments on
this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one set of comments
on the draft ICR. EPA's response to those comments is reflected in the
ICR supporting statement. Any additional comments on this ICR should be
submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0138, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person 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.
Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at
http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
comments in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made
available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted
material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is
restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Title: Applications for the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Discharge Permit and the Sewage Sludge Management
Permit.
ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 0226.18, OMB Control No.2040-0086.
ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2006.
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB.
An
[[Page 40509]]
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, 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: This ICR calculates the burden and costs associated with
permit applications for NPDES discharges and sewage sludge management
activities. EPA uses the data contained in applications and
supplemental information requests to set appropriate permit conditions,
issue permits, and assess permit compliance. EPA maintains certain
national application information in databases that assist permit
writers in determining permit conditions. For most permits, EPA has
developed standard application forms. In some cases, such as requests
for additional information and storm water applications from municipal
separate sewer systems, standard forms do not exist because standard
forms are not appropriate for the information collected or because they
have not been developed. Application forms correspond to the different
types of applicants, each form requesting information necessary for
issuing permits to the associated applicants. Depending on the
application form they are using, applicants may be required to supply
information about their facilities, discharges, treatment systems,
sewage sludge use and disposal practices, pollutant sampling data, or
other relevant information. Section 308 of the Clean Water Act
authorizes EPA to request from dischargers any information that may be
reasonably required to carry out the objectives and provision of the
Act. Under this authority, EPA sometimes requests information
supplemental to that contained in permit applications. In its burden
and cost calculations, this ICR includes requests for information
supplemental to permit applications. Other parts of the Clean Water Act
and Federal regulations authorize EPA to collect information that
supplements permit applications, such as section 403(c). This ICR
calculates the burden and costs for all information collection
activities associated with applications for permits. Application
information is necessary to obtain an NPDES or sewage sludge permit.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average less
than 5 hours 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.
Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by
this action are publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), privately owned
treatment works, new and existing manufacturing and commercial
dischargers, storm water dischargers, treatment works treating domestic
sewage (TWTDS), and other entities that apply for NPDES permits.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 249,494.
Frequency of Response: Once every five years.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,358,253 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $48,587,228, includes $0 for capital
investment and $5,379,500 for O&M costs.
Changes in the Estimates: The estimated decrease in burden is
41,728 hours compared to the total estimated burden hours currently
identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burden. This change is
primarily the result of updating the universe of permitted facilities
subject to these requirements.
Dated: July 7, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-11252 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am]
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