[Federal Register: October 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 206)]
[Notices]
[Page 62438-62439]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc06-40]
[[Page 62438]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369; FRL-8234-3]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Estuary Program; EPA ICR
No. 1500.06, OMB Control No. 2040-0138
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (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. The ICR, which is abstracted below,
describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated
burden and cost.
DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 24,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0369, 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 Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB
by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
Note: The EPA Docket Center suffered damage due to flooding
during the last week of June 2006. The Docket Center is continuing
to operate. However, during the cleanup, there will be temporary
changes to Docket Center telephone numbers, addresses, and hours of
operation for people who wish to make hand deliveries or visit the
Public Reading Room to view documents. Consult EPA's Federal
Register notice at 71 FR 38147 (July 5, 2006) or the EPA Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm for current information on
docket operations, locations, and telephone numbers. The Docket
Center's mailing address for U.S. mail and the procedure for
submitting comments to http://www.regulations.gov are not affected
by the flooding and will remain the same.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McShane, Oceans and Coastal
Protection Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Mail
Code 4504T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-1381; fax number
(202) 566-1336; e-mail address: mcshane.john@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 May 23, 2006 (71 FR 29619), EPA sought comments on this ICR
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA did not receive any comments. 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-2006-0369, 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/DC Public Reading Room is open from
8 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
documents in the public 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: National Estuary Program.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1500.06, OMB Control No. 2040-0138.
ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 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 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: The National Estuary Program (NEP) involves collecting
information from the state or local agency or nongovernmental
organizations that receive funds under Section 320 of the Clean Water
Act. The regulation requiring this information is found at 40 CFR part
35. Prospective grant recipients seek funding to develop or oversee and
coordinate implementation of Comprehensive Conservation Management
Plans (CCMPs) for estuaries of national significance. In order to
receive funds, grantees must submit an annual workplan to EPA. The
workplan consists of two parts: (a) Progress on projects funded
previously; and (b) new projects proposed with dollar amounts and
completion dates. The workplan is reviewed by EPA and also serves as
the scope of work for the grant agreement. EPA also uses these
workplans to track performance of each of the 28 estuary programs
currently in the NEP.
EPA provides funding to NEPs to support long-term implementation of
CCMPs if such programs pass an implementation review process.
Implementation reviews are used to determine progress each NEP is
making in implementing its CCMP and achieving environmental results. In
addition to evaluating progress, the results are used to identify areas
of weakness each NEP should address for long-term success in protecting
and restoring their estuaries. EPA will also compile successful tools
and approaches as well as lessons learned from all implementation
reviews to transfer to the NEPs and other watershed programs. For this
ICR cycle, implementation reviews will be required for seven programs
in FY2006, 12 programs in FY2007, and nine programs in 2008.
EPA requests that each of the 28 NEPs receiving Section 320 funds
report information that can be used in the Government Performance and
Results Act (GPRA) reporting process. This reporting is done on an
annual basis and is used to show environmental results that are being
achieved within the overall NEP Program. This information is ultimately
submitted to Congress
[[Page 62439]]
along with GPRA information from other EPA programs.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 218
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: State or local agencies or
nongovernmental organizations in the NEP who receive grants under
Section 320 of the Clean Water Act.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.
Frequency of Response: Annual.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,833.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $409,349, includes $0 annualized
capital or O&M costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 280 hours, which
is a result of the information collection process being more
streamlined and efficient.
Dated: October 10, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-17875 Filed 10-24-06; 8:45 am]
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