[Federal Register: December 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 234)]
[Notices]
[Page 70760-70761]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de06-54]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0408; FRL-8251-8]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Under
EPA's Water Efficiency Program; EPA ICR No. 2233.01
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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 for a new
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 January 5,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA HQ-OW-
2006-0408, 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, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Simbanin, Office of Waste Water
Management, Office of Water, 4204M, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:
202 564-3837; fax number: 202 501-2396; e-mail address:
simbanin.cynthia@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 August 4, 2006 (71 FR 44277), EPA sought comments on this
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one comment during the
comment period, which is addressed in the ICR. 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-2006-0408, 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 3334, 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 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: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under EPA's Water
Efficiency Program.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2233.01.
ICR Status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity.
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: EPA's Water Efficiency Program is a voluntary program
designed to create self-sustaining markets for water efficient products
and services via a common label. The program provides incentives for
manufacturers to design, produce, and market water-efficient products.
In addition, the program provides incentives for service providers
(e.g., landscapers) to deliver water-efficient products. The program
also encourages consumers and commercial and institutional purchasers
of water-using products and systems to choose water-efficient products
and engage in water-efficient practices.
EPA's Water Efficiency Program partners with manufacturers,
retailers, utilities, state and local governments, NGOs, plumbers,
developers, contractors, architects, landscapers, irrigation
professionals, and service certification programs to market and adopt
the Water Efficiency Program, and provide labeled products and
programs. To participate in the program, organizations will complete a
Partnership Agreement, which details the partner and EPA commitments
under the program, and is signed by a senior official at both EPA and
the partner organization. EPA asks manufacturers, certification
programs, and builders to submit an EPA Water Efficiency Program New
Certified Product Notification Form within 12 months of execution of
the Partnership Agreement. This document provides EPA information to
verify that the product or service meets EPA specifications based on
independent testing. EPA will use this information to inform the public
on water efficient products and services. In addition, EPA requests
partners submit promotional plans and annual updates on progress
implementing the program. EPA intends to use this information to
identify partnership opportunities and assess progress meeting program
goals.
In the third year of the program, EPA plans to initiate an awards
program that will require interested partners to submit an awards
application form. Participation in the awards program is strictly
voluntary. The purpose of this information collection is to document
partner successes for further recognition. Partners may designate
certain information submitted under this ICR as confidential business
information. All information identified as confidential business
information collected under this ICR will not be available to the
public. Participation on the awards program is entirely voluntary.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 89
hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended
[[Page 70761]]
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: The universe of each respondent
activity varies depending upon the specific activity. The respondent
universe for each information collection activity associated with EPA
Water Efficiency Program is presented and explained separately below.
Partnership Agreement: EPA estimates that 3,800 partners will join
the program in the first year, 5,000 in the second year, and 6,200 in
the third year of the program, for an average of 5,000 partners per
year. EPA estimates that certified professionals will comprise the vast
majority of partnerships. For other partner categories, EPA anticipates
welcoming 100 partners in the first year, 75 in the second year, and
125 in the third year.
New Certified Product Notification Form: During the three-year
period covered by this ICR, EPA anticipates developing specifications
for 13 categories of products and services. Each product category has
specific information that must be submitted by partners who desire to
label their product(s). EPA anticipates that manufacturers will submit
a total of 450 products for certification in the 13 categories over the
first 3 years of the program. This translates to 150 products annually.
Of the 450 total applications, EPA anticipates updating the Web
registry of labeled products on a monthly basis.
Promotional Plan: With an exception for certified professionals,
EPA plans to request submission of one Promotional Plan per partner for
each year the partner participates in the program. Thus, EPA
anticipates receiving 100 promotional plans in the first year, 175 in
the second and 300 in the third for an average of 192 per year.
Annual Update: With an exception for certified professionals, EPA
plans to require submission of one Annual Update per partner for each
year the partner participates in the program. Thus, EPA anticipates
receiving 100 Annual Updates in the first year, 175 in the second and
300 in the third for an average of 192 per year.
Award Application: EPA plans to initiate an awards program by the
third year of the Water Efficiency Program. Based on the popularity of
other EPA awards programs, EPA anticipates receiving 100 applications
during the first round of award applications.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 214 State and local government;
427 private sector, 5000 individuals per year.
Frequency of Response: Once/year.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 50,081.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $3,372,000, includes $125,000 annual
capital/startup and O&M costs and $3,247,000 annual labor costs.
Dated: November 29, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-20644 Filed 12-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P