[Federal Register: July 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 127)]
[Notices]
[Page 36449-36450]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jy07-55]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0064, FRL-8334-6]
Agency Information Collection Activity; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Information Collection Request for Questionnaire for
Nominees for the Annual National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards
Program, EPA ICR 1287.09, OMB Control Number 2040-0101
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 EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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 September 4, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OW-2003-0064, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
E-mail: ow-docket@epa.gov (Identify Docket ID number EPA-
HQ-OW-2003-0064, in the subject line).
Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments identified by the Docket ID
number EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0064. EPA's policy is that all comments received
will be included in the public docket without change and may be made
available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public
docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gajindar Singh, Municipal Support
Division, Office of Wastewater Management, OWM Mail Code: 4204M,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-0634; e-mail address:
singh.gajindar@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for the ICR identified in this
document (ID number EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0064), 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 http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of
information, 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 ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified in this
document.
What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it 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, 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.
What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of technical information/data you used that
support your views.
[[Page 36450]]
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
public wastewater treatment plants, municipalities, industries,
universities, manufacturing sites and States.
Title: Questionnaire for Nominees for the Annual National Clean
Water Act Recognition Awards Program.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1287.09, OMB Control No. 2040-0101.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on September
30, 2007. 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, and 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 requests reapproval to collect data from EPA's
National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards nominees. The awards are
for the following program categories: Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
Excellence, Biosolids (Biosolids) Management Excellence, Combined Sewer
Overflow Control (CSO) Program Excellence and Storm Water (SW)
Management Excellence.
In 1985, EPA established the Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
awards program to provide a positive incentive for compliance with the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Because of the
successes of the O&M Awards program, in 1988 EPA established the
Beneficial Biosolids Use awards (formerly Sludge awards). In 1989, the
Pretreatment awards were added. In 1990, EPA established the Combined
Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Storm Water (SW) Management awards programs.
The questionnaire provides the mechanism for the applicant to
demonstrate outstanding and innovative wastewater management practices.
The Pretreatment awards program is covered by ICR (OMB Control No.
2040-0009, EPA ICR No. 0002.12), approved through September 30, 2007. A
framework to implement the awards recognition program is at 40 CFR part
105.
The respondent, i.e., those applying for the award program, will
read the instructions for completing the questionnaire. The respondent
will use existing files, planning and progress reports, and
institutional memory to complete the questionnaire. Based on the
instructions provided with the questionnaire, the respondent will
compile the requested information. The requested design and operating
information should be readily available from wastewater treatment
facility or pollution abatement program operating records. The data
collection will include flow, permit, operating and environmental data.
The information collection will be used by the respective awards
program in the Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management to
evaluate and determine which pollution abatement achievements should be
recognized. Based on the collection, national panels will evaluate the
nominee's efforts and recommend finalists. As currently structured, the
O&M awards program has nine sub-categories to recognize municipal
achievements based on plant flows and treatment level. The Biosolids
awards program has four sub-categories which recognize municipal
biosolids operations, technology and research achievements, and public
acceptance. The CSO awards program has one sub-category which
recognizes municipal programs, and the SW awards program has two sub-
categories which recognize municipal and industrial programs. Regions
and States may also have recognition awards programs and are included
in these burden estimates. National second place category winners may
also be recognized. Additionally, nominated activities may sometimes
receive an honorable mention or special award. The National Clean Water
Act Recognition Awards are presented annually at an EPA ceremony.
Burden Statement: The total number of respondents is estimated to
be 145, including 100 for the O&M program, 25 for the Biosolids
program, 10 for the CSO program, and 10 for the SW program. The
responses are collected once annually. The respondents reporting burden
of 8 person hours per response is estimated to be 1,160 hours and a
cost of $49,458. The States' review burden of 6 person hours per
response is 870 hours and a cost of $37,459. Total estimated burden for
this collection is 2,030 hours and $86,917. The public reporting burden
for respondents is estimated to average 8 hours per response per year.
For State respondents, the reporting burden is estimated to average 6
hours per response per year. Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, or
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This
includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire,
install, and use 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 information. The ICR
provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, which is only
briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 195 (145
applicants respondents and 50 states).
Frequency of response: once annually.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,030 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $86,917. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $86,917 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital
investment or maintenance and operational costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the total estimated
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently
approved by OMB. EPA has not modified the requirements that were
included in the previous ICR.
Dated: June 27, 2007.
James A. Hanlon,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. E7-12878 Filed 7-2-07; 8:45 am]
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