[Federal Register: May 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 92)]
[Notices]
[Page 26983-26985]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12my08-31]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OEI-2008-0225; FRL-8564-5]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Tribal Capacity: Determining the Capability to
Participate in the National Environmental Information Exchange Network;
EPA ICR No. 2299.01, OMB Control No. 2025--New
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 for a new 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 date July 11, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OEI-2008-0225, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: forrest.terry@epa.gov.
Fax: (202) 566-1624.
Mail: Tribal Capacity: Determining the capability to
participate in the National Environmental Information Exchange Network
Program, Environmental Protection Agency, MC 2823T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA
West Bldg, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20460. 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 to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-
2008-0225. 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 www.regulations.gov
or e-mail. The http://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: Tribal Capacity: Determining the
Capability To Participate in the National Environmental Information
Exchange Network Program or William Terry Forrest of OEI/OIC/IESD/IEPB
at MC 2823-T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-0196; fax number:
202-566-1624; e-mail address: forrest.terry@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OEI-2008-0225 Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/
DC
[[Page 26984]]
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 Tribal Capacity:
Determining the Capability To Participate in the National Environmental
Information Exchange Network Program Docket is 202-566-0196.
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 any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
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?
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-2008-0225
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
Federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Title: Tribal Capacity: Determining the Capability To Participate
in the National Environmental Information Exchange Network Program.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2299.01. OMB Control No. 2025--new.
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: The Environmental Information Exchange Network (Exchange
Network) is an Internet-based approach for exchanging environmental
data among partners (e.g., EPA, states, tribes and territories). Built
on the principles of applying data standards; providing secure, real-
time access; and electronically collecting and storing accurate
information, the Exchange Network enables participants to control and
manage their own data while making it available to partners via
requests over a secure Internet connection. By facilitating the
efficient exchange of environmental information among interested
parties at all levels of government, the Exchange Network has begun to
transform the way information is shared.
While some Indian Tribes have been active partners in the Exchange
Network, overall tribal participation is limited. EPA has issued grants
that fund infrastructure and other support needed to share data on the
network to just over 50 tribes or less than 10 percent of the more than
500 federally recognized tribes. Of these, eight have exchanged data
over the network and another five are developing the infrastructure
required to do so.
To expand tribal participation in the Exchange Network, EPA has
been working with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
under a series of cooperative agreements. NCAI is planning to conduct a
baseline assessment survey to obtain data to help identify barriers and
other factors that are limiting tribal participation in the Network.
The survey will focus on gathering information related to collection
and dissemination of environmental data; information technology
infrastructure, capacity, and needs; and awareness of the Exchange
Network. The survey will be distributed to all federally recognized
tribes that are members of NCAI. Response to the survey is voluntary.
NCAI will use the findings of this survey to design programs to broaden
tribal participation.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30
minutes per response.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 250.
Frequency of response: Once.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:
One.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 125 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $ -0-. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $-0- and an estimated cost of $-0- for capital
investment or maintenance and operational costs.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the
[[Page 26985]]
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: April 25, 2008.
Doreen Sterling,
Director, Office of Information Collection, Information Exchange &
Services Division.
[FR Doc. E8-10505 Filed 5-9-08; 8:45 am]
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