[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 189 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56568-56570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22801]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0719, FRL-8722-1]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; NPDES and Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports; EPA ICR
No. 0229.17; OMB Control No. 2040-0004.
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit a
request to renew and consolidate existing approved Information
Collection Requests (ICRs) and to update the burden in those estimates
to include the burden associated with EPA's upcoming Vessels General
Permit (VGP) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Two of these
ICRs (NPDES and Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports ICR, OMB 2040-0004 and
CSO Control Policy, OMB 2040-0170) are scheduled to expire on September
30, 2008. All of the burden will be consolidated under the NPDES and
Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports ICR (OMB 2040-0004). 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 November 28, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2008-0719, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected] (Identify Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OW-2008-0719 in the subject line).
Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 4203M, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Please include a total of three copies.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue, 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 identified by the Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0719. 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: Amelia Letnes, State and Regional
Branch, Water Permits Division, OWM Mail Code: 4203M, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 564-5627; e-mail address:
[email protected].
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-OW-2008-0719, 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,
[[Page 56569]]
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.
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
most facilities required to have NPDES permit coverage, including but
not limited to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), privately owned
treatment works (PrOTWs), manufacturing and commercial dischargers,
mining operation, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs),
stormwater dischargers, and vessels.
Title: NPDES and Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports.
ICR Number: EPA ICR No. 0229.17, OMB Control No. 2040-0004.
ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on September
30, 2008. 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 purpose of this ICR is to consolidate, streamline,
and update EPA's NPDES-related ICRs into the currently approved ICR for
NPDES and Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports (OMB Control No.: 2040-
0004). EPA identified 15 NPDES-related ICRs consisting of program-based
(i.e., Pretreatment Program), activity-based (i.e., Applications,
Discharge Monitoring Reports [DMRs]), and rule-based (i.e., Cooling
Water Intake-Phase II, Stormwater Program Phase II) ICRs. Historically,
EPA identified the five activity-based ICRs as representing the base
NPDES program. Those ICRs include: (1) Applications ICR (OMB Control
No. 2040-0086); (2) DMR ICR (OMB Control No. 2040-0004); (3)
Modification/Variance ICR (OMB Control No. 2040-0068); (4) Compliance
Assessment/Certification ICR (OMB Control No. 2040-0110); and (5) State
Program ICR (OMB Control No. 2040-0057). Several additional ICRs
include activities that contain similar activities to those identified
in the five base NPDES program ICRs and as such, are being consolidated
into this ICR. Those four ICRs include: (1) Stormwater Program Phase II
(OMB Control No. 2040-0211); (2) Stormwater discharges associated with
construction activities (OMB Control No. 2040-0188); (3) CSO Control
Policy (OMB Control No. 2040-0170); and (4) NPDES Great Lakes Water
Quality Guidance (OMB Control No. 2040-0180). In addition, the revised
ICR will account for the burden related to EPA's upcoming Eligible
Commercial and Other Non-recreational Vessels General Permit.
Burden Statement: The individual ICRs provide a detailed
explanation of the Agency's estimate, which is briefly summarized here
on Tables 1 and 2. The frequency of response for these ICRs varies from
once to daily.
Table 1--ICRs Responses, Burden, and Cost Summary
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Annual cost
OMB ICR No. EPA ICR No. Title Annual number Annual burden burden
of responses (hours) (dollars)
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2040-0004...................................... 0229.16 NPDES and Sewage Sludge Monitoring 583,987 14,193,543 11,816,288
Reports (DMR).
2040-0057...................................... 0168.08 NPDES and Sewage Sludge Management 19,405 1,013,802 0
State Programs.
2040-0068...................................... 0029.08 NPDES Modification and Variance 23,610 280,224 0
Requests.
2040-0086...................................... 0226.17 Applications for the NPDES Discharge 249,494 1,359,497 5,380,000
Permits and the Sewage Sludge
Management Permits
[[Page 56570]]
2040-0110...................................... 1427.07 NPDES Compliance Assessment/ 507,585 2,066,677 0
Certification Information.
2040-0170...................................... 1680.04 CSO Control Policy..................... 1,286 400,542 156,000
2040-0180...................................... 1639.05 NPDES Great Lakes Water Quality 1,257 84,537 0
Guidance.
2040-0188...................................... 1842.04 Notice of Intent (NOI) for Stormwater 157,546 8,247,638 0
Discharges Associated with
Construction Activity under an NPDES
General Permit
2040-0211...................................... 1820.03 NPDES Stormwater Program Phase II...... 135,908 3,696,276 0
N/A............................................ N/A Eligible Commercial and Other Non- 209,019 126,706 0
recreational Vessels General Permit
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Table 2--ICRs Respondents and Averages Summary
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Average number
Number of of responses Average hours
OMB ICR No. EPA ICR No. Title potential for each per response
respondents respondent
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2040-0004................................ 0229.16.................... NPDES and Sewage Sludge 81,988 7.1 24.3
Monitoring Reports (DMR).
2040-0057................................ 0168.08.................... NPDES and Sewage Sludge 618 31.4 52.2
Management State Programs.
2040-0068................................ 0029.08.................... NPDES Modification and Variance 11,831 2.0 11.9
Requests.
2040-0086................................ 0226.17.................... Applications for the NPDES 249,494 1.0 5.4
Discharge Permits and the
Sewage Sludge Management
Permits
2040-0110................................ 1427.07.................... NPDES Compliance Assessment/ 450,471 1.1 4.1
Certification Information.
2040-0170................................ 1680.04.................... CSO Control Policy.............. 776 1.7 311.5
2040-0180................................ 1639.05.................... NPDES Great Lakes Water Quality 3,795 0.3 67.3
Guidance.
2040-0188................................ 1842.04.................... Notice of Intent (NOI) for 157,546 1.0 52.4
Stormwater Discharges
Associated with Construction
Activity under an NPDES General
Permit
2040-0211................................ 1820.03.................... NPDES Stormwater Program Phase 135,908 1.0 27.2
II.
N/A...................................... N/A........................ Eligible Commercial and Other 65,625 3.2 0.6
Non-recreational Vessels
General Permit
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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.
Change in Burden: The current burden approved by OMB for the ICRs
being consolidated is 31,342,736 hours. Apart from the additional
burden related to EPA's upcoming Eligible Commercial and Other Non-
recreational Vessels General Permit, EPA does not anticipate that the
resulting burden for the consolidated ICR will be significantly
different than the sum of the individual ICRs. Any changes are expected
to be the result of fluctuations in the permitted universe.
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
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: September 17, 2008.
James A. Hanlon,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. E8-22801 Filed 9-26-08; 8:45 am]
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