[Federal Register: October 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 209)]
[Notices]
[Page 63978-63979]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28oc08-64]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OEI-2008-0225; FRL-8735-1]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; 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 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 November 28,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-
2008-0225, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred
method), by e-mail to alvarez.karl@epa.gov, by mail to: EPA Docket
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, 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, or by 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; 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: Karl Alvarez of OEI/OIC/IESD/IEPB at
the Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. (MC
2823-T), Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-0989; fax
number: (202) 566-1684; e-mail address: alvarez.karl@epa.gov.
[[Page 63979]]
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 12, 2008 (73 FR 26983), EPA sought comments on this ICR
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments during the
comment period. 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-OEI-2008-0225, which is available for online viewing at
www.regulations.gov, or in-person viewing at 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 Tribal Capacity: Determining the Capability to Participate in the
National Environmental Information Exchange Network Program Docket is
(202) 566-0989.
Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at
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 on paper, will be made
available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted
material, confidential business information (CBI), or other information
whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further
information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
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.
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 annual capital and operations and maintenance
costs: $0.
Dated: October 22, 2008.
Deborah Williams,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-25677 Filed 10-27-08; 8:45 am]
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