[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 235 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62844-62845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29841]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5341-2]


Request for Comments: Preaward Compliance Review Report for all 
Applicants Requesting Federal Financial Assistance, Agency Information 
Collection Activities up for Renewal (OMB Control Number 2090-0014)

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 the 
following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting 
the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on 
specific aspects of the proposed information collections as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Office of Civil Rights, USEPA Waterside Mall (WSM), 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    Interested parties may receive a copy without charge by writing to 
this address or by calling Mary St. Peter at (202)260-4967.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary St. Peter: phone (202) 260-4967: 
fax (202) 260-4580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
grant and loan applicants, generally state and local governments, 
universities, etc., who must complete a simple form with the requested 
data.
    Title: Preaward Compliance Review Report, EPA form 4700-4, OMB 
Control Number 2090-0014, expiration date 1/31/96.
    Abstract: The information request and gathering is part of the 
requirement of 40 CFR Part 7, ``Nondiscrimination in Program Receiving 
Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency'', at 40 
CFR Sec. 7.80. The regulation implements statutes which prohibit 
discrimination on the bases of race, color, national origin, sex and 
handicap. This information is also required, in part, by the Department 
of Justice regulations, 28 CFR 42.406 and 28 CFR 42.407. The 
information is collected on a short form from grant and loan applicants 
as part of the application. The EPA Director of Civil Rights manages 
the data collection through a regional component or delegated state, 
both of whom also carry out the data analysis and make the 
recommendation on the respondent's ability to meet the requirements of 
the regulation, as well as the respondent's current compliance with the 
regulation. The information and analysis is of sufficient value for the 
Director to determine whether the applicant is in compliance with the 
regulation. Analysis of the data allows EPA to determine:
    (1) Whether there appears to be discrimination in the provision of 
program or activity services between the minority and non-minority 
population. This allows EPA to determine whether any action is 
necessary by it before the award of the grant or loan.
    (2) Whether the respondent is designing grant or loan financed 
facilities to be accessible to handicapped individuals or whether a 
regulatory exemption is applicable. This allows EPA to determine 
whether design changes are necessary prior to the award of the grant or 
loan, which can save the respondent a significant amount of money, 
e.g., ensuring a facility is accessible to the handicapped is much less 
costly if this requirement is included in the design rather than after 
construction has begun.
    (3) Whether the respondent receives or has applied for financial 
assistance from other Federal agencies. This information allows EPA to 
canvass these other agencies to avoid conducting duplicate compliance 
audits, reviews, or complaint investigations and is a reduction of 
burden on respondents. Responses to the collection of information are 
required to obtain a grant or loan and are kept on file by the state 
distributing the funds.
    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 are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 40 CFR Chapter 15.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments to: 
    
[[Page 62845]]

    (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.
    Burden Statement: The form is part of the grant or loan application 
package. The information currently exists in the respondent operation. 
The data collected on this form is compiled and reported from the 
applicant's existing information. The information as gathered and 
reported on the form specifically applies to the grant or loan 
application. The only burden experienced by the respondent is that of 
completing the form. Our past experience has shown that it requires one 
half-hour to complete the form. The form is usually completed by the 
applicant's packager or a clerk assistant. The average salary range of 
the combined or single individual is $30,000.00 per year. Our 
information comes from direct experience in carrying out the task. 
Therefore the capital cost would be $0 and the labor for \1/2\ hour 
would be $14.41 per year. At approximately 4,000 recipients per year, 
the total cost would be $28,820.00. Burden means 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 
estimate 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; 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.

    Dated: November 13, 1995.
Dan Rondeau,
Director, Office of Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 95-29841 Filed 12-6-95; 8:45 am]
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