[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7259-7260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4389]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5430-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Water Quality Standards Regulation

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) renewal has been forwarded to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Water Quality 
Standards Regulation (OMB Control Number 2040-0049; expiring February 
29, 1996). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection 
and its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the 
actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 28, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-
2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 988.06.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Water Quality Standards Regulation (OMB Control No. 2040-
0049; EPA ICR No. 0988.05, expiring on 2/29/96. This is a request for 
extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Water quality standards are provisions of Federal, State, 
or Tribal law which consist of designated uses for the waters of the 
United States, water quality criteria for the waters based on such 
uses, and an antidegradation policy. Such standards serve two primary 
purposes. First, they define water quality goals for water bodies. 
Second, they serve as a regulatory basis for establishing water 
quality-based treatment controls and strategies beyond technology-based 
treatment required by Sections 301 and 306 of the Clean Water Act 
(CWA).
    The Water Quality Standards Regulation (the Regulation) describes 
requirements and procedures for the 

[[Page 7260]]
States and Indian Tribes to develop, review, and revise their water 
quality standards regulations and for EPA to review and approve the 
water quality standards. Additionally, the Regulation outlines 
procedures whereby Indian Tribes can qualify to receive EPA 
authorization to administer the water quality standards program 
contained in Section 303 of the CWA. Finally, the Regulation contains a 
dispute mechanism to aid in resolving disputes which may arise between 
States and Indian Tribes over differing water quality standards on 
common bodies of water.
    This information collection covers State/Tribal submissions of 
water quality standards to EPA for review and approval, and Tribal 
applications submitted to EPA for authorization to administer the water 
quality standards program. Additionally, this information collection 
covers the submission of information by States and Indian Tribes to EPA 
for use in resolving disputes that arise on common bodies of water.
    The information collection schedule is required pursuant to the 
mandates of CWA Sections 303(c) and 518. Indian Tribes (that are 
authorized to administer the water quality standards program) and 
States are required to hold hearings at least once every three years 
for the purposes of reviewing and, if appropriate, revising their water 
quality standards. Tribal applications for authorization to administer 
the water quality standards program are a one-time collection of 
information. Requests for dispute resolution are also a one-time 
collection of information per dispute.
    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 48 CFR Chapter 15. The 
Federal Register Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on 10/25/95 
(60 FR 54682); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2,500 
hours per response. 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; 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: States, Territories, and Indian 
Tribes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 77.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 193,980 hours.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No. 988.06 and OMB Control No. 2040-0049 in any 
correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory 
Information Division (2136), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.

      and

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: February 20, 1996.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 96-4389 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
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