[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 66 (Thursday, April 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 15068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8340]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5453-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal

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 Information Collection Request 
(ICR) listed below is coming up for renewal. Before submitting the 
renewal package to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the collection as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: U.S. EPA, Wetlands Division (4502F), 401 M Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Williams, 202-260-5084, fax 202-
260-8000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities affected by this 
action are states requesting assumption of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 
Section 404 permit program, states/tribes with approved assumed 
programs, and permit applicants in states or tribes with assumed 
programs. Tribes submitting a request to assume the federal permit 
program are covered under a separate, approved ICR. The approved tribal 
ICR will be incorporated into this ICR when it is finalized, so that 
there will be only one ICR for all Section 404 state assumption 
collections.
    Title: State Assumption of the federal CWA Section 404 permit 
program. OMB# 0220-2040-0168, expires on October 31, 1996.
    Abstract: Section 404(g) of CWA authorizes states to assume the 
Section 404 permit program. States must demonstrate that they meet the 
applicable statutory and regulatory requirements (40 CFR Part 233) for 
an approvable program. Specified information and documents must be 
submitted by the state to EPA to request program assumption. Once the 
required information and documents are submitted and EPA has a complete 
assumption request package, the statutory time clock for EPA's decision 
to either approve or deny the state's assumption request starts. The 
information contained in the assumption request is made available to 
the other involved federal agencies (Corps of Engineers, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service) and to the 
general public for review and comment.
    States must have the ability to issue permits that comply with the 
404(b)(1) Guidelines, the environmental review crieria. States and the 
reviewing federal agencies must be able to review proposed projects to 
evaluate and/or minimize anticipated impacts. EPA's state program 
regulations establish recommended elements that should be included in 
the state's permit application, so that sufficient information is 
available to make a thorough analysis of anticipated impacts. These 
minimum information requirements are based on the information that must 
be submitted when applying for a Section 404 permit from the Corps of 
Engineers.
    EPA is responsible for oversight of assumed state programs to 
ensure that state programs are in compliance with applicable 
requirements and that state permit decisions adequately consider and 
minimize anticipated impacts. States must evaluate their program 
annually and submit an annual report to EPA assessing their program. 
EPA's state program regulations establish minimum requirements for the 
state's annual report.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments 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;
    (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 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    Burden Statement: EPA's currently approved ICR includes 27,100 
hours for these activities. The state's assumption request is a one-
time request, a permit application is made each time someone desires to 
do work that involves the discharge of dredged or fill material into 
waters of the United States, including wetlands, and a state with an 
approved, assumed program must submit an annual report to EPA each 
year. No person is required to respond to a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB number 
for EPA's regulations are displayed in 40 CFR Part 9.
    Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the 
information collection including suggestions for reducing the burden to 
the address listed above.

    Dated: March 25, 1996.
Robert H. Wayland III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 96-8340 Filed 4-3-96; 8:45 am]
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