[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20520-20522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11335]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5468-9]


Request for Comments: The Pesticides Enforcement and Applicator 
Certification Cooperative Agreements Output Projection/Quarterly 
Accomplishments Reporting Form; Agency Information Collection 
Activities up for Renewal (OMB Control Number 2070-0113)

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)

[[Page 20521]]

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 July 8, 1996.

ADDRESSES: United States Environmental Protection Agency; Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance; Enforcement Capacity and Outreach 
Office (2201A); 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D. C. 20460. Interested 
persons can obtain a copy of this ICR, without charge, by writing to 
the following address: Ms. Sandy Farmer; United States Environmental 
Protection Agency; OPPE Regulatory Information Division (2136); 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC; EPA ICR Number 1547/OMB Control No. 2070-
0113.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John J. Neylan III, Telephone number 
(202) 564-5033; facsimile number (202) 564-0034; E-mail 
([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected Entities: Entities affected by this action are those 
States, Territories, and Indian Tribes which have entered into 
cooperative agreements with the Agency for pesticide enforcement and/or 
for certification and training activities.
    Title: Pesticides Enforcement and Applicator Certification 
Cooperative Agreement Output Projections/Quarterly Accomplishments 
Reporting Form; (OMB Control No. 2070-0113); EPA ICR No. 1547; Expires 
August 31, 1996. This is a request for an extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Abstract: This information collection request is for EPA Form 5700-
33H, the Pesticides Enforcement and Applicator Certification 
Cooperative Agreement Output Projections/Quarterly Accomplishments 
Reporting Form. This reporting form is required from States, 
Territories, and Tribes (States) that have cooperative agreements 
(grants) with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) 
and/or the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances 
(OPPTS) under the authority of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act, sections 23(a)(1) and (2), 26(a), and 11(a)(2)(D). The 
reporting form is used by grantees to report: a) the number and type of 
inspections projected and completed, the number and type of samples 
expected to be taken and actually collected, the number and type of 
enforcement actions taken; and b) the number and type of applicators 
projected to be trained, certified, and recertified and the number and 
type actually trained, certified, and recertified during a specific 
period of time and according to recertification periods.
    States submit the completed forms to their EPA Regional Office, 
where it is entered into a data base. The information is used to 
evaluate whether planned activities are actually accomplished, whether 
the activities undertaken are commensurate with grant funding levels, 
to ensure that adequate coverage is given to the entire, broad scope of 
compliance and enforcement activities, and to provide a basis for 
adjusting enforcement plans throughout the year, dependent on emerging 
situations. Additionally the training, certification, and 
recertification information is also used to determine if funding levels 
are adequate, to determine if a State's Certification Plan is being 
implemented, and to afford a basis for adjustment as needed.
    The information collected under this ICR is not confidential and 
will be provided upon request by writing to the address listed above. 
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 Agency needs to obtain the information required by this 
information collection in order to determine (1) if the activities 
planned are commensurate with the proposed funding level, (2) if the 
planned activities adequately cover the scope of enforcement and 
certification and training activities that correspond to a strong 
pesticide program, (3) if planned activities are actually implemented, 
and 4) if planned activities need to be adjusted to fit changing 
circumstances.
    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, 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 the information on 
those who 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.

Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection

Estimating Respondent Burden

    The estimates for developing and providing to EPA the information 
found in Form 5700-33H are based upon discussions with State pesticide 
regulatory officials. The information collection involves two groups of 
respondents: 70 respondents complete projections and report enforcement 
accomplishments (Group A); and 55 respondents complete certification 
and training reports (Group B). The type of information being collected 
and reported on 5700-33H is that which a State Pesticide Agency would 
already be maintaining as a part of the State's competent management of 
a Federally-funded grant program. Completion of the enforcement/
certification and training activities projection report is estimated to 
take four hours. The total number of hours to complete the quarterly 
enforcement accomplishment reports is 20 hours, while it takes six 
hours to execute the certification accomplishments report and three 
hours to document annually the total number of certified applicators by 
category.

Estimating Respondent Cost

    The cost to respondents to provide the information collected under 
this ICR is estimated to be minor. The Agency did not have approximate 
hourly rates for State employees and therefore in calculating costs EPA 
substituted hourly labor rates for Federal managers ($76.00), Technical 
($55.00), and clerical support ($25.00).

Estimating Agency Burden Cost

    The costs to the Government to process, analyze, and maintain the 
information requested in Form 5700-33H is based on four work hours per 
report received [five reports from each respondent in Group A, and 
three reports from each respondent in Group B annually], and ten hours 
of Headquarters personnel at an average GS-9 Step 4 grade plus 10.4% 
estimated overhead costs. Other direct costs are limited to printing 
costs for the reporting form. The number of respondents is based upon 
the number of States, Tribes and Territories that have entered into 
cooperative agreements with the Agency.

[[Page 20522]]

Bottom Line Burden Hours and Costs

    The estimates of costs for Form 5700-33H are discussed below. The 
annual burden costs for respondents consist of reading instructions, 
compiling information, completing forms, and filing the forms with EPA. 
The total time associated with providing the enforcement activity 
projections and quarterly accomplishments reports is 24 hours, times 70 
respondents, which equals 1680 hours at an annual cost of $25,200.00. 
The total time associated with providing the certification and training 
activities projections and semiannual accomplishment reports is nine 
hours, times 55 respondents, which equals 495 hours at an annual cost 
of $7425.00. The entire annual cost of this collection is $32,625.00.
    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: April 24, 1996.
Elaine G. Stanley,
Director, Office of Compliance, Office of Enforcement and Compliance 
Assurance.
[FR Doc. 96-11335 Filed 5-6-96; 8:45 am]
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