[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29092-29093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14459]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5516-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal; Monthly 
Progress Reports.

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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Monthly Progress Reports, OMB Control 
Number 2030-0005. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and 
approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 6, 1996.

.ADDRESSES: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Acquisition 
Management (3802F), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. 
Attention: Edward N. Chambers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward N. Chambers. (202) 260-6028 / 
FAX: (202) 260-1203 / [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
EPA contractors.
    Title: Monthly Progress Reports, OMB Control Number 2030-0005, 
expiration date 11-30-96.
    Abstract: On a monthly basis, contractors are required to provide a 
progress report detailing what was accomplished on the contract for 
that period of time, what remains to be done, as well as a general 
listing of expenditures for that period of time. This allows EPA to 
monitor the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the work being 
performed. Once the information is received, it is reviewed against 
existing financial data, contractor deliverables, invoices, and agency 
records for verification. These reports are prescribed under clauses in 
EPA contracts.
    Monthly progress reports contain confidential business information 
and are protected from release in accordance with 40 CFR Part 2. No 
sensitive information is required.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information

[[Page 29093]]

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 EPA would like to solicit comments:
    (i) to 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) to 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) to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (iv) to 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 annual burden for this collection is 
estimated to average 516 hours for each Agency contract. This 
represents an average of 43 hours for each monthly progress report. 
Since EPA currently has 398 contracts requiring monthly progress 
reports , the total annual burden for all respondents is estimated at 
205,368 hours (398 contracts x 516 hours per contract). The total 
number of responses is estimated at 4,776 (398 contracts x 12 months). 
The annual cost of this collection for each contract is estimated at 
$34,308 ($2,859 per report x 12 months). The annual costs for all 
respondents is estimated at $13,654,584 ($34,308 per contract x 398 
contracts).
    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; to 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; to adjust the 
existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and 
requirements; to train personnel to be able to respond to a collection 
of information; to search data sources; to complete and review the 
collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the 
information.

    Dated: May 31, 1996.
Susan Kantrowitz,
Acting Director, Policy, Training and Oversight Division.
[FR Doc. 96-14459 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]
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