[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 117 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30609-30610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15286]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5521-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal; 
Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Water Alliances for Voluntary 
Efficiency (WAVE) Program

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): Reporting Requirements Under EPA's 
Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE) Program. OMB Control 
Number 2040-0164. Expiration Date November 30, 1996. 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 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater 
Management (Mail Code 4204), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR amendment and 
supporting analysis without charge by contacting the individual listed 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Martin, Telephone: (202) 260-
7259. FAX: (202) 260-1827. E-Mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
commercial businesses, hospitals, educational institutions, and multi-
family housing units that voluntarily join EPA's WAVE Program. Major 
respondents are hotels and motels.
    Title: Renewal--Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Water Alliances 
for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE) Program. OMB Control Number 2040-0164. 
Expiration Date November 30, 1996.
    Abstract: EPA will annually collect water, energy, and cost savings 
information from ``Partners'' in the WAVE program. Partners can be 
commercial businesses, governments, or institutions that voluntarily 
agree to implement cost-effective water efficiency measures in their 
facilities. Initially the WAVE Program will target the lodging 
industry. Another type of participant, ``Supporters,'' will work with 
EPA to promote water efficiency and provide information on products and 
services. Supporters could be equipment manufacturers, water management 
companies, utilities, local governments, or the like.
    The purpose of the WAVE Program is pollution prevention. As defined 
by EPA, pollution prevention means ``source reduction'' as defined 
under the Pollution Prevention Act, and other practices that reduce or 
eliminate the creation of pollutants through increased efficiency in 
the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, or through 
protection of natural resources by conservation. By promoting water 
efficiency, WAVE prevents pollution in two basic ways. First, 
wastewater flows are reduced which in turn, increases treatment 
efficiency at wastewater treatment plants resulting in reduced 
pollutant loads. Second, less water used means that less energy will be 
used to treat, transport, and heat drinking water and to transport and 
treat wastewater. To the extent that the reduced energy use so achieved 
is electrical energy, power plant emissions are reduced. Water 
efficiency also causes less water to be withdrawn and preserves 
streamflow to maintain a healthy aquatic environment. Less pumping of 
groundwater lowers the chance that pollutants will be drained into a 
water supply well.
    EPA will use this information to monitor the success of the 
program, to demonstrate that pollution prevention can be accomplished 
with a non-regulatory approach, and to promote the program to potential 
partners. Participation in the WAVE Program is voluntary; however, once 
a participant joins the program, it is required to sign and submit a 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an annual Results Report, and 
information on miscellaneous additional activities to EPA to receive 
and retain program benefits, such as software and publicity. No 
participant will be required to submit confidential business 
information. EPA will present aggregated data only in its program

[[Page 30610]]

progress reports. 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 49 CFR Chapter 
15.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments on its ICR renewal. 
Specifically, we would like comments to help us 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 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 annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average nine 
hours and 45 minutes per MOU response, four hours and 45 minutes per 
Results Report response, and eight hours and 30 minutes for additional 
information. 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: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are commercial businesses, hospitals, educational 
institutions, and multi-family housing units that voluntarily join 
EPA's WAVE Program. Major respondents are hotels and motels.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 55.
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 4,654 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $269,295.00.

    Dated: June 11, 1996.
Michael B. Cook,
Director Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 96-15286 Filed 6-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P