[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