[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41147-41148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20110]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5547-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Construction Grants Delegation to States

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 proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Construction Grants 
Delegation to States, EPA No. 0909.04; OMB No. 2040-0095; approved for 
use through 12/31/96. 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 October 7, 1996.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater 
Management (4201), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. A copy 
of the ICR may be obtained, without charge, from the program official 
shown below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arnold Speiser, U.S.E.P.A., Municipal 
Assistance Branch (4204), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460; 
telephone 202-260-7377; facsimile 202-260-1827; E-Mail Speiser.Arnold 
@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
States which administer elements of the construction grants program 
under a delegation agreement with EPA and municipalities which received 
construction grants from EPA.
    Title: Construction Grants Delegation to States; OMB No. 2040-0095; 
approved for use through 12/31/96.
    Abstract: The purpose of this ICR is to revise and extend the 
current clearance for the collection of information under the 
Construction Grants Program Delegation to States, 40 CFR Part 35 
Subpart J, and Title II of the Clean Water Act (CWA). While the 
Construction Grants Program is being phased out and replaced by the 
State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program, collection activities for the 
Construction Grants Program must continue until program completion. The 
program includes reporting, monitoring and program requirements for 
municipalities and delegated States.
    The information collection activities described in this ICR are 
authorized under Sections 205(g) and 518(e) of the Clean Water Act as 
amended, 33 USC 1251 et seq, and under 40 CFR Part 35 Subpart J. The 
requested information provides the minimum data necessary for the 
Federal government to maintain appropriate fiscal accountability for 
use of Section 205(g) construction grant funds. The information is also 
needed to assure adequate management overview of those State project 
review activities that are most important to fiscal and project 
integrity, design performance, Federal budget control, and attainment 
of national goals.
    Managers at the State and Federal levels both rely on the 
information described in this ICR. State managers rely on the 
information for their own program and project administration. Federal 
managers rely on this information to assess, control, and predict the 
impacts of the construction grants program on the Federal Treasury and 
future budget requirements. Federal managers also use this information 
to respond to OMB and Congressional requests and to maintain fiscal 
accountability.
    In addition, builders of wastewater treatment plants use the 
information discussed in this ICR. The builders of these plants assess 
and use the information in the Innovative/Alternative Technology Data 
Base File to obtain technical information on innovative or alternative 
wastewater treatment systems.
    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 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 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

    Respondents: States and municipalities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 44.
    Frequency of Response: 137 per year.
    Responses Per Respondent: 3.1 per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 8,457 hours.
    Average Burden Hours Per Response: 58.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $284,747.
    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.


[[Page 41148]]


    Dated: July 26, 1996.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 96-20110 Filed 8-6-96; 8:45 am]
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