[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 252 (Tuesday, December 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69089-69090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33261]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5672-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request: Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund Program 
Guidance

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving 
Fund Program Guidance, insert OMB Control Number. Before submitting the 
ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on 
specific aspects for the proposed information collection as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Clifford Yee, Office of Wastewater 
Management (4204), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, 
SW, Washington, DC. 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clifford Yee (202) 260-5822; FAX: 
(202) 260-0116; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
the fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the recipients of assistance in each 
of these jurisdictions.
    Title: Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund Program 
Guidance.
    Abstract: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 
(Pub. L. 104-182) authorize the creation of Drinking Water State 
Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs in each state and Puerto Rico to assist 
public water systems to finance the costs of infrastructure needed to 
achieve or maintain compliance with SDWA requirements and to protect 
public health. Section 1452 authorizes the Administrator of the U. S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award capitalization grants to 
the states and Puerto Rico which, in turn, provide low-cost loans and 
other types of assistance to eligible drinking water systems.
    The information collection activities will occur primarily at the 
program level through the: (1) Capitalization

[[Page 69090]]

Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended Use Plan, (2) Biennial 
Report, (3) Annual Audit, and (4) Assistance Application Review.
    (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended 
Use Plan: The State must prepare a capitalization grant application 
that includes an Intended Use Plan (IUP) outlining in detail how it 
will use all the funds covered by the capitalization grant. States may, 
as an alternative, develop the IUP in two parts. One part that 
identifies the distribution and uses of funds among the various set-
asides and the DW-SRF. The second part addresses project funding to be 
provided by the DW-SRF itself.
    (2) Biennial Report: The state must agree to complete and submit a 
biennial report on the uses of the capitalization grant. The scope of 
the report must cover the DW-SRF and all other non-SRF activities 
included under the capitalization grant agreement. States which jointly 
administer DW-SRF and CW-SRF programs, in accordance with Section 
1452(g)(1), may submit reports (according to the schedule specified for 
each program) which cover both programs.
    (3) Annual Audit: The state must agree to conduct or have conducted 
a separate audit of its capitalization grant. The scope of the audit 
will cover the DW-SRF and all other activities included in the 
capitalization grant agreement. States which jointly administer DW-SRF 
and CW-SRF programs, in accordance with Section 1452(g)(1), may submit 
audits which cover both programs but which report financial information 
for each program separately.
    (4) Assistance Application Review: States assist local applicants 
seeking financial assistance in preparing DW-SRF loan applications. 
States then review completed loan applications and verify that proposed 
projects will comply with applicable federal and state requirements.
    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.
    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:
    (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended 
Use Plan.

1997: 51 States  x  360 Hours = 18,360 Burden Hours
1998: 51 States  x  300 Hours = 15,300 Burden Hours
1999: 51 States  x  300 Hours = 15,300 Burden Hours

    (2) Biennial Report.
1997: 51 States  x  200 Hours = 10,200 Burden Hours
1999: 51 States  x  250 Hours = 12,750 Burden Hours

    (3) Annual Audit.
1997: 51 States  x  80 Hours = 4,080 Burden Hours
1998: 51 States  x  80 Hours = 4,080 Burden Hours
1999: 51 States  x  80 Hours = 4,080 Burden Hours

    (4) Loan Application Review.
1997: 51 States  x  60 Applications  x  40 Hours = 122,400 Burden Hours
1998: 51 States  x  75 Applications  x  40 Hours = 153,000 Burden Hours
1999: 51 States  x  90 Applications  x  40 Hours = 183,600 Burden Hours
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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; 
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: December 20, 1996.
Alfred W. Lindsey,
Acting Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 96-33261 Filed 12-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P