[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 5980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3220]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5686-9]


Renewal of Agency Information Collection Activities

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 the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) listed below is coming up for renewal. Before submitting the 
renewal package to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the collection as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 11, 1997.

ADDRESSES: U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Quality 
Assurance Division (MS-104), 2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837-
3679.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy W. Wentworth, 202-260-5763, 
Facsimile Number 202-401-7002, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

    Affected entities: Entities affected by this action are those which 
apply for Federal financial assistance from EPA for proposed projects 
that include environmentally related measurements.
    Title: ICR Number 0866, Quality Assurance Specification and 
Requirements, OMB Control Number 2080-0033, which expires June 30, 
1997.
    Abstract: This ICR covers the quality assurance (QA) paperwork 
burden that appears at 40 CFR 30.54 [which supercedes 40 CFR 30.503(d)] 
and 40 CFR 31.45. These are subsections from 40 CFR Part 30--General 
Regulations for Assistance Programs, and 40 CFR Part 31--Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State and Local Governments, respectively. The information collection 
activity involves the preparation of QA plans or narrative statements 
that provide supporting documentation sufficient to produce data that 
are of quality adequate to meet project objectives and (for 40 CFR 
30.54) to minimize loss of data due to out-of-control conditions or 
malfunctions. The quality system of the 40 CFR 30.54 assistance 
recipient must comply with the requirements of ANSI/ASQC E4, 
``Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental 
Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs.'' All QA 
submissions are reviewed and approved by an EPA certified project 
officer or a designated quality assurance officer.
    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 displayed in 40 CFR Part 9.
    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;
    (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 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The currently approved ICR estimated the burden 
for annual reporting and recordkeeping to be 85 hours each for 845 
state and local respondents applying for assistance, and 70 hours each 
for 550 principal investigators who solicit assistance. The agency 
burden for review of QA plans and preparation assistance to respondents 
was estimated at 15 hours each for the estimated 1395 awards. This 
estimate included the time needed to review instructions, search 
existing data sources, gather and maintain the data needed, and 
complete and review the collection of information. Note that the agency 
research grants program has expanded significantly since the last 
renewal.
    Send comments regarding these matters or any other aspect of the 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to the address listed above.

    Dated: February 4, 1997.
Robert J. Huggett,
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 97-3220 Filed 2-7-97; 8:45 am]
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