[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22940-22941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10884]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5818-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Performance Evaluation Studies on Water and Wastewater 
Laboratories

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): Performance Evaluation Studies on Water 
and Wastewater Laboratories, EPA #234.06, OMB #2080-0021, current 
expiration date is 7/31/97. 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 June 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin L. King 
Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Britton, (513) 569-7216, FAX to 
(513) 569-7115 or Email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Entities potentially affected by this action 
are laboratories which produce official/required drinking water or 
wastewater analyses.
    Title: Performance Evaluation Studies on Water and Wastewater 
Laboratories (OMB Control No. 2080-0021; EPA ICR No. 234.06) currently 
expiring 7/31/97. This is a request for extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Abstract: The U.S.EPA receives analytical results on drinking 
waters and wastewaters from a variety of laboratories and must rely on 
these data as a primary basis for many of its regulatory decisions. As 
a consequence, it has become very important to have an objective 
demonstration that the contributing laboratories are capable of 
producing valid data. The Laboratory Performance Evaluation Studies are 
designed to fulfill this need to document and improve the quality of 
analytical data for certain critical analyses within drinking water, 
major point-source discharge and ambient water quality samples. 
Participation in Water Pollution (WP) studies that relate to wastewater 
analyses, and Water Supply (WS) studies that relate to drinking water 
analyses, is only mandated by the U.S.EPA for those laboratories that 
are receiving federal funds to do such analyses, however successful 
participation in these studies is often required by states that certify 
laboratories for water and wastewater analyses. Participation in the 
Discharge Monitoring Report--Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) studies is 
mandatory for those designated wastewater dischargers who are doing 
self-monitoring analyses

[[Page 22941]]

required under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(NPDES) permit.
    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.

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                                                                                                   Total annual 
         Burden statement/type of study             Studies/     Resp./study       Ave. burden      respondent  
                                                      year                         hours/resp.     burden hours 
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Water Pollution Studies.........................            2          3,262.5              6.10          39,802
DMR-QA Studies (chemistry data).................            1          6,112                4.37          26,710
DMR-QA Studies (toxicity data)..................            1            300               66.2           19,860
Water Supply Studies (chemistry data)...........            2          2,202.5              7.87          34,667
Water Supply Studies (micro. data)..............            2            300                5.34           3,204
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ...........  ...............  ................         124,243
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    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.

    Dated: April 16, 1997.
T.A. Clark,
Acting Director, NERL, ORD.
[FR Doc. 97-10884 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
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