[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 25189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11990]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5823-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Public Water System Annual Compliance Report

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 Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): ``Public Water System Annual Compliance 
Report.'' 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 July 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons wishing to obtain a copy of this ICR may 
contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Enforcement 
and Compliance Assurance; Chemical, Commercial Services and Municipal 
Division; 401 M St. SW (2224A) Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melanie La Force, (202) 564-7068, (202) 564-0034, 
LaForce.M[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
State governments.
    Title: Public Water System Annual Compliance Report.
    Abstract: States are required to prepare for EPA by January 1, 
1998, a detailed report with Executive Summary on drinking water 
violations. EPA is to then take the information prepared by the States 
and prepare a national report that aggregates the information collected 
from the States as well as report on Indian Tribes information. EPA is 
to make recommendations to remedy problems associated with drinking 
water violations in the States. This activity is required under section 
1414(c)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure compliance and 
public safety. The information reported by States is required under the 
Safe Drinking Water Act. 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.
    States are required to prepare a report that lists violations in 
the following four categories: Maximum Contaminant Levels, Treatment 
Techniques, Variances and Exemptions, and Monitoring violations 
considered to be significant. EPA is to then take this information and 
prepare a national report summarizing the information reported by the 
States.
    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: The estimated annual hour burden for this report 
is 22,000 hours. Each year, States will be required to produce data 
reports, report to the EPA database, make corrections, and assemble a 
report summarizing the data. This reporting activity is combined with 
other types of reporting activities and includes gathering of 
information used in other required reports. There are estimated 50 
responses for 50 States. The annual burden hours per response is 444 
hours. The responses are in the form of an annual report to EPA. This 
report uses resources and data systems that are currently available to 
the State. 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.
Elliott Gilberg,
Division Director, Chemical and Commercial Services and Municipal 
Division.
[FR Doc. 97-11990 Filed 5-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M