[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29826-29827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14192]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5832-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Revision to 
Collection; Comment Request; Revision to Application for the National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Discharge Permit (NPDES) and the 
Sewage Sludge Management Permit (Applications) Information Collection 
Request (ICR): Notice of Intent for Storm Water Discharges Associated 
With Industrial Activity

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 revision of the Applications ICR to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB): [Applications for the National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System Discharge Permit (NPDES) and the Sewage 
Sludge Management Permit ICR, EPA ICR No. 0226, and OMB No. 2040-0086, 
expires August 31, 1998.] This notice accompanies the notice of 
Proposed Reissuance of NPDES General Permits for Storm Water Discharges 
from Construction Activities published elsewhere in today's Federal 
Register notice.
    The Applications ICR calculates the burden and costs associated 
with permit applications for NPDES discharges and sewage sludge 
management activities. NPDES discharges include domestic wastewater, 
industrial wastewater, storm water, and other discharges. EPA is 
revising the portion of the ICR that applies to the Notice of Intent 
(NOI) form for storm water discharges from construction activities. 
Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed revision to the 
information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 1, 1997. All 
public comments shall be submitted to: ATTN: CBGP--Comments, W-97-01, 
Water Docket MC-4101, U.S. EPA, Room 2616 Mall, 401 M Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
    Please submit the original and three copies of your comments and 
enclosures (including references). Comments must be received or post-
marked by midnight no later than August 1, 1997. Commenters who want 
EPA to acknowledge receipt of their comments should enclose a self-
addressed stamped envelope. No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted. 
Comments may also be submitted electronically to: ow-
[email protected]
    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and forms of encryption. Electronic comments 
must be identified by the docket number W-97-01. No Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Comments 
and data will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1 format or 
ASCII file format. Electronic comments on this notice may be filed 
online at many Federal Depository Libraries. The record for this 
proposed ICR revision has been established under docket number W-97-01, 
and includes supporting documentation as well as printed, paper 
versions of electronic comments. It does not include any information 
claimed as CBI. The record is available for inspection from 9 am to 4 
pm, Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the Water 
Docket, Room M2616, Washington, DC 20460. For access to the docket 
materials, please call (202) 260-3027 to schedule an appointment.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the ICR will be available at the Water Docket (W-
97-01), Mail Code-4101, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M. Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Copies of the ICR can be obtained free of 
charge by writing to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Lee, Telephone: (202) 260-6814, 
E-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which have storm water discharges associated with construction 
activity (40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(x)) to waters of the U.S.
    Title: Revision to Applications ICR (OMB Control No. 2040-0086; EPA 
ICR No. 0226.) expiring 8/31/98.
    Abstract: Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) clarifies 
that storm water discharges associated with industrial activity to 
waters of the United States must be authorized by an NPDES permit. 
NPDES general permits for storm water discharges associated with 
industrial activity require that dischargers submit a Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to be covered by the permit prior to the authorization of their 
discharges under such permit (see 40 CFR 122.28(b)(2), (April 2, 1992, 
(57 FR 11394)). The U.S. EPA is revising the current NOI (Form 3510-6) 
by creating separate NOIs for discharges associated with construction 
activities and those associated with industrial activities. This 
discussion is limited to changes to the NOI for storm water discharges 
associated with construction activities (40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(x)).
    EPA is proposing certain changes to its existing NOI form for storm 
water discharges from construction activities. Information which is no 
longer being requested include (1) entries related to the quarter, 
section, township and range for the location of the site or facility, 
(2) if the facility is required to submit monitoring data, (3) the SIC 
or Designated Activity Code, (4) the MS4 operator name and the (5) 
storm water general permit number for those filing as co-permittees.
    The new information which EPA proposes to request on the NOI form 
is described below:
    1. If the Pollution Prevention Plan (PPP) has been developed, if it 
is implemented and the location for viewing. The information is being 
added to allow for a better understanding by the public of the storm 
water control efforts at the site.
    2. Indication of the estimate of likelihood of discharge (unlikely, 
once per month, once per week, once per day, or continual). This 
information is being added to help identify the risk level associated 
with the site.
    3. Utility companies that are applying for coverage that 
incorporate certain aspects of submissions of a principal operator are 
asked to certify that they understand that authorization to discharge 
is contingent upon a principal operator of the construction project 
being granted coverage under an NPDES permit. This was added to clarify 
requirements for adequate permit coverage for utilities.
    4. Indication in a yes or no answer if there are endangered species 
in proximity to the discharges or best management practices.
    5. Indication in a yes or no answer if there is a historic 
preservation agreement applicable to the site.
    6. The certification statement has been modified so that applicants 
provide an Endangered Species Act certification.
    7. The certification statement has been modified to require the 
applicant to provide a National Historic Preservation Act 
certification.
    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

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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: The increased annual burden for the revisions to 
the NOI form is expected to be 6,816 hours in labor and $217,776 (in 
1995 dollars) in labor cost. In 1997 dollars, this is equivalent to 
$228,200. EPA estimates that the changes to the existing NOI form 
require an additional 30 minutes for respondents to complete the form. 
This estimate was derived by polling environmental professionals for 
their estimates of the time needed to complete the additional 
questions. The total number of respondents is 18,176 per year. Current 
data from the NOI processing center was used to determine relative 
percentages of construction versus industrial NOIs. This percentage was 
then applied to the 1995 Applications ICR which included totals for 
U.S. EPA NOIs, State NOIs, and group applicants for both industrial and 
construction activities (33,159). 1995 labor rates contained in the 
1995 Applications ICR were used to calculate costs in 1995 dollars. 
Respondents will complete the NOI once per permit term (every five 
years). There are no capital costs such as equipment and operation and 
maintenance associated with the NOI. 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: May 22, 1997.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 97-14192 Filed 5-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P