[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 74 (Friday, April 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19248-19250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10222]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5998-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Program 
Evaluation (Self-Audit)

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 document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Municipal Water Pollution Prevention 
Program Evaluation (Self-Audit), EPA ICR Number 1728.03, OMB Control 
Number 2040-0181, expires May 31, 1998. 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 16, 1998. All 
public comments shall be submitted to: DMR ICR Comment Clerk (W-98-17), 
Water Docket MC 4101, U.S. EPA, East Tower basement, 401 M Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
    Please submit the original and three comments and enclosures 
(including references). Comments must be received or post-marked by 
midnight no later than June 16, 1998. 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: [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-98-17. 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 Information Collection Request (ICR) revision has been 
established under docket number W-98-17 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, East Tower 
basement, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. For access to the 
docket materials, please call (202) 260-3027 to schedule an 
appointment.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the proposed ICR will be available at the Water 
Docket (W-98-17), Mailcode 4101, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Copies of the proposed ICR can be 
obtained without charge by writing to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Ogbebor, 202/260-6322; fax: 
202/260-9544; [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
wastewater facilities.
    Title: Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Program Evaluation 
(Self-Audit) (OMB Control No. 2040-0181; EPA ICR No. 1728-03) expiring 
05/31/98.
    Abstract: This is a request for clearance to collect information 
via self-audit form on the operation, physical capabilities and 
financial status of Municipal Water Pollution Prevention (MWPP) 
programs. EPA will collect the information from more than nine 
municipal wastewater treatment facilities in any of the ten Regions 
(currently operated in two regions) with non-approved National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) States.
    Since the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 
1972, more than $85 billion in federal, State and local funds have been 
invested in constructing and upgrading municipal wastewater treatment 
facilities. The 1996 Needs Survey total estimates to be $139.5 billion, 
to satisfy all program categories eligible for State Revolving Fund 
(SRF) funding for the design year (2016) population, including $44.0 
billion for wastewater treatment; $10.3 billion for upgrading existing 
wastewater collection systems; $21.6 billion for new sewer 
construction; and $44.7 billion for controlling Combined Sewer 
Overflows (CSOs). The availability of federal funds which support the 
construction and upgrade of wastewater facilities is decreasing and EPA 
program managers and the States have identified that monitoring of 
early warning systems could detect potential operating and financial 
problems at wastewater treatment facilities. Early detection and 
resolution of problems help facilities to maintain compliance and 
promote proper planning and corrective actions to prevent costly 
repairs and environmental degradation. The result of the self-audit 
will be used by the facilities owners and EPA to assess the compliance 
needs at facilities.
    The MWPP program is authorized under section 104 of the Clean Water 
Act (CWA). Section 104(b) (7) of the Act authorizes EPA to develop 
effective and practical processes, methods, and prototype devices for 
prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution. MWPP program will 
contribute to the protection of this public investment and will provide 
an early warning system of potential problems. The information 
collected will be used to assist commu-nities to become aware of their 
multi-media pollution prevention efforts such as water conservation, 
industrial pretreatment practices, energy management, beneficial use of 
biosolids and management of household hazardous wastes. EPA Regional 
Offices use this information to target technical, training and 
compliance assistance; determine needs for grant assistance; and 
develop operating program priorities to better meet facility and 
municipality needs. It is an improved approved approach to managing 
municipal sewage treatment facilities which can benefit local 
communities, States and federal governments. Facility participation in 
the program will be at the discretion of the EPA Regional Office. All 
information collected is available to the public. A hard copy is 
available for perusal in the Regional Office, or copies of audits may 
be obtained by mail through a Freedom of Information Act request.
    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 reporting burden for completion of the self-
audit by each facility is estimated to be 26 hours. This estimate 
includes time to receive and review the self-audit form, gather the 
requested information, complete the form, develop corrective actions, 
prepare municipal resolution and submit the completed package to the 
governing body. The reporting burden for approval of the self-audit by 
each municipal governing body is estimated to be 2.5 hours. This 
estimate includes time to review and approve the

[[Page 19250]]

self-audit and corrective action plan, sign the resolution and submit 
the package to the Agency. Approximately 865 facilities will be subject 
to this information collection for an estimated burden of approximately 
24,653 hours. The total estimated burden for this information 
collection activity, including the Agency, is 27,780 hours nationally.
    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 8, 1998.
Michael Quigley,
Director, Municipal Support Division.
[FR Doc. 98-10222 Filed 4-16-98; 8:45 am]
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