[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24540-24541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11756]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6008-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES)/Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been for-warded to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports, 
EPA ICR No. 229.11, and OMB Control No. 2040-0004, expiring May 31, 
1998. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and 
its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual 
data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 3, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone 
at (202) 260-2740, by e-mail at [email protected], or 
download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA 
ICR No. 229.11.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: The Discharge Monitoring Report for the National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports 
(OMB Control No. 2040-0004; EPA ICR No. 229.11) expiring 5/31/98. This 
is a request for extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: This ICR estimates the current monitoring, reporting, and 
record keeping burden and costs associated with submitting and 
reviewing Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), sewage sludge monitoring 
reports, and other monitoring reports under the Environmental 
Protection Agency's (EPA) NPDES program. The NPDES program regulations, 
codified at 40 CFR parts 122 through 125, require permitted municipal 
and non-municipal point source discharges to collect, analyze, and 
submit data on their wastewater discharges. Under these regulations, 
the permittee is required to collect and analyze wastewater samples or 
have the analysis performed at an outside laboratory and report the 
results to the permitting authority (EPA or an authorized NPDES State) 
using DMRs, a pre-printed form used for reporting pollutant discharge 
information. Sample monitoring, analysis, and reporting frequencies 
vary by permit, but must be performed at least annually for all 
permitted discharges except for certain storm water discharges.
    Upon renewal of this ICR, the permitting authority will continue to 
require NPDES and sewage sludge facilities to report pollutant 
discharge monitoring data. The permitting authority will use the data 
from these forms to assess permittee compliance, modify/add new permit 
requirements, and revise effluent guidelines. The monitoring data 
required of NPDES and sewage sludge facilities represents the minimum 
information necessary to achieve the Agency's goals and satisfy 
regulatory standards.
    Due to the re-estimation of burden for this collection, the burden 
hours associated with this new ICR have been greatly reduced from the 
hours of the current ICR. This decrease is due to more accurate 
estimates, which reflect the general practice of using outside 
laboratory services. The change in burden is reflected in higher 
operation and maintenance costs, due to the cost associated with using 
the services of outside laboratories.
    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 
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on 11/24/97 
(62 FR 62590); one comment was received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10.7 
hours per response. 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;

[[Page 24541]]

complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or 
otherwise disclose the information.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: NPDES permittees including publicly 
owned treatment works, privately owned treatment works industrial 
facilities, and storm water permittees. The sewage sludge record 
keeping and reporting requirements identified in this ICR apply to 
treatment works (public and private) treating domestic sewage and to 
domestic septage haulers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 130,380.
    Frequency of Response: Varies depending on nature and effect of the 
discharge, but, except for storm water discharge, is not less than 
annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 6,540,416 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $278,450,948.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No. 0229.11 and OMB Control No.2040-0004 in any 
correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory 
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460;
    and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: April 28, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-11756 Filed 5-1-98; 8:45 am]
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