[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31461-31462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15323]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6109-4]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and
Sewage Sludge Management State Programs
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): National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System and Sewage Sludge Management State Programs, EPA ICR
No. 0168.07, and OMB Control No. 2040-0057, expires August 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 August 10, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Angela Lee, U.S.EPA, Permits Division, Mail Code 4203, 401
M. Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Lee, Phone: (202) 260-6814,
Fax: (202) 260-9544, E-mail: [email protected]. A copy of the
ICR can be obtained by writing to the preceding address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
State and Tribal governments and governments of U.S. Territories.
Title: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and
Sewage Sludge Management State Programs, (OMB Control No. 2040-0057;
EPA ICR No. 0168.07) expiring 8/31/98.
Abstract: Under the NPDES program, States, Federally Recognized
Indian Tribes, and U.S. Territories, hereafter referred to as States,
may acquire the authority to issue permits. States that administer
NPDES programs are also required to obtain pretreatment authority
(authority to require publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to
establish pretreatment programs and to require that indirect
dischargers meet pretreatment standards) and authority to issue permits
to federal facilities. These governments have the option of acquiring
authority to issue general permits (permits that cover a category or
categories of similar discharges). States with existing NPDES programs
must submit requests for program modifications to add pretreatment,
Federal facilities, or general permit authority. In addition, as
federal statutes and regulations are modified, States must submit
program modifications to ensure that their program continues to meet
Federal requirements.
States have the option of obtaining a sludge management program.
This program may be a component of a State NPDES Program, or it may be
administered as a separate program. To obtain a NPDES or sludge
program, a State must submit an application that includes a program
description, an Attorney General's Statement, draft Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) with the EPA Region, and copies of the State's statutes
and regulations.
Once a State obtains authority for an NPDES or sludge program, it
becomes responsible for implementing the program in that jurisdiction.
The State must retain records on the permittees and perform
inspections. In addition, when a State obtains NPDES or sludge
authority, EPA must oversee the program. Thus, States must submit
permit information and compliance reports to the EPA.
When EPA issues a permit in an unauthorized State, that State must
certify that the permit requirements comply with State water laws.
According to the Clean Water Act (CWA) (section 510), States may adopt
discharge requirements that are equal to or more stringent than
requirements in the CWA or Federal regulations.
The purpose of this ICR is to revise and extend the current
recordkeeping and reporting requirements associated with State NPDES
and sludge programs. There are three categories of reporting
requirements that are covered by this ICR. The first category, ``State
Program Requests,'' includes the activities States must complete to
request a new NPDES or sludge program, or to modify an existing
program. The second category, ``State Program Implementation,''
includes the activities that approved States must complete to implement
an existing program, such as certification of EPA-issued permits by
non-NPDES States. The third category, ``State Program Oversight,''
includes activities required of NPDES States so that EPA may satisfy
its statutory requirements for state program oversight.
The information collected by EPA is used to evaluate the adequacy
of States' NPDES or sludge program and to provide EPA with the
information necessary to fulfill its statutory oversight functions over
State program performance and individual permit actions. EPA will use
this information to evaluate States' requests for full or partial
program approval and program modifications. In order to evaluate the
adequacy of a State's proposed program, appropriate information must be
provided to ensure that proper procedures, regulations, and statutes
are in place and consistent with the CWA requirements.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to
[[Page 31462]]
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.
Burden Statement: The annual respondent burden for the activities
covered in this ICR is estimated to be 1,074,410 hours at a cost of
$32,511,641. EPA estimates an average of 25,688 responses each year.
Table 1 shows the annual respondent burden and costs associated with
specific program elements.
Table 1.--Annual Respondent Burden and Costs
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Total
Reporting requirement/citation Number of Hours per Total hours respondent
responses response cost ($) \1\
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State Program Requests:
Request for NPDES Program Approval................... 0.67 2,080 1,394 42,170
Request for NPDES Partial Program Approval........... 1.33 2,080 2,766 83,711
Request for NPDES Program Modification............... 1.33 250 333 10,061
Request for Program Transfer/Withdrawal.............. 0.00 ........... 0 0
Request for NPDES Sludge Program Approval............ 3.00 750 2,250 68,085
Request for Non-NPDES Sludge Program Approval........ 6.00 750 4,500 136,170
State Program Implementation:
Report on Compliance Evaluation...................... 0.00 ........... 0 0
Recordkeeping of NPDES Program Information........... 45.00 50 2,250 68,085
Recordkeeping for Non-NPDES Sludge Program
Implementation...................................... 12.00 50 600 18,156
Inspection and Investigation of NPDES permittees..... 23,240 ( \2\ ) 1,041,998 31,530,853
Inspection of Class I Sludge Management Facilities... 0.00 8 0 0
Certification of EPA-Issued Permits.................. 1,849 4 7,396 223,803
State Program Oversight:
Submittal of NPDES Permit Information................ 45.00 40 1,813 54,877
Submittal of Sludge Permit Information (40 CFR
Sections 123.43 and 123.44(j))...................... 8.00 0 2 75
Submittal of Sludge Permit Information (40 CFR
Section 501.16)..................................... 12.00 0 3 76
NPDES Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual Reports..... 225.00 25 5,625 170,213
Semi-Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR
Section 123.45)..................................... 16.00 24 384 11,620
Semi-Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR
Section 501.21)..................................... 24.00 24 576 17,430
Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR Section
123.45)............................................. 8.00 126 1,008 30,502
Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR Section
501.21)............................................. 12.00 126 1,512 45,753
Total Burden....................................... 25,688 ........... 1,074,410 32,511,641
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\1\ Assumes an hourly labor rate of $30.26.
\2\ Varies.
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 (1) collecting, validating,
and verifying information, (2) processing and maintaining information,
and (3) 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: June 2, 1998.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 98-15323 Filed 6-8-98; 8:45 am]
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