[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63470-63472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30398]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6188-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal

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 Water Quality Inventory 
Reports, ICR #1560.04, OMB #2040-0071, which expires on February 28, 
1999. 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 January 12, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (4503F), 401 M 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Lehmann, National 305(b) 
Coordinator, telephone: (202) 260-7021; facsimile: (202) 260-1977; e-
mail: Lehmann.S[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities affected by this action are the 50 
States, the District

[[Page 63471]]

of Columbia, five Territories (Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). Two Interstate River 
Basin Commissions and one Indian Tribe or Tribal Group also sent data 
to EPA during the period covered by the current ICR. The SIC code for 
respondents is 9511 (Administration of Environmental Quality Programs: 
Air and Water Resources and Solid Waste Management).
    Title: National Water Quality Inventory Reports (Clean Water Act 
Sections 305(b), 303(d), and 314(a)). OMB Control Number 2040-0071. 
Expiration date: February 28, 1999.
    Abstract: Section 305(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 92-
500, 33 U.S.C 1251 et seq.; most recently amended in 1987 by Public Law 
100-4) requires each State to prepare and submit a biennial water 
quality assessment report to the EPA Administrator. Regulations for 
water quality monitoring, planning, management and reporting are found 
in 40 CFR part 130. Each 305(b) report includes such information as a 
description of the quality of waters of the State; an analysis of the 
extent to which these waters provide for the protection and propagation 
of a balanced population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife, and allow 
recreational activities in and on the water; recommendations for 
additional action necessary to achieve such uses; an estimate of the 
environmental impact and economic and social costs as well as the 
economic and social benefits of such achievement; and a description of 
the nature and extent of nonpoint sources of pollutants and 
recommendations as to programs needed to control each category of such 
sources.
    Under CWA section 314(a)(2), States must incorporate their Clean 
Lakes Report into the 305(b) reports. Clean Lakes Reports include an 
identification and classification according to trophic condition of all 
publicly owned lakes; a description of the methods to control sources 
of pollution and restore these lakes; methods to mitigate the harmful 
effects of high acidity; a list and description of publicly owned lakes 
for which uses are known to be impaired; and an assessment of the 
status and trends of water quality in lakes.
    Section 303(d)(1) of the CWA requires States to identify and rank 
water-quality limited waters which will not meet State water quality 
standards after implementation of technology-based point source 
controls.
    Reporting under sections 305(b) and 314 is thus required of the 50 
States. Reporting activities under section 303(d) may be submitted as 
part of the 305(b) report or may be submitted under separate cover. 
Other respondents (Territories, River Basin Commissions, certain Indian 
Tribes or Tribal Groups) also prepare 305(b) reports to document the 
quality of their waters to EPA, Congress, and the public and, in some 
cases, to meet grant conditions.
    The 305(b) reporting process is an essential component of the EPA 
water pollution control program. EPA's Office of Water uses the 305(b) 
reports as the principal information source for assessing nationwide 
water quality, progress made in maintaining and restoring water 
quality, and the extent of remaining water pollution problems. EPA 
prepares the National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress and 
evaluates impacts of EPA's water pollution control programs with the 
information and data supplied in the State and Tribal 305(b) reports 
and the corresponding national database, the EPA Waterbody System. The 
Office of Water uses the Report to Congress to target persistent and 
emerging water quality problems with new initiatives and to improve or 
eliminate ineffective programs.
    EPA uses the information submitted under section 314 to evaluate 
the effectiveness of the Clean Lakes grant program. The Agency 
assembles national information on water quality trends in lakes 
eligible for section 314 grants, initiation and completion of Clean 
Lakes Projects funded with 314 grants, and tangible results of lake 
restoration projects.
    Under section 303(d), EPA must review and approve or disapprove the 
State lists of water-quality limited waterbodies still requiring total 
maximum daily loads (TMDLs). Section 303(d) of the CWA establishes the 
TMDL process to provide for more stringent water-quality based controls 
when required Federal, State or local controls are inadequate to 
achieve State water quality standards. TMDLs encourage a holistic view 
of water quality problems considering all contributions and instream 
water quality and provide a method to allocate those contributions to 
meet water quality standards.
    EPA is currently developing proposed revisions to the TMDL program 
regulations and, as part of that effort, will determine whether it 
needs to prepare a new ICR based on the proposed regulatory revisions. 
While at this time, EPA believes that it is likely that a new ICR will 
be needed, no final decision will be made and the Agency will continue 
to undertake the necessary analyses needed to make such a final 
decision.
    EPA is also working with our partners on the development of 1998 
Clean Water Action Plan Unified Watershed Assessments (UWA). EPA and 
its partners are looking into whether these assessments should be 
updated in the future. If the UWA are updated and are subject to ICR 
requirements, EPA will conduct a complete burden analysis.
    The next 305(b) reports and 303(d) lists are due to EPA in April 
2000. EPA has published guidelines on the types of information 
requested of respondents in their 305(b) reports. The current edition 
is Guidelines for Preparation of the Comprehensive State Water Quality 
Assessments (305(b) Reports) and Electronic Updates: Report Contents, 
EPA841-B-97-002A, and Guidelines for Preparation of the Comprehensive 
State Water Quality Assessments (305(b) Reports) and Electronic 
Updates: Supplement, EPA841-B-97-002B (see contact information above).
    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 displayed in 40 CFR part 9. This ICR renewal does not 
involve third-party and public disclosures not previously reviewed and 
approved by OMB.
    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;
    (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 collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

    Burden Statement: The existing burden estimate for all reporting 
and recordkeeping is 229,805 burden hours per year. This estimate was 
based on 59 respondents and a biennial response frequency, and is 
equivalent to an average of 3,895 burden hours per year. This estimate 
includes the time needed to review instructions, search existing data 
sources, gather and maintain the data needed, and complete and review 
the collection of information. EPA intends to reduce the burden in the 
future by encouraging additional States to undertake abbreviated 
reporting and

[[Page 63472]]

annual electronic reporting on core elements for the geographic areas 
covered in that year.
    Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to the address listed above.

    Dated: November 3, 1998.
Robert H. Wayland III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 98-30398 Filed 11-12-98; 8:45 am]
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