[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36350-36351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17031]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6371-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Construction Grants Delegation to States

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): Construction Grants Delegation to 
States Information Collection Request, EPA ICR No. 0909.06 and Control 
No. 2040-0095, current expiration date December 31, 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 September 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Gajindar Singh, Office of Wastewater Management, Mail Code 
4204, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR 
without charge by writing to the preceding address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gajindar Singh, Telephone Number: 
(202) 260-4266 /Facsimile Number: (202) 260-1827/E-mail: 
[email protected].


[[Page 36351]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Comments: Comments shall be submitted to Gajindar Singh, Mail Code 
4204, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, 
401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Commenters who want EPA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments should enclose a self-addressed 
stamped envelope. 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 use of words ``Construction Grants 
Comments.'' No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be 
submitted through e-mail. Comments and data will also be accepted on 
disks in Corel Word Perfect 8 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 renewal has been 
established in the Office of Wastewater Management, Municipal 
Assistance Branch 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 
Municipal Assistance Branch, Northeast Mall Room 2104-6, 401 M Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20460. For access to the docket materials, please 
call (202) 260-4266 to schedule an appointment.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
States which administer elements of the construction grants program 
under a delegation agreement with EPA and municipalities which received 
construction grants from EPA.
    Title: Construction Grants Delegation to States; OMB No. 2040 0095; 
EPA ICR No. 0909.06 expiring 12/31/99.
    Abstract: The purpose of this ICR is to revise and extend the 
current clearance for the collection of information under the 
Construction Grants Program Delegation to States, 40 CFR part 35 
Subpart J, and Title II of the Clean Water Act (CWA). While the 
Construction Grants Program is being phased out and replaced by the 
State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program, collection activities for the 
Construction Grants Program must continue until program completion. The 
program includes reporting, monitoring and program requirements for 
municipalities and delegated States.
    The information collection activities described in this ICR are 
authorized under section 205(g) of the Clean Water Act as amended, 33 
U.S.C. 1251 et seq., and under 40 CFR part 35 Subpart J. The requested 
information provides the minimum data necessary for the Federal 
government to maintain appropriate fiscal accountability for use of 
section 205(g) construction grant funds. The information is also needed 
to assure an adequate management overview of those State project review 
activities that are most important to fiscal and project integrity, 
design performance, Federal budget control, and attainment of national 
goals.
    Managers at the State and Federal levels both rely on the 
information described in this ICR. State managers rely on the 
information for their own program and project administration. Federal 
managers rely on this information to assess, control, and predict the 
impacts of the construction grants program on the Federal Treasury and 
future budget requirements. Federal managers also use this information 
to respond to OMB and Congressional requests and to maintain fiscal 
accountability.
    In addition, builders of wastewater treatment plants use the 
information discussed in this ICR. The builders of these plants assess 
and use the information in the Innovative/Alternative Technology Data 
Base File to obtain technical information on innovative or alternative 
wastewater treatment systems.
    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 part 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: Respondents: States and municipalities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 31.
    Frequency of Response: 91 per year.
    Responses Per Respondent: 3.0 per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,678 hours.
    Average Burden Hours Per Response: 62.4.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $213,152.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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: June 23, 1999.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 99-17031 Filed 7-2-99; 8:45 am]
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