[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47783-47784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22742]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6431-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Clean Water Act Section 404 State-Assumed
Programs
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Clean Water Act Section 404
State-Assumed Programs; OMB No. 2040-0168; EPA ICR No. 0220.08;
expiration date 10/31/99. 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 October 1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202)
260-2740, by email at [email protected], or download a copy of the
ICR off the Internet at
http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0220.08.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Clean Water Act Section 404 State-Assumed Programs (OMB
Control No. 2040-0168; EPA ICR No. 0220.08) expiring 10/31/99. This is
a request for extension of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: The Clean Water Act authorizes states [and tribes] to
assume the Section 404 permit program. States/tribes must demonstrate
that they meet the statutory and regulatory requirements (40 CFR Part
233) for an approvable program. When EPA has a complete assumption
request, the statutory time clock for EPA's decision starts. This
information is made available to the other involved federal agencies
(Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine
Fisheries Service) and to the general public for review and comment.
EPA's assumption regulations establish recommended elements that
should be included in a state/tribe's permit application, to ensure a
thorough analysis of anticipated impacts and to comply with the
404(b)(1) Guidelines. These minimum information requirements are based
on the information that must be submitted when applying for a federal
Section 404 permit.
EPA is responsible for oversight of assumed programs to ensure that
state/tribal programs are in compliance with applicable requirements
and that state/tribal permit decisions adequately consider and minimize
anticipated impacts. States/tribes must evaluate their programs
annually and submit an annual report to EPA assessing their program.
EPA's assumption regulations establish minimum requirements for the
annual report.
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 April 27,
1999 (64 FR 22607); no comments were received.
Burden Statement: This collection of information is separated into
three pieces. The annual public reporting and record keeping burden for
this collection of information is estimated to average 520 hours to
request program assumption, 5 hours to complete a permit application
and 80 hours to prepare the annual report. 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.
Respondents/Affected Entities: States, Tribes, permit applicants.
[[Page 47784]]
Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,005.
Frequency of Response: One time; annually.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 100,667 hours.
Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden (non-labor): $0.
Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods
for minimizing respondents burden, including through the use of
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please
refer to the EPA ICR No. 0220.08 and OMB Control No. 2040-0168 in any
correspondence.
Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Policy, 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: August 26, 1999.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-22742 Filed 8-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U