[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]


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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.

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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 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