[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48615-48617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23193]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6433-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund Program

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):

[[Page 48616]]

    Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund Program; EPA ICR No. 
1803.02; OMB No. 2040-0185; expiration date June 30, 2000. 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 November 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the ICR may be requested from and comments may be 
mailed to Vinh Nguyen, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 
(4606), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vinh Nguyen (202) 260-0715; fax (202) 
401-2345; E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
the fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the recipients of assistance in each 
of these jurisdictions.
    Title: Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund Program; OMB 
No. 2040-0185; EPA ICR No. 1803.02; expiration date June 30, 1999.
    Abstract: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 
(Pub. L. 104-182) authorize the creation of Drinking Water State 
Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs in each state and Puerto Rico to assist 
public water systems to finance the costs of infrastructure needed to 
achieve or maintain compliance with SDWA requirements and to protect 
public health. Section 1452 authorizes the Administrator of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award capitalization grants to 
the states and Puerto Rico which, in turn, provide low-cost loans and 
other types of assistance to eligible drinking water systems. States 
can also reserve a portion of their grants to conduct various set-aside 
activities.
    The information collection activities will occur primarily at the 
program level through the: (1) Capitalization Grant Application and 
Agreement/State Intended Use Plan; (2) Biennial Report; (3) Annual 
Audit; and (4) Assistance Application Review.
    (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement / State Intended 
Use Plan: The State must prepare a Capitalization Grant Application 
that includes an Intended Use Plan (IUP) outlining in detail how it 
will use all the funds covered by the capitalization grant. States may, 
as an alternative, develop the IUP in a two part process with one part 
identifying the distribution and uses of the funds among the various 
set-asides in the DWSRF program and the other part dealing with project 
assistance from the Fund.
    (2) Biennial Report: The State must agree to complete and submit a 
Biennial Report on the uses of the capitalization grant. The scope of 
the report must cover assistance provided by the DWSRF Fund and all 
other set-aside activities included under the Capitalization Grant 
Agreement. States which jointly administer DWSRF and Clean Water State 
Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs, in accordance with section 1452(g)(1), 
may submit reports (according to the schedule specified for each 
program) which cover both programs.
    (3) Annual Audit: A State must, at minimum, comply with the 
provisions of the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996. Best management 
practices suggest, and EPA recommends, that a state conduct an annual 
independent audit of its DWSRF program. The scope of the report must 
cover the DWSRF Fund and all other set-aside activities included in the 
Capitalization Grant Agreement. States which jointly administer DWSRF 
and CWSRF programs, in accordance with section 1452(g)(1), may submit 
audits which cover both programs but which report financial information 
for each program separately.
    (4) Assistance Application Review: Local applicants seeking 
financial assistance must prepare DWSRF loan applications. States then 
review completed loan applications and verify that proposed projects 
will comply with applicable federal and state requirements.
    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 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

(1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended Use 
Plan
2000:
    51 States  x  400 Hours = 20,400 Burden Hours
2001:
    51 States  x  400 Hours = 20,400 Burden Hours
2002:
    51 States  x  400 Hours = 20,400 Burden Hours
(2) Biennial Report
2000:
    51 States  x  275 Hours = 14,025 Burden Hours
2002:
    51 States  x  275 Hours = 14,025 Burden Hours
(3) Annual Audit
2000:
    51 States  x  80 Hours = 4,080 Burden Hours
2001:
    51 States  x  80 Hours = 4,080 Burden Hours
2002:
    51 States  x  80 Hours = 4,080 Burden Hours
(4) Loan Application Review
2000:
    51 States  x  20 Applications  x  40 Hours = 40,800 Burden Hours
2001:
    51 States  x  21 Applications  x  40 Hours = 42,840 Burden Hours
2002:
    51 States  x  22 Applications  x  40 Hours = 44,880 Burden Hours

    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;

[[Page 48617]]

complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or 
otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: August 30, 1999.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water & Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 99-23193 Filed 9-3-99; 8:45 am]
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