[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49181-49182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23586]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6435-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System and Sewage Sludge Management State 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: National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System and Sewage Sludge Management State Programs, OMB 
Control Number 2040-0057, which expires on November 30, 1999. 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 12, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (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. 0168.07.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) and Sewage Sludge Management State Programs 
(OMB Control No. 2040-0057; EPA ICR No. 0168.07) which expires on 11/
30/99. This is a request for extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the NPDES program, States, Federally Recognized 
Indian Tribes, and U.S. Territories, hereafter referred to as States, 
may acquire the authority to issue permits. These governments have the 
option of acquiring authority to issue general permits (permits that 
cover a category or categories of similar discharges). States with 
existing NPDES programs must submit requests for program modifications 
to add Federal facilities, or general permit authority. In addition, as 
federal statutes and regulations are modified, States must submit 
program modifications to ensure that their program continues to meet 
Federal requirements.
    States have the option of obtaining a sludge management program. 
This program may be a component of a State NPDES Program, or it may be 
administered as a separate program. To obtain a NPDES or sludge 
program, a State must submit an application that includes a program 
description, an Attorney General's Statement, draft Memorandum of 
Agreement (MOA) with the EPA Region, and copies of the State's statutes 
and regulations.
    Once a State obtains authority for an NPDES or sludge program, it 
becomes responsible for implementing the program in that jurisdiction. 
The State must retain records on the permittees and perform 
inspections. In addition, when a State obtains NPDES or sludge 
authority, EPA must oversee the program. Thus, States must submit 
permit information and compliance reports to the EPA.
    When EPA issues a permit in an unauthorized State, that State must 
certify that the permit requirements comply with State water laws. 
According to the Clean Water Act (CWA) (section 510), States may adopt 
discharge requirements that are equal to or more stringent than 
requirements in the CWA or Federal regulations.
    There are three categories of reporting requirements that are 
covered by this ICR. The first category, ``State Program Requests,'' 
includes the activities States must complete to request a new NPDES or 
sludge program, or to modify an existing program. The second category, 
``State Program Implementation,'' includes the activities that approved 
States must complete to implement an existing program, such as 
certification of EPA-issued permits by non-NPDES States. The third 
category, ``State Program Oversight,'' includes activities required of 
NPDES States so that EPA may satisfy its statutory requirements for 
state program oversight.
    The information collected by EPA is used to evaluate the adequacy 
of a State's NPDES or sludge program and to provide EPA with the 
information necessary to fulfill its statutory oversight functions over 
State program performance and individual permit actions. EPA will use 
this information to evaluate State requests for full or partial program 
approval and program modifications. In order to evaluate the adequacy 
of a State's proposed program, appropriate information must be provided 
to ensure that proper procedures, regulations, and statutes are in 
place and consistent with the CWA 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 
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on 6/9/98 (63 
FR 31461); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information ranges from 4 to 2,080 hours 
per response. 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, territories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 613.
    Frequency of Response: varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,140,794 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

[[Page 49182]]

respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques to the following addresses. Please refer to EPA ICR No. 
0168.07 and OMB Control No. 2040-0057 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: September 3, 1999.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-23586 Filed 9-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U