[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 54009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25836]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6452-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Applications for NPDES Permits and the Sewage 
Sludge Management Permits

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: Applications for NPDES 
Discharge Permits and the Sewage Sludge Management Permits, OMB Control 
No. 2040-0086, EPA ICR No. 0226.15, 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 November 4, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 
260-2740, by email at [email protected]. You may download a copy of 
the ICR from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA 
ICR No. 0226.15.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Applications for NPDES Discharge Permits and the Sewage 
Sludge Management Permits, (OMB Control No. 2040-0086; EPA ICR No. 
0226.15) which expires on 11/30/99.
    Abstract: This ICR calculates the burden and costs associated with 
permit applications for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(NPDES) discharges and sewage sludge management activities. It is an 
update of the ICR, and also integrates and updates application 
requirements discussed in one amendment ICR approved by OMB, ``National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Application 
Requirements--Form 2A and 2S (Final Rule),'' OMB Control No. 2040-0086, 
ICR No. 0226.14, approved January 13, 1999. EPA uses the data contained 
in applications and supplemental information requests to set 
appropriate permit conditions, issue permits, and assess permit 
compliance. EPA maintains national applications information in 
databases, which assist permit writers in determining permit 
conditions. Depending on the application form they are using, 
applicants may be required to supply information about their 
facilities, discharges, treatment systems, sewage sludge use and 
disposal practices, pollutant sampling data, or other relevant 
information. In its burden and cost calculations, this ICR includes 
requests for information supplemental to permit applications. 
Application information is necessary to obtain an NPDES or sewage 
sludge permit. This ICR also includes the development of a storm water 
pollution prevention plan as part of the requirements for the multi-
sector general permit, for industrial activities. The average time for 
this activity is 80 hours and there are an estimated 16,350 
respondents. The estimated annualized burden is 1,307,963 hours. This 
is a newly covered area under this ICR and represents the major portion 
of the increase in burden.
    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 04/23/98 
(63 FR 20182); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 23.4 
hours per response (combining reporting and recordkeeping). 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: Publicly owned treatment works 
(POTWs), privately owned treatment works, new and existing industrial 
manufacturing and commercial dischargers, storm water dischargers, 
treatment works treating domestic sewage (TWTDS), and States and 
territories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 88,209.
    Frequency of Response: varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2,038,694 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden (non-labor costs): 
$1,004,710.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No. 0226.15 and OMB Control No. 2040-0086 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 29, 1999.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-25836 Filed 10-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P