[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63312-63313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30234]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6478-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Guidance Manual and Example NPDES Permit for 
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Guidance Manual and Example NPDES 
Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, ICR 1937.01. 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 January 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All public comments shall be submitted to: Charlotte White, 
Office of Wastewater Management, MC 4203, U.S. EPA Headquarters, 401 M 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy 
of the proposed ICR without charge by calling or writing to Charlotte 
White at the Office of Wastewater Management, MC 4203, U.S. EPA 
Headquarters, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 
260-8559.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlotte White, telephone: (202) 260-
8559, fax: (202) 260-1460, E-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are defined as concentrated animal feeding 
operations (``CAFOs'' which are point sources subject to permitting 
under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)), 
EPA, and NPDES-authorized States implementing the NPDES permitting 
program for CAFOs.
    Title: Guidance Manual and Example NPDES Permit for Concentrated 
Animal Feeding Operations; EPA ICR No. 1937.01
    Abstract: This information collection burden is a result of EPA's 
planned issuance of guidance to National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) program authorized permitting authorities 
concerning permits issued to concentrated animal feeding operations 
(CAFOs). The animal livestock industry is undergoing a dramatic change 
with a shift towards larger facilities and increased potential for 
water quality impacts. To help address this change and the potential 
and actual impacts on water quality, the guidance manual is intended to 
provide clear and concise guidance for permitting agencies regarding 
the development of effective NPDES permits for CAFOs. The guidance does 
not increase the number of CAFOs subject to permitting under the NPDES 
permitting program, however, it recommends the development of a 
comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) as a special condition of 
NPDES permits issued to CAFOs. This proposed ICR covers the development 
of the CNMP, which includes soil and manure sampling; reporting of CNMP 
development to the permitting authority; and other reporting and record 
keeping activities that are not described in the current NPDES program 
guidance for CAFOs. Components of a CNMP typically include: manure 
handling and storage, land application of manure, land management, 
record keeping, and other utilization options. EPA believes this CNMP 
will reduce the potential impact that this change in industry will have 
on water quality. CNMP data will be used by EPA and States to develop 
permits, used by the regulated facilities to ensure appropriate land 
application, and used by the compliance monitoring and enforcement 
personnel to document compliance. The guidance also recommends that the 
permittee maintain records concerning manure generation and 
disposition, and summa-rize this information on an annual reporting 
form. Under the guidance the permittee would also be asked to certify 
that the facility's CNMP reflects current conditions. EPA needs this 
information to more fully and effectively implement the requirements of 
the Clean Water Act, which prohibits the discharge of pollutants from 
point sources--including discharges from CAFOs--to U.S. waters without 
an NPDES permit.
    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

[[Page 63313]]

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: EPA estimates that the average annual burden for 
this ICR is 1,091,445 hours for CAFO respondents (i.e., facilities that 
may be required to apply for and obtain an NPDES permit), 92,400 hours 
for States authorized to implement the NPDES permitting program for 
CAFOs, and 447 hours for Federal agencies. The estimated total number 
of CAFO respondents over the reporting period is 9,145. This ICR covers 
a three-year period and the number of respondents per year is phased in 
at approximately 20 percent in the first year, 40 percent in the second 
year, and 40 percent in the third year, yielding an annual average 
number of CAFO respondents of 5,487. Based on this annual average, EPA 
estimates that there will be 10,974 responses per year, some of which 
represent one-time responses while others occur annually after CNMP 
development has been completed. EPA estimates that the average burden 
per response will be 99 hours, although the burden to develop CNMPs 
will be larger than the burden for reporting activities. Average total 
annual O&M costs for manure and soil samples is $665,373 for all 
respondents; there are no capital costs associated with this ICR. Table 
1 summarizes these and other details of the ICR burden and cost 
estimates.

    Table 1.--Summary of Burden and Costs for the Guidance Manual and
     Example NPDES Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
                     Information Collection Request
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                        Category                          Burden or cost
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CAFO Burden by Response:
    --One-time CNMP Development Burden (hours) (A)......       1,025,072
    --One-time CNMP Development Notification Burden                3,048
     (hours) (B)........................................
    --Annual CNMP Certification Burden (hours) (C)......           2,439
    --Annual Record Keeping Burden (hours) (D)..........          60,887
                                                         ---------------
    Total Annual CAFO Response Burden (hours) (A+B+C+D).       1,091,445
    Annual Manure/soil Sample Cost ($)..................        $665,373
    Annual Number of Responses (E)......................          10,974
    Average Burden per Response (hours) (A+B+C+D)/(E)...              99
    Annual State Burden (hours).........................          92,400
    Annual Federal Burden (hours).......................             447
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    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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.

    Dated: November 15, 1999.
Alfred Lindsey,
Deputy Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 99-30234 Filed 11-18-99; 8:45 am]
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