[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2000)] [Notices] [Pages 2162-2163] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 00-848] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6522-8] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; State Water Quality Program Management Gap Analysis AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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): Information Collection Request for the State Water Quality Program Management Gap Analysis. 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 March 13, 2000. ADDRESSES: Public Comments. All public comments shall be submitted to: State Water Quality Program Management Gap Analysis ICR Comment Clerk (Mail Code 4201), Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, Resource Management and Evaluation Staff, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Commentors who want EPA to acknowledge receipt of their comments should enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Comments may also be submitted electronically to: [email protected]. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR and supporting analysis without charge by contacting the individual listed below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Crow, Telephone: (202) 260-6742, Facsimile Number: (202) 260-1156, E-mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and forms of encryption. Electronic comments must be identified [[Page 2163]] by the use of the words ``State Water Quality Program Management Gap Analysis ICR Comments.'' No confidential business information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Comments and data will also be accepted on disks in Corel WordPerfect 8 format or ASCII file format. Electronic comments on this notice may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. The record for this proposed ICR has been established by the Office of Wastewater Management, Resource Management and Evaluation Staff and includes supporting documentation as well as printed, paper versions of electronic comments. It does not include any information claimed as CBI. The record is available for inspection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, Resource Management and Evaluation Staff, Northeast Mall Room 2310, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. For access to the docket materials, please call (202)-260-6742 to schedule an appointment. Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are State governments. Major respondents are State governments. Title: State Water Quality Program Management Gap Analysis. Abstract: EPA, in partnership with States, is conducting the State Water Quality Management Gap Analysis to help enumerate current and future funding needs and to help identify innovative strategies for reducing resource gaps. To develop preliminary information in a short time frame, the Gap Analysis was divided into two phases. Phase I consisted of the development of a preliminary estimate of the national resource gap faced by water quality management programs to provide a general idea of the magnitude of the resource gap based on initial estimates provided by members of a State/EPA work group. Phase II of the Gap Analysis involves developing a detailed, activity-based workload model to provide a common framework for States and EPA to estimate the resource needs necessary to assess specific water quality concerns. To complete the model and develop a realistic estimate, EPA's Office of Wastewater Management needs data on the resources needed from each individual State for water quality management activities. This is a one time collection effort by the Office of Wastewater Management and responses to this ICR are voluntary. The collection is necessary to develop a detailed activity-based workload model that will provide an estimate of the resource gap facing water quality management programs. EPA will use the collected information to estimate resource needs for water quality management activities. 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. 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: The annual public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 180.5 hours per State respondent. Approximately 20 States are expected to respond to this information collection request, for a total estimated annual burden of 3,602.5 hours and a total estimated cost of $144,100. The total estimated burden for this information collection activity, including the Agency, is 4,141 hours nationally; the estimated total cost is $165,117. There are no record keeping requirements. 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. Dated: January 6, 2000. Michael B. Cook, Director, Office of Wastewater Management. [FR Doc. 00-848 Filed 1-12-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P