[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]


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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.

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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): 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]
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