[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3680-3681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1556]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6527-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Request for the Existing 
Concentration of Analytically Detectable Congeners of Polychlorinated 
Biphenyls, Dioxins, And Furans In Biosolids Generated By Publicly Owned 
Treatment Works (POTWs) Under the National Biosolids Program

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 existing concentration of analytically detectable congeners of 
Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Dioxins, Furans, in Biosolids generated by 
POTWs under the National Biosolids Program (40 CFR part 503), EPA ICR 
1930.01. 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 March 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Interested persons may obtain a copy of this ICR without 
charge by contacting Ash Sajjad, NPDES Branch, Water Division (WN-16J), 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, telephone number (312) 886-6112, E-
mail address ``[email protected]''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ash Sajjad, telephone number (312) 
886-6112, facsimile number (312) 886-7804, E-mail address 
``[email protected]'.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
25 of the 33 POTWs that generated analytically detectable concentration 
of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in their biosolids reported in the 
1988 NSSS.
    Title: Survey Of The Existing Concentration Of Analytically 
Detectable Congeners Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Dioxins, and Furans 
In Biosolids Generated By POTWs Under The National Biosolids Program 
(40 CFR part 503) (EPA ICR Number 1930.01).
    Abstract: EPA plans to conduct a survey of biosolids generated by a 
randomly selected subgroup of up to twenty five POTWs from the thirty 
three POTWs which tested positive for PCBs and reported in the 1988 
NSSS. Because the management of the biosolids program is the 
responsibility of the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) in the 
Office of Water (OW), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the 
Clean Water Act requires EPA to periodically review the regulations for 
the purpose of identifying additional toxic pollutants and promulgating 
regulations. The OWM designated Region 5, headquartered in Chicago, 
Illinois, to conduct this survey to assess the existing concentration 
of these pollutants in biosolids generated by POTWs. The specific 
purpose of this survey is to evaluate the need to develop regulations, 
policies, and guidance to control these pollutants in the environment. 
The USEPA will contract the sampling, chemical analysis of biosolids, 
and interpretation and reporting of analytical data to a contract 
laboratory selected through an open bidding process. The contract 
laboratory will be collecting representative grab samples of biosolids 
at suitable locations at the selected POTWs, and will measure the 
analytically detectable concentrations of the congeners of PCBs, 
dioxins, and furans using EPA Methods No. 1668 for PCBs, and Method 
No.1613 for dioxins and furans.

[[Page 3681]]

    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 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 information collection will involve an 
estimated 25 respondents at a cost of $1617 to those respondents. The 
total annual cost to both respondents and government including the 
laboratory contract is estimated at $38, 839. The annual number of 
responses are expected to be 25 or one response per respondent. The 
time required for a response ranges from 1 hour to 3 hours, with an 
average response time of 2 hours. An estimated 25 respondents are 
required to keep records at an average annual burden of 15 minutes per 
record keeper. The biosolids survey will entail 6.3 hours of 
recordkeeping, 5 hours for government as users of the data, for a total 
of 11.3 burden hours.
    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 12, 2000.
Jo Lynn Traub,
Director, Water Division, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 00-1556 Filed 1-21-00; 8:45 am]
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