[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 57 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 15633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7230]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6564-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Request for the National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance Assessment 
Information

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 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance 
Assessment Information, EPA ICR Number 1427.06, and OMB Control Number 
2040-0110), expiring 09/30/00]. 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 May 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All public comments shall be submitted to: Betty West, 
Office of Wastewater Management, Water Permits Division, MC 4203, Ariel 
Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. 
Interested persons may obtain a copy of the proposed ICR without charge 
by calling or writing to Betty West at the Office of Wastewater 
Management, Water Permits Division, MC 4203, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 260-
8486.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty West, telephone number (202) 
260-8486; Facsimile Number (202) 260-1460; E-Mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which are issued NPDES permits for the discharge of domestic 
wastewater, industrial wastewater, and storm water, and for the use and 
disposal of sewage sludge.
    Title: Information Collection Agency Request for the National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance Assessment 
Information. (OMB Control No. 1040-0110; EPA ICR No.1427.06.) expiring 
09/30/00.
    Abstract: Pollutant discharge limits in a NPDES permit are designed 
to be protective of the environment and the public. Permitting 
authorities must assess whether the permittee is complying with these 
discharge limits on a consistent basis. Compliance is assessed by 
reviewing records, compliance schedule reports, and noncompliance 
reports for a bypass, upset, or maximum daily violation. Permittees 
must maintain such records, meet compliance schedules, and report 
violations as mandated in 40 CFR parts 122 and 501. The information 
that is collected can lead the permitting authority to follow through 
with informal discussions with the permittee (telephone and/or 
letters), permit modification, or enforcement action.
    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 for compliance 
assessment and certification activities will involve an estimated 
16,532 respondents per year with 2.15 total annual average responses 
per respondent. The time required for a response varies; the average 
burden hours per respondent is 6.6 hours. EPA estimates that the total 
annual cost is $19,161,763 for record keeping and $3,884,689 for 
reporting for a total respondent cost of $23,046,452. The total annual 
costs to respondents, recordkeepers, and government (excluding Federal 
government) is estimated to be $24,518,940. The compliance assessment 
and certification activities will entail an annual burden of 827,968 
hours of recordkeeping and 147,207 hours of reporting for a total of 
975,175 burden hours. These activities will also entail 51,089 burden 
hours for State governments as users of data.
    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: March 17, 2000.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 00-7230 Filed 3-22-00; 8:45 am]
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