[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16589-16590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7737]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6566-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; 
Comment Request; Performance Evaluation Studies on Water and Wastewater 
Laboratories

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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB):
    Performance Evaluation Studies on Water and Wastewater 
Laboratories, EPA ICR #234.07, OMB Control #2080-0021, current 
expiration date is 9/30/2000. 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 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin L. King 
Drive, Room 525, Cincinnati, OH 45268.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray Wesselman, (513) 569-7194, FAX to 
(513) 569-7115 or Email to [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
laboratories which produce results of official/required drinking water 
or wastewater analyses.
    Title: Performance Evaluation Studies on Water and Wastewater 
Laboratories (OMB Control No. 2080-0021; EPA ICR NO. 234.07) currently 
expiring 9/30/2000.
    Abstract: The EPA receives analytical results on drinking waters 
and wastewaters from a variety of laboratories and must rely on these 
data as a primary basis for many of its regulatory decisions. As a 
consequence, it has become desirable to have an objective demonstration 
that the contributing laboratories are capable of producing valid data. 
The subject Performance Evaluation Studies are designed to fulfill this 
need to document and improve the quality of analytical data for certain 
critical analyses within drinking water, major point-source discharge 
and ambient water quality samples. Participation in Water Pollution 
(WP) studies that relate to wastewater analyses, and Water Supply (WS) 
studies that relate to drinking water analyses, is only mandated by the 
EPA for those laboratories that receive federal funds to do such 
analyses; however successful performance in these studies is often 
required by states that certify laboratories for drinking water and 
wastewater analyses. Participation in the Discharge Monitoring Report--
Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) studies is mandatory for those designated 
wastewater dischargers who are doing self-monitoring analyses required 
under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimina-tion System (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 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 annual public reporting and record-keeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to total 241,619 
hours and $9,853,259. The total number of annual responses is estimated 
to be 23,430, which leads to an estimated average of 10.3 hours per 
response. 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

[[Page 16590]]

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 20, 2000.
Jewel Morris,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of 
Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 00-7737 Filed 3-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P