[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8960-8961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2973]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6940-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; 
Comment Request; Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report

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): Annual Public Water Systems Compliance 
Report, EPA ICR number 1812.02, OMB Control Number 2040-0186. The 
current ICR expires March 31, 2001. 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 April 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: United States Environmental Protection Agency; Compliance 
Assistance and Sector Programs Division (2224A); 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW.; Washington, DC 20460. A hard copy of an ICR may be 
obtained without charge by calling the identified information contact 
individual for each ICR in Section B of the Supplementary Information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Harmon, (202) 564-7049, fax (202) 
564-7083, E-mail [email protected], and refer to ICR No. 1812.01.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: States, Tribes, and territories that have 
primary enforcement authority and meet the definition of ``state'' 
under the Safe Drinking Water Act (Act).
    Title: Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report, EPA ICR 
number 1812.02, OMB Control Number 2040-0186. The current ICR expires 
March 31, 2001.
    Abstract: Section 1414 (c)(3)(A) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
requires that each state that has primary enforcement authority under 
the Act shall prepare, make readily available to the public, and submit 
to the Administrator of EPA, an annual report of violations of national 
primary drinking water regulations in the state. The states' reports 
are to include violations of maximum contaminant levels, treatment 
requirements, variances and exemptions, and monitoring requirements 
determined to be significant by the Administrator after consultation 
with the states. Section 1414(c)(3)(B) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
requires EPA to prepare and make available to the public an annual 
report that summarizes and evaluates the reports submitted by the 
states pursuant to Section 1414(c)(3)(A). EPA's annual national report 
must also provide specified information about implementation of the 
public water system supervision system on Indian reservations and make 
recommendations concerning the resources necessary to improve 
compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The States have already 
prepared and published three annual reports. EPA has prepared three 
national reports and published two. The third annual national report 
has been prepared and its publication is pending.
    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. In an 
effort to minimize a state's burden in preparing its annual 
statutorily-

[[Page 8961]]

required report, EPA issued guidance that explains what Section 
1414(c)(3)(A) requires and provides model language and reporting 
templates. EPA also annually makes available to the states a computer 
query that generates for each state (from information states are 
already required to submit to EPA's national database on a quarterly 
basis) the required violations information in a table consistent with 
the reporting template in EPA's guidance.
    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 recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 208 
hours for annual response. The number of respondents is 54 states, 
commonwealths and territories. The estimated total annual hour burden 
is 11,232 hours. The estimated total annualized cost burden is 
$669,400. 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 26, 2001.
Karin Leff,
Acting Director, Compliance Assistance and Sector Programs Division.
[FR Doc. 01-2973 Filed 2-2-01; 8:45 am]
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