[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17699-17701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8127]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6960-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund 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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund 
Program, EPA ICR Number 1391.04, OMB Control Number 2040-0118 and 
expiration date of 09/30/01. 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 June 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments may either be mailed to Nelson L. Price, Office of 
Wastewater Management (4204M), ICC Building, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460 or 
emailed to [email protected] and refer to EPA No. 1391.06.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nelson L. Price at (202) 564-0602, or 
FAX at (202) 501-2403.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which consist of the fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the 
recipients of assistance in each of these jurisdictions.
    Title: Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program (OMB Control 
No. 2040-0118; EPA ICR No.1391.04) expiring 09/30/01.
    Abstract: The Clean Water Act, as amended by ``The Water Quality 
Act of 1987'' (U.S.C. 1381-1387 et. seq.), created a Title VI which 
authorizes grants to States for the establishment of State Water 
Pollution Control Revolving Funds (SRFs). The information activities 
are pursuant to section 606 of the Act, and SRF Interim Final Rule 
(March 1990).
    The 1987 Act declares that water pollution control revolving loan 
funds shall be administered by an instrumentality of the State subject 
to the requirements of the Act. This means that each State has a 
general

[[Page 17700]]

responsibility for administering its revolving fund and must take on 
certain specific responsibilities in carrying out its administrative 
duties. The information collection activities will occur primarily at 
the program level through the State Intended Use Plan and Annual 
Report. The information is needed annually to implement section 606 of 
the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Act requires the information to ensure 
national accountability, adequate public comment and review, fiscal 
integrity and consistent management directed to achieve environmental 
objectives. The individual information collections are: (1) 
Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement / State Intended Use 
Plan, (2) Annual Report, (3) State Audit, and (4) Application for SRF 
Financial Assistance.
    (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement / State Intended 
Use Plan: The State will prepare a Capitalization Grant Application 
that includes an Intended Use Plan (IUP) outlining in detail how it 
will use all the funds available to the fund. The grant agreement 
contains or incorporates by reference the IUP, application materials, 
payment schedule, and required assurances. The bulk of the information 
is provided in the IUP, the legal agreement which commits the State and 
EPA to execute their responsibilities under the Act.
    (2) Annual Report: The State must agree to complete and submit an 
Annual Report that indicates how the State has met the goals and 
objectives of the previous fiscal year as stated in the IUP and grant 
agreement. The Report provides information on loan recipients, loan 
amounts, loan terms, project categories, and similar data on other 
forms of assistance. The Report describes the extent to which the 
existing SRF financial operating policies, alone or in combination with 
other State financial assistance programs, will provide for the long 
term fiscal health of the Fund and carry out other provisions specified 
in the grant operating agreement.
    (3) Annual Audit: Most States have agreed to conduct or have 
conducted a separate financial audit of the capitalization grant which 
will provide opinions on the financial statements, and a report on the 
internal controls and compliance with program requirements. The 
remaining States will be covered by audits conducted under the 
requirements of the Single Audit Act and by EPA's Office of Inspector 
General.
    (4) Application for SRF Financial Assistance: Local communities and 
other eligible entities have to prepare and submit applications for SRF 
assistance to their respective State Agency which manages the SRF 
program. The State reviews the completed loan applications, and 
verifies that the proposed projects will comply with applicable Federal 
and State requirements.
    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

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                   (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended Use Plan
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2001......................................  51 States  x  400 Hours.  = 20,400 Burden Hours.
2002......................................  51 States  x  400 Hours.  = 20,400 Burden Hours.
2003......................................  51 States  x  400 Hours.  = 20,400 Burden Hours.
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                                                (2) Annual Report
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2001......................................  51 States  x  275 Hours.  = 14,025 Burden Hours.
2002......................................  51 States  x  275 Hours.  = 14,025 Burden Hours.
2003......................................  51 States  x  275 Hours.  = 14,025 Burden Hours.
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                                             (3) State Annual Audit
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2001......................................  51 States  x  80 Hours..  = 4,080 Burden Hours.
2002......................................  51 States  x  80 Hours..  = 4,080 Burden Hours.
2003......................................  51 States  x  80 Hours..  = 4,080 Burden Hours.
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                                  (4) Applications for SRF Financing Assistance
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2001......................................  51 States  x  39          = 79,560 Hours.
                                             Applications  x  40
                                             Hours.
2002......................................  51 States  x  44          = 89,760 Hours.
                                             Applications  x  40
                                             Hours.
2003......................................  51 States  x  49          = 99,960 Hours.
                                             Applications  x  40
                                             Hours.
 
2001......................................  1,989 Communities  x  60  = 119,340 Burden Hours.
                                             Hours.
2002......................................  2,244 Communities  x  60  = 134,640 Burden Hours.
                                             Hours.
2003......................................  2,499 Communities  x  60  = 149,940 Burden Hours.
                                             Hours.
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    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

[[Page 17701]]

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 23, 2001.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 01-8127 Filed 4-2-01; 8:45 am]
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