[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21924-21925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10992]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6972-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Consumer Confidence Reports for Community Water 
Systems

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): Consumer Confidence Reports for 
Community Water Systems, EPA ICR No.1832.03, OMB No. 2040-0201. The 
current ICR approval expires on 9/30/01. Before submitting the ICR to 
OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on the proposed 
information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the currently approved Information 
Collection Request for Consumer Confidence Reports for Community Water 
Systems without charge, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 
(800-426-4791). Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET), 
Monday-Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Copies are also available 
from the Office of Water Resource Center (RC4100), U.S. EPA 
Headquarters, 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460. People interested 
in getting information or making comments aobut the Consumer Confidence 
Reports for Community Water Systems ICR should direct inquiries or 
comments to the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Drinking 
Water Protection Division, Mail Code 4606, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW, Washington DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen A. Williams, EPA, Office of 
Ground Water and Drinking Water, Drinking Water Protection Division 
(202)-260-2589, fax (202)-401-2345, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
owners and operators of community water systems, primacy agents 
including regulators in the States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Trust 
Territories; Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, and in some 
instances U.S. EPA Regional Administrators and staff.
    Title: Consumer Confidence Reports for Water Systems Information 
Collection Request (OMB Control No. 2040-0201; EPA ICR No. 1832.02), 
expiring 9/30/01.
    Abstract: Section 114 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 
1996, enacted August 6, 1996, amended section 1414(c) of the Act to 
require community water systems (CWSs) to send an annual Consumer 
Confidence Report (CCR) to their customers. EPA codified these 
provisions under subpart O of 40 CFR part 141, the Consumer Confidence 
Report Rule. The CCR Rule requires, at a minimum, that each CWS mail to 
each of its customers an annual report on quality of drinking water 
provided by the system. The information in the report is information 
that the CWS already collects pursuant to other drinking water 
regulations. Reports must contain information on the source of water 
provided, levels of detected contaminants, violations of any national 
primary drinking water regulations, and health information concerning 
drinking water and potential risks from detected contaminants. An 
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and

[[Page 21925]]

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: 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. In the EPA ICR No. 1832.02, OMB No. 2040-0201 for 1998-
2001, the total burden was estimated to be approximately: 459,674 hours 
at an annual cost of $20,807,555. The estimated number of respondents 
was 47,040 community water systems. We expect that the burden for the 
continuing ICR for 2002-2004 will remain the same. Any recommendations 
from the drinking water community and the general public on this issue 
will be given consideration by the Agency.

    Dated: April 25, 2001.
Phil Oshida,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 01-10992 Filed 5-1-01; 8:45 am]
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