[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21925-21926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10993]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6972-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Public Water System Supervision Program Primacy 
Regulation

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): Information Collection Request for the 
Public Water System Supervision Primacy Regulation, ICR Number 1836.01, 
OMB Control Number 2040-0195. The current ICR approval expires on 
September 30, 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 July 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the currently approved Information 
Collection Request for the Primacy Regulation 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 (RC 4100), US EPA Headquarters, 401 M Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. People interested in getting information or 
making comments about this 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: Jennifer Melch; Protection Branch; 
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water; EPA (4606), Ariel Rios 
Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
(202) 260-7035, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which have primary enforcement authority for the PWSS program.
    Title: Information Collection Request for the Public Water System 
Supervision Program Primacy Regulation, (ICR Number 1836.01, OMB 
Control Number 2040-0195), expiring on September 30, 2001.
    Abstract: This information collection is necessary because the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 added a new element to the 
requirements for states to obtain and/or retain primacy for the Public 
Water System Supervision (PWSS) program. In order for EPA to determine 
whether states meet the new administrative penalty authority 
requirement, states must submit a copy of their legislation authorizing 
the penalty authority and a description of their authority for 
administrative penalties that will ensure adequate compliance of 
systems serving a population of 10,000 individuals or less. In 
accordance with the procedures outlined in section 142.11(7)(i) and 
section 142.12 (c)(iii), the State Attorney General must certify that 
the laws and regulations were duly adopted and are enforceable. 
Alternatively, if a state constitution prohibits assessing 
administrative penalties, the state must submit a copy of the relevant 
provision of the constitution as well as an Attorney General's 
statement confirming that interpretation. Furthermore, as provided in 
section 142.11(a)(7)(ii) and section 142.12(c), EPA may additionally 
require supplemental statements from the State Attorney General, (such 
as an interpretation of the statutory language), when the above 
supplied information is deemed insufficient for a decision. 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

[[Page 21926]]

information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses.
    Burden Statement: In the EPA ICR No. Number 1836.01, OMB Control 
Number 2040-0195, for 1998-2001, the total burden was estimated to be 
approximately 696.20 hours at a cost of $37,954.63. These figures were 
based on the one time effort of approximately 12 hours and 26 minutes 
by each of the 56 states who wish to adopt the administrative penalty 
authority necessary in order to obtain or retain primacy. This estimate 
includes the time for gathering, analyzing, writing, and reporting 
information. There will be no capital, start-up, or operation and 
maintenance costs. This data collection does not involve periodic 
reporting or recordkeeping. Since approximately one half of the states 
have already submitted revision applications, we estimate the burden 
for the continuing ICR to be $18,977.32. 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: April 25, 2001.
Phil Oshida,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 01-10993 Filed 5-1-01; 8:45 am]
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