[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51031-51032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25001]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7075-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, 
Chemical, and Radionuclides Rules ICR

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Disinfectants/Disinfection 
Byproducts, Chemical, and Radionuclides Rules: OMB Control No. 2040-
0204 expiring November 30, 2001. The ICR describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected burden and cost; where 
appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1896.02 and OMB 
Control No. 2040-0204, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460; and 
to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, 
N.W., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Sandy 
Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by E-mail at 
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1896.02. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Lisa Christ at (202) 260-3967.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical, and 
Radionuclides Rules ICR (OMB Control No. 2040-0204; EPA ICR No. 
1896.02, expiring 11/30/01). This is a request for extension of a 
currently approved ICR.
    Abstract: The Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical, and 
Radionuclides Rules ICR is the result of a consolidation of activities 
covered in the 1998 Stage 1 DBPR ICR, some rules and activities covered 
in the 1993 PWSS ICR and activities and rules previously covered in 
other OGWDW standalone ICRs. This ICR will include: Stage 1 DBPR(EPA 
ICR Number 1896.01, OMB Control Number 2040-0204), Chemical Phase Rules 
(Phases II/IIB/V) (OMB Control Number 2040-0090, EPA ICR Number 
0270.39), Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule Lists 1 and 2 (OMB 
Control Number 2040-0208, EPA ICR Number 1882.02), 1976 Radionuclides 
and 2000 Radionuclides Rule (OMB Control Number 2040-0090, EPA ICR 
Number 0270.39), Total Trihalomethane Rule (OMB Control Number 2040-
0090, EPA ICR Number 0270.39), and the Surface Water Treatment Rule 
(disinfectant residual monitoring only)(OMB Control Number 2040-0090, 
EPA ICR Number 0270.39). The Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, 
Chemical, and Radionuclides Rules ICR requires information collection 
for data such as: Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for Stage 1 
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts for systems that treat their 
water with a chemical disinfectant, maximum residual disinfectant 
levels (MRDLs) for Chlorine, Chloramines, and Chlorine Dioxide, 
monitoring results for total organic carbon (TOC) and alkalinity for 
subpart H systems employing conventional filtration,

[[Page 51032]]

monitoring results for the compounds and contaminants addressed by the 
Chemical Phase Rules and UCMR, monitoring results for gross alpha 
particle activity, combined radium-226 and radium-228, separate radium-
226 and radium-228, gross beta/photon emitters, radon and uranium as 
outlined in the 1976 Radionuclides and 2000 Radionuclides Rule. The 
regulatory initiatives discussed in this document are intended to 
protect public health and welfare from Disinfectants/Disinfection 
Byproducts, Chemical, and Radionuclides contaminants. All of the data 
collected from PWSs and States are mandatory (40 CFR part 141 and 40 
CFR part 142). Monitoring, reporting and record keeping are required at 
both the system and State levels under the National Primary Drinking 
Water Regulations (NPDWRs). EPA has chosen to require the least 
frequent collection that remains consistent with overall public health 
preservation objectives. Data collected allow States to identify in a 
timely fashion significant contaminant concentrations which might 
threaten the health and safety of drinking water consumers. The 
information collected in this ICR is used to aid in understanding the 
quality of drinking water, protect public health and welfare from 
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical, and Radionuclides 
contaminants, make regulatory enforcement decisions and to oversee 
State programs. Primary users of the data collected under this ICR are 
the Office of Ground Water Drinking Water (OGWDW), Office of 
Enforcement & Compliance Assurance (OECA), Public Water System managers 
and primacy agencies, which include State regulators, Indian Tribes and 
occasionally Regional Administrators. 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 Federal Register document required under 5 
CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of information 
was published on June 1, 2001 and no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.6 
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 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Existing Public Water Systems and 
Primacy Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 167,894.
    Frequency of Response: varies by requirement (i.e. monthly, 
quarterly, annually).
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 4,134,816 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $256,833,000. 
Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy 
of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for 
minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques to the addresses listed above. Please refer to 
EPA ICR No. 1896.02 and OMB Control No. 2040-0204 in any 
correspondence.

    Dated: September 20, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-25001 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P