[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51034-51035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25010]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7074-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Microbial Rules ICR

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Microbial ICR, OMB control 
Number 2040-0205 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. 1895.02 and OMB 
Control No. 2040-0205, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 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, NW., 
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. 1895.02. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Lisa Christ at (202) 260-3967 of the 
Office of Ground Water Drinking Water (OGWDW).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Microbial (OMB Control No. 2040-0205: EPA ICR No. 1895.02) 
expiring November 30, 2001. This is a request for extension of a 
currently approved ICR.
    Abstract: The Microbial ICR is the result of a consolidation of 
activities covered in the 1998 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment 
Rule ICR, some rules and activities covered in the 1993 Public Water 
System Supervision ICR and activities and rules previously covered in 
other OGWDW standalone ICRs. The Microbial ICR will include: Surface 
Water Treatment Rule (all components except disinfectant residual 
monitoring) (OMB Control Number 2040-0090, EPA ICR Number 0270.39), 
Total Coliform Rule (OMB Control Number 2040-0090, EPA ICR Number 
0270.39), Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (OMB Control 
Number 2040-0205, EPA ICR number 1895.01), and the Laboratory Quality 
Assurance Evaluation Program for Analysis of Cryptosporidium in Water. 
Filter Backwash Recycle Rule (OMB Control Number 2040-0224, EPA ICR 
Number 1928.02) will be added via an Information Correction Worksheet 
upon approval. The Microbial ICR requires information collection of 
data such as: turbidity measures, raw water coliform data, coliform 
bacteria levels in distribution systems, E. coli and fecal coliform 
data as necessary, data regarding results of sanitary surveys and 
backwash recycle practice and flow information. The regulatory 
initiatives discussed in this document are intended to protect public 
health and welfare from microbial contaminants. The Lab Quality 
Assurance Program, which collects data from laboratories for laboratory 
certification or approval are not mandatory, but laboratories must 
provide it in order to obtain or retain a benefit. All of the data 
collected from Public Water Systems 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 
microbial 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

[[Page 51035]]

EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15. 
The Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 320.8(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 less 
than a half hour 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 PWSs, Laboratories and 
Primacy Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 167,954.
    Frequency of Response: Varies by requirement (e.g. monthly, 
quarterly, annually).
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 8,198,417 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $82,707,000.
    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. 1895.02 and OMB Control No. 2040-0205 in any 
correspondence.

    Dated: September 26, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-25010 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
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