[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51035-51036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25011]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7074-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) and Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports; OMB Control No. 
2040-0004; EPA ICR No. 0229.15

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: National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) and Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports; OMB 
Control No. 2040-0004; EPA ICR No.0229.15; expiring September 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. 0229.15 and OMB 
Control No. 2040-0004 to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; 
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 by telephone 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. 0229.15. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Jack Faulk at (202) 564-0768 in EPA's 
Office of Wastewater Management.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and 
Sewage Sludge Monitoring Reports; (OMB Control No. 2040-0004; EPA ICR 
No. 0229.15) expiring 09/30/01. This is a request for extension of a 
currently approved collection.
    Abstract: This ICR estimates the current monitoring, recordkeeping 
and costs associated with submitting and reviewing Discharge Monitoring 
Reports (DMRs), sewage sludge monitoring reports, and other monitoring 
reports under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) NPDES 
program. The NPDES program regulations, codified at 40 CFR parts 122 
through 125, require permitted municipal and non-municipal point source 
discharges to collect, analyze, and submit data on their wastewater 
discharges. Under these regulations, the permittee is required to 
collect and analyze wastewater samples and perform other types of 
discharge monitoring and report the results to the permitting authority 
(EPA or an authorized NPDES State). Sample monitoring, analysis, and 
reporting frequencies vary by permit, but for the most part, must be 
performed at least annually for all permitted discharges. Upon renewal 
of this ICR, the permitting authority will continue to require NPDES 
and sewage sludge facilities to report pollutant discharge monitoring 
data. The permitting authority will use the data from these forms to 
assess permittee compliance, modify/add new permit requirements, and 
revise effluent guidelines. The monitoring data required of NPDES and 
sewage sludge facilities represents the minimum 2 information necessary 
to achieve the Agency's goals and satisfy regulatory standards. 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 February 8, 2001 (66 FR 
9574); two comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 24.9 
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

[[Page 51036]]

information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of 
information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: NPDES permittees, including publicly 
owned treatment works, privately owned treatment works, industrial 
facilities, and storm water permittees, and sewage sludge handlers and 
domestic septage haulers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 86,135.
    Frequency of Response: varied, but for the most part at least 
annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 15,041,011.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $0.
    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. 0229.15 and OMB Control No. 2040-0004 in any 
correspondence.

    Dated: September 26, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-25011 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
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