[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22077-22078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10881]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7203-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Report to Congress on Impacts and Control of Combined 
Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows

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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Report to Congress on Impacts and 
Control of Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (ICR 
Number 2063.01). 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 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Environmental Protection Agency, 
Office of Wastewater Management, (MC 4203), EPA East Building, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Express mail and 
courier shipments should be sent to Environmental Protection Agency, 
Office of Wastewater Management, EPA East, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW, 
Seventh Floor (MC 4203), Washington, DC 20004. Comments may be sent 
electronically to [email protected]. Interested persons may obtain a 
copy of the proposed ICR without charge by calling or writing to Kevin 
DeBell at the Office of Wastewater Management, MC 4203, EPA East 
Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
(202) 564-0040; e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin DeBell, EPA, Office of 
Wastewater Management, MC 4203, EPA East Building, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 564-0040; fax (202) 
564-6392; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action 
include municipalities that have had either combined sewer overflows or 
sanitary sewer overflows.
    Title: Report to Congress on Impacts and Control of Combined Sewer 
Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (ICR Number 2063.01).
    Abstract: EPA is proposing this ICR to support the development of a 
Report to Congress that will summarize the extent of human health and 
environmental impacts caused by municipal combined sewer overflows 
(CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), including the location of 
discharges causing such impacts, the volume of pollutants discharged, 
and the constituents discharged; the resources spent to address these 
impacts; and, an evaluation of the technologies used by municipalities 
to address these impacts. The requirement to develop this Report was 
included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, 
Public Law 106-554.
    EPA has previously estimated that there are more than 19,000 
publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) nationwide, providing municipal 
wastewater collection and/or treatment. Nearly all of these POTWs 
provide wastewater collection and/or treatment for areas served by 
separate sanitary sewer systems. SSOs, which are releases of raw 
sewage, occur when the separate sanitary sewer systems fail. A small 
subset, approximately 850 POTWs, transport and/or treat wastewater flow 
from areas served by combined sewer systems (CSSs). CSOs occur when the 
CSS overflows and discharges to receiving water prior to treatment.
    EPA plans to collect data from state environmental agencies, state, 
county, and local health departments, and municipalities to support the 
development of this Report. Information collection activities will 
include: Site visits, interviews, and file review, as well as phone 
calls to a subset of POTWs and health departments nationwide. Responses 
to the collection of information are voluntary.
    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 information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The estimated burden reflected in this ICR is 
6,201 hours and a cost of $799,245. This burden will occur only once, 
and the collection of information should be completed by December 31, 
2003.
    Of this total, the portion for municipalities is 2,565 hours at a 
cost of $116,267. This burden includes numerous phone and on-site 
interviews needed to collect data on the human health and environmental 
impacts associated with CSOs and SSOs, as well as information related 
to technology performance and cost.
    The estimated burden for Federal and States governments is 1,476 
hours and $585,926 and 2,160 hours and $97,052, respectively. The 
estimated burden includes phone and on-site interviews with Federal and 
State officials to support the data collection effort. This estimate 
also includes burden associated with reviewing draft analyses prepared 
by the contractor. The estimated Federal cost burden includes 
substantial contractor support, which is not included in the hours 
burden.
    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.


[[Page 22078]]


    Dated: April 19, 2002.
Pamela Barr,
Acting Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 02-10881 Filed 5-1-02; 8:45 am]
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