[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44829-44830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16860]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7242-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Construction Grants Delegation to States

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): Construction Grants Delegation to 
States Information Collection Request, EPA ICR No. 0909.07 and Control 
No. 2040-0095, current expiration date March 31, 2003. 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 September 3, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Gajindar Singh, Office of Wastewater Management, Mail Code 
4204M, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the 
ICR without charge by writing to the preceding address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gajindar Singh, Telephone Number: 
(202) 564-0634 , Facsimile Number: (202) 501-2396, E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Comments: Comments shall be submitted to Gajindar Singh, Mail Code 
4204M, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater 
Management, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Commenters who want EPA to acknowledge receipt of their comments should 
enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically to [email protected] or faxed to (202) 
501-2396.
    Electronic comments must be submitted as a Word Perfect or Word 
file. Electronic comments must be identified by the use of words 
``Construction Grants Delegation Comments.'' No Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Comments and data 
will also be accepted on disks in Corel Word Perfect or Word file. The 
record for this proposed ICR renewal has been established in the Office 
of Wastewater Management, Municipal Assistance Branch, and includes 
supporting documentation. It does not include any information claimed 
as CBI. The record is available for inspection from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the Municipal 
Assistance Branch, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
For access to the docket materials, please call (202) 564-0634 to 
schedule an appointment.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
States which administer elements of the construction grants program 
under a delegation agreement with EPA and municipalities which received 
construction grants from EPA.
    Title: Construction Grants Delegation to States; OMB No. 2040 0095; 
EPA ICR No. 0909.07 expiring 3/31/2003.
    Abstract: The purpose of this ICR is to revise and extend the 
current clearance for the collection of information under the 
Construction Grants Program Delegation to States, 40 CFR part 35, 
subpart J, and Title II of the Clean Water Act (CWA). While the 
Construction Grants Program is being phased out and replaced by the 
State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program, collection activities for the 
Construction Grants Program must continue until program completion. The 
program includes reporting, monitoring, and program requirements for 
municipalities and delegated States.
    The information collection activities described in this ICR are 
authorized under section 205(g) of the Clean Water Act as amended, 33 
U.S.C. 1251 et seq., and under 40 CFR part 35, subpart J. The requested 
information provides the minimum data necessary for the Federal 
government to maintain appropriate fiscal accountability for use of 
section 205(g) construction grant funds. The information is also needed 
to assure an adequate management overview of those State project review 
activities that are most important to fiscal and project integrity, 
design performance, Federal budget control, and attainment of national 
goals.
    Managers at the State and Federal levels both rely on the 
information described in this ICR. State managers rely on the 
information for their own program and project administration. Federal 
managers rely on this information to assess, control, and predict the 
impacts of the construction grants program on the Federal Treasury. 
Federal managers also use this information to respond to OMB and 
Congressional requests and to maintain fiscal accountability. In 
addition, builders of wastewater treatment plants may use the 
information discussed in this ICR.
    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

[[Page 44830]]

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: Respondents: States and municipalities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Response: 47 per year.
    Responses Per Respondent: 2.6 per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2,297 hours.
    Average Burden Hours Per Response: 52.5.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $98,432.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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: June 26, 2002.
James A. Hanlon,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 02-16860 Filed 7-3-02; 8:45 am]
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