[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45112-45113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16993]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7242-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Performance Evaluation Studies of Water and Wastewater 
Laboratories

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 notice announces that EPA is planning to submit for 
renewal the following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Performance Evaluation 
Studies of Water and Wastewater Laboratories, EPA ICR No. 0234.08, OMB 
Control No. 2080-0021. This ICR currently expires on October 31, 2002. 
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 transmitted on or before September 6, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Please send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 0234.08 and 
OMB Control No. 2080-0021, to the following addresses: Susan Auby, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code 2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; and to 
the 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 Susan 
Auby at EPA by phone, at (202) 566-1672, by e-mail, at 
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0234.08. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Ed Glick, EPA, Technical Support 
Center, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, (MS-140), Cincinnati, Ohio 
45268, by fax number, (513) 569-7191, or e-mail, at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those laboratories that participate in Performance Evaluation (PE) 
studies, the private sector companies who offer these studies, and 
those who use the data generated from their participation to determine 
the certification status of laboratories involved in producing 
environmental monitoring measurements in water. This includes EPA and 
state certifying authorities for the Drinking Water, Wastewater, and 
the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) programs.
    Title: Performance Evaluation Studies of Water and Wastewater 
Laboratories (OMB Control No. 2080-0021; EPA ICR No. 0234.08.). 
Expiring 10/31/2002.

[[Page 45113]]

    Abstract: Performance Evaluation (PE) studies provide an objective 
demonstration that participating laboratories are capable of producing 
valid data for monitored pollutants. Participation in the Water 
Pollution (WP) studies that relate to wastewater analyses and Water 
Supply (WS) studies that relate to drinking water analyses are only 
mandated by the USEPA for those laboratories that receive federal funds 
to perform these analyses. However, states that certify laboratories 
for drinking water and wastewater analyses also often require 
successful participation in these studies for certification. 
Participation in the Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance 
(DMR-QA) studies is mandatory for those designated wastewater 
dischargers who are conducting self-monitoring analyses required under 
a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. EPA 
initiated these studies and originally administered them as part of the 
Agency's mandate to assure the quality of environmental monitoring 
data. Subsequently, all of these studies have been privatized. Private 
sector companies manufacture and distribute samples to the 
participating laboratories who then will submit their analytical 
results to these PE venders for evaluation. The PE venders then send 
evaluations of the submitted data to the laboratory and any other 
designated certifying/accrediting authority. 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 is soliciting 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;
    (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 automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 9.6 
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.
    Estimated number of Respondents: 17,168.
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 165,179 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, Operating and Maintenance Cost 
Burden: $9,938,880.

    Dated: June 27, 2002.
Gregory Carroll,
Center Chief, Technical Support Center, Office of Ground Water and 
Drinking Water, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 02-16993 Filed 7-5-02; 8:45 am]
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