[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46664-46665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17877]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7246-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; 2003 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) is planning to submit the following proposed Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): 
2003 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey, EPA ICR 
2085.01. 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 September 16, 2002.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the proposed ICR may be requested from and 
comments may be mailed to David Travers, Drinking Water Protection 
Division (Mailcode 4606), Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, 
U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. Copies of 
the proposed ICR also may be obtained from the Safe Drinking Water 
Hotline, toll-free at (800) 426-4791. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 
5:30 p.m. (ET), Monday-Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Travers, (202) 564-4638, fax 
(202) 564-3757, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which own, operate or regulate community water systems including, 
but not limited to, owners/operators of community water systems, State 
Environmental Water Quality Agencies, and State Departments of Health.
    Title: 2003 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey, EPA ICR 
2085.01.
    Abstract: The purpose of this information collection is to identify 
the infrastructure needs of community public water systems for the 20-
year period from January 2003 through December 2022. EPA's Office of 
Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) will collect these data to 
comply with Sections 1452(h) and 1452(i)(4) of the Safe Drinking Water 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300h).
    EPA will use a questionnaire to collect capital investment 
information from large (serving more than 50,000 people) and medium 
(serving more than 3,300 people) community water systems. Participation 
in the survey is voluntary. Information submitted to EPA as part of the 
survey will be made

[[Page 46665]]

available upon request under the Freedom of Information Act. However, 
EPA's experience with the previous two surveys indicate that these data 
are rarely, if ever, requested. The data from the questionnaires will 
provide EPA with a basis for estimating the nationwide infrastructure 
needs of community water systems. Also, as mandated by Section 
1452(a)(1)(D)(ii) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA uses the results 
of the latest survey to allocate Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 
(DWSRF) monies to the States. Under the allotment formula, each State 
receives a grant of the annual DWSRF appropriation in proportion to its 
share of the total national need--with the proviso that each State 
receive at least 1% of the total funds available.
    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: It is estimated that this information collection 
will involve a total cost burden to the respondents of $1,229,764 and a 
total hour burden to the respondents of 45,057 hours. There will be no 
capital, start-up or operation and maintenance costs but the collection 
will involve a one time response, from 3,790 respondents, of 
approximately 11.8 hours per respondent. 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.

    Dated: July 10, 2002.
Cynthia Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 02-17877 Filed 7-15-02; 8:45 am]
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