[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48891-48893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18989]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7246-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 three continuing Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICRs to 
OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific 
aspects of the information collections as described in the beginning of 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 24, 2002.

ADDRESSES: 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Attn: 3802R, Washington, DC 
20460. A hard copy of an ICR may be obtained without charge by calling 
the identified information contact individual for each ICR in Section B 
of the Supplementary Information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CONTACT: For specific information on 
the individual ICRs see Section B of the Supplementary Information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For All ICRs

    An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations 
are displayed in 40 CFR part 9.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary

[[Page 48892]]

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 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.

A. List of ICRs Planned To Be Submitted

    In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following three continuing Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
    (1) Monthly Progress Reports, EPA ICR No. 1039.09, OMB Control No. 
2030-0005, expires 2/28/03.
    (2) Oral and Written Purchase Orders, 1900-8 and 1900-13, EPA ICR 
No. 1037.06, OMB Control No. 2030-0007, expires 2/28/03.
    (3) Contractor Cumulative Claim and Reconciliation, 1900-10, EPA 
ICR No. 0246.07, OMB Control No. 2030-0016, expires 2/28/03.

B. Contact Individuals for ICRs

    (1) Monthly Progress Reports, Frances Smith, phone (202) 564-4368, 
fax (202) 565-2475, e-mail [email protected], (OMB Control No. 
2030-0005; EPA ICR No. 1039.09) expiring 2/28/03.
    (2) Oral and Written Purchase Orders, 1900-8 and 1900-13, Frances 
Smith, phone (202) 564-4368, fax (202) 565-2475, e-mail 
[email protected], (OMB Control No. 2030-0007; EPA ICR No. 1037.06) 
expiring 2/28/03.
    (3) Contractor Cumulative Claim and Reconciliation, 1900-10, 
Frances Smith, phone (202) 564-4368, fax (202) 565-2475, e-mail 
[email protected], (OMB Control No. 2030-0016; EPA ICR No. 0246.07) 
expiring 2/28/03.

C. Individual ICRs

    (1) Monthly Progress Reports, EPA ICR No. 1039.09, OMB Control No. 
2030-0005, expires 2/28/03.
    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those holding cost reimbursable contracts with EPA.
    Abstract: Agency contractors who have cost reimbursable, time and 
material, labor hour, or indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity fixed 
rate contracts will report the technical and financial progress of the 
contract on a monthly basis. EPA will use this information to monitor 
the contractor's progress under the contract. Responses to the 
information collection are mandatory for contractors performing under a 
cost reimbursement contract, and are required to receive monthly 
reimbursement. Information submitted is protected from public release 
in accordance with the Agency's confidentiality regulations, 40 CFR 
2.201 et seq.
    Burden Statement: EPA estimates that the annual hourly burden for 
this collection will remain the same as reported in the previous 
information collection because there has been no change in the 
information being collected and approximately the same number of 
contracts remain active. As such, it is estimated that each response 
will take approximately 36.25 hours. EPA anticipates that the total 
active cost reimbursement contracts will remain approximately 407, 
times 12 submissions per year to yield about 4,884 annual collections. 
Each collection is estimated to cost $2,592 based on a variety of 
contractor personnel performing individual tasks required for 
information gathering and submission. The anticipated 4,884 annual 
submissions are estimated to cost $12,656,886 annually. Minimal 
operation and maintenance costs are expected for photocopying and 
postage.
    (2) Oral and Written Purchase Orders, 1900-8 and 1900-13, EPA ICR 
NO.1037.06, OMB Control No. 2030-0007, expires 2/28/03.
    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which seek to provide supplies and services to the EPA under 
simplified acquisition procedures.
    Abstract: When EPA has a requirement for supplies or services and 
the value of same is under the simplified acquisition threshold, the 
Agency solicits verbal or written quotes from potential vendors. Vendor 
responses are voluntary and generally consist of item name, unit cost, 
delivery terms, company name, small business status, address, phone 
number, and point of contact. The Agency uses the collected information 
to make award decisions and obtain needed supplies and services. An 
agency many 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 regulation 
are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
    Burden Statement: Based on historical information collections, the 
estimated time required to complete each response to an oral or written 
purchase order is 15 minutes. Vendors must listen to questions asked, 
consult company price list, and respond to inquiry. Vendors are not 
required to type, sign, or mail anything. An average salary for vendor/
salesperson is estimated to be $16.04 an hour. This is based on the 
rate used in the previous clearance multiplied by a factor of 3% per 
year to reflect wage increases since 1996. The total number of 
responses is derived by doubling the total number of purchase orders 
issued by the Agency in the preceding 12 month period. The total number 
of purchase orders issued was doubled to reflect the historical average 
of receiving at least two responses per oral or written purchase order. 
Normally, at least three vendors are contacted, but depending upon 
dollar value, an average of two information collections per award has 
been estimated. Therefore, the estimated total annual burden is 
summarized as follows: Total Annual Burden Dollars: $3.90 per response 
times 37,492 responses = $146,219; Total Annual Burdens Hours: 15 
minutes per response times 37,492 responses = 9,373 hours. No capital/
start-up costs or operation and maintenance costs are anticipated.
    (3) Contractor Cumulative Claim and Reconciliation, 1900-10, EPA 
ICR No. 0246.07, OMB Control No. 2030-0016, expires 2/28/03.
    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those holding cost reimbursable contracts with the Agency.
    Abstract: At the completion of a cost reimbursement contract, 
contractors will report final costs incurred, including direct labor, 
materials, supplies, equipment, and other direct charges, 
subcontracting, consultant fees, indirect costs, and fixed fee. 
Contractors will report this information on EPA

[[Page 48893]]

Form 1900-10. EPA will use this information to reconcile the 
contractor's costs. Establishment of the final costs and fixed fee is 
necessary to close-out the contract. Responses to the information 
collection are mandatory for those completing work under a cost 
reimbursement contract, and are required to receive final payment. 
Information submitted is protected from public release in accordance 
with the Agency's confidentiality regulation, 40 CFR 2.201 et seq.
    Burden Statement: EPA estimates that the annual hourly burden for 
this collection will remain the same as reported in the previous 
information collection because there has been no change in the 
information being collected and approximately the same number of 
contracts represents the total number of annual contracts that are 
closed-out. EPA estimates that the annual hourly burden will be 42.9 
hours based on the following: Each response will take approximately 40 
minutes, and EPA closes-out approximately 65 contracts per year. The 
annual dollar burden is estimated at $1,346.15 based on a combination 
of contractor employees providing the information. The total cost of 
the contractor provided information is estimated to be $20.71 for the 
40 minute period. Minimal operation and maintenance costs are expected 
for photocopying and postage.

    Dated: July 31, 2002.
Larry Wyborski,
Acting Manager, Policy and Oversight Service Center.
[FR Doc. 02-18989 Filed 7-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P