[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52480-52481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19799]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FR L-7256-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Construction Grants Program.

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 Program Information 
Collection Request, EPA ICR No. 0827.06, OMB Control Number 2040-0027, 
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 11, 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 Corel Word Perfect or 
Word file. Electronic comments must be identified by the use of words 
``Construction Grants Program 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 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the Municipal 
Assistance Branch, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20004. 
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 receive 
construction grants from EPA.
    Title: Construction Grants Program Information Collection Request, 
OMB Control No. 2040-0027, EPA ICR No. 0827.06, 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 EPA 
Construction Grants Program, 40 CFR part 35, subpart I, 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 States.
    In order to obtain a construction grant, a municipality must submit 
information describing the project and its ability to manage it. 
Municipal managers use the information to plan, design, build, operate, 
and maintain treatment works that protect public health and the 
environment. In addition, the appropriate State or EPA Regional office 
reviews the information to determine if the project is necessary, 
reasonable, in accordance with sound planning principles, and a prudent 
use of Federal funds.
    EPA collects information from the State to meet statutory and 
administrative program management requirements. Under this ICR, the 
only requirement for States is the listing of projects for funding in 
priority order. State program managers would develop this type of list 
for their own administrative needs. EPA reviews the information to 
determine if the State's program meets CWA requirements and evaluates 
the effectiveness of the State's program management. Under Title II, 
construction grant programs may be administered by EPA or delegated 
States. The requirements for the construction grants program are at 40 
CFR part 35, subpart I, and Title II of the CWA. These provisions 
require grantees to submit information to EPA or delegated States, and 
also require States that award construction grants to submit 
information to EPA. Authority for collecting this information comes 
from the Construction Grants Information Collection Request (OMB No. 
2040-0027, ICR 0827.06).
    EPA is currently phasing out the Construction Grants Program. The 
program is being replaced by the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) 
Program (Title VI of the Clean Water Act). Established in the 1987 
amendment to the CWA, the SRF program provides a continuous source of 
funding for publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Because most States 
are now funding construction projects through the SRF program rather 
than the Construction Grants Program, the burden associated with the 
Construction Grants Program has decreased significantly.
    The information collection activities described in this ICR are 
authorized under Section 205(g) of the Clean Water Act as amended, and 
under 40 CFR part 35 subpart I. The requested information provides the 
minimum data necessary for the Federal government to maintain 
appropriate fiscal accountability for use of 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.
    EPA is also revising ICR for Construction Grants Delegation to

[[Page 52481]]

States, OMB Control No. 2040-0095. First Federal Register notice for 
this ICR was published on July 5, 2002.
    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 part 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: Respondents: States and municipalities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Frequency of Response: Variable.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 26,558 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $0.0.
    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: July 25, 2002.
Jane S. Moore,
Deputy Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 02-19799 Filed 8-9-02; 8:45 am]
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