[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 58603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23592]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7378-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Tribal Operator Certification Program Information 
Collection Request

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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Tribal Operator Certification Program 
ICR, EPA No. 2092.01. 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 November 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES: People interested in making comments about the burden and/or 
cost estimates outlined in the Tribal Operator Certification Program 
ICR should direct comments to the Office of Ground Water and Drinking 
Water, Drinking Water Protection Branch, Mail Code 4606M, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, or to obtain a 
copy of the draft Tribal Operator Certification Program ICR without 
charge, please contact Lisa Christ (202) 564-8354, fax (202) 564-3755, 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
Tribal Drinking Water Systems and Tribal Operator Certification 
Providers.
    Title: Tribal Operator Certification Program Information Collection 
Request (EPA No. 2092.01).
    Abstract: The Tribal Operator Certification Program was developed 
to increase public health protection by increasing training and 
certification of personnel operating community and nontransient 
noncommunity drinking water systems in Indian Country. This voluntary 
program is intended to provide tribes with further training and 
certification opportunities in addition to existing training or 
certification programs offered by States, various federal agencies, and 
private organizations. The Information Collection Request will estimate 
the burden and cost to tribal drinking water system operators who seek 
certifications from EPA approved providers.
    In addition, the burden and cost to Tribal Certification Providers 
will be estimated. The information collected will be used to measure 
EPA's goal for 80% of tribal community and nontransient noncommunity 
water systems to have a certified operator by 2005. Establishing a 
tribal operator certification program will help achieve this goal while 
bringing greater public health protection to tribal communities. The 
information collected will include: number and level of new 
certifications, number and level of renewal certifications, information 
regarding revoked and suspended certifications, and training status for 
tribal drinking water system operators. Responses to the collection of 
information are voluntary. 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: The estimated annual burden for the Tribal 
Operator Certification Program is approximately 2,597 hours. The 
estimated average burden hours per response is 17.6 hours. The 
estimated average number of responses per respondent is 0.54. The 
estimated number of likely respondents annually is 271. The estimated 
annual cost is $71,256; of which $0 represents capital and start-up 
costs, and $82 represents operation and maintenance costs. 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: September 11, 2002.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 02-23592 Filed 9-16-02; 8:45 am]
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