[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8755-8756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4375]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OEI-2002-0012, OEI-2002-0013, OEI-2002-0014; FRL-7454-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission of EPA ICR 
No. 1039.10 OMB Control No. 2030-0005, EPA ICR No. 1037.07, OMB Control 
No. 2030-0007, and EPA ICR No. 0246.08, OMB Control No. 2030-0016 to 
OMB for Review and Approval; Comment 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 the following three continuing 
Information Collection Requests (ICRs) have been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: (1) 
Monthly Progress Reports, OMB Control No. 2030-0005, EPA ICR No. 
1039.10, (2) Oral and Written Purchase Orders, OMB Control No. 2030-
0007, EPA ICR No. 1037.07; and (3) Contractor Cumulative Claim and 
Reconciliation, OMB Control No. 2030-0016, EPA ICR No. 0246.08. The 
ICRs, which are abstracted below, describe the nature of the 
information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 27, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian K. Long, Policy, Training and 
Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management, Mail Code: 3802-
R, 202-564-4737, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-4737; fax 
number: 202-565-2552; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following individual 
continuing ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the 
procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On 07/26/02 (67 FR 48891), EPA 
sought comments on the ICRs pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received 
no comments.
    EPA has established a public docket for these ICRs under Docket ID 
Nos. OEI-2002-0012 (Monthly Progress Reports), OEI-2002-0013 (Oral and 
Written Purchase Orders, and OEI-2002-0014 (Contractor Cumulative Claim 
and Reconciliation, which are available for public viewing at the 
Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, 
and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is (202) 566-1752. An 
electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA 
Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to submit 
or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of 
the public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket 
that are available electronically. Once in the system, select 
``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified above.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB 
within 30 days of this notice, and according to the following detailed 
instructions: (1) Submit your comments to EPA online using EDOCKET (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) Mail your 
comments to OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 
725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
    EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted 
electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing 
in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The 
entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be 
available in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the 
official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is 
otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the official public 
docket, and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For 
further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal 
Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 
31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
    Title: Monthly Progress Reports (OMB Control No. 2030-0005, EPA ICR 
No. 1039.10). This is a request to renew an existing approved 
collection that is scheduled to expire on 02/28/03. Under the OMB 
regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the 
collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB.
    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.
    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, and are 
identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average about 
36 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Contractors holding cost 
reimbursable contracts with EPA.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 324.
    Frequency of Response: Monthly.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 140,940 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $10,403,160, of which $39,000 is 
Operational and Maintenance.

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    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 36,105 hours in 
the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This is due to a reduction in the total number of 
active contracts and corresponding responses than previously reported.
    Title: Oral and Written Purchase Orders, (OMB Control No. 2030-
0007, EPA ICR No. 1037.07). This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection that is scheduled to expire on 02/28/03. Under the 
OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the 
collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB.
    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 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, and are 
identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 
minutes 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Contractors who seek to provide 
supplies and services to the EPA under simplified acquisition 
procedures.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28,462.
    Frequency of Response: 1 per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 7,116 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $136,618.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 2,257 hours in the 
total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is solely due to the drop in the 
number of purchase orders awarded over $25,000. In addition, the number 
of purchase orders awarded with a value less than $2,500 have decreased 
slightly due to the use of the Government-wide commercial purchase 
cards.
    Title: Contractor Cumulative Claim and Reconciliation, (OMB Control 
No. 2030-0016, EPA ICR No. 0246.08). This is a request to renew an 
existing approved collection that is scheduled to expire on 02/28/03. 
Under the OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or 
sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending 
at OMB.
    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 Form 1900-10. This form 
will be used to reconcile the contractor's costs. Establishment of the 
final costs and fixed fee is necessary to close-out the contract, and 
is 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.
    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, and are 
identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40 
minutes 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Contractors holding cost 
reimbursable contracts with the Agency.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 247.
    Frequency of Response: Completion of contract.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 163 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $6,819 of which $2,470 is Operational 
and Maintenance.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 98 hours in the 
total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. The increase is solely due to the estimated 
number of information collected based on a large quantity of contracts 
closed out during FY 2002. EPA expects to continue to close out 
contracts at a high volume.

    Dated: February 4, 2003.
Doreen Sterling,
Acting Director,
Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 03-4375 Filed 2-24-03; 8:45 am]
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