[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48606-48607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20781]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OW-2003-0064, FRL-7544-6]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Questionnaire for Nominees for the Annual National 
Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Program, EPA ICR 1287.06, OMB 
Control Number 2040-0101

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 a 
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on February 29, 
2004. 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 October 14, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OW-2003-
0064, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
[email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Water Docket, MC 4101-T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria E. Campbell, Municipal 
Assistance Branch, MC 4204-M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
564-0628; fax number: 202-501-2396; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OW-2003-0064, which is available for public 
viewing at the Office of Water 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 Office of Water Docket is (202) 566-2426. An 
electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA 
Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to obtain 
a copy of the draft collection of information, 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 within 
60 days of this notice. 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 statue. 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 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.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
public wastewater treatment plants, municipalities, industries, 
universities, manufacturing sites and States.
    Title: Questionnaire for Nominees for the Annual National Clean 
Water Act Recognition Awards Program.
    Abstract: This ICR requests re-approval to collect data from EPA's 
National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards nominees. The awards are 
for the following program categories: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) 
Excellence, Biosolids (Biosolids) Management Excellence, Combined Sewer 
Overflow Control (CSO) Program Excellence and Storm Water (SW) 
Management Excellence.

    Note: Information collection approval for the Pretreatment 
Awards Program is included in the National Pretreatment Program ICR 
(OMB No. 2040.0009, EPA ICR No. 0002.09), approved through September 
30, 2003. The National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Program is 
managed by EPA's Office of Wastewater Management (OWM). The Awards 
Program is authorized under Section 501(e) of the Clean Water Act, 
as amended. The Awards Program is intended to provide recognition to 
municipalities and industries which have demonstrated outstanding 
technological achievements, innovative processes, devices or other 
outstanding methods in their waste treatment and pollution abatement 
programs. Approximately 50 awards are presented annually. The 
achievements of these award winners are summarized in reports, news 
articles, national publications, and Federal Register Notice.

    Submission of information on behalf of the respondents is 
voluntary. No confidential information is requested. The Agency only 
collects information from award nominees under 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. 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 in 40 CFR 
are listed in 40 CFR part 9. Based on the data collection, national 
panels will evaluate the nominees' efforts and recommend finalists. The 
collections will be used by the respective awards programs to evaluate 
and determine which abatement achievements should be recognized. A 
regulation in the Federal Register on February 8, 2002, (67 FR 6138, 
February 8, 2002) establishes a framework for the annual Clean Water 
Act Recognition Awards.
    As currently structured, the O&M awards category has nine sub-
categories which recognize municipal achievements. The biosolids awards 
category has four sub-categories which recognize municipal biosolids 
operations, technology and research

[[Page 48607]]

achievements, and public acceptance; the CSO awards category has one 
sub-category which recognizes municipal programs; and the SW awards 
category has two sub-categories which recognize municipal and 
industrial programs. All nominees are screened for environmental 
compliance by the States and EPA. Municipalities and institutions 
desiring to be considered for National awards voluntarily complete the 
questionnaires and provide design and operating information about their 
facility or programs. The award nominations are reviewed by State/
Regional officials prior to forwarding them for National award 
consideration. At the National level, award reviews involve Federal 
officials and review panels comprised of representatives of EPA, State 
water pollution control agencies and affiliated associations.
    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 information is collected from approximately 
200 respondents at a total cost of $89,600 per year and 2800 burden 
hours, including $52,200 and 1600 burden hours for the respondents' 
time, and $37,400 and 1200 burden hours for the States' review time. 
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 information.

    Dated: August 6, 2003.
Jane S. Moore,
Acting Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 03-20781 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
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