[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47432-47434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17883]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OW-2004-0015, FRL-7798-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; ``Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program,'' EPA 
ICR Number 1391.07, OMB Control Number 2040-0118

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

[[Page 47433]]

collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on 11/30/04. 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 4, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OW-2004-
0015, 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, Mail Code-4101T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clifford Yee, Office of Wastewater 
Management, Mail Code, 4204M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
564-0598; fax number: 202-501-2403; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OW-2004-0015, which is available for public 
viewing at the 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 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 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.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
State and Local Government officials.
    Title: Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program (OMB Control 
No. 2040-0118; EPA ICR No. 1391.06) expiring 11/30/04.
    Abstract: The Clean Water Act, as amended by ``The Water Quality 
Act of 1987'' (U.S.C. 1381-1387 et seq.), created a Title VI which 
authorizes grants to States for the establishment of State Water 
Pollution Control Revolving Funds (SRFs). The information collection 
activities will occur primarily at the program level through the State 
``Intended Use Plan'' and ``Annual Report''. The information is needed 
annually to implement section 606 of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
    The 1987 Act declares that water pollution control revolving funds 
shall be administered by an instrumentality of the State subject to the 
requirements of the act. This means that each State has a general 
responsibility for administering its revolving fund and must take on 
certain specific responsibilities in carrying out its administrative 
duties. The information collection activities will occur primarily at 
the program level through the State Intended Use Plan and Annual 
Report. The information is needed annually to implement section 606 of 
the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Act requires the information to ensure 
national accountability, adequate public comment and review, fiscal 
integrity and consistent management directed to achieve environmental 
benefits and results. The individual information collections are: (1) 
Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended Use Plan, 
(2) Annual Report, (3) State Annual Audit, and (4) Application for SRF 
Financial Assistance.
    (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended 
Use Plan: The State will prepare a Capitalization Grant application 
that includes an Intended Use Plan (IUP) outlining in detail how it 
will use all the funds available to the fund. The grant agreement 
contains or incorporates by reference the IUP, application materials, 
payment schedule, and required assurances. The bulk of the information 
is provided in the IUP, the legal agreement which commits the State and 
EPA to execute their responsibilities under the Act.
    (2) Annual Report: The State must agree to complete and submit an 
annual Report that indicates how the State has met the goals and 
objectives of the previous fiscal year as stated in the IUP and grant 
agreement. The report provides information on loan recipients, loan 
amounts, loan terms, project categories, and similar data on other 
forms of assistance. The report describes the extent to which the 
existing SRF financial operating policies, alone or in combination with 
other State financial assistance programs, will provide for the long 
term fiscal health of the Fund and carry out other provisions specified 
in the grant operating agreement.
    (3) Annual Audit: Most States have agreed to conduct or have 
conducted a separate financial audit of the Capitalization Grant which 
will provide opinions on the financial statements, and a report on the 
internal controls and compliance with program requirements. The 
remaining States will be covered by audits conducted under the 
requirements of the Single Audit Act and by EPA's Office of Inspector 
General.
    (4) Application for SRF Financial Assistance: Local communities and 
other eligible entities have to prepare and submit applications for SRF 
assistance to their respective State Agency which manages the SRF 
program. The State reviews the completed loan applications, and 
verifies that the proposed projects will comply with applicable Federal 
and State requirements.
    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.
    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,

[[Page 47434]]

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 collection will involve about an 
estimated 2,805 respondents per year, with about 2,754 average annual 
responses per year. The time required for the responses will vary 
depending on the respondent, but the total average annual number of 
hours requested is estimated to be about 339,405 hours. The total 
average annual respondent (State and Local) cost is estimated to be 
about $6,830,850.
    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: July 29, 2004.
Jane Moore,
Deputy Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 04-17883 Filed 8-4-04; 8:45 am]
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