[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 48 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12474-12476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4959]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OW-2003-0019, FRL-7883-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS), EPA ICR Number 
0318.10, OMB Control Number 2040-0050

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 12475]]

a request to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is 
scheduled to expire on July 31, 2005. 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 May 13, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OW-2003-
0019, 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, Mail Code 4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lena Ferris, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Mail Code 4201M, Washington, DC 
20460; telephone number: 202-564-8831; fax number: 202-501-2399; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OW-2003-0019, 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) 566-0217. 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 governments.
    Title: Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS).
    Abstract: The Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) is required by 
Sections 205(a) and 516(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/cwns/index.htm). It is a periodic inventory of 
existing and proposed publicly owned wastewater treatment works (POTWs) 
and other water pollution control facilities in the United States, as 
well as an estimate of how many POTWs need to be built. The CWNS is a 
voluntary, joint effort of EPA and the States. The Survey records cost 
and technical data associated with POTWs and other water pollution 
control facilities, existing and proposed, in the United States (for 
data elements, see http://oaspub.epa.gov/edr/edr_proc_qry.navigate?P_LIST_OPTION_CD=CSDIS&P_REG_AUTH_IDENTIFIER=1&P_DATA_IDENTIFIER=89802&P_VERSION=1). The State 
respondents who provide this information to EPA are State agencies 
responsible for environmental pollution control. No confidential 
information is used, nor is sensitive information protected from 
release under the Public Information Act. EPA achieves national 
consistency in the final results through the application of uniform 
guidelines and validation techniques.
    During the period of this ICR, EPA will not be requiring or asking 
States to update CWNS information. EPA is planning to keep the CWNS 
database open for States that voluntarily choose to submit updated 
information, for their own purposes, between the 2004 and 2008 CWNS 
data entry periods. EPA will not be requiring or asking States to 
submit updated data until the 2008 CWNS data entry period, which will 
be covered under a subsequent ICR.
    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, 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: As this ICR is intended to allow States to 
voluntarily update CWNS information for their own purposes, EPA will 
not be imposing any burden under this ICR. Should States choose to 
update CWNS facilities during this period, the average burden per 
respondent per facility updated is 1.55 hours. In previous between 
survey periods, five to ten States have selected to update CWNS 
facility information. Assuming five to ten states choose to update 
facilities in this between survey period, with an average of 600 
facilities per state and an average of 50% of facilities needing 
updates every 4 years, the total overall voluntary burden to the five 
to ten States would range between 2,325 and 4,650 hours. 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.


[[Page 12476]]


    Dated: March 4, 2005.
James A. Hanlon,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 05-4959 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P