[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29619-29621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7829]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369; FRL-8173-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; National Estuary Program; EPA ICR No. 1500.06; OMB 
Control No. 2040-0138

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection 
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is 
scheduled to expire on November 30, 2006. 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 July 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0369 by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), Water Docket--Mail Code 4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand delivery: Office of Water Docket, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Public Reading Room, Room B102, 1301 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20004. Such deliveries are only accepted 
during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements 
should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-
0369. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in 
the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://

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www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to 
be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-
mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous 
access'' system, which means that EPA will not know your identity or 
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. 
If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through 
http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be automatically 
captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an 
electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other 
contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or 
CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical 
difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be 
able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of 
special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects 
or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit 
the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McShane, Oceans and Coastal 
Protection Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Mail 
Code 4504T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-1381; fax number 
(202) 566-1336; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Water Docket in 
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 
8 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.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft 
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the 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 in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25 people) on 
examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce 
the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this 
collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
to support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those state or local agencies or nongovernmental organizations in the 
National Estuary Program (NEP) who receive grants under section 320 of 
the Clean Water Act.
    Title: National Estuary Program.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1500.06, OMB Control No. 2040-0138.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on November 
30, 2006. 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 title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal 
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed 
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate 
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if 
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract

Annual Workplans

    The NEP involves collecting information from the state or local 
agency or nongovernmental organizations that receive funds under 
section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The regulation requiring this 
information is found at 40 CFR part 35. Prospective grant recipients 
seek funding to develop or oversee and coordinate implementation of 
Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans (CCMPs) for estuaries of 
national significance. In order to receive funds, grantees must submit 
an annual workplan to EPA. The workplan consists of two parts: (a) 
Progress on projects funded previously; and (b) new projects proposed 
with dollar amounts and completion dates. The workplan is reviewed by 
EPA and also serves as the scope of work for the grant agreement. EPA 
also uses these workplans to track performance of each of the 28 
estuary programs currently in the NEP.

Implementation Reviews

    EPA provides funding to NEPs to support long-term implementation of 
CCMPs if such programs pass an implementation review process. 
Implementation reviews are used to

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determine progress each NEP is making in implementing its CCMP and 
achieving environmental results. In addition to evaluating progress, 
the results are used to identify areas of weakness each NEP should 
address for long-term success in protecting and restoring their 
estuaries. EPA will also compile successful tools and approaches as 
well as lessons learned from all implementation reviews to transfer to 
the NEPs and other watershed programs. For this ICR cycle, 
implementation reviews will be required for seven programs in FY2006, 
12 programs in FY2007, and nine programs in 2008.

Government Performance Results Act

    EPA requests that each of the 28 NEPs receiving section 320 funds 
report information that can be used in the GPRA reporting process. This 
reporting is done on an annual basis and is used to show environmental 
results that are being achieved within the overall NEP Program. This 
information is ultimately submitted to Congress along with GPRA 
information from other EPA programs.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 218 
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 which have subsequently changed; 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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 28.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 2.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 6,113.
    Estimated total annual costs: $409,349.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    There are no changes in burden from the last approval.

What is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register Notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: May 17, 2006.
Diane C. Regas,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
 [FR Doc. E6-7829 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am]
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