[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 136 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40508-40509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11252]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0138; FRL-8197-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Applications for the National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Discharge Permit and the Sewage 
Sludge Management Permit, EPA ICR No. 0226.18, OMB Control No. 2040-
0086

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on September 30, 
2006. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or 
sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending 
at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and 
its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 16, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OW-2006-0138, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Docket, Mail Code 
4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Stabenfeldt, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 202.564.0602; fax number: 202.501.2399; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On March 7, 2006 (71 FR 11407-11411), EPA sought comments on 
this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one set of comments 
on the draft ICR. EPA's response to those comments is reflected in the 
ICR supporting statement. Any additional comments on this ICR should be 
submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0138, which is available for online viewing at 
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 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.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
comments in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives 
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted 
material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is 
restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic 
docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Applications for the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System Discharge Permit and the Sewage Sludge Management 
Permit.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 0226.18, OMB Control No.2040-0086.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2006. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
An

[[Page 40509]]

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: This ICR calculates the burden and costs associated with 
permit applications for NPDES discharges and sewage sludge management 
activities. EPA uses the data contained in applications and 
supplemental information requests to set appropriate permit conditions, 
issue permits, and assess permit compliance. EPA maintains certain 
national application information in databases that assist permit 
writers in determining permit conditions. For most permits, EPA has 
developed standard application forms. In some cases, such as requests 
for additional information and storm water applications from municipal 
separate sewer systems, standard forms do not exist because standard 
forms are not appropriate for the information collected or because they 
have not been developed. Application forms correspond to the different 
types of applicants, each form requesting information necessary for 
issuing permits to the associated applicants. Depending on the 
application form they are using, applicants may be required to supply 
information about their facilities, discharges, treatment systems, 
sewage sludge use and disposal practices, pollutant sampling data, or 
other relevant information. Section 308 of the Clean Water Act 
authorizes EPA to request from dischargers any information that may be 
reasonably required to carry out the objectives and provision of the 
Act. Under this authority, EPA sometimes requests information 
supplemental to that contained in permit applications. In its burden 
and cost calculations, this ICR includes requests for information 
supplemental to permit applications. Other parts of the Clean Water Act 
and Federal regulations authorize EPA to collect information that 
supplements permit applications, such as section 403(c). This ICR 
calculates the burden and costs for all information collection 
activities associated with applications for permits. Application 
information is necessary to obtain an NPDES or sewage sludge permit.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average less 
than 5 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), privately owned 
treatment works, new and existing manufacturing and commercial 
dischargers, storm water dischargers, treatment works treating domestic 
sewage (TWTDS), and other entities that apply for NPDES permits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 249,494.
    Frequency of Response: Once every five years.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,358,253 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $48,587,228, includes $0 for capital 
investment and $5,379,500 for O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: The estimated decrease in burden is 
41,728 hours compared to the total estimated burden hours currently 
identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burden. This change is 
primarily the result of updating the universe of permitted facilities 
subject to these requirements.

    Dated: July 7, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-11252 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am]
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