[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42380-42381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11945]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0172; FRL-8203-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Smart Growth and Active Aging 
National Recognition Program; EPA ICR No. 2221.01, OMB Control No. 
2090-New

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 an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request for a new 
collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of 
the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 25, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2006-0172, to: (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental 
Information (OEI) Docket, Mail Code: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: 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: Kathy Sykes, Aging Initiative, Office 
of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education, Mail Code: 
1107A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-3651; fax number: 202-
564-2733; e-mail address: [email protected].

[[Page 42381]]


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 April 3, 2006 (71 FR 16575), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received two comment letters 
during the comment period, which it reviewed and considered in 
finalizing the ICR. 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-OA-2006-0172, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of 
Environmental Information 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 Office of 
Environmental Information Docket is 202-566-1752.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents 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 http://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 http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Smart Growth and Active Aging National Recognition Program.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2221.01, OMB Control No. 2090-new.
    ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. 
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: EPA's Initiative on Aging is planning to launch a Smart 
Growth and Active Aging National Recognition Program for communities, 
municipalities, tribes, and counties (collectively referred to as 
``communities''). Communities would submit a letter to EPA indicating 
that their State or local Area Agency on Aging is engaged in their 
smart growth planning activities and active aging programs, and 
complete an on-line questionnaire describing their processes and 
programs in these two areas. The purpose of the Program is to recognize 
communities that excel in promoting the health and well-being of older 
adults through smart growth and active aging and to raise public 
awareness of the interconnectedness and importance of these two areas 
to the aging population. In addition, the on-line questionnaire would 
include links to helpful information on the Internet. This would assist 
in educating communities on available resources to help them do better 
in the areas where they have not met the criteria for recognition. 
Finally, the Program would enable EPA to compile ``lessons learned'' 
from communities that have successfully implemented smart growth and 
active aging principles. EPA would use this information to create a 
learning network on its Web site where all communities could benefit 
from this experience.
    The Recognition Program would be voluntary. EPA expects communities 
to participate only if they see a benefit by doing so. A primary 
benefit to communities would be recognition at the national level as 
leaders in smart growth and active aging. National recognition would 
promote their image as a desirable place to live. This could help them 
attract residents of all ages, which could benefit the communities 
(e.g., economically), as well as the new residents (e.g., because they 
could partake of their community's amenities, such as walkable 
neighborhoods, fitness trails, and more transportation choices). In 
addition, communities that participate but are not recognized under the 
Program (i.e., because they do not meet the criteria for recognition) 
would benefit by learning about their areas for improvement, finding 
ways to address these areas based on links to helpful resources on the 
Internet, and modifying their behavior as appropriate.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one 
hour and 45 minutes 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 communities, municipalities, and counties that choose 
to participate in the Recognition Program.
    Estimated Total Annual Number of Respondents on Average: 110.
    Average Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 186 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $8,284. This includes an estimated 
labor cost of $8,183, an estimated operation and maintenance cost of 
$101, and no capital cost.

    Dated: July 13, 2006.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-11945 Filed 7-25-06; 8:45 am]
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