[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62438-62439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17875]



[[Page 62438]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369; FRL-8234-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Estuary Program; EPA ICR 
No. 1500.06, OMB Control No. 2040-0138

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 to renew an 
existing approved 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 November 24, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0369, 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, Water Docket--Mail Code 
4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, 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.

    Note: The EPA Docket Center suffered damage due to flooding 
during the last week of June 2006. The Docket Center is continuing 
to operate. However, during the cleanup, there will be temporary 
changes to Docket Center telephone numbers, addresses, and hours of 
operation for people who wish to make hand deliveries or visit the 
Public Reading Room to view documents. Consult EPA's Federal 
Register notice at 71 FR 38147 (July 5, 2006) or the EPA Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm for current information on 
docket operations, locations, and telephone numbers. The Docket 
Center's mailing address for U.S. mail and the procedure for 
submitting comments to http://www.regulations.gov are not affected 
by the flooding and will remain the same.


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: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On May 23, 2006 (71 FR 29619), EPA sought comments on this ICR 
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA did not receive any comments. 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-2006-0369, 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 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 public 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: National Estuary Program.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1500.06, OMB Control No. 2040-0138.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 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 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: The National Estuary Program (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.
    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 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.
    EPA requests that each of the 28 NEPs receiving Section 320 funds 
report information that can be used in the Government Performance and 
Results Act (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

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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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: State or local agencies or 
nongovernmental organizations in the NEP who receive grants under 
Section 320 of the Clean Water Act.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,833.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $409,349, includes $0 annualized 
capital or O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 280 hours, which 
is a result of the information collection process being more 
streamlined and efficient.

    Dated: October 10, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E6-17875 Filed 10-24-06; 8:45 am]
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