[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70760-70761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20644]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0408; FRL-8251-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Under 
EPA's Water Efficiency Program; EPA ICR No. 2233.01

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 January 5, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA HQ-OW-
2006-0408, 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, 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: Cindy Simbanin, Office of Waste Water 
Management, Office of Water, 4204M, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 
202 564-3837; fax number: 202 501-2396; 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 August 4, 2006 (71 FR 44277), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one comment during the 
comment period, which is addressed in 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-OW-2006-0408, 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 3334, 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 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: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under EPA's Water 
Efficiency Program.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2233.01.
    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 Water Efficiency Program is a voluntary program 
designed to create self-sustaining markets for water efficient products 
and services via a common label. The program provides incentives for 
manufacturers to design, produce, and market water-efficient products. 
In addition, the program provides incentives for service providers 
(e.g., landscapers) to deliver water-efficient products. The program 
also encourages consumers and commercial and institutional purchasers 
of water-using products and systems to choose water-efficient products 
and engage in water-efficient practices.
    EPA's Water Efficiency Program partners with manufacturers, 
retailers, utilities, state and local governments, NGOs, plumbers, 
developers, contractors, architects, landscapers, irrigation 
professionals, and service certification programs to market and adopt 
the Water Efficiency Program, and provide labeled products and 
programs. To participate in the program, organizations will complete a 
Partnership Agreement, which details the partner and EPA commitments 
under the program, and is signed by a senior official at both EPA and 
the partner organization. EPA asks manufacturers, certification 
programs, and builders to submit an EPA Water Efficiency Program New 
Certified Product Notification Form within 12 months of execution of 
the Partnership Agreement. This document provides EPA information to 
verify that the product or service meets EPA specifications based on 
independent testing. EPA will use this information to inform the public 
on water efficient products and services. In addition, EPA requests 
partners submit promotional plans and annual updates on progress 
implementing the program. EPA intends to use this information to 
identify partnership opportunities and assess progress meeting program 
goals.
    In the third year of the program, EPA plans to initiate an awards 
program that will require interested partners to submit an awards 
application form. Participation in the awards program is strictly 
voluntary. The purpose of this information collection is to document 
partner successes for further recognition. Partners may designate 
certain information submitted under this ICR as confidential business 
information. All information identified as confidential business 
information collected under this ICR will not be available to the 
public. Participation on the awards program is entirely voluntary.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 89 
hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended

[[Page 70761]]

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: The universe of each respondent 
activity varies depending upon the specific activity. The respondent 
universe for each information collection activity associated with EPA 
Water Efficiency Program is presented and explained separately below.
    Partnership Agreement: EPA estimates that 3,800 partners will join 
the program in the first year, 5,000 in the second year, and 6,200 in 
the third year of the program, for an average of 5,000 partners per 
year. EPA estimates that certified professionals will comprise the vast 
majority of partnerships. For other partner categories, EPA anticipates 
welcoming 100 partners in the first year, 75 in the second year, and 
125 in the third year.
    New Certified Product Notification Form: During the three-year 
period covered by this ICR, EPA anticipates developing specifications 
for 13 categories of products and services. Each product category has 
specific information that must be submitted by partners who desire to 
label their product(s). EPA anticipates that manufacturers will submit 
a total of 450 products for certification in the 13 categories over the 
first 3 years of the program. This translates to 150 products annually. 
Of the 450 total applications, EPA anticipates updating the Web 
registry of labeled products on a monthly basis.
    Promotional Plan: With an exception for certified professionals, 
EPA plans to request submission of one Promotional Plan per partner for 
each year the partner participates in the program. Thus, EPA 
anticipates receiving 100 promotional plans in the first year, 175 in 
the second and 300 in the third for an average of 192 per year.
    Annual Update: With an exception for certified professionals, EPA 
plans to require submission of one Annual Update per partner for each 
year the partner participates in the program. Thus, EPA anticipates 
receiving 100 Annual Updates in the first year, 175 in the second and 
300 in the third for an average of 192 per year.
    Award Application: EPA plans to initiate an awards program by the 
third year of the Water Efficiency Program. Based on the popularity of 
other EPA awards programs, EPA anticipates receiving 100 applications 
during the first round of award applications.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 214 State and local government; 
427 private sector, 5000 individuals per year.
    Frequency of Response: Once/year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 50,081.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $3,372,000, includes $125,000 annual 
capital/startup and O&M costs and $3,247,000 annual labor costs.

    Dated: November 29, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-20644 Filed 12-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P