[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36449-36450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12878]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0064, FRL-8334-6]


Agency Information Collection Activity; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Request for Questionnaire for 
Nominees for the Annual National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards 
Program, EPA ICR 1287.09, OMB Control Number 2040-0101

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). 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 September 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OW-2003-0064, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected] (Identify Docket ID number EPA-
HQ-OW-2003-0064, in the subject line).
     Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. 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 identified by the Docket ID 
number EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0064. EPA's policy is that all comments received 
will be included in the public docket without change and may be made 
available online at 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 
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which means 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 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: Gajindar Singh, Municipal Support 
Division, Office of Wastewater Management, OWM Mail Code: 4204M, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-0634; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

    EPA has established a public docket for the ICR identified in this 
document (ID number EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0064), 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 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 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) 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 technical information/data you used that 
support your views.

[[Page 36450]]

    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 
public wastewater treatment plants, municipalities, industries, 
universities, manufacturing sites and States.
    Title: Questionnaire for Nominees for the Annual National Clean 
Water Act Recognition Awards Program.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1287.09, OMB Control No. 2040-0101.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on September 
30, 2007. 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, and 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 requests reapproval to collect data from EPA's 
National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards nominees. The awards are 
for the following program categories: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) 
Excellence, Biosolids (Biosolids) Management Excellence, Combined Sewer 
Overflow Control (CSO) Program Excellence and Storm Water (SW) 
Management Excellence.
    In 1985, EPA established the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) 
awards program to provide a positive incentive for compliance with the 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Because of the 
successes of the O&M Awards program, in 1988 EPA established the 
Beneficial Biosolids Use awards (formerly Sludge awards). In 1989, the 
Pretreatment awards were added. In 1990, EPA established the Combined 
Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Storm Water (SW) Management awards programs. 
The questionnaire provides the mechanism for the applicant to 
demonstrate outstanding and innovative wastewater management practices. 
The Pretreatment awards program is covered by ICR (OMB Control No. 
2040-0009, EPA ICR No. 0002.12), approved through September 30, 2007. A 
framework to implement the awards recognition program is at 40 CFR part 
105.
    The respondent, i.e., those applying for the award program, will 
read the instructions for completing the questionnaire. The respondent 
will use existing files, planning and progress reports, and 
institutional memory to complete the questionnaire. Based on the 
instructions provided with the questionnaire, the respondent will 
compile the requested information. The requested design and operating 
information should be readily available from wastewater treatment 
facility or pollution abatement program operating records. The data 
collection will include flow, permit, operating and environmental data.
    The information collection will be used by the respective awards 
program in the Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management to 
evaluate and determine which pollution abatement achievements should be 
recognized. Based on the collection, national panels will evaluate the 
nominee's efforts and recommend finalists. As currently structured, the 
O&M awards program has nine sub-categories to recognize municipal 
achievements based on plant flows and treatment level. The Biosolids 
awards program has four sub-categories which recognize municipal 
biosolids operations, technology and research achievements, and public 
acceptance. The CSO awards program has one sub-category which 
recognizes municipal programs, and the SW awards program has two sub-
categories which recognize municipal and industrial programs. Regions 
and States may also have recognition awards programs and are included 
in these burden estimates. National second place category winners may 
also be recognized. Additionally, nominated activities may sometimes 
receive an honorable mention or special award. The National Clean Water 
Act Recognition Awards are presented annually at an EPA ceremony.
    Burden Statement: The total number of respondents is estimated to 
be 145, including 100 for the O&M program, 25 for the Biosolids 
program, 10 for the CSO program, and 10 for the SW program. The 
responses are collected once annually. The respondents reporting burden 
of 8 person hours per response is estimated to be 1,160 hours and a 
cost of $49,458. The States' review burden of 6 person hours per 
response is 870 hours and a cost of $37,459. Total estimated burden for 
this collection is 2,030 hours and $86,917. The public reporting burden 
for respondents is estimated to average 8 hours per response per year. 
For State respondents, the reporting burden is estimated to average 6 
hours per response per year. Burden means the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, or 
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This 
includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, 
install, and use 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; 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 information. The ICR 
provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, which is only 
briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 195 (145 
applicants respondents and 50 states).
    Frequency of response: once annually.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,030 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $86,917. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $86,917 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. EPA has not modified the requirements that were 
included in the previous ICR.

    Dated: June 27, 2007.
James A. Hanlon,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. E7-12878 Filed 7-2-07; 8:45 am]
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