[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 143 (Thursday, July 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41072-41073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14482]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0266; FRL-8445-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Proficiency Testing Studies for 
Drinking Water Laboratories, EPA ICR No. 2264.01, OMB Control No. 2040-
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 27, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2007-0266, 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 2822T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket 
ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0266, 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: David J. Munch, Technical Support 
Center, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, 26 West Martin Luther 
King Drive (MS 140), Cincinnati, OH 45268; telephone (513) 569-7843; e-
mail address [email protected]. For general information, contact the 
Safe Drinking Water Hotline. Callers within the United States may reach 
the Hotline at (800) 426-4791. The Hotline is open Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern 
Time.

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 3, 2007 (72 FR 24582), EPA sought comments on this ICR 
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments during the 
comment period. 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-2007-0266, 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: Proficiency Testing Studies for Drinking Water Laboratories.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2264.01, OMB Control No. 2040-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: Proficiency Testing (PT) studies provide an objective 
demonstration that participating laboratories are capable of producing 
valid data for monitored pollutants. PT studies that relate to drinking 
water analyses are mandated under 40 CFR 141.23(k)(3), 141.24(f)(17) 
and 141.131(b)(2). EPA initiated these studies and originally 
administered them as part of the Agency's mandate to assure the quality 
of environmental monitoring data. Subsequently, all of these studies 
were privatized. PT vendors manufacture and distribute samples to the 
participating laboratories who then submit their analytical results to 
these vendors for evaluation. The PT

[[Page 41073]]

vendors then send evaluations of the submitted data to the laboratory 
and any other designated certifying/accrediting authority.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 7.32 
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: Drinking Water Laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,363.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 17,291.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,803,343, which includes $908,055 
annualized capital or O&M costs and $895,288 in labor costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: Since this is a new information 
collection request, there is no currently-approved burden. However, as 
this collection does exist under another expiring ICR (Performance 
Evaluation Studies of Water and Wastewater Laboratories (OMB Control 
No. 2080-0021, EPA ICR No. 0234.08)), the requested burden under this 
ICR effectively offsets the decrease in burden in the currently-
approved ICR from which it is being removed.

    Dated: July 19, 2007.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E7-14482 Filed 7-25-07; 8:45 am]
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