[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27818-27820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10735]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2004-0023; FRL-8565-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Health Effects of Microbial Pathogens in Recreational 
Waters: National Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment of 
Recreational (NEEAR) Water Study (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2081.04, OMB 
Control No. 2080-0068

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). This ICR is 
scheduled to expire on September 30, 2008. 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 July 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
ORD-2004-0023, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-566-9744.
     Mail: EPA Docket Center, ORD Docket, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822 iT, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room, EPA 
West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20004. 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 to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2004-0023. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://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 http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://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 http://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: Elizabeth Sams, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health 
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Human Studies Division, 
Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch, MD 58 C, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number: 919-
843-3161; fax number: 919-966-0655; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-ORD 2004-0023, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of 
Research and Development Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPAIDC), EPA 
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/
DC Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 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 ORD 
Docket is 202-566-1752.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft 
collection of information, submit or view public

[[Page 27819]]

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 any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    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.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
families frequenting fresh and marine water beaches in the United 
States and territories.
    Title: Health Effects of Microbial Pathogens in Recreational 
Waters: National Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment of 
Recreational (NEEAR) Water Study.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 2081.04, OMB Control No. 2080-0068.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on September 
30, 2008. 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 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 purpose of this study is to examine the health 
effects associated with swimming exposure at beach sites designated as 
recreational areas. This study will be conducted, and the information 
collected, by the Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch, Human Studies 
Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research 
Laboratory, Office of Research and Development (ORD), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Participation of adults and 
children in this collection of information is strictly voluntary. The 
identity of all participants is considered strictly confidential, thus; 
all data collected are stored without identifiers. This information is 
being collected as part of a research program consistent with the 
section 3(a)(v)(1) of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal 
Health Act of 2000 and the strategic plan for EPA's Office of Research 
and Development and the Office of Water entitled ``Action Plan for 
Beaches and Recreational Water'' available at http://www.epa.gov/ord/htmldocuments/600r98079.pdf. The Beaches Act and ORD's strategic plan 
has identified research on effects of microbial pathogens in 
recreational waters as a high-priority research area with particular 
emphasis on developing new water quality indicator guidelines for 
recreational waters. The EPA has broad legislative authority to 
establish water quality criteria and to conduct research to support 
these criteria. This data collection is for a series of epidemiological 
studies to evaluate exposure to and effects of microbial pathogens in 
marine and fresh recreational waters as part of the EPA's research 
program on exposure and health effects of microbial pathogens in 
recreational waters. Health effects data collection was previously 
conducted in a pilot study, four freshwater coastal sites, and three 
marine sites under OMB number 2080-0068. The results will be used to 
help inform the development of develop of new national water quality 
and monitoring guidelines. The questionnaire health data will be 
compared with routinely collected water quality measurements. The 
analysis will focus on determining whether any water quality parameters 
are associated with increased prevalence of swimming-related health 
effects.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments 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 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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.25 
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

[[Page 27820]]

review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information.
    The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average about fifteen minutes 
per response. If a single household participant completes all three 
interviews of the data collection, a total of 45 minutes is used.
    The interview process consists of three interviews; Two Beach 
Interviews and one Telephone Follow-up: Based on consultation with the 
individuals listed in Section 3(c) of the ICR, and our experience with 
similar types of information collection, we estimate that each family 
will spend an average of 30 minutes completing the beach interview and 
will require no recordkeeping. This includes the time for reviewing the 
information pamphlet and answering the questions. We estimate that each 
family spends an average of 15 minutes completing the home telephone 
interview. The telephone interviews will require no recordkeeping.
    All human health data collection will be recorded utilizing 
computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI). The telephone interview 
incorporates the same concept of direct data collection in a desk 
personal computer (PC) setting. The tablet notebooks and desk PCs are 
used by interviewers to collect human health data. Screens on these 
tablets and PCs only display current activated questions. All human 
health data is stored in secured locations to maintain confidentiality.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 21,000.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 3.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 15,750.
    Estimated total annual costs: $236,250. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $0 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital investment or 
maintenance and operational costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    There is an increase of 10,500 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase is required to provide the science 
necessary to help inform the development of new public health standards 
for recreational water.

What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: May 1, 2008.
Harold Zenick,
Director, National Health and Environmental Effects Research 
Laboratory.
 [FR Doc. E8-10735 Filed 5-13-08; 8:45 am]
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