[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34729-34731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13771]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0015; FRL-8581-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program 
(Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1391.08, OMB Control No. 2040-0118

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 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 July 18, 2008.

[[Page 34730]]


ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2004-0015 by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program (Renewal), Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 4204M, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund 
Program (renewal), Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Wastewater Management, Municipal Support Division, 1201 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20004.
     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: Clifford Yee, Office of Wastewater 
Management, Mail Code 4204M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
564-0598; fax number: 202-501-2403; 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 March 12, 2008 (73 FR 13222), 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-2004-0015 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, confidential business information (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: Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1391.08, OMB Control No. 2040-0118.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2008. 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 Clean Water Act, as amended by ``The Water Quality 
Act of 1987'' (U.S.C. 1381-1387 et seq.), created a Title VI which 
authorizes grants to States for the establishment of State Water 
Pollution Control Revolving Funds (SRFs). The information collection 
activities will occur primarily at the program level through the State 
``Intended Use Plan'' and ``Annual Report''. The information is needed 
annually to implement Section 606 of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
    The 1987 Act declares that water pollution control revolving funds 
shall be administered by an instrumentality of the State subject to the 
requirements of the Act. This means that each State has a general 
responsibility for administering its revolving fund and must take on 
certain specific responsibilities in carrying out its administrative 
duties. The information collection activities will occur primarily at 
the program level through the State Intended Use Plan and Annual 
Report. The information is needed annually to implement section 606 of 
the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Act requires the information to ensure 
national accountability, adequate public comment and review, fiscal 
integrity and consistent management directed to achieve environmental 
benefits and results. The individual information collections are: (1) 
Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended Use Plan, 
(2) State Annual Report, (3) State Annual Audit, and (4) Application 
for SRF Financial Assistance.
    (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended 
Use Plan: The State will prepare a Capitalization Grant application 
that includes an Intended Use Plan (IUP) outlining in detail how it 
will use all the funds available to the fund. The grant agreement 
contains or incorporates by reference the IUP, application materials, 
payment schedule, and required assurances. The bulk of the information 
is provided in the IUP, the legal agreement which commits the State and 
EPA to execute their responsibilities under the Act.
    (2) State Annual Report: The State must agree to complete and 
submit a State Annual Report that indicates how the State has met the 
goals and objectives of the previous fiscal year as stated in the IUP 
and grant agreement. The report provides information on loan 
recipients, loan amounts, loan terms, project categories, and similar 
data on other forms of assistance. The report describes the extent to 
which the existing SRF financial operating policies, alone or in 
combination with other State financial assistance programs, will 
provide for the long term fiscal health of the Fund and carry out other 
provisions specified in the grant operating agreement.
    (3) State Annual Audit: Most States have agreed to conduct or have 
conducted a separate financial audit of the Capitalization Grant which 
will provide opinions on the financial statements, and a report on the 
internal controls and compliance with program requirements. The 
remaining States will be covered by audits conducted under the 
requirements of the Single Audit Act and by EPA's Office of Inspector 
General.
    (4) Application for SRF Financial Assistance: Local communities and 
other eligible entities have to prepare and submit applications for SRF 
assistance to their respective State Agency which manages the SRF 
program. The State reviews the completed loan applications, and 
verifies that the proposed projects will comply with applicable Federal 
and State requirements.

[[Page 34731]]

    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 
108.73 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 and Local governments; local 
communities and tribes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,825.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 415,905.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $11,118,000 in labor costs and $0 for 
both annualized capital costs and O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 76,500 hours in 
the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This increase reflects EPA's acceptance of 
additional loan applicants for the State SRF loan program. The increase 
in burden hours is the time needed to process and report on these loans 
on an annual basis.

    Dated: June 4, 2008.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-13771 Filed 6-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P