[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 135 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40336-40338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16015]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-OECA-2007-0466; FRL-8691-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request, State Review Framework; EPA ICR Number 2185.03

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 November 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 September 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-OECA-
2007-0466, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: (our preferred method) Follow 
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-564-0027.
     Mail: Enforcement and Compliance Docket, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2201T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: Information Center in the EPA Docket Center 
(EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center 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 Enforcement and Compliance Docket is 
(202) 566-1927. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's 
normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for 
deliveries of boxed information.

[[Page 40337]]

    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-OECA-2007-
0466. 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: Chad Carbone, Office of Enforcement 
and Compliance Assurance, Office of Compliance, MC: 2221A, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-2523; fax number: 202-
564-0027; 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-OECA-2007-0466, which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Enforcement and 
Compliance Docket Information Center 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 8:30 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 
Enforcement and Compliance Docket is (202) 566-1927.
    Use http://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 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;
    (ii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iii) 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.

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.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

    Docket ID No. EPA-OECA-2007-0466.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
10 EPA Regional Offices, 50 States, 4 Territories, and 40 Local 
Agencies.
    Title: State Review Framework.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2185.03, OMB Control No. 2020-0031.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on November 
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, 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 State Review Framework (``Framework'') is an 
oversight tool designed to assess state performance in enforcement and 
compliance assurance. The Framework's goal is to evaluate state 
performance by examining existing data to provide a consistent level of 
oversight and develop a uniform mechanism by which EPA Regions, working 
collaboratively with their states, can ensure that state environmental 
agencies are consistently implementing the national compliance and 
enforcement program in order to meet agreed-upon goals. Furthermore, 
the Framework is designed to foster dialogue on enforcement and 
compliance performance between the states that will enhance 
relationships and increase feedback, which will in turn lead to 
consistent program management and improved environmental results. The 
Framework is described in the April 26, 2005 Federal Register Notice 
(79 FR 21408). This amendment will allow OECA to collect information 
from enforcement and compliance files reviewed during routine on-site 
visits of state or local agency offices that will assist in the 
evaluation of the State Review Framework implementation from FY 2005 to 
the end of FY 2007. This request will allow EPA to make inquiries to 
assess the State Review Framework process, including the consistency 
achieved among the EPA Regions and states, the resources required to 
conduct

[[Page 40338]]

the reviews, and the overall effectiveness of the program.
    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 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 376.5 
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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 94.
    Frequency of response: Once every four years.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
one.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 20,331 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $679,597.02. This includes an 
estimated burden 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 3,851.8 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's recent experience with 
administering the SRF program, an estimated increase in the number of 
respondents during the next SRF cycle, and its work with the states to 
try to improve the value and utilization of the elements and metrics by 
which state environmental programs are measured. Based upon revised 
estimates, the annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for the 
collection of information under the SRF program has decreased from 384 
to 376.5 hours. Additional numbers for these estimates are still being 
collected and confirmed, so these estimates may change in the final 
ICR.

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: July 7, 2008.
Lisa Lund,
Office Director, Office of Compliance, OECA.
[FR Doc. E8-16015 Filed 7-11-08; 8:45 am]
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