[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50641-50642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19825]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey


Agency Information Collection: Comment Request

AGENCY: United States Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new collection.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we will submit to OMB a new information 
collection request (ICR) for review and approval. This notice provides 
the public an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this 
collection.

DATES: You must submit comment on or before October 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments to the IC to Phadrea Ponds, Information 
Collections Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 2150-C Center 
Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); (970) 226-9230 (fax); or 
[email protected] (e-mail). Please reference Information Collection 1028-
NEW, MASSWELL

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Colman, U.S. Geological 
Survey, 10 Bearfoot Road, Northborough, Massachusetts 01532 (mail); at 
508-490-5027 telephone; or [email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Study on Arsenic and Uranium in Bedrock Wells of East 
Central Massachusetts.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-new.
    Abstract: Concerns about possible elevated uranium and arsenic in 
some aquifers that provide drinking water to east central Massachusetts 
have prompted state and federal agencies to begin a study to assess 
concentrations of these contaminants. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 
and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) are 
conducting the study with assistance of staff from the Massachusetts 
Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health (MDPH/BEH) 
to assess:
     The number of private wells containing raw-water 
concentrations of arsenic or uranium that are greater than the current 
drinking water standards
     The degree to which bedrock units can be associated with 
concentrations of uranium and arsenic
     Whether individuals consuming the water may have elevated 
concentrations of these elements in their urine.
    The study will indicate whether there are correlations between 
arsenic and uranium concentrations, and bedrock units. This information 
will help guide future water-supply development and well-water testing. 
It will tell local health officials where the areas of concern are in 
their communities, and provide background concentrations by rock type 
for use in identifying contamination from human sources.
    We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR Part 2), and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the public 
or for limited inspection.'' Responses are voluntary. No questions of a 
``sensitive'' nature are asked.
    Frequency of Collection: One time only.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 1000 individual 
and household residents.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 800 responses.
    Annual Burden Hours: 400 hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We 
estimate the public reporting burden will average 30 minutes per 
response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, collecting 
a water sample and completing the survey.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'': We 
have not identified any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this 
collection of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. ) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection 
of information, you are not obligated to respond.
    Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. ) requires each agency`` * * * 
to provide notice * * * and otherwise consult with members of the 
public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of 
information * * *'' Agencies must specifically solicit comments. We 
invite comments concerning this information collection on:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) the accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information;
    (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and

[[Page 50642]]

    (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents. Please note that the comments submitted in response to 
this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your 
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask OMB in your comment 
to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that it will be done. To comply with the public 
process, we publish this Federal Register notice announcing that we 
will submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the 
required 60 day public comment period.
    USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Phadrea D. Ponds, 
970-226-9445.

    Dated: August 21, 2008.
Matthew Larsen,
Associate Director For Water.
[FR Doc. E8-19825 Filed 8-26-08; 8:45 am]
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