[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62495-62496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25016]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0356; FRL-8731-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Water Quality Standards 
Regulation (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 0988.10, OMB Control Number 2040-
0049

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (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. This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 
2008. 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 November 20, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HA-
OW-2008-0356, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Docket, Mailcode 
28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, 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: Samantha Fontenelle, Standards and 
Health Protection Division, Office of Science and Technology (4305T), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-0400; fax number: 
(202) 566-0409; 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 June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31477), EPA sought comments on this ICR 
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0356, 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 
8:30 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 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, to 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: Water Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0988.10, OMB Control No. 2040-0049.

[[Page 62496]]

    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2008. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
Under OMB regulations, the 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 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: Water quality standards are provisions of State, Tribal, 
and Federal law that consist of designated uses for waters of the 
United States, water quality criteria to protect the designated uses, 
and an antidegradation policy. Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act 
requires States and authorized Tribes to establish water quality 
standards, and to review and, if appropriate, revise their water 
quality standards once every three years. The Act also requires EPA to 
review and either approve or disapprove the new or revised standards, 
and to promulgate replacement Federal standards if necessary. Section 
118(c)(2) of the Act specifies additional water quality standards 
requirements for waters of the Great Lakes system.
    The Water Quality Standards Regulation (40 CFR part 131 and 
portions of part 132) governs national implementation of the water 
quality standards program. The Regulation describes requirements and 
procedures for States and authorized Tribes to develop, review, and 
revise their water quality standards, and EPA procedures for reviewing 
and approving the water quality standards.
    The Regulation establishes specific additional requirements for 
water quality standards and their implementation in the waters of the 
Great Lakes system, contained in the Water Quality Guidance for the 
Great Lakes System (40 CFR part 132).
    Burden Statement: The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for 
this collection of information is estimated to average 1,060 hours per 
response annually. 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; 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: States, Territories and certain 
authorized Indian tribes that adopt water quality standards under the 
Clean Water Act; and water dischargers subject to certain requirements 
related to water quality standards in the Great Lakes system.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,809 (56 States and Territories, 
43 Tribes; 2,710 Great Lakes dischargers).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 293,214 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $14,866,862 with no annualized capital 
or O&M cost.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 32,500 hours in 
the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is due to an adjustment in the 
number of Tribes approved to administer water quality standards 
programs to reflect additional approvals since the previous ICR in 
2005.

    Dated: October 15, 2008.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-25016 Filed 10-20-08; 8:45 am]
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