[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63978-63979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25677]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OEI-2008-0225; FRL-8735-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Tribal Capacity: Determining the 
Capability To Participate in the National Environmental Information 
Exchange Network; EPA ICR No. 2299.01, OMB Control No. 2025--New

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 for a new 
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 November 28, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-
2008-0225, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by e-mail to [email protected], by mail to: EPA Docket 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Tribal Capacity: Determining 
the capability to participate in the National Environmental Information 
Exchange Network Program, Environmental Protection Agency, MC 2823T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, or by hand delivery: 
EPA Docket Center, EPA West Bldg., Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be 
made for deliveries of boxed information; 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: Karl Alvarez of OEI/OIC/IESD/IEPB at 
the Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. (MC 
2823-T), Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-0989; fax 
number: (202) 566-1684; e-mail address: [email protected].

[[Page 63979]]


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 May 12, 2008 (73 FR 26983), 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-OEI-2008-0225, which is available for online viewing at 
www.regulations.gov, or in-person viewing at 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 Tribal Capacity: Determining the Capability to Participate in the 
National Environmental Information Exchange Network Program Docket is 
(202) 566-0989.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
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 on paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at 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 www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Tribal Capacity: Determining the Capability to Participate 
in the National Environmental Information Exchange Network Program.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2299.01, OMB Control No. 2025--new.
    ICR Status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. 
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 Environmental Information Exchange Network (Exchange 
Network) is an Internet-based approach for exchanging environmental 
data among partners (e.g., EPA, states, tribes and territories). Built 
on the principles of applying data standards; providing secure, real-
time access; and electronically collecting and storing accurate 
information, the Exchange Network enables participants to control and 
manage their own data while making it available to partners via 
requests over a secure Internet connection. By facilitating the 
efficient exchange of environmental information among interested 
parties at all levels of government, the Exchange Network has begun to 
transform the way information is shared.
    While some Indian Tribes have been active partners in the Exchange 
Network, overall tribal participation is limited. EPA has issued grants 
that fund infrastructure and other support needed to share data on the 
network to just over 50 tribes or less than 10 percent of the more than 
500 federally recognized tribes. Of these, eight have exchanged data 
over the network and another five are developing the infrastructure 
required to do so.
    To expand tribal participation in the Exchange Network, EPA has 
been working with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 
under a series of cooperative agreements. NCAI is planning to conduct a 
baseline assessment survey to obtain data to help identify barriers and 
other factors that are limiting tribal participation in the Network. 
The survey will focus on gathering information related to collection 
and dissemination of environmental data; information technology 
infrastructure, capacity, and needs; and awareness of the Exchange 
Network. The survey will be distributed to all federally recognized 
tribes that are members of NCAI. Response to the survey is voluntary. 
NCAI will use the findings of this survey to design programs to broaden 
tribal participation.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 
minutes per response.
     Estimated total number of potential respondents: 250
     Frequency of response: Once.
     Estimated total average number of responses for each 
respondent: One.
     Estimated total annual burden hours: 125 hours.
     Estimated annual capital and operations and maintenance 
costs: $0.

    Dated: October 22, 2008.
Deborah Williams,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E8-25677 Filed 10-27-08; 8:45 am]
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