[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37211-37213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17927]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0408; FRL-8936-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; EPA's WaterSense Program (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 
2233.04, OMB Control No. 2040-0272

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 January 31, 2010. 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 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0408 by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Hand Delivery: Public Reading Room, Room 3334, EPA West Building, 1301 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only 
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.

    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-
0408. 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.

[[Page 37212]]

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/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara O'Hare, OW, WaterSense Program 
(7324U), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-8836; fax number: 202-
501-2396; 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-HQ-OW-2006-0408, 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 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 whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) 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;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

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?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
manufacturers, professional certifying organizations, businesses, 
institutions, retailers, distributors, utilities, state and local 
government, developers, landscape irrigation professionals and non-
governmental organizations (NGOs). Randomly sampled citizens will also 
be affected.
    Title: EPA's WaterSense Program (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2233.04, OMB Control No. 2040-0272.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on January 
31, 2010. 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: WaterSense is a voluntary program designed to create 
self-sustaining markets for water-efficient products and services via a 
common label. The program provides incentives for manufacturers to 
design, produce, and market water-efficient products. In addition, the 
program provides incentives for certified professionals (e.g. certified 
irrigation auditors, designers, or installation and maintenance 
professionals) to deliver water-efficient services. The program also 
encourages consumers and commercial and institutional purchasers of 
water-using products and systems to choose water-efficient products and 
engage in water-efficient practices.
    As part of strategic planning efforts, EPA encourages programs to 
develop meaningful performance measures, set ambitious targets, and 
link budget expenditures to results. Data collected under this ICR will 
assist WaterSense demonstrating results under and carrying out 
evaluation efforts to ensure continual program improvement. In 
addition, data will help EPA monitor market penetration and inform 
future product categories and specifications.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 19 
hours per response for organizational partners, who are not 
manufacturers and who are not applying for an award. The average burden 
is 35 hours for manufacturing partners who must also complete New

[[Page 37213]]

Certified Product Notification Forms. Award applicants are estimated to 
spend an additional 20 hours on average to complete the awards 
application. 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 Number of Respondents: 357 state and local government; 
1,319 private sector organizations, and 668 individuals per year.
    Frequency of Response: Varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 57,248 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $4,665,618, including $1,793,181 in 
operation & maintenance costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    The overall burden estimate for this collection is 7,167 hours 
higher than the burden estimated under the current ICR because the 
WaterSense program has been launched and expanded since the current ICR 
was approved. The change in burden reflects the substantial increase in 
the number of products certified, new partners joining and reporting, 
and the addition of the New Homes portion of the program. EPA also has 
a better understanding of how long it takes partners to complete 
program forms, now that the program is underway.

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 20, 2009.
James Hanlon,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. E9-17927 Filed 7-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P