[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51848-51850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24341]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369; FRL-8967-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; National Estuary Program (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 
1500.07, OMB Control No. 2040-0138

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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 01/31/2010. 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 December 7, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0369 by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (202) 566-9744.
     Mail: EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369, Environmental Protection 
Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Water Docket--Mail Code 28221T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: Office of Water Docket, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Public Reading Room, Room B102, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20004. 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-
0369. 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

[[Page 51849]]

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: Nell Orscheln, Oceans and Coastal 
Protection Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Mail 
Code 4504T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-2102; fax 
number: (202) 566-1336; 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-2006-0369, 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 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 people) 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 
those state or local agencies or nongovernmental organizations in the 
National Estuary Program (NEP) who receive grants under Section 320 of 
the Clean Water Act.
    Title: National Estuary Program (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1500.07, OMB Control No. 2040-0138.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire 01/31/2010. 
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:
    Annual Workplans: The NEP involves collecting information from the 
state or local agency or nongovernmental organizations that receive 
funds under Sec.  320 of the Clean Water Act. The regulation requiring 
this information is found at 40 CFR Part 35. Prospective grant 
recipients seek funding to develop or oversee and coordinate 
implementation of Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans (CCMPs) 
for estuaries of national significance. In order to receive funds, 
grantees must submit an annual workplan to EPA. The workplan consists 
of two parts: (a) Progress on projects funded previously; and (b) new 
projects proposed with dollar amounts and completion dates. The 
workplan is reviewed by EPA and also serves as the scope of work for 
the grant agreement. EPA also uses these workplans to track performance 
of each of the 28 estuary programs currently in the NEP.
    Program Evaluations: EPA provides funding to NEPs to support long-
term implementation of CCMPs if such programs pass a program evaluation 
process. The primary purpose of the program evaluation process is to 
help EPA determine whether the 28 programs included in the National 
Estuary Program (NEP) are making adequate progress implementing their 
CCMPs and therefore merit continued funding under Sec.  320 of the 
Clean Water Act. Continued funding for each NEP under Sec.  320 of the 
CWA is contingent upon Congress appropriating sufficient funds to the 
EPA for the purpose of implementing the NEP. The program evaluation 
process also is useful for highlighting

[[Page 51850]]

environmental results; highlighting strengths and challenges in program 
management; demonstrating continued stakeholder commitment; assessing 
the progress of the NEP as a national program; and transferring lessons 
learned within EPA, among NEPs, and with other watershed programs. For 
this ICR cycle, program evaluations will be required for nine programs 
in FY2010, nine programs in FY2011, and ten programs in 2012.
    Government Performance Results Act: EPA requests that each of the 
28 NEPs receiving Sec.  320 funds report information that can be used 
in the GPRA reporting process. This reporting is done on an annual 
basis and is used to show environmental results that are being achieved 
within the overall NEP Program. This information is ultimately 
submitted to Congress along with GPRA information from other EPA 
programs.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 218 
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: 28.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
2.3.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 5,833.
    Estimated total annual costs: $409,349, includes $0 annualized 
capital or O&M costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?

    There are no changes in burden from the last approval.

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: October 1, 2009.
Suzanne Schwartz,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. E9-24341 Filed 10-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P