[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2536-2537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-748]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0408; FRL-9103-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; EPA's WaterSense Program 
(Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2233.04, OMB Control No. 2040-0272

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 to renew an existing 
approved 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 February 16, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0408 to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 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: Tara O'Hare, OW, WaterSense Program 
(MC 4204M), 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: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On July 28, 2009 (74 FR 37212), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. 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-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 EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://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 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: EPA's WaterSense Program (Renewal)
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2233.04, OMB Control No. 2040-0272.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2010. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
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 the WaterSense program in demonstrating results and evaluating 
program effectiveness 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 
Certified Product Notification Forms.

[[Page 2537]]

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.
    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: 21,250 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $3,369,814, this includes $1,793,181 
in operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: The WaterSense program has been modified 
and expanded since the original ICR was approved. The program is 
expanding in the number of products certified, new partners joining and 
reporting, and the addition of the New Homes portion of the program. 
Despite this expansion, the overall burden estimate for this collection 
is 28,830 hours lower than the current ICR because EPA also has a 
better understanding of how long it actually takes partners to complete 
program forms now that the program is underway. Operation and 
maintenance cost estimates have risen substantially however, since 
product testing by certifying bodies was found to be more expensive 
than previously estimated and many more products are expected to 
undergo this testing in the next three years.

    Dated: January 4, 2010.
John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-748 Filed 1-14-10; 8:45 am]
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