[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29531-29533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12651]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0019; FRL-9155-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (Renewal); ICR No. 
0318.12; OMB Control No. 2040-0050

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 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, 2011. 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 July 26, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2003-0019, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (202) 566-9744.
     Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 4104T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: Docket at Public Reading Room, Room B102, 
EPA West

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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-2003-
0019. 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 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/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Plastino, Municipal Support 
Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; phone 
number: 202-564-0682; fax number: 202-501-2397; email 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-2003-0019, 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) 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 
state governments and publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities.
    Title: Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) 2012 (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0318.12, OMB Control No. 2040-0050.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on January 
31, 2011. 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 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) is required by 
Sections 205(a) and 516(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (http://www.epa.gov/cwns). It is a periodic inventory of existing and proposed 
publicly owned wastewater treatment works (POTWs) and other water 
pollution control facilities in the United States, as well as an 
estimate of how many POTWs need to be built. The CWNS is a joint effort 
of EPA and the States and Territories. The Survey records cost and 
technical data associated with POTWs and other water pollution control 
facilities, existing and proposed, in the United States. The State 
respondents who provide this information to EPA are State agencies 
responsible for environmental pollution control. No confidential 
information is used, nor is sensitive information protected from 
release under the Public Information Act. EPA achieves national 
consistency in the final results through the

[[Page 29533]]

application of uniform guidelines and validation techniques.
    For CWNS 2012, EPA is offering States two options for 
participating: (1) The Traditional Method and (2) the Gap Approach 
Option. The Gap Approach Option enables a State to comprehensively 
assess at the State level, for various facility size groupings, 
wastewater facility revenues and capital and operation maintenance 
(O&M) expenses over 20 years. This comprehensive facility economic 
analysis supports State and EPA sustainable infrastructure programs. 
The Traditional Method enables States to assess the capital needs for 
each facility within the state. This spatially comprehensive assessment 
of capital needs, along with current and projected populations 
receiving various levels of wastewater treatment, supports holistic 
watershed management approaches.
    Under the ``Traditional Method'' of documenting water pollution 
control needs, states submit capital needs for all facilities in the 
state:
     Wastewater Treatment Plants.
     Separate Sewer Systems.
     Combined Sewer Systems.
     Stormwater Management.
     Decentralized Wastewater Treatment.
     Nonpoint Source (NPS) Control.
    For each need, states submit one or more supporting documents 
(Facility Plan, Engineer's Estimate, etc.). Revenue and operation and 
maintenance (O&M) needs data are not collected in the Traditional 
Method.
    Under the ``Gap Approach'' to documenting water pollution control 
needs, states submit capital & O&M needs and revenues for a sample of 
these facilities:
     Wastewater Treatment Plants.
     Separate Sewer Systems.
     Combined Sewer Systems.
    For these sampled facilities, revenues are submitted and asset 
condition analysis data is used to estimate capital and O&M needs. 
Results from the sample set of facilities are extrapolated to provide 
State level estimates at 25% accuracy. Average sample rates 
are:
     10-25% for facilities serving less than 10,000 people.
     30-60% for facilities serving between 10,000 and 100,000 
people.
     100% (census survey) for the largest 3% of facilities in 
each state.
    EPA is interested in comments and information on an alternate 
sample design that would provide state level estimates at 10% accuracy. Under this alternative, average sample rates would 
be:
     15-45% for facilities serving less than 10,000 people.
     35-80% for facilities serving between 10,000 and 100,000 
people.
     100% (census survey) for the largest 3% of facilities in 
each state.
    Since in CWNS the Gap Approach is only applicable to Wastewater 
Treatment Plants, Separate Sewer Systems, and Combined Sewer Systems, 
States selecting the Gap Approach will use the Traditional Method for 
all other facilities (Stormwater Management, Decentralized Wastewater 
Treatment, NPS Control).
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.55 
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:
    Frequency of response: Every 4 years.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 56 States (States, 
District of Columbia, U.S. Territories) and 5,122 Local Facilities.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each State 
respondent: 271.
    Estimated total annual State burden hours: 7,053.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each Local Facility 
respondent: 5,122.
    Estimated total annual Local Facility burden hours: 2,031.
    Estimated total annual costs: $284,372 for States and $85,666 for 
Local Facilities. These costs are all capital costs, there are no 
maintenance and operational costs.

Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    There is an increase of 277 hours in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. The 277 hour increase is the net result of a decrease of 182 State 
burden hours combined with an increase of 459 hours in Local Facility 
burden hours. These changes are estimated impacts of 10 States 
selecting the Gap Approach Option. In this option, total state effort 
is projected to decrease slightly due to the sampling design (the 
greater State effort per facility is slightly more than offset by 
entering data for a sampled portion of facilities rather than for all 
facilities). For Local Facilities, the projected increased burden 
results from the extra per facility effort being slightly more than the 
burden saved by switching from a census to a sampling approach.

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: May 20, 2010.
Sheila E. Frace,
Acting Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2010-12651 Filed 5-25-10; 8:45 am]
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