[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)] [Notices] [Pages 58806-58807] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2011-24377] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0852; FRL-9470-5] Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits for Point Source Discharges From the Application of Pesticides to Waters of the United States (New) 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 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 October 24, 2011. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW- 2010-0852, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Docket, 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: Jack Faulk, EPA Headquarters, Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management, Mailcode 4203M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-0768; fax number: 202- 564-6384; 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 November 3, 2010 (75 FR 67713), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received 13 comments during the comment period, which are addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments on [[Page 58807]] 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-2010-0852, 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: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits for Point Source Discharges from the Application of Pesticides to Waters of the United States. ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2397.01, OMB Control No. 2040-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: This Information Collection Request (ICR) calculates the burden and costs associated with information collection and reporting activities from EPA and State NPDES general permits for point source discharges from the application of pesticides to waters of the United States. On November 27, 2006, EPA issued a final rule (hereinafter called the ``2006 NPDES Pesticides Rule'') clarifying circumstances in which an NPDES permit was not required to apply pesticide to, or over, including near, waters of the U.S. On January 9, 2009, the Sixth Circuit Court vacated EPA's 2006 NPDES Pesticides Rule. As a result of the Court's decision, beginning October 31, 2011 NPDES permits will be required for discharges to waters of the U.S. from the application of biological pesticides and chemical pesticides that leave a residue. Regulations governing permit requirements for NPDES discharges are codified at 40 CFR parts 122. This ICR includes information submitted or recorded by permittees as well as information used primarily by permitting authorities. The permitting authority will use the information to assess permittee compliance and modify/add new permit requirements as appropriate. The estimated burden in this ICR is based on EPA's NPDES Pesticide General Permit (PGP). EPA posted the final draft PGP on the Agency's Web site on April 1, 2011. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.7 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. Respondents/Affected Entities: Industries potentially covered by the general permits include but are not limited to the following NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes: 111 Crop Production; 113110 Timber Tract Operations; 113210 Forest Nurseries Gathering of Forest Products; 221310 Water Supply for Irrigation; 923120 Administration of Public Health Programs; 924110 Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs; 924120 Administration of Conservation Programs; and 221 Utilities. Estimated Number of Respondents: 365,000 permittees, 45 permitting authorities (44 states and Virgin Islands). Frequency of Response: varies from once every 5 years to occasionally as needed. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 847,652 hours (841,037 hrs for permittees and 6,615 hrs for permitting authorities). Estimated Total Annual Cost: $48,034,676 ($47,783,297 for permittees and $251,379 for permitting authorities), includes $0 annualized capital or O&M costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 847,652 hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is due to a change in NPDES program requirements as result of the Sixth Circuit Court's decision. Dated: September 19, 2011. John Moses, Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. 2011-24377 Filed 9-21-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P