[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 41 (Friday, March 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13872-13873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04817]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0408; FRL-9786-7]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; EPA's 
WaterSense Program (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2233.06

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit a 
request to renew an existing information collection request (ICR), 
``EPA's WaterSense Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2233.06, OMB 
Control No. 2040-0272), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting 
public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, 
which is currently approved through June 30, 2013. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0408, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or 
by email to [email protected], or by mail to: U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Marrs, WaterSense Branch, 
Municipal Support Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of 
Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 4204M, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 303-312-
6269; fax number: 1-877-876-9101; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will

[[Page 13873]]

be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR (Docket 
ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0408). The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
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. 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. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    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 and 
builders to design, produce, and market water-efficient products and 
homes. 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 use 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 in demonstrating results and carrying out evaluation 
efforts to ensure continual program improvement. In addition, the data 
will help EPA estimate water and energy savings and inform future 
product categories and specifications.
    Form Numbers:
    *Forms not yet finalized in italics.
Partnership Agreement
     Irrigation partners 6100-07
     Promotional partners 6100-06
     Retailers/distributors 6100-12
     Manufacturers 6100-13
     Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-07
     Builders 6100-19
     Licensed Certification Providers 6100-20
     Licensed Certifying Body 6100-13
Annual Reporting Form
     Promotional partners 6100-09
     Manufacturers (separate forms for plumbing and non-
plumbing product manufacturers) 6100-09
     Retailers/Distributors 6100-09
     Builders 6100-09
     Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-X1
Provider Quarterly Reporting Form
     Licensed Certification Providers 6100-09
    Award Application Form
     Irrigation Partners 6100-17
     Promotional Partners 6100-17
     Manufacturers 6100-17
     Retailers/Distributors 6100-17
     Builders 6100-17
     Licensed Certification Providers 6100-17
     Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-17
Consumer Awareness Survey
     Survey form 6100-X2
    Respondents/affected entities: Respondents will consist of 
WaterSense partners and participants in the consumer survey. WaterSense 
partners include product manufacturers; professional certifying 
organizations; retailers; distributors; utilities; federal, state, and 
local governments; home builders; irrigation professionals; licensed 
certification providers; and NGOs.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: EPA estimates the total number of 
respondents (over 3 years) to be 3,261.
    Frequency of response: Once a prospective partner organization 
reviews WaterSense materials and decides to join the program, it will 
submit the appropriate Partnership Agreement for its partnership 
category (this form is only submitted once). Each year, EPA also asks 
partners to submit an Annual Reporting Form and Awards Application 
(voluntarily at the partner's discretion). Licensed certification 
providers for WaterSense-labeled new homes are asked to submit a 
Provider Quarterly Reporting Form four times each year. EPA also will 
conduct a Consumer Awareness Survey once over the three-year period of 
the ICR.
    Total estimated burden: 8,926 hours (per year for both respondents 
and EPA). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $699,872 (per year for both respondents and 
EPA), includes $3,290 annualized capital or operation & maintenance 
costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 51,420 hours in the 
estimated burden on respondents (over three years) compared with the 
ICR currently approved by OMB. There is a decrease of 144,966 hours in 
the total estimated burden (for respondents and EPA, over three years) 
compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. The WaterSense program 
has been modified and expanded significantly since the current ICR was 
approved in 2010; however, the program has made efforts over the last 
several years to reduce the burden for its partners and the Agency. 
Program changes, including using online forms, eliminating product 
notification forms for manufacturers, and deciding not to require 
irrigation partners to report annually have led to significantly 
reduced operation & maintenance costs and a lower estimated burden. 
Finally, EPA has a better understanding of how long it takes partners 
to complete program forms and better historical data to project new 
partners and forms over the next three years.

    Dated: February 22, 2013.
Randolph L. Hill,
Acting Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-04817 Filed 2-28-13; 8:45 am]
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