[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60142-60144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25345]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW_2008-0719; FRL-9935-28-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Requests; Comment Requests

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit three information collection requests (ICRs): ``Information 
Collection Request for Cooling Water Intake Structures New Facility 
Final Rule (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1973.06, OMB Control No. 2040-
0241); ``ICR Supporting Statement Information Collection Request: 
National Pretreatment Program'' (EPA ICR No. 0002.15, OMB Control No. 
2040-0009); and ``ICR Supporting Statement Information Collection 
Request for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0229.21, OMB Control No. 2040-0004) to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 
Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects 
of the proposed information collections as described below. This is a 
proposed extension of the three ICRs, which are currently approved 
through December 31, 2015. 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 December 4, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing the Docket ID numbers 
provided for each item in the text online using www.regulations.gov 
(our preferred method), by email to [email protected] (Identify Docket 
ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0719 in the subject line), or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, 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: Amelia Letnes, State and Regional 
Branch, Water Permits Division, OWM Mail Code: 4203M, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 564-5627; fax number: (202) 564 9544; email 
address: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Supporting documents which explain in 
detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in 
the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC 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.

A. List of ICRS Planned To Be Submitted

(1) ``Information Collection Request for Cooling Water Intake 
Structures New Facility Final Rule (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1973.06, 
OMB Control No. 2040-0241), expiration date: December 31, 2015. Docket 
Number: EPA-HQ-OW_2008-0719
(2) ``ICR Supporting Statement Information Collection Request for 
National Pretreatment Program'' (EPA ICR No. 0002.15, OMB Control No. 
2040-0009), expiration date: December 31, 2015. Docket Number: EPA-HQ-
OW_2008-0719
(3) ``ICR Supporting Statement Information Collection Request for 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program 
(Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0229.21, OMB Control No. 2040-0004), 
expiration date: December 31, 2015. Docket Number: EPA-HQ-OW_2008-0719

B. Individual ICRS

(1) Information Collection Request for Cooling Water Intake Structures 
New Facility Final Rule (Renewal) (EPA ICR No. 1973.06, OMB Control No. 
2040-0241), expiration date: December 31, 2015

    Abstract: Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) provides that 
``[a]ny standard established pursuant to [CWA section 301] or [CWA 
section 306] and applicable to a point source shall require that the 
location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake 
structures reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse 
environmental impact.'' The section 316(b) New Facility Rule (66 FR 
65256; December 18, 2001) and minor amendments (68 FR 36749; June 19, 
2003) implement section 316(b) of the

[[Page 60143]]

CWA as it applies to new facilities that use cooling water intake 
structures (CWISs). The rule requires new facilities to submit several 
distinct types of information as part of their NPDES permit 
application. In addition, the rule requires new facilities to maintain 
monitoring and reporting data as outlined by the Director in their 
NPDES permits. The information requirements in this ICR are necessary 
to ensure that new facilities are complying with the rule's provisions, 
and thereby minimizing adverse environmental impact resulting from 
impingement and entrainment losses due to the withdrawal of cooling 
water.
    Applications for an NPDES permit may contain confidential business 
information. However, EPA does not consider the specific information 
being requested by the final rule to be typical of confidential 
business or personal information. If a respondent does consider this 
information to be of a confidential nature, the respondent may request 
that such information be treated as confidential. All confidential data 
will be handled in accordance with 40 CFR 122.7, 40 CFR part 2, and 
EPA's Security Manual part III, chapter 9, dated August 9, 1976.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Respondents affected include any new 
industrial facility that operates a cooling water intake structure that 
withdraws greater than 2 MGD of surface water and uses 25% or more of 
this water for cooling purposes. While respondents for this ICR would 
include any new facilities that meet the applicable requirements of the 
rule, EPA estimates that there are six primary industrial sectors that 
account for more than 99 percent of all cooling water used in the 
United States: (1) Traditional steam electric utilities, (2) nonutility 
power producers, (3) manufacturers in SIC Major Group 26 (paper and 
allied products), (4) manufacturers in SIC Major Group 28 (chemicals 
and allied products), (5) manufacturers in SIC Major Group 29 
(petroleum and coal products, and (6) manufacturers in SIC Major Group 
33 (primary metals). A detailed description of the SIC (and NAICS) 
codes can be found at 66 FR 65257.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory--Section 316(b) New 
Facility Rule (66 FR 65256; December 18, 2001) and minor amendments (68 
FR 36749; June 19, 2003).
    Estimated number of respondents: The estimated number of 
respondents is 145 (total).
    Frequency of response: The frequency of response varies depending 
on the specific response activity and can range between monthly and 
once every 5 years.
    Total estimated burden: 151,789 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $11,817,460 (per year), includes $2,267,728 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a net increase of 13,367 hours (10%) 
in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR 
currently approved by OMB. This increase is primarily due to the 
addition of the newly built facilities and an increase in the number of 
facilities are entering the renewal phase of the permitting process.
(2) ICR Supporting Statement Information Collection Request: National 
Pretreatment Program'' (EPA ICR No. 0002.15, OMB Control No. 2040-
0009), expiration date: December 31, 2015.

    Abstract: This ICR calculates the burden and costs associated with 
managing and implementing the National Pretreatment Program as mandated 
under sections 402(a) and (b) and 307(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA or 
the Act). This ICR includes all existing tasks under the National 
Pretreatment Program, as amended by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency's (EPA) Streamlining Rule. Section 402(b) of CWA requires EPA to 
develop national pretreatment standards to control industrial 
discharges into sewage systems. The purpose of these standards is to 
prevent pollutants from passing through the treatment plant or 
interfering with treatment plant operations, possibly resulting in 
damage to the environment or a threat to public health.
    Reporting requirements may contain CBI, proprietary information, or 
information containing compromising trade secrets. In such cases, the 
respondent has the right to request that the information be treated as 
CBI. If a respondent does consider this information to be of a 
confidential nature, the respondent may request that such information 
be treated as confidential. All confidential data will be handled in 
accordance with 40 CFR 122.7, 40 CFR part 2, and EPA's Security Manual 
part III, chapter 9, dated August 9, 1976.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Various industrial categories, 
publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), Local and State governments.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory--Sections 402(a) and 
(b) and 307(b) of the CWA.
    Estimated number of respondents: The estimated number of 
respondents is 23,571 (total).
    Frequency of response: The frequency of response varies depending 
on the specific response activity and can range between monthly and 
once every 5 years.
    Total estimated burden: 1,744,406 hours (per year). Burden is 
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $77,907,187 (per year), includes $2,515,470 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a net decrease of 62,110 hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This change is primarily the result of revised 
estimates of the number of SIUs, including facilities that closed, 
facilities that were downgraded from CIU or SIU status, and the 
addition of facilities that opened or are newly permitted. The 
reduction also reflects a reduction in the number of POTWs projected to 
develop a pretreatment program during the three-year ICR period.
    (3) ICR Supporting Statement Information Collection Request for 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program 
(Renewal) (EPA ICR No. 0229.21, OMB Control No. 2040-0004), expiration 
date: December 31, 2015.
    Abstract: This consolidated ICR calculates the burden and costs 
associated with the NPDES program, identifies the types of activities 
regulated under the NPDES program, describes the roles and 
responsibilities of state governments and the Agency, and presents the 
program areas that address the various types of regulated activities. 
It is an update of the 2011 Information Collection Request for the 
NPDES Program (OMB Control Number: 2040-0004; EPA ICR Number: 0229.20) 
that consolidated the burden and costs associated with activities 
previously reported in ten of the 15 NPDES program or NPDES-related 
ICRs administered by EPA's Water Permits Division. This renewal 
includes the addition of the burden and costs for the Airport Deicing 
Category, which were previously contained in a separate ICR.
    Permit applications and other respondent reports may contain 
confidential business information. If a respondent does consider this 
information to be of a confidential nature, the respondent may request 
that such information be treated as confidential. All confidential data 
will be handled in accordance with 40 CFR 122.7, 40 CFR part 2, and 
EPA's

[[Page 60144]]

Security Manual part III, chapter 9, dated August 9, 1976.
    Form Numbers: OMB No. 2040-0086; OMB No. 2040-0250; OMB No. 2040-
0188, OMB No. 2040-0211; OMB No. 1004-0189; and OMB No. 2040-0004.
    Respondents/affected entities: Any industrial point source 
discharger of pollutants, including but not limited to publicly owned 
and privately owned treatment works (POTWs and PrOTWs), sewage sludge 
management and disposal operations, small and large vessels, airports 
with deicing operations, dischargers of stormwater, construction sites, 
municipalities, local and state governments.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory. Sections 301, 302, 
304, 306, 307, 308, 401, 402, 403, 405, and 510 of the CWA; the 1987 
Water Quality Act (WQA) revisions to CWA section 402(p); 40 (CFR) Parts 
122, 123, 124, and 125 (and Parts 501 and 503 for Biosolids); and the 
Great Lakes Critical Programs Act (CPA).
    Estimated number of respondents: 532,523 total (321,205 facilities, 
210,681 vessels, and 637 States/Tribes/Territories).
    Frequency of response: The frequency of response varies depending 
on the specific response activity and can range from ongoing and 
monthly to once every 5 years.
    Total estimated burden: 21,038,480 hours (per year). Burden is 
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $1,035,773,445 (per year), includes 
$20,453,959 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a net decrease of 286,261 (1.3%) 
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR 
currently approved by OMB. This decrease is primarily due to a 
reduction in the estimate of the number of respondents. This net 
reduction included an increase in burden related to: The addition of 
the burden associated with the airport deicing category; changes in the 
burden associated with agency actions related to changes in the VGP; 
and addition of burden associated with the issuance of the small 
vessels general permit (sVGP).

    Dated: September 24, 2015.
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-25345 Filed 10-2-15; 8:45 am]
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