[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44017-44018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16023]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2013-0547; FRL-9948-66-OECA]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal); 
EPA ICR No. 0234.12, OMB Control No. 2080-0021

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Performance Evaluation Studies 
on Wastewater Laboratories'' (EPA ICR No. 0234.12, OMB Control No. 
2080-0021) 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 collection as described 
below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through March 31, 2017. 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 September 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OECA-
2013-0547, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], 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: Brian Krausz, Monitoring, Assistance, 
and Media Programs Division, Office of Compliance, (2227A), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-3069; fax number: 
(202) 564-0038; 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.
    Abstract: Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) 
study program participation is mandatory for major and selected minor 
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders 
in accordance with Clean Water Act Section 308. The DMR-QA study 
program is designed to evaluate the analytic ability of laboratories 
that perform chemical, microbiological and whole effluent toxicity 
(WET) analyses required in NPDES permits for reporting results in the 
Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR). Under DMR-QA, the permit holder is 
responsible for having their in-house and/or contract laboratories 
perform proficiency test samples, and submit results for grading to 
proficiency testing (PT) providers. Graded results are transmitted by 
either the permittee or PT provider to the appropriate federal or state 
NPDES regulatory authority. Permit holders are responsible for 
submitting corrective action reports to the appropriate regulatory 
authority.
    Form Numbers: 6400-01.
    Respondents/affected entities: Major and selected minor permit 
holders under the Clean Water Act's National Pollution Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES).
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory under Clean Water Act 
Section 308(a).
    Estimated number of respondents: 5,700 (total).
    Frequency of response: Major permit holders must participate 
annually. Minor permit holders must participate if selected by the 
state or EPA DMR-QA coordinator.
    Total estimated burden: 37,620 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $4,378,968 (per year), includes $2,459,037 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: There will be an approximate increase of 
1,261 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the 
ICR currently approved by OMB. This is due to increased discretionary 
selection of NPDES minor permit holders for DMR-QA participation in the 
most recent year. Labor costs will be revised upward to take into 
account changes in employee benefit compensation costs and inflation. 
Non-labor costs for obtaining proficiency test samples will also likely 
increase.


[[Page 44018]]


    Dated: June 23, 2016.
Edward J. Messina,
Director, Monitoring, Assistance, and Media Programs Division/OECA.
[FR Doc. 2016-16023 Filed 7-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P