[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70421-70422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24662]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2010-0291; FRL-9953-81-OECA]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; State 
Review Framework; EPA ICR No. 2185.06; OMB Control No. 2020-0031

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 approved collection request (ICR), ``State 
Review Framework'' (EPA ICR No. 2185.06, OMB Control No. 2020-0031) 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 
February 28, 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 December 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OECA-
2010-0291 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), 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: Christopher Knopes, Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Compliance; 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-2337; 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: The State Review Framework is an oversight tool designed 
to assess state performance in enforcement and compliance assurance. 
The Framework's goal is to evaluate state performance by examining 
existing data to provide a consistent level of oversight and develop a 
uniform mechanism by which EPA Regions, working collaboratively with 
their states, can ensure that state environmental agencies are 
consistently implementing the national compliance and enforcement 
program in order to meet agreed-upon goals. Furthermore, the Framework 
is designed to foster dialogue on enforcement and compliance 
performance between the states that will enhance relationships

[[Page 70422]]

and increase feedback, which will in turn lead to consistent program 
management and improved environmental results. The Framework is 
described in the April 26, 2005 Federal Register Notice (79 FR 21408). 
This request will allow OECA to collect information from enforcement 
and compliance files reviewed during routine on-site visits of state or 
local agency offices that will assist in the evaluation of the State 
Review Framework implementation from FY 2017 to the end of FY 2019. It 
will allow also EPA to make inquiries to assess the State Review 
Framework process, including the consistency achieved among the EPA 
Regions and states, the resources required to conduct the reviews, and 
the overall effectiveness of the program.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: States, localities, and territories.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required as part of program 
authorization under the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Acts.
    Estimated number of respondents: 54.
    Frequency of response: Once every five years.
    Total estimated burden: 2,765 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)
    Total estimated cost: $108,649 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is decrease of 2,862 hours (per year) 
in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR 
currently approved by OMB. This decrease reflects full implementation 
of efficiencies instituted just prior to the submittal of the currently 
approved ICR in addition to continued experience on the part of 
respondents with the review process. Also, adjustments were made to the 
estimates because several alternative respondents were consulted to who 
had completed a more recent review.

    Dated: September 20, 2016.
Michael Mason,
Branch Chief, State and Tribal Performance Branch, Office of 
Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-24662 Filed 10-11-16; 8:45 am]
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