[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71265-71266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27097]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0439; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0442; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0443; FRL 
9129-01-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Requests; Comment Request: 
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides 
Rules, Microbial Rules, and Public Water System Supervision Program 
Renewal Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit the following information collection requests (ICRs) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) for the: Microbial 
Rules ICR, OMB Control No. 2040-0205; the Public Water System 
Supervision (PWSS) Program ICR, OMB Control No. 2040-0090; and the 
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides 
(DBPCR) Rules, OMB Control No. 2040-0204. Before doing so, EPA is 
soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection as described in this document. This is a 
proposed extension of the Microbial ICR, which is currently approved 
through July 31, 2022; the PWSS Program ICR and the DBPCR ICR, which 
are both currently approved through March 31, 2023. These rules are 
designed to ensure that Americans receive safe drinking water and 
ensure fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people 
regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. 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 February 14, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing the Docket ID numbers EPA-
HQ-OW-2011-0439 for the DBPCR ICR; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0442 for the 
Microbial Rules ICR; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0443 for the PWSS Program ICR 
online using https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    The 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: Kevin Roland, Drinking Water 
Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, 
(4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-4588: fax number: 202-
564-3755; 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 dockets for these ICRs (see the ADDRESSES section of this 
document for Docket ID numbers for each ICR). The dockets can be viewed 
online at https://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 the EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the 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. The 
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as 
appropriate. The final ICR packages will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval. At that time, the EPA will issue another Federal 
Register notice to announce the submission of the ICRs to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. To support the data 
collection and program implementation in the rules and activities 
listed below, EPA is currently modernizing the Safe Drinking Water 
Information System (SDWIS). EPA is designing the modernized SDWIS in 
coordination with state drinking water and information technology 
programs, which will house monitoring data and other compliance 
information in a system centrally hosted by EPA and accessed by 
participating state primacy programs. This central data system can 
facilitate the transfer of additional data between states and EPA where 
needed to improve program oversight to protect public health. EPA will 
continue to work with its primacy partners on SDWIS modernization.

Microbial Rules (EPA ICR No. 1895.10, Docket No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0442)

    Abstract: The Microbial Rules ICR examines public water system and 
primacy agency burden and costs for recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements in support of the microbial drinking water regulations. 
These recordkeeping and reporting requirements are mandatory for 
compliance with 40 CFR parts 141 and 142. The following microbial 
regulations are included: The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), the 
Total Coliform Rule (TCR), the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR), the 
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR), the Filter 
Backwash Recycling Rule (FBRR), the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water 
Treatment Rule (LT1ESWTR), the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water 
Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR), the Ground Water Rule (GWR), and the 
Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR). Future microbial-related 
rulemakings will be added to this consolidated ICR after the 
regulations are promulgated and the initial, rule-specific, ICRs are 
due to expire.

[[Page 71266]]

    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are public water systems and primacy agencies.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory for compliance with 
40 CFR parts 141 and 142.
    Estimated number of respondents: 146,808 (total).
    Frequency of response: Varies by requirement (i.e., on occasion, 
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually).
    Total estimated burden: 18,127,581 hours (per year). Burden is 
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $972,102,000 (per year), includes 
$228,972,000 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is no estimated increase or decrease of 
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared to what was 
identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB.

Public Water System Supervision Program (EPA ICR No. 0270.47, EPA-HQ-
OW-2011-0443)

    Abstract: The Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program ICR 
examines public water systems, primacy agencies (i.e., states and 
tribes with primary enforcement authority) and tribal operator 
certification provider burden, and costs for ``cross-cutting'' 
recordkeeping and reporting requirements (i.e., the burden and costs 
for complying with drinking water information requirements that are not 
associated with contaminant-specific rulemakings). EPA intends to 
collect information and data as part of the agency's oversight of state 
primacy programs and national SDWA implementation. The following 
activities have recordkeeping and reporting requirements that are 
mandatory for compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 
40 CFR parts 141 and 142: The Consumer Confidence Report Rule (CCR), 
the Variance and Exemption Rule (V/E Rule), General State Primacy 
Activities, the Public Notification Rule (PN), and Proficiency Testing 
Studies for Drinking Water Laboratories. The information collection 
activities for both the Operator Certification and the Capacity 
Development Program are driven by the grant withholding and reporting 
provisions under sections 1419 and 1420, respectively, of the Safe 
Drinking Water Act. The information collection for the Tribal Operator 
Certification Program is driven by grant eligibility requirements 
outlined in the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set-Aside 
Program Final Guidelines and the Tribal Drinking Water Operator 
Certification Program Guidelines.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are new and existing public water systems and primacy 
agencies.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory for compliance with 
40 CFR parts 141 and 142.
    Estimated number of respondents: 148,674 (total).
    Frequency of response: Varies by requirement (i.e., on occasion, 
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually).
    Total estimated burden: 3,643,372 hours (per year). Burden is 
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $192,654,000 (per year), includes $38,121,000 
in operation and maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is an expected decrease of hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared to what was identified in 
the ICR currently approved by OMB, due to use of centralized software 
for data entry and rule compliance calculations. The updated, estimated 
burden will be incorporated into a revised supporting statement (which 
will be available in the docket) and in a second Federal Register 
notice (for public comment) at a later date, to be determined, before 
the ICR package is sent to OMB for approval.

The Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides 
Rules (EPA ICR No. 1896.11, EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0439)

    Abstract: The Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical, and 
Radionuclides Rules ICR examines public water system and primacy agency 
burden and costs for recordkeeping and reporting requirements in 
support of the Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and 
Radionuclides Rules. These recordkeeping and reporting requirements are 
mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR parts 141 and 142. The following 
regulations are included: The Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection 
Byproducts Rule (Stage 1 DBPR), the Stage 2 Disinfectants and 
Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 DBPR), the Chemical Phase Rules 
(Phases II/IIB/V), the Radionuclides Rule, Disinfectant Residual 
Monitoring and Associated Activities under the Surface Water Treatment 
Rule (SWTR),\1\ the Arsenic Rule and the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), 
including the Lead and Copper Rule Short Term Revisions.
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    \1\ Includes only SWTR components relating to disinfectant 
residual monitoring and associated activities. All remaining SWTR 
requirements are included in the Microbial Rules ICR.
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    Future microbial-related rulemakings will be added to this 
consolidated ICR after the regulations are promulgated and the initial, 
rule-specific, ICRs are due to expire.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are public water systems and primacy agencies.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory for compliance with 
40 CFR parts 141 and 142.
    Estimated number of respondents: 146,772 (total).
    Frequency of response: Varies by requirement (i.e., on occasion, 
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually).
    Total estimated burden: 5,161,356 hours (per year). Burden is 
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $455,885,000 (per year), which includes 
$252,952,000 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is no estimated increase or decrease of 
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared to what was 
identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB.

Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2021-27097 Filed 12-14-21; 8:45 am]
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