[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28565]



[[Page 352]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369; FRL-10501-01-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
National Estuary Program (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``National Estuary 
Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1500.11, OMB Control No. 2040-0138) to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 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 September 30, 2023. An 
Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to 
respond to a collection of information without a currently valid OMB 
control number.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 6, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0369 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: Vince Bacalan, Oceans, Wetlands and 
Communities Division; Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, (Mail 
Code 4504T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. 
NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-0930; fax number: 
202-566-1336; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents that 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 20460. The 
telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit 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 National Estuary Program (NEP) involves collecting 
information from the state, local entity or nongovernmental 
organization that receives funds under section 320 of the Clean Water 
Act (CWA) (i.e., the NEP). The regulation requiring this information is 
found in 40 CFR part 35.
    Prospective grant recipients seek funding to develop and coordinate 
the implementation of Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans 
(CCMPs) for estuaries of national significance. To receive funds, 
grantees must submit annual work plans to EPA, which are used to track 
performance of each of the 28 estuary program locations currently in 
the NEP. EPA provides funding to the 28 NEPs to support long-term 
implementation of CCMPs in the form of assistance agreements, and each 
NEP is evaluated on its progress every five years. The primary purpose 
of the program evaluation process is to help EPA determine whether the 
28 programs included in the NEP are making adequate progress 
implementing their CCMPs. EPA also requests that each of the 28 NEPs 
receiving section 320 funds report annually on a number of performance 
measures that allow EPA to maintain effective program management, 
execute its fiduciary responsibility to the program, and summarize 
environmental results achieved within the overall NEP. Information 
gathered may be included in agency reports along with other EPA program 
measures.
    The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also 
known as Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), on November 15, 2021, 
enhances the work of the NEPs with additional funding to accelerate and 
more extensively implement CCMPs, ensure that benefits reach 
disadvantaged communities, and build the adaptive capacity of 
ecosystems and communities. As part of this expanded investment, the 
NEP is also required to track certain investments and benefits under 
the Justice40 Initiative (part II section 223 of 86 FR 7619, February 
1, 2021), which will increase the overall burden estimates for this 
renewal.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are those state or local entities or nongovernmental 
organizations in the NEP that receive assistance agreements under 
section 320 of the CWA.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain a 
benefit (section 320 of the CWA).
    Estimated number of respondents: 28 (total).
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Total estimated burden: 5,360 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $319,724 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is likely an increase in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This increase is due to program evaluations taking place in the 
next three years, compared to two years in the currently approved ICR. 
Expanded reporting is expected under BIL, in addition to annual 
appropriation reporting, as well as new requirements (i.e., NEP equity 
strategies designed to meet expectations under the Justice40 
Initiative). Note that these estimates will be updated in the final 
Federal Register publication.

Brian Frazer,
Acting Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Office of 
Water.
[FR Doc. 2022-28565 Filed 1-3-23; 8:45 am]
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