[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13332-13333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03614]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OEJECR-2024-0048; FRL-11592-01-OCFO]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information 
Collection Request; Comment Request; Promoting Readiness and Enhancing 
Proficiency To Advance Reporting and Data (PREPARED) Program: Post-
Award Reporting and Public Outreach Information Collections

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), Promoting Readiness and 
Enhancing Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data (PREPARED) Program: 
Post-Award Reporting and Public Outreach Information Collections (EPA 
ICR Number 2804.01, OMB Control Number 2090-NEW) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public 
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as 
described below. This is a request for approval of a new collection. 
This document allows 60 days for public comments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OEJECR-2024-0048, to EPA online using https://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

[[Page 13333]]

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: Alex Valdez, Office of the Chief 
Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; email address: [email protected]; 
telephone number: 202-564-1746.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a request for approval of a new 
collection. 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.
    This document allows 60 days for public comments. 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 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 EPA's public docket, visit 
https://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 forms of information technology. 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 
document to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: To help expand historically underserved and overburdened 
communities' access to critical resources, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Promoting Readiness and Enhancing 
Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data (PREPARED) Program. The 
evidence-building technical assistance (TA) providers (thereafter 
referenced as Providers) will operate in cooperative agreements with 
EPA to remove barriers and improve access for communities who have 
applied for or received financial assistance awards to tackle their 
environmental justice concerns. The Providers will deliver TA and 
training that is intended to enhance capacity in: grant application and 
administration, collecting grant related data; meeting federal post-
award reporting requirements; project planning/design; and generating 
information necessary for outcomes assessment, evaluation, and 
identification of opportunities for improvement. With this Information 
Collection Request (ICR), EPA seeks authorization to collect post-award 
information from each Provider to track their progress. Collection of 
this information enables EPA to assess and manage the PREPARED Program, 
which ensures responsible stewardship of public funds; rigorous 
evidence-based learning and improvement; and transparent accountability 
to the American public. This ICR also requests authorization for the 
Providers to collect input and insights from communities who seek to 
obtain technical assistance services, as well as stakeholders who have 
valuable experience and expertise in community engagement and 
empowerment. These information collections will enable the Providers to 
document local priorities, needs, and norms to ensure that they develop 
useful and relevant technical assistance and training services. 
Furthermore, feedback about these services will enable the Providers to 
conduct self-assessments to identify best practices and areas for 
improvement.
    Form numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: To be determined.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory for grant recipients 
as per reporting requirements included in EPA regulations 2 CFR parts 
200 and 1500, and voluntary for public outreach information collections 
via surveys and focus groups.
    Estimated number of respondents: Up to 4 grant recipients and 
approximately 4,800 respondents (over 3 years) to Public Outreach 
Information Collections.
    Frequency of response: Grant recipients will submit one workplan 
each before beginning their project. Progress reports are expected 
quarterly for three years. A final report is required no later than 120 
days after project completion. Public outreach information collections 
(via surveys and focus groups) will occur throughout the life of the 
PREPARED project.
    Total estimated burden: The estimated burden for grant recipients 
is estimated at 362 hours over 3 years. The estimated burden for public 
outreach information collections is estimated at 2,210 hours over 3 
years.
    Total estimated cost: The estimated cost for grant recipients is 
estimated at $39,820 over 3 years. The estimated cost for public 
outreach information collections is estimated at $75,227 over 3 years.

Katherine Dawes,
EPA Evaluation Officer, Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-03614 Filed 2-21-24; 8:45 am]
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