Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Water Quality Standards (Renewal), 38384-38387 [2011-16508]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
38384
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2011 / Notices
FERCOnlineSupport.gov; call toll-free at
(866) 208–3676; or, for TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659. Although the
Commission strongly recommends
electronic filing, documents may also be
paper-filed. To paper-file, an original
and eight copies should be mailed to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
For more information on how to submit
these types of filings please go to the
Commission’s Web site located at
https://www.ferc.gov/filingcomments.asp.
More information about this project,
including a copy of the application can
be viewed or printed on the ‘‘eLibrary’’
link of Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number
(P–14153) in the docket number field to
access the document. For assistance,
contact FERC Online Support.
Dated: June 23, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–16474 Filed 6–29–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. RM98–1–000]
Records Governing Off-the-Record
Communications; Public Notice
This constitutes notice, in accordance
with 18 CFR 385.2201(b), of the receipt
of prohibited and exempt off-the-record
communications.
Order No. 607 (64 FR 51222,
September 22, 1999) requires
Commission decisional employees, who
make or receive a prohibited or exempt
off-the-record communication relevant
to the merits of a contested proceeding,
to deliver to the Secretary of the
Commission, a copy of the
communication, if written, or a
summary of the substance of any oral
communication.
Prohibited communications are
included in a public, non-decisional file
associated with, but not a part of, the
decisional record of the proceeding.
Unless the Commission determines that
the prohibited communication and any
responses thereto should become a part
of the decisional record, the prohibited
off-the-record communication will not
be considered by the Commission in
reaching its decision. Parties to a
proceeding may seek the opportunity to
respond to any facts or contentions
made in a prohibited off-the-record
communication, and may request that
the Commission place the prohibited
communication and responses thereto
in the decisional record. The
Commission will grant such a request
only when it determines that fairness so
requires. Any person identified below as
having made a prohibited off-the-record
communication shall serve the
document on all parties listed on the
official service list for the applicable
proceeding in accordance with Rule
2010, 18 CFR 385.2010.
Exempt off-the-record
communications are included in the
decisional record of the proceeding,
unless the communication was with a
cooperating agency as described by 40
CFR 1501.6, made under 18 CFR
385.2201(e)(1)(v).
The following is a list of off-therecord communications recently
received by the Secretary of the
Commission. The communications
listed are grouped by docket numbers in
ascending order. These filings are
available for review at the Commission
in the Public Reference Room or may be
viewed on the Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary
link. Enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits, in the
docket number field to access the
document. For assistance, please contact
FERC, Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll
free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502–8659.
Docket No.
File date
Prohibited:
1. EC11–60–000 ..................................................................................................................................
Exempt:
1. CP95–35–001 ..................................................................................................................................
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
CP11–46–000 ..................................................................................................................................
CP11–128–000 ................................................................................................................................
P–2299–000 .....................................................................................................................................
P–2299–000 .....................................................................................................................................
P–2299–000 .....................................................................................................................................
P–2299–000 .....................................................................................................................................
1 Record
6–17–11
Perchrista Boone.
6–16–11
Hon.
6–16–11
6–22–11
6–8–11
6–8–11
6–9–11
6–17–11
˜
Luis G. Fortno.
Raymond Bransfield.
Kevin Bowman.1
Hon. Anthony Cannella.
Hob. Kristin Olsen.
Hon. Tom Berryhill.
Hon. Jim Ridenour.
of telephone conversation.
Dated: June 23, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FR Doc. 2011–16468 Filed 6–29–11; 8:45 am]
[EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0465; FRL–9427–2]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Presenter or requester
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Water Quality
Standards (Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:24 Jun 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
PO 00000
Notice.
Frm 00037
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document
announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing
approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). This
ICR is scheduled to expire on December
31, 2011. Before submitting the ICR to
OMB for review and approval, EPA is
soliciting comments on specific aspects
of the proposed information collection
as described below.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM
30JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2011 / Notices
Comments must be submitted on
or before August 29, 2011.
DATES:
Submit your comments,
identified by docket ID number EPA–
HQ–OW–2011–0465 by one of the
following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: ow-docket@epa.gov.
• Mail: ‘‘EPA Docket Center, Water
Docket, Environmental Protection
Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460].
• Hand Delivery: Docket in the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington DC. Such deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2011–
0465. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be
made available online at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
https://www.regulations.gov Web site is
an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an e-mail comment directly
to EPA without going through https://
www.regulations.gov your e-mail
address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment
that is placed in the public docket and
made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA
recommends that you include your
name and other contact information in
the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, EPA may not be
able to consider your comment.
Electronic files should avoid the use of
special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses. For additional information
about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:24 Jun 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
Beth
LeaMond, Office of Water, (4305T),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number: 202–566–
0444; fax number: 202–566–0409; email address: leamond.beth@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
How can I access the docket and/or
submit comments?
EPA has established a public docket
for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OW–2011–0465 which is available
for online viewing at https://
www.regulations.gov, or in person
viewing at the Docket in the EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public
Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Reading Room is 202–
566–1744, and the telephone number for
the Water Docket is 202–566–2426.
Use https://www.regulations.gov to
obtain a copy of the draft collection of
information, submit or view public
comments, access the index listing of
the contents of the docket, and to access
those documents in the public docket
that are available electronically. Once in
the system, select ‘‘search,’’ then key in
the docket ID number identified in this
document.
What information is EPA particularly
interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the PRA, EPA specifically solicits
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. In
particular, EPA is requesting comments
from very small businesses (those that
employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
38385
could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses
affected by this collection.
What should I consider when I prepare
my comments for EPA?
You may find the following
suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as
possible and provide specific examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you
used.
3. Provide copies of any technical
information and/or data you used that
support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or
costs, explain how you arrived at the
estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve
the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your
comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA,
be sure to identify the docket ID number
assigned to this action in the subject
line on the first page of your response.
You may also provide the name, date,
and Federal Register citation.
What information collection activity or
ICR does this apply to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially
affected by this action are all States and
certain authorized Indian Tribes that
adopt water quality standards under the
Clean Water Act; and water dischargers
subject to certain requirements related
to water quality standards in the Great
Lakes system, including dischargers in
the following SIC categories: Mining
(SIC codes 10, 14); Food (20); Pulp and
Paper (26); Inorganic Chemical
Manufacturing (281); Organic Chemical
Manufacturing (28); Petroleum Refining
(29); Metal Manufacturing (33), Metal
Finishing (34–37); Steam Electric
(4911), and Publically Owned
Treatment Works (4952). For the
purposes of the Regulation, the term
‘‘State’’ means the 50 States, the District
of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
Title: Water Quality Standards
Regulation (Renewal).
ICR Number: EPA ICR No. 988.11,
OMB Control No. 2040–0049.
ICR status: This ICR is currently
scheduled to expire on December 31,
2011. 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. The OMB control
numbers for EPA’s regulations in title 40
E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM
30JNN1
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
38386
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2011 / Notices
of the CFR, after appearing in the
Federal Register when approved, are
listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed
either by publication in the Federal
Register or by other appropriate means,
such as on the related collection
instrument or form, if applicable. The
display of OMB control numbers in
certain EPA regulations is consolidated
in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: Water quality standards are
provisions of State, Tribal, and Federal
law that consist of designated uses for
waters of the United States, water
quality criteria to protect the designated
uses, and an antidegradation policy.
Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act
requires States and authorized Tribes to
establish water quality standards, and to
review and, if appropriate, revise their
water quality standards once every three
years. The Act also requires EPA to
review and either approve or disapprove
the new or revised standards, and to
promulgate replacement Federal
standards if necessary. Section 118(c)(2)
of the Act specifies additional water
quality standards requirements for
waters of the Great Lakes system.
The Water Quality Standards
Regulation (40 CFR part 131 and
portions of part 132) governs national
implementation of the water quality
standards program. The Regulation
describes requirements and procedures
for States and authorized Tribes to
develop, review, and revise their water
quality standards, and EPA procedures
for reviewing and approving the water
quality standards. The regulation
requires the development and
submission of information to EPA,
including:
—The minimum elements in water
quality standards that each State or
Tribe must submit to EPA for
review, including any new or
revised water quality standards
resulting from the jurisdiction’s
triennial review (40 CFR 131.6 and
131.20). The elements include use
designations for specific water
bodies; methods used and analyses
conducted to support water quality
standards revisions; supporting
analysis for use attainability
analyses; water quality criteria
sufficient to protect the designated
uses; methodologies for site-specific
criteria development; an
antidegradation policy; certification
by the jurisdiction’s Attorney
General or other appropriate legal
authority that the water quality
standards were duly adopted
pursuant to State or Tribal law;
information that will aid EPA in
determining the adequacy of the
scientific basis for the standards;
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:24 Jun 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
and information on general policies
that may affect the implementation
of the standards.
—Information that an Indian Tribe must
submit to EPA in order to determine
whether a Tribe is qualified to
administer the water quality
standards program (40 CFR 131.8).
—Information a State or Tribe must
submit if it chooses to exercise a
dispute resolution mechanism for
disputes between States and Tribes
over water quality standards on
common water bodies (40 CFR
131.7).
—Information related to public
participation requirements during
State and Tribal review and
revision of water quality standards
(40 CFR 131.20). States and Tribes
must hold public hearings as part of
their triennial reviews, and make
any proposed standards and
supporting analyses available to the
public before the hearing.
The Regulation establishes specific
additional requirements for water
quality standards and their
implementation in the waters of the
Great Lakes system, contained in the
Water Quality Guidance for the Great
Lakes System (40 CFR part 132). This
portion of the Regulation includes the
following requirements for information
collection: bioassay tests to support the
development of water quality criteria;
studies to identify and provide
information on antidegradation control
measures that will guard against the
reduction of water quality in the Great
Lakes system; and information
collection and record keeping activities
associated with analyses and reporting
to request regulatory relief from
Guidance requirements. The Guidance
includes additional information
collections that are addressed in
separate Information Collection
Requests for the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System program.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average 1060 hours per
response. Burden means the total time,
effort, or financial resources expended
by persons to generate, maintain, retain,
or disclose or provide information to or
for a Federal agency. This includes the
time needed to review instructions;
develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes
of collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
requirements which have subsequently
changed; train personnel to be able to
respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and
review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the
information.
The following estimates are based on
estimates from the previous ICR renewal
and will be revised prior to OMB
submission. The public will have a
second opportunity to comment before
then. The ICR provides a detailed
explanation of the Agency’s estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential
respondents: 1 2,809 (56 States and
Territories, 43 Tribes; 2,710 Great Lakes
dischargers).
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of
responses for each respondent: 0.095.
Estimated total annual burden hours:
293,214 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost:
$14,866,862 with no annualized capital
or O&M cost.
Are there changes in the estimates from
the last approval?
This FR Notice shows the burden
estimate from the ICR renewal in 2008.
EPA will be revising the burden
estimate to include adjustments for
changes in the number of tribes
authorized to administer a water quality
standards program, adjustments for the
number of permits expected to be
subject to requirements of the Water
Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes
System (40 CFR part 132), and
adjustments for changes in labor cost.
EPA is not aware of any programmatic
changes needed to the burden estimate.
These revisions will be reported in the
second FR Notice. Changes from 2008
are not expected to be large. If you know
of significant changes to the burden that
are not listed in this notice, EPA asks
you to submit comments containing that
information, or contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
What is the next step in the process for
this ICR?
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 pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.12. At that time, EPA will issue
another Federal Register notice
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to
announce the submission of the ICR to
1 Note: EPA estimates that of the estimated total
number of potential respondents there will likely be
only 264 responses.
E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM
30JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2011 / Notices
OMB and the opportunity to submit
additional comments to OMB. If you
have any questions about this ICR or the
approval process, please contact the
technical person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: June 23, 2011.
Ephraim King,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2011–16508 Filed 6–29–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9427–8; Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–
2009–0204]
Draft Toxicological Review of
Acrylonitrile: In Support of Summary
Information on the Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of public comment
period and listening session.
AGENCY:
EPA is announcing a 60-day
public comment period and a public
listening session for the external review
draft human health assessment titled,
‘‘Toxicological Review of Acrylonitrile:
In Support of Summary Information on
the Integrated Risk Information System
(IRIS)’’ (EPA/635/R–08/013A). The draft
assessment was prepared by the
National Center for Environmental
Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA’s
Office of Research and Development
(ORD). EPA is releasing this draft
assessment for the purposes of peer
review and public comment. This draft
assessment is not final as described in
EPA’s information quality guidelines,
and it does not represent and should not
be construed to represent Agency policy
or views.
After public review and comment, an
EPA contractor will convene an expert
panel for independent external peer
review of this draft assessment. The
public comment period and external
peer review meeting are separate
processes that provide opportunities for
all interested parties to comment on the
assessment. The external peer review
meeting will be scheduled at a later date
and announced in the Federal Register.
Public comments submitted during the
public comment period will be provided
to the external peer reviewers before the
panel meeting and considered by EPA
in the revision of the draft document.
Public comments received after the
public comment period closes will not
be submitted to the external peer
reviewers and will only be considered
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:24 Jun 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
by EPA if time permits. The listening
session will be held on August 10, 2011,
during the public comment period for
this draft assessment. The purpose of
the listening session is to allow all
interested parties to present scientific
and technical comments on draft IRIS
health assessments to EPA and other
interested parties attending the listening
session. EPA welcomes the comments
that will be provided to the Agency by
the listening session participants. The
comments will be considered by the
Agency as it revises the draft assessment
after the independent external peer
review. If listening session participants
would like EPA to share their comments
with the external peer reviewers, they
should also submit written comments
during the public comment period using
the detailed and established procedures
described in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this notice.
DATES: The public comment period
begins June 30, 2011, and ends August
29, 2011. Comments should be in
writing and must be received by EPA by
August 29, 2011.
The listening session on the draft
assessment for acrylonitrile will be held
on August 10, 2011, beginning at 9 a.m.
and ending at 4 p.m., Eastern Daylight
Time, or when the last presentation has
been completed. To attend the listening
session, interested parties should
register no later than August 3, 2011. To
present at the listening session, indicate
in your registration that you would like
to make oral comments at the session
and provide the length of your
presentation. The following are
instructions for registering: To attend
the listening session, register by August
3, 2011 online at https://
www2.ergweb.com/projects/
conferences/peerreview/registeracryl.htm, via e-mail at
meetings@erg.com (subject line:
Acrylonitrile Listening Session), by
phone: 781–674–7374 or toll free at
800–803–2833, or by faxing a
registration request to 781–674–2906
(please reference the ‘‘Acrylonitrile
Listening Session’’ and include your
name, title, affiliation, full address and
contact information). When you register,
please indicate if you will need audiovisual equipment (e.g., laptop computer
and slide projector). In general, each
presentation should be no more than 30
minutes. If, however, there are more
requests for presentations than the
allotted time allows, then the time limit
for each presentation will be adjusted. A
copy of the agenda for the listening
session will be available at the meeting.
If no speakers have registered by August
3, 2011, the listening session will be
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
38387
cancelled, and EPA will notify those
registered, as observers, of the
cancellation.
The draft ‘‘Toxicological
Review of Acrylonitrile: In Support of
Summary Information on the Integrated
Risk Information System (IRIS)’’ is
available primarily via the Internet on
the NCEA home page under the Recent
Additions and Publications menus at
https://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited
number of paper copies are available
from the Information Management Team
(Address: Information Management
Team, National Center for
Environmental Assessment (Mail Code:
8601P), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone:
703–347–8561; facsimile: 703–347–
8691). If you request a paper copy,
please provide your name, mailing
address, and the assessment title.
Comments may be submitted
electronically via https://
www.regulations.gov, by e-mail, by mail,
by facsimile, or by hand delivery/
courier. Please follow the detailed
instructions provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this notice.
The listening session on the draft
acrylonitrile assessment will be held at
the EPA offices at Potomac Yard (North
Building), 7th Floor, Room 7100, 2733
South Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia
22202. Please note that to gain entrance
to this EPA building to attend the
meeting, attendees must have photo
identification with them and must
register at the guard’s desk in the lobby.
The guard will retain your photo
identification and will provide you with
a visitor’s badge. At the guard’s desk,
attendees should give the name
Christine Ross and the telephone
number 703–347–8592 to the guard on
duty. The guard will contact Ms. Ross
who will meet you in the reception area
to escort you to the meeting room. When
you leave the building, please return
your visitor’s badge to the guard and
you will receive your photo
identification.
A teleconference line will also be
available for registered attendees/
speakers. The teleconference number is
866–299–3188 and the access code is
926–378–7897, followed by the pound
sign (#). The teleconference line will be
activated at 8:45 a.m., and you will be
asked to identify yourself and your
affiliation at the beginning of the call.
Information on Services for
Individuals with Disabilities: EPA
welcomes public attendance at the
acrylonitrile listening session and will
make every effort to accommodate
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM
30JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38384-38387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16508]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0465; FRL-9427-2]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Water Quality Standards (Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is
scheduled to expire on December 31, 2011. Before submitting the ICR to
OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.
[[Page 38385]]
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 29, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OW-2011-0465 by one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: ow-docket@epa.gov.
Mail: ``EPA Docket Center, Water Docket, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460].
Hand Delivery: Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC),
EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington DC. Such
deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-
0465. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and may be made available online at
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through https://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth LeaMond, Office of Water,
(4305T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-0444; fax number: 202-
566-0409; e-mail address: leamond.beth@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How can I access the docket and/or submit comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0465 which is available for online viewing at https://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Docket in the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the
telephone number for the Water Docket is 202-566-2426.
Use https://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified in this document.
What information is EPA particularly interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.
What should I consider when I prepare my comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
What information collection activity or ICR does this apply to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
all States and certain authorized Indian Tribes that adopt water
quality standards under the Clean Water Act; and water dischargers
subject to certain requirements related to water quality standards in
the Great Lakes system, including dischargers in the following SIC
categories: Mining (SIC codes 10, 14); Food (20); Pulp and Paper (26);
Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (281); Organic Chemical Manufacturing
(28); Petroleum Refining (29); Metal Manufacturing (33), Metal
Finishing (34-37); Steam Electric (4911), and Publically Owned
Treatment Works (4952). For the purposes of the Regulation, the term
``State'' means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Title: Water Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal).
ICR Number: EPA ICR No. 988.11, OMB Control No. 2040-0049.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on December
31, 2011. 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. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in title 40
[[Page 38386]]
of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are
listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the
Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related
collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB
control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR
part 9.
Abstract: Water quality standards are provisions of State, Tribal,
and Federal law that consist of designated uses for waters of the
United States, water quality criteria to protect the designated uses,
and an antidegradation policy. Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act
requires States and authorized Tribes to establish water quality
standards, and to review and, if appropriate, revise their water
quality standards once every three years. The Act also requires EPA to
review and either approve or disapprove the new or revised standards,
and to promulgate replacement Federal standards if necessary. Section
118(c)(2) of the Act specifies additional water quality standards
requirements for waters of the Great Lakes system.
The Water Quality Standards Regulation (40 CFR part 131 and
portions of part 132) governs national implementation of the water
quality standards program. The Regulation describes requirements and
procedures for States and authorized Tribes to develop, review, and
revise their water quality standards, and EPA procedures for reviewing
and approving the water quality standards. The regulation requires the
development and submission of information to EPA, including:
--The minimum elements in water quality standards that each State or
Tribe must submit to EPA for review, including any new or revised water
quality standards resulting from the jurisdiction's triennial review
(40 CFR 131.6 and 131.20). The elements include use designations for
specific water bodies; methods used and analyses conducted to support
water quality standards revisions; supporting analysis for use
attainability analyses; water quality criteria sufficient to protect
the designated uses; methodologies for site-specific criteria
development; an antidegradation policy; certification by the
jurisdiction's Attorney General or other appropriate legal authority
that the water quality standards were duly adopted pursuant to State or
Tribal law; information that will aid EPA in determining the adequacy
of the scientific basis for the standards; and information on general
policies that may affect the implementation of the standards.
--Information that an Indian Tribe must submit to EPA in order to
determine whether a Tribe is qualified to administer the water quality
standards program (40 CFR 131.8).
--Information a State or Tribe must submit if it chooses to exercise a
dispute resolution mechanism for disputes between States and Tribes
over water quality standards on common water bodies (40 CFR 131.7).
--Information related to public participation requirements during State
and Tribal review and revision of water quality standards (40 CFR
131.20). States and Tribes must hold public hearings as part of their
triennial reviews, and make any proposed standards and supporting
analyses available to the public before the hearing.
The Regulation establishes specific additional requirements for
water quality standards and their implementation in the waters of the
Great Lakes system, contained in the Water Quality Guidance for the
Great Lakes System (40 CFR part 132). This portion of the Regulation
includes the following requirements for information collection:
bioassay tests to support the development of water quality criteria;
studies to identify and provide information on antidegradation control
measures that will guard against the reduction of water quality in the
Great Lakes system; and information collection and record keeping
activities associated with analyses and reporting to request regulatory
relief from Guidance requirements. The Guidance includes additional
information collections that are addressed in separate Information
Collection Requests for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System program.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1060
hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This
includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire,
install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train
personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search
data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and
transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
The following estimates are based on estimates from the previous
ICR renewal and will be revised prior to OMB submission. The public
will have a second opportunity to comment before then. The ICR provides
a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, which is only briefly
summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: \1\ 2,809 (56
States and Territories, 43 Tribes; 2,710 Great Lakes dischargers).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Note: EPA estimates that of the estimated total number of
potential respondents there will likely be only 264 responses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:
0.095.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 293,214 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $14,866,862 with no annualized capital
or O&M cost.
Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
This FR Notice shows the burden estimate from the ICR renewal in
2008. EPA will be revising the burden estimate to include adjustments
for changes in the number of tribes authorized to administer a water
quality standards program, adjustments for the number of permits
expected to be subject to requirements of the Water Quality Guidance
for the Great Lakes System (40 CFR part 132), and adjustments for
changes in labor cost. EPA is not aware of any programmatic changes
needed to the burden estimate. These revisions will be reported in the
second FR Notice. Changes from 2008 are not expected to be large. If
you know of significant changes to the burden that are not listed in
this notice, EPA asks you to submit comments containing that
information, or contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
What is the next step in the process for this ICR?
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 pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to
[[Page 38387]]
OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you
have any questions about this ICR or the approval process, please
contact the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Dated: June 23, 2011.
Ephraim King,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2011-16508 Filed 6-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
