Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; National Water Quality Inventory Reports (Renewal), 41243-41245 [2011-17613]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 134 / Wednesday, July 13, 2011 / Notices
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.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
What information collection activity or
ICR does this apply to?
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–SFUND–
2007–0840.
Affected entities: Entities potentially
affected by this action are Local
Governments that apply for
reimbursement under this program.
Title: Local Governments
Reimbursement Application.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1425.05,
OMB Control No. 2050–0077.
ICR status: This ICR is currently
scheduled to expire on 7/31/11. 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 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: The Agency requires
applicants for reimbursement under this
program authorized under Section 123
of CERCLA to submit an application
that demonstrates consistency with
program eligibility requirements. This is
necessary to ensure proper use of the
Superfund. EPA reviews the
information to ensure compliance with
all statutory and program requirements.
The applicants are local governments
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Jkt 223001
who have incurred expenses, above and
beyond their budgets, for hazardous
substance response. Submission of this
information is voluntary and to the
applicant’s benefit.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average 9 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 ICR provides a detailed
explanation of the Agency’s estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential
respondents: 30.
Frequency of response: voluntary, on
occasion.
Estimated total average number of
responses for each respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours:
270 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $7,493.
This includes an estimated burden cost
of $18.50/hour and there are no capital
investment or maintenance and
operational costs.
Are there changes in the estimates from
the last approval?
At this time, the Agency anticipates
that because the number of respondents
has decreased, the estimated annual
burden has also decreased.
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
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
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41243
technical person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: July 6, 2011.
Kim Jennings,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Emergency
Management.
[FR Doc. 2011–17617 Filed 7–12–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OW–2003–0026 FRL–9435–5]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; National Water
Quality Inventory Reports (Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (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.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before September 12, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID number EPA–
HQ–OW–2003–0026 by one of the
following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method): Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: OW-Docket@epa.gov.
• Mail: EPA Water Docket,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode (28221–T), 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2003–0026
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
SUMMARY:
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41244
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 134 / Wednesday, July 13, 2011 / Notices
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 https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alice Mayio, Assessment and
Watershed Protection Division, Office of
Water, Mail Code: 4503T,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number: 202–566–
1184; fax number: 202–566–1437; e-mail
address: Mayio.alice@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
How can I access the docket and/or
submit comments?
EPA has established a public docket
for this ICR under Docket ID number
EPA–HQ–OW–2003–0026 which is
available for online viewing at https://
www.regulations.gov or in-person
viewing at the Water Docket in the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket
Center Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 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 public 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.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:36 Jul 12, 2011
Jkt 223001
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.
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 to
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 of 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 States,
Territories and Tribes with Clean Water
Act (CWA) responsibilities.
Title: National Water Quality
Inventory Reports (Clean Water Act
Sections 305(b), 303(d), 314(a), and
106(e)) (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR Number
1560.10, OMB Control Number 2040–
0071.
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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
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: The Section 305(b) reports
contain information on the water quality
standards attainment status of assessed
waters, and, when waters are impaired,
the pollutants and sources affecting
water quality. This information helps
track State progress in controlling water
pollution. Section 303(d) of the Clean
Water Act requires States to identify and
rank waters which cannot meet water
quality standards (WQS) following the
implementation of technology-based
controls. Under Section 303(d), States
are also required to establish total
maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for
listed waters not meeting standards as a
result of pollutant discharges. In
developing the Section 303(d) lists,
States are required to consider various
sources of water quality related data and
information, including the Section
305(b) State water quality reports.
Section 106(e) requires that states
annually update monitoring data and
include it in their Section 305(b) report.
Section 314(a) requires states to report
on the condition of their publiclyowned lakes within the Section 305(b)
report.
EPA’s Assessment and Watershed
Protection Division (AWPD) works with
its Regional counterparts to review and
approve or disapprove State Section
303(d) lists and TMDLs from 56
respondents (the 50 States, the District
of Columbia, and the five Territories).
Section 303(d) specifically requires
States to develop lists and TMDLs ‘‘from
time to time,’’ and EPA to review and
approve or disapprove the lists and the
TMDLs. EPA also collects State 305(b)
reports from 59 respondents (the 50
States, the District of Columbia, five
Territories, and 3 River Basin
commissions).
Tribes are not required to submit
305(b) reports. However, to meet the
needs of Tribes at all levels of
development, EPA has prepared
guidance that presents the basic steps a
Tribe should take to collect the water
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 134 / Wednesday, July 13, 2011 / Notices
quality information it needs to make
effective decisions about its program, its
goals, and its future directions. Tribal
water quality monitoring and reporting
activities are covered under the Section
106 Tribal Grants Program and not
included in the burden estimates for
this ICR.
This announcement includes the reapproval of current, ongoing activities
related to 305(b) and 303(d) reporting
and TMDL development for the period
of January 1, 2012 through December 31,
2014. During the period covered by this
ICR renewal, respondents will: complete
their 2012 305(b) reports and 2012
303(d) lists; complete their 2014 305(b)
reports and 2014 303(d) lists; transmit
annual electronic updates of ambient
monitoring data via the Water Quality
Exchange; and continue to develop
TMDLs according to their established
schedules. EPA will prepare biennial
Reports to Congress for the 2012
reporting cycle and for the 2014 cycle,
and EPA will review TMDL submissions
from respondents.
The burdens of specific activities that
States undertake as part of their 305(b)
and 303(d) programs are derived from a
project among EPA, States and other
interested stakeholders to develop a tool
for estimating the States’ resource needs
for State water quality management
programs. This project has developed
the State Water Quality Management
Workload Model (SWQMWM), which
estimates and sums the workload
involved in more than one hundred
activities or tasks comprising a State
water quality management program.
Over twenty States contributed
information about their activities that
became the basis for the model.
According to the SWQMWM, to meet
305(b) and 303(d) reporting
requirements the States will conduct:
watershed monitoring and
characterization; modeling and analysis;
development of a TMDL document for
public review; public outreach; formal
public participation; tracking; planning;
legal support; etc. In general,
respondents have conducted each of
these reporting and record keeping
activities for past 305(b) and 303(d)
reporting cycles and thus have staff and
procedures in place to continue their
305(b) and 303(d) reporting programs.
The burden associated with these tasks
is estimated in this ICR to include the
total number of TMDLs that may be
submitted during the period covered by
this ICR.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
expected to average 66,590 hours per
response. Burden means the total time,
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17:36 Jul 12, 2011
Jkt 223001
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; 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 current ICR provides a detailed
explanation of the Agency’s estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential
respondents: 59.
Frequency of response: Biannually.
Estimated total average number of
responses for each respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours:
3,740,017.
Estimated total annual costs:
$177,837,808. These costs are entirely
attributed to labor, with $0 attributable
to capital investment or maintenance
and operational costs.
Are there changes in the estimates from
the last approval?
There is no change expected in the
estimates for the total respondent
burden hours identified in the ICR
currently approved by OMB. EPA may
revise these burden estimates before
submitting this ICR to OMB based on
comments received from the public and
updated labor costs.
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
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 30, 2011.
Benita Best-Wong,
Acting Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans,
and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 2011–17613 Filed 7–12–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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41245
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9437–3]
Science Advisory Board Staff Office;
Notification of a Public Teleconference
of the Chartered Science Advisory
Board
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The EPA Science Advisory
Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a
public teleconference of the Chartered
SAB on July 28, 2011 to conduct a
quality review of a draft SAB report,
Review of EPA’s Draft Oil Spill
Research Strategy.
DATES: The public teleconference will
be held on July 28, 2011 from 12 p.m.
to 3 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).
ADDRESSES: The public teleconference
will be conducted by telephone only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any
member of the public wishing to obtain
general information concerning the
public teleconference may contact Dr.
Angela Nugent, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO). Dr. Nugent may be
contacted at the EPA Science Advisory
Board (1400R), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460;
or by telephone/voice mail at (202) 564–
2188; fax at (202) 565–2098; or e-mail at
nugent.angela@epa.gov. General
information concerning the EPA Science
Advisory Board can be found on the
EPA Web site at https://www.epa.gov/
sab.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SAB
was established pursuant to the
Environmental Research, Development,
and Demonstration Authorization Act
(ERDAA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 4365, to
provide independent scientific and
technical advice to the EPA
Administrator on the technical basis for
Agency positions and regulations. The
SAB is a Federal Advisory Committee
chartered under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App.
2. Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy,
notice is hereby given that the SAB will
hold a public teleconference to conduct
a quality review of an SAB draft report
entitled Review of EPA’s Draft Oil Spill
Research Strategy. The SAB will comply
with the provisions of FACA and all
appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural
policies.
Background: EPA’s Office of Research
and Development (ORD) has developed
a draft Oil Spill Research Strategy in
light of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil
spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41243-41245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17613]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0026 FRL-9435-5]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; National Water Quality Inventory Reports (Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (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.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 12, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OW-2003-0026 by one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method): Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: OW-Docket@epa.gov.
Mail: EPA Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode (28221-T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2003-
0026 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
[[Page 41244]]
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 https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alice Mayio, Assessment and Watershed
Protection Division, Office of Water, Mail Code: 4503T, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: 202-566-1184; fax number: 202-566-1437; e-mail
address: Mayio.alice@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
number EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0026 which is available for online viewing at
https://www.regulations.gov or in-person viewing at the Water Docket in
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is
open from 8:30 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 public 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.
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
to 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 of 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
States, Territories and Tribes with Clean Water Act (CWA)
responsibilities.
Title: National Water Quality Inventory Reports (Clean Water Act
Sections 305(b), 303(d), 314(a), and 106(e)) (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR Number 1560.10, OMB Control Number 2040-0071.
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 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: The Section 305(b) reports contain information on the
water quality standards attainment status of assessed waters, and, when
waters are impaired, the pollutants and sources affecting water
quality. This information helps track State progress in controlling
water pollution. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires States
to identify and rank waters which cannot meet water quality standards
(WQS) following the implementation of technology-based controls. Under
Section 303(d), States are also required to establish total maximum
daily loads (TMDLs) for listed waters not meeting standards as a result
of pollutant discharges. In developing the Section 303(d) lists, States
are required to consider various sources of water quality related data
and information, including the Section 305(b) State water quality
reports. Section 106(e) requires that states annually update monitoring
data and include it in their Section 305(b) report. Section 314(a)
requires states to report on the condition of their publicly-owned
lakes within the Section 305(b) report.
EPA's Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (AWPD) works
with its Regional counterparts to review and approve or disapprove
State Section 303(d) lists and TMDLs from 56 respondents (the 50
States, the District of Columbia, and the five Territories). Section
303(d) specifically requires States to develop lists and TMDLs ``from
time to time,'' and EPA to review and approve or disapprove the lists
and the TMDLs. EPA also collects State 305(b) reports from 59
respondents (the 50 States, the District of Columbia, five Territories,
and 3 River Basin commissions).
Tribes are not required to submit 305(b) reports. However, to meet
the needs of Tribes at all levels of development, EPA has prepared
guidance that presents the basic steps a Tribe should take to collect
the water
[[Page 41245]]
quality information it needs to make effective decisions about its
program, its goals, and its future directions. Tribal water quality
monitoring and reporting activities are covered under the Section 106
Tribal Grants Program and not included in the burden estimates for this
ICR.
This announcement includes the re-approval of current, ongoing
activities related to 305(b) and 303(d) reporting and TMDL development
for the period of January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014. During the
period covered by this ICR renewal, respondents will: complete their
2012 305(b) reports and 2012 303(d) lists; complete their 2014 305(b)
reports and 2014 303(d) lists; transmit annual electronic updates of
ambient monitoring data via the Water Quality Exchange; and continue to
develop TMDLs according to their established schedules. EPA will
prepare biennial Reports to Congress for the 2012 reporting cycle and
for the 2014 cycle, and EPA will review TMDL submissions from
respondents.
The burdens of specific activities that States undertake as part of
their 305(b) and 303(d) programs are derived from a project among EPA,
States and other interested stakeholders to develop a tool for
estimating the States' resource needs for State water quality
management programs. This project has developed the State Water Quality
Management Workload Model (SWQMWM), which estimates and sums the
workload involved in more than one hundred activities or tasks
comprising a State water quality management program. Over twenty States
contributed information about their activities that became the basis
for the model. According to the SWQMWM, to meet 305(b) and 303(d)
reporting requirements the States will conduct: watershed monitoring
and characterization; modeling and analysis; development of a TMDL
document for public review; public outreach; formal public
participation; tracking; planning; legal support; etc. In general,
respondents have conducted each of these reporting and record keeping
activities for past 305(b) and 303(d) reporting cycles and thus have
staff and procedures in place to continue their 305(b) and 303(d)
reporting programs. The burden associated with these tasks is estimated
in this ICR to include the total number of TMDLs that may be submitted
during the period covered by this ICR.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is expected to average 66,590
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; 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 current ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's
estimate, which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 59.
Frequency of response: Biannually.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 3,740,017.
Estimated total annual costs: $177,837,808. These costs are
entirely attributed to labor, with $0 attributable to capital
investment or maintenance and operational costs.
Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
There is no change expected in the estimates for the total
respondent burden hours identified in the ICR currently approved by
OMB. EPA may revise these burden estimates before submitting this ICR
to OMB based on comments received from the public and updated labor
costs.
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 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 30, 2011.
Benita Best-Wong,
Acting Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 2011-17613 Filed 7-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
