Proposed Agency Information Collection Request: Comment Request; Great Lakes Accountability System (Renewal), 21937 [2013-08696]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 21937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08696]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-R05-OW-2009-0932; FRL-9801-8]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Request: Comment Request; 
Great Lakes Accountability System (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Great Lakes Accountability 
System'' (EPA ICR No. 2379.02, OMB Control No. 2005-001) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 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 July 31, 
2013. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 11, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OW-
2009-0932 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method) or by 
mail to: Great Lakes Accountability System, Attn: Rita Cestaric, EPA, 
Great Lakes National Program Office, 77 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL 60604.
    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: Rita Cestaric, Great Lakes National 
Program Office, Environmental Protection Agency, 77 W. Jackson, 
Chicago, IL 60604; telephone number: (312) 886-6815; fax number: (312) 
697-2014; email address: cestaric.rita@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Great Lakes National 
Program Office, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604; 
telephone number (312) 886-6815. Materials are available for viewing 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays.
    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: In 2010, EPA, in concert with its federal partners, began 
implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) that 
was included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-88) and 
subsequent appropriations. The GLRI invests funds in programs and 
projects strategically chosen to target the most significant 
environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem.
    The legislation called for increased accountability for the GLRI 
and directed EPA to implement a process to track, measure, and report 
on progress. As part of this process, federal and non-federal entities 
receiving GLRI funds are required to submit detailed information on 
GLRI projects as part of their funding agreement. Recipients are 
required to provide information on the nature of the activity, 
responsible organization, organizational point of contact, resource 
levels, geographic location, major milestones and progress toward GLRI 
goals. The information is necessary to provide an accurate depiction of 
activities, progress, and results. Information is updated on a 
quarterly basis.
    A web-based Great Lakes Accountability System (GLAS) is the primary 
mechanism for collecting information on GLRI activities. GLAS is 
available for registered users to enter data at https://login.glnpo.net. The Web site contains a data entry interface that 
funding recipients use to enter and submit project information directly 
into GLAS. The data entry interface consists of a series of screens 
containing pull-down menus and text boxes, where users can enter 
project specific information. The GLAS provides necessary information 
for reports to the President, Congress and the public.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
Funding Recipients.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required for recipients of GLRI 
funds.
    Estimated number of respondents: 594 (total).
    Frequency of response: Quarterly.
    Total estimated burden: 20,663 hours (33 hours for state, local, 
and tribal governments to complete 4 quarterly responses per year, and 
41.1 hours for non-government organizations to complete 4 quarterly 
responses per year). ``Burden'' is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $1,212,164.00. This includes an estimated 
annual burden cost of $1,212,164.00 for labor and no capital investment 
or maintenance and operational costs.
    Changes in Estimates: The burden and costs stated above are from 
the current approved ICR, 2379.01. EPA believes these estimates will 
remain substantially the same, but may adjust these estimates based on 
public comments received or other information gained by the Agency 
prior to submitting the ICR renewal package to OMB.

    Dated: April 1, 2013.
Susan Hedman,
Great Lakes National Program Manager.
[FR Doc. 2013-08696 Filed 4-11-13; 8:45 am]
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