National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011 Draft Report, 68536-68537 [2015-28266]

Download as PDF jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 68536 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 214 / Thursday, November 5, 2015 / Notices paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this collection. What should I consider when I prepare my comments for the 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 the 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? [Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2012–0333.] Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are suppliers of certain products that will emit GHG when released, combusted, or oxidized, motor vehicle and engine manufacturers, including aircraft engine manufacturers; facilities in certain industrial categories that emit greenhouse gases; and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 e) per year. Title: Information Collection Request for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2300.17 ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31, 2016. 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 the 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: In response to the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764; Pub. L. 110–161) and under authority of the Clean Air Act, the EPA VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Nov 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 finalized the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (GHG Reporting Rule) (74 FR 56260; October 30, 2009). The GHG Reporting Rule, which became effective on December 29, 2009, establishes reporting requirements for certain large facilities and suppliers. It does not require control of greenhouse gases. Instead, it requires that sources emitting above certain threshold levels of (CO2 e) monitor and report emissions. Subsequent rules have promulgated requirements for additional facilities, suppliers, and mobile sources; provided clarification and corrections to existing requirements; finalized confidentiality business information (CBI) determinations, amended recordkeeping requirements, and implemented an alternative verification approach. Collectively, the GHG Reporting Rule and its associated rulemakings are referred to as the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). The purpose for this ICR is to renew and revise the GHG Reporting Rule ICR to update and consolidate the burdens and costs imposed by all of the current ICRs under the GHGRP. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.24 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 EPA’s estimate, which is only briefly summarized here: 1. Estimated total number of potential respondents: 9,899. 2. Frequency of response: Annual, quarterly. 3. Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 72. 4. Estimated total annual burden hours: 903,871 hours. This includes estimated total respondent hours of 878,911 hours and estimated total EPA hours of 24,960 hours. PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5. Estimated total annual costs: $113,837,441. This includes an estimated cost of $38,477,161 for capital investment as well as maintenance and operational costs, an estimated respondent burden cost of $63,360,249, and an estimated EPA cost of $12,000,030. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval? There is a decrease of 102,121 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the last ICR renewal. This change in burden reflects an adjustment in the number of respondents from projected to actual, an adjustment of labor rates and capital costs to reflect 2013 dollars, a reevaluation of the activities and costs associated with Subparts W and RR, and the addition of new segments and new reporters under Subpart W. What is the next step in the process for this ICR? The 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, the 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: October 28, 2015. Paul M. Gunning, Director, Climate Change Division, Office of Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. 2015–28275 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OW–2015–0667; FRL–9936–59– OW] National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011 Draft Report Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice announces the availability of EPA’s draft report on the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA 2011) and opens a 30-day public review and comment period on the draft report. The NWCA 2011 is the first national assessment of the ecological condition of the nation’s wetlands. The NWCA 2011 draft report describes the results of a nationwide SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 214 / Thursday, November 5, 2015 / Notices probabilistic survey of wetlands conducted in the spring and summer of 2011 by EPA and its state and tribal partners. Results are based on ecological data collected at over 1,000 sites using standardized protocols and include estimates of wetland area in ‘‘good,’’ ‘‘fair,’’ and ‘‘poor’’ condition, nationally and by ecoregion, for a biological indicator based on plants and key wetland stressors. The report also provides information on the design and implementation of the scientific assessment, possible implications, and future actions. This report completes the first series of probability-based surveys conducted under EPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys program. DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 7, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OW–2015–0667, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https:// www2.epa.gov/dockets/commentingepa-dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregg Serenbetz, Wetlands Division, Office of Water (4502T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202–566–1253; email address: serenbetz.gregg@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Wetlands is the first report assessing the condition of the nation’s wetlands and the fifth report in a series of National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS), a national-scale monitoring program designed to produce statistically-valid assessments that VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Nov 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 answer critical questions about the condition of waters in the United States. The key goals of the NWCA are to (1) describe the ecological condition of the nation’s wetlands and stressors commonly associated with poor condition; (2) collaborate with states and tribes in developing complementary monitoring tools, analytical approaches, and data management technology to aid wetland protection and restoration programs; and (3) advance the science of wetland monitoring and assessment to support wetland management needs. EPA began planning activities for the NWCA in 2006 and engaged with a broad group of stakeholders including state environmental and natural resource agencies, tribes, federal agencies, academia, and other organizations to help inform different aspects of the assessment. Both tidal and nontidal wetlands were targeted for sampling. To select wetland sites for sampling, EPA used the same digital map of wetland locations that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses in their Wetland Status and Trends program. While not a comprehensive map of all wetlands throughout the U.S., these mapped locations are used to statistically represent the extent of wetlands nationally. Sampling sites for the NWCA were randomly selected from this digital map and distributed based on the prevalence of wetlands across the U.S. using a survey design that ensures the results reflect the full range of wetlands in the target population. Each wetland site was sampled using standardized field protocols to collect ecological data on plants, soil, water chemistry, algae, and wetland stressors. The use of standardized field and laboratory protocols is another key feature of the NWCA and allows the data to be combined to produce a nationally consistent assessment. The results presented in the NWCA 2011 report are based on data from 1,138 wetland sites sampled during the spring and summer of 2011 in the conterminous U.S. (41 sites sampled in Alaska are not included in the national and regional results in the report). The NWCA 2011 report describes the ecological condition of wetlands nationally and in four ecoregions (Coastal Plains, Eastern Mountains and Upper Midwest, Interior Plains, and West) using a biological indicator of condition and several physical, chemical, and biological indicators of stress. This is the first time a national monitoring study of the ecological condition of wetlands has been conducted. Under the NARS program, studies have been completed for PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68537 wadeable streams (2004), lakes (2007), rivers and streams (2008–2009), and coastal waters (2010). The release of the NWCA 2011 final report will complete the first full cycle of NARS reports. EPA and our partners plan to continue to assess each of these water body types on a five year rotating basis. This draft report has undergone external peer review. States and other stakeholders also reviewed and commented on the draft report. The purpose of this action is to solicit public comment on the draft report before finalizing it. EPA is seeking comment on the information contained in the draft report, the reasonableness of the conclusions, and the clarity with which the information is presented. The draft report and other supporting materials may also be viewed and downloaded from EPA’s Web site at https:// www2.epa.gov/national-aquaticresource-surveys/national-wetlandcondition-assessment. Dated: October 28, 2015. Kenneth J. Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water. [FR Doc. 2015–28266 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060–0562] Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501– 3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission’s burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68536-68537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28266]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0667; FRL-9936-59-OW]


National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011 Draft Report

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft report 
on the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA 2011) and opens a 
30-day public review and comment period on the draft report. The NWCA 
2011 is the first national assessment of the ecological condition of 
the nation's wetlands. The NWCA 2011 draft report describes the results 
of a nationwide

[[Page 68537]]

probabilistic survey of wetlands conducted in the spring and summer of 
2011 by EPA and its state and tribal partners. Results are based on 
ecological data collected at over 1,000 sites using standardized 
protocols and include estimates of wetland area in ``good,'' ``fair,'' 
and ``poor'' condition, nationally and by ecoregion, for a biological 
indicator based on plants and key wetland stressors. The report also 
provides information on the design and implementation of the scientific 
assessment, possible implications, and future actions. This report 
completes the first series of probability-based surveys conducted under 
EPA's National Aquatic Resource Surveys program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0667, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA 
may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 
accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the 
official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish 
to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents 
located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or 
other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full 
EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia 
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please 
visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregg Serenbetz, Wetlands Division, 
Office of Water (4502T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
566-1253; email address: serenbetz.gregg@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wetland Condition Assessment 
2011: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation's Wetlands is the first 
report assessing the condition of the nation's wetlands and the fifth 
report in a series of National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS), a 
national-scale monitoring program designed to produce statistically-
valid assessments that answer critical questions about the condition of 
waters in the United States.
    The key goals of the NWCA are to (1) describe the ecological 
condition of the nation's wetlands and stressors commonly associated 
with poor condition; (2) collaborate with states and tribes in 
developing complementary monitoring tools, analytical approaches, and 
data management technology to aid wetland protection and restoration 
programs; and (3) advance the science of wetland monitoring and 
assessment to support wetland management needs. EPA began planning 
activities for the NWCA in 2006 and engaged with a broad group of 
stakeholders including state environmental and natural resource 
agencies, tribes, federal agencies, academia, and other organizations 
to help inform different aspects of the assessment.
    Both tidal and nontidal wetlands were targeted for sampling. To 
select wetland sites for sampling, EPA used the same digital map of 
wetland locations that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses in their 
Wetland Status and Trends program. While not a comprehensive map of all 
wetlands throughout the U.S., these mapped locations are used to 
statistically represent the extent of wetlands nationally. Sampling 
sites for the NWCA were randomly selected from this digital map and 
distributed based on the prevalence of wetlands across the U.S. using a 
survey design that ensures the results reflect the full range of 
wetlands in the target population. Each wetland site was sampled using 
standardized field protocols to collect ecological data on plants, 
soil, water chemistry, algae, and wetland stressors. The use of 
standardized field and laboratory protocols is another key feature of 
the NWCA and allows the data to be combined to produce a nationally 
consistent assessment. The results presented in the NWCA 2011 report 
are based on data from 1,138 wetland sites sampled during the spring 
and summer of 2011 in the conterminous U.S. (41 sites sampled in Alaska 
are not included in the national and regional results in the report). 
The NWCA 2011 report describes the ecological condition of wetlands 
nationally and in four ecoregions (Coastal Plains, Eastern Mountains 
and Upper Midwest, Interior Plains, and West) using a biological 
indicator of condition and several physical, chemical, and biological 
indicators of stress.
    This is the first time a national monitoring study of the 
ecological condition of wetlands has been conducted. Under the NARS 
program, studies have been completed for wadeable streams (2004), lakes 
(2007), rivers and streams (2008-2009), and coastal waters (2010). The 
release of the NWCA 2011 final report will complete the first full 
cycle of NARS reports. EPA and our partners plan to continue to assess 
each of these water body types on a five year rotating basis.
    This draft report has undergone external peer review. States and 
other stakeholders also reviewed and commented on the draft report. The 
purpose of this action is to solicit public comment on the draft report 
before finalizing it. EPA is seeking comment on the information 
contained in the draft report, the reasonableness of the conclusions, 
and the clarity with which the information is presented. The draft 
report and other supporting materials may also be viewed and downloaded 
from EPA's Web site at https://www2.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/national-wetland-condition-assessment.

    Dated: October 28, 2015.
Kenneth J. Kopocis,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2015-28266 Filed 11-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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