Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; POTW Influent PFAS Study Data Collection, 20962-20964 [2024-06408]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices
denied a petition from the American
Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
(AFPM) for a partial waiver of the 2023
cellulosic biofuel standard under the
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
program. EPA is providing this notice
for public awareness of, and the basis
for, EPA’s decision issued on March 15,
2024.
DATES: March 26, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lauren Michaels, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality,
Compliance Division, Environmental
Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood
Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone
number: (734) 214–4640; email address:
michaels.lauren@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
I. Background
The Clean Air Act (CAA) provides
that EPA, in consultation with the
Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of Energy, may waive the
volume requirements under the RFS
program, in whole or in part, under
specified circumstances, including
when EPA finds that ‘‘there is an
inadequate domestic supply’’ or that the
RFS volume requirements ‘‘would
severely harm the economy or
environment of a State, a region, or the
United States’’ (‘‘severe economic
harm’’).1 Section 211(o)(7)(A) is
structured to allow any person subject
to the requirements of the RFS program
to petition EPA to waive, in whole or in
part, the volume requirements.
On December 22, 2023, AFPM
requested that EPA issue a partial
waiver of the 2023 cellulosic biofuel
standard under CAA section
211(o)(7)(D) and CAA section
211(o)(7)(A)(i).2 On March 4, 2024,
AFPM submitted an update to its
original petition.3
II. Decision
Our assessment of the volume of 2023
cellulosic RINs and 2022 cellulosic
carryover RINs indicates that obligated
parties will be able to readily comply
with the existing 2023 cellulosic biofuel
standard. Moreover, obligated parties
will still be able to comply by carrying
a cellulosic RIN deficit into 2024, if
necessary. On the other hand, a partial
waiver of the 2023 cellulosic biofuel
standard would be injurious to the RFS
program because it would be disruptive
1 EPA refers to the authority in CAA section
211(o)(7)(A) as the ‘‘general waiver authority.’’
2 AFPM, ‘‘Petition for Partial Waiver of 2023
Cellulosic Biofuel Volumetric Requirements,’’
December 22, 2023 (‘‘AFPM Petition’’).
3 AFPM, ‘‘AFPM’s Petition for Partial Waiver of
the 2023 Cellulosic Biofuel Volumetric
Requirements—Update,’’ March 4, 2024.
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to program participants and could result
in reduced future demand for cellulosic
biofuel production. For these and all
other reasons described in the AFPM
Petition Denial Action, and after
consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy
under CAA section 211(o)(7)(A), the
RFS program is best served by
maintaining the existing 2023 cellulosic
biofuel standard and we are denying the
AFPM Petition.
III. Judicial Review
Section 307(b)(1) of the CAA governs
judicial review of final actions by EPA.
This section provides, in part, that
petitions for review must be filed only
in the United States Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit: (i)
when the agency action consists of ‘‘any
other nationally applicable. . .final
action taken by the Administrator,’’ or
(ii) when a final action is locally or
regionally applicable but ‘‘such action is
based on a determination of nationwide
scope or effect and if in taking such
action the Administrator finds and
publishes that such action is based on
such a determination.’’ The CAA
reserves to EPA the complete discretion
to decide whether to invoke the
exception in (ii) described in the
preceding sentence.4
This final action is ‘‘nationally
applicable’’ within the meaning of CAA
section 307(b)(1). Whether an action is
‘‘nationally applicable’’ is a narrow
inquiry based only on the ‘‘face’’ of the
action.5 The question is whether the
action itself is nationally applicable, not
whether the nature and scope of the
arguments raised or relief sought by a
petitioner challenging the action are
nationally applicable.6 On its face, this
final action is nationally applicable
because it denies a petition to waive a
portion of the nationally applicable
2023 cellulosic biofuel standard
promulgated in the Set Rule for all
parties who qualify as obligated parties 7
and thus are subject to the requirements
of the RFS program no matter their
location across the country. Parties that
have registered with EPA as obligated
4 Sierra Club v. EPA, 47 F.4th 738, 745 (D.C. Cir.
2022) (‘‘EPA’s decision whether to make and
publish a finding of nationwide scope or effect is
committed to the agency’s discretion and thus is
unreviewable’’); Texas v. EPA, 983 F.3d 826, 834–
35 (5th Cir. 2020).
5 Dalton Trucking, Inc. v. EPA, 808 F.3d 875, 881
(D.C. Cir. 2015); Hunt Refining Co. v. EPA, 90 F.4th
1107, 1110 (11th Cir. 2024) (‘‘Hunt’’).
6 S. Ill. Power Coop. v. EPA, 863 F.3d 666, 670–
71 (7th Cir. 2017); ATK Launch Sys., Inc. v. EPA,
651 F.3d 1194, 1198–1199 (10th Cir. 2011); RMS of
Ga., LLC v. EPA, 64 F.4th 1368, 1372–1373 (11th
Cir. 2023); Hunt, 90 F.4th at 1110–1112.
7 40 CFR 80.2 (‘‘obligated party’’), 80.1406.
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parties under the RFS program are
located in all states except Alaska,
which is not subject to the RFS
program.8 In denying this petition, EPA
applied a consistent interpretation of
the relevant CAA provisions and the
Agency’s ‘‘common, nationwide
analytical method’’ for evaluating the
fuels available, the fuels market data,
and the RIN data to determine whether
a partial waiver is necessary to enable
compliance with the 2023 cellulosic
biofuel standard.9 This final action
applies equally to all obligated parties.
For these reasons, this final action is
nationally applicable. Under CAA
section 307(b)(1), petitions for judicial
review of this action must be filed in the
United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit by May 28,
2024.
Joseph Goffman,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and
Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2024–06375 Filed 3–25–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OW–2023–0580; FRL–11359–01–
OW]
Proposed Information Collection
Request; Comment Request; POTW
Influent PFAS Study Data Collection
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection
request, ‘‘U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency POTW Influent PFAS Study
Data Collection’’ (EPA ICR No. 2799.01,
OMB Control No. 2040–NEW) to the
Office of Management and Budget for
review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting
public comments on specific aspects of
the proposed information collection as
described below. This is a request for
approval of a new collection. This
notice allows for 60 days for public
comments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before May 28, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
SUMMARY:
8 CAA section 211(o)(2)(A)(i); 40 CFR
80.1407(f)(3).
9 S. Ill. Power, 863 F.3d at 671; ATK Launch
Sys.,651 F.3d at 1197; Hunt, 90 F.4th at 1112;
Oklahoma v. EPA, ---; F.4th ---, 2024 WL 799356 at
*3 (10th Cir. Feb. 27, 2024).
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
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ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices
OW–2023–0580, online using
www.regulations.gov (our preferred
method), by email to OW-Docket@
epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket
Center, Environmental Protection
Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460.
The 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:
Sean Dempsey, Engineering and
Analysis Division, Office of Science and
Technology, (4303T), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: 202–564–5088;
email address: Dempsey.Sean@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
request for approval of a new collection.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor
and a person is not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
This notice allows 60 days for public
comments. Supporting documents,
which explain in detail the information
that the EPA will be collecting, are
available in the public docket for this
ICR. The docket can be viewed online
at www.regulations.gov or in person at
the EPA Docket Center, WJC West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC. The telephone number
for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.
For additional information about the
EPA’s public docket, visit https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the PRA, the EPA is soliciting comments
and information to enable it to: (i)
evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (ii) evaluate the
accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (iv) minimize the burden
of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through
the use of appropriate forms of
information technology. The EPA will
consider the comments received and
amend the ICR as appropriate. The final
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18:10 Mar 25, 2024
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ICR package will then be submitted to
OMB for review and approval. At that
time, the 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: The Clean Water Act directs
the United States Environmental
Protection Agency to develop national
regulations known as Effluent
Limitations Guidelines and Standards
(ELGs) to place limits on the pollutants
that are discharged by categories of
industry to surface waters and publicly
owned treatment works (POTWs). In
addition, the EPA conducts National
Sewage Sludge Surveys (NSSSs) to
collect national concentration data on
contaminants found in sewage sludge
and biosolids (sewage sludge treated to
meet the requirements in 40 CFR part
503 and intended to be applied to land
as a soil amendment or fertilizer), and
to help inform future risk assessments
and risk management options. For many
decades, industrial facilities have used
and discharged per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances to POTWs. PFAS are a class
of synthetic chemicals of concern to the
EPA because of their widespread use
and potential to accumulate in the
environment. Certain PFAS are known
to cause adverse ecological and human
health effects. Most POTWs do not
operate processes and technologies that
effectively reduce or eliminate PFAS in
wastewater; therefore, PFAS are
subsequently discharged into surface
waters and/or accumulate in sewage
sludge generated by the POTW which
poses a potential risk for further PFAS
release depending on sewage sludge
management practices.
As announced in the EPA’s Effluent
Guidelines Program Plan 15, published
in January 2023, the EPA is conducting
a POTW Influent PFAS Study to collect
and analyze nationwide data on
industrial discharges of PFAS to POTWs
as well as PFAS in POTW influent,
effluent, and sewage sludge. The EPA
will require, through an OMB-approved
Information Collection Request, a subset
of large POTWs across the United States
to complete a questionnaire and collect
and analyze wastewater and sewage
sludge samples. The data collection
activities will produce a robust data set
that will enable the EPA to characterize
the type and quantity of PFAS in
wastewater discharges from industrial
users to POTWs (including industrial
categories that the EPA has determined
historically or currently use PFAS but
for which there is insufficient PFAS
monitoring data available) as well as
POTW influent, effluent, and sewage
sludge. The wastewater sampling data
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20963
will primarily be used to identify and
prioritize industrial point source
categories where additional study or
regulations may be warranted to control
PFAS discharges. The sewage sludge
sampling will fulfill the EPA’s data
needs for the upcoming NSSS by
establishing a current national data set
of sewage sludge characteristics which
the EPA will subsequently use to inform
upcoming risk assessments and the need
for future regulations and guidance
pertaining to the management of sewage
sludge.
This collection effort is necessary
because there is only very limited
publicly accessible data on PFAS
discharges from industrial categories to
POTWs; the relative PFAS contributions
from residential, commercial, and
industrial sources to POTWs; and the
fate and transport of PFAS in POTW
influent and sewage sludge. This
collection effort is also consistent with
the Agency’s October 2021 PFAS
Strategic Roadmap commitments to
address PFAS through investment in
scientific research to fill gaps in
understanding of PFAS and to prevent
PFAS from entering the environment.
As part of the POTW Influent PFAS
Study, the EPA estimates that
approximately 400 POTWs with the
highest daily flow rates of all POTWs in
the U.S. will complete a mandatory
electronic questionnaire. The objectives
of the questionnaire will be to gather
POTW-specific information and data on
industrial users discharging to the
POTW, known or suspected sources of
PFAS discharges to the POTW, and
wastewater and sewage sludge
management practices of the POTW.
The EPA plans to use the information
and data collected in the questionnaire
to select a subset of 200 to 300 POTWs
to participate in a two-phase sampling
program. Phase 1 will require each
selected POTW to collect and analyze
one-time grab samples of industrial user
effluent, domestic wastewater influent,
POTW influent, and POTW effluent for
forty specific PFAS and adsorbable
organic fluorine (AOF). For each POTW
selected, the EPA intends to specify no
more than ten industrial users for which
the POTW must collect and analyze
effluent samples. The total number of
industrial users sampled as part of the
sampling program is not expected to
exceed 2,000 facilities. Phase 2 will
require selected POTWs to collect and
analyze one-time grab samples of
sewage sludge for forty specific PFAS
and ancillary parameters.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: 400 of
the largest POTWs in the nation will
receive the questionnaire (400 facilities)
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20964
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices
and a subset of 200–300 facilities will be
asked to conduct specific sampling,
conducted in two phases.
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Mandatory (Clean Water Act Section
308) (citing authority).
Estimated number of respondents:
400 (total).
Frequency of response: One-time data
collection.
Total estimated respondent burden:
25,640 hours. Burden is defined at 5
CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated respondent cost:
$5,486,816 one-time cost.
Changes in estimates: This is a new
data collection request and is a one-time
temporary increase to the agency’s
burden.
Deborah G. Nagle,
Director, Office of Science and Technology,
Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2024–06408 Filed 3–25–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3060–0931; FR ID 209963]
Information Collection Being Reviewed
by the Federal Communications
Commission
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 of 1995 (PRA), 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
information on the respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology; and ways to
further reduce the information
collection burden on small business
concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
The FCC may not conduct or sponsor
a collection of information unless it
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:10 Mar 25, 2024
Jkt 262001
displays a currently valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control
number. No person shall be subject to
any penalty for failing to comply with
a collection of information subject to the
PRA that does not display a valid OMB
control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should
be submitted on or before May 28, 2024.
If you anticipate that you will be
submitting comments but find it
difficult to do so within the period of
time allowed by this notice, you should
advise the contact listed below as soon
as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to PRA@
fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy
Williams at (202) 418–2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060–0931.
Title: Section 80.103, Digital Selective
Calling (DSC) Operating Procedures—
Maritime Mobile Identity (MMSI).
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Individuals or
households; business or other for-profit
entities and Federal Government.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 40,000 respondents; 40,000
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .25
hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting requirement and third-party
disclosure requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
authority for this information collection
is in 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 307(e), 309 and
332 of the Communications Act of 1934,
as amended. The reporting requirement
is contained in international agreements
and ITU–R M.541.9.
Total Annual Burden: 10,000 hours.
Total Annual Cost: No cost.
Needs and Uses: The information
collected is necessary to require owners
of marine VHF radios with Digital
Selective Calling (DSC) capability to
register information such as the name,
address, type of vessel with a private
entity issuing marine mobile service
identities (MMSI). The information
would be used by search and rescue
personnel to identify vessels in distress
and to select the proper rescue units and
search methods.
The requirement to collect this
information is contained in
international agreements with the U.S.
Coast Guard and private sector entities
that issue MMSI’s.
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The information is used by private
entities to maintain a database used to
provide information about the vessel
owner in distress using marine VHF
radios with DSC capability. If the data
were not collected, the U.S. Coast Guard
would not have access to this
information which would increase the
time and effort needed to complete a
search and rescue operation.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–06305 Filed 3–25–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3060–XXXX; FR ID 210779]
Information Collection Being Reviewed
by the Federal Communications
Commission
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, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC or
the Commission) invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on the
following information collection.
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
information on the respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology; and ways to
further reduce the information
collection burden on small business
concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
DATES: Written PRA comments should
be submitted on or before May 28, 2024.
If you anticipate that you will be
submitting comments, but find it
difficult to do so within the period of
time allowed by this notice, you should
advise the contact listed below as soon
as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@
fcc.gov and to nicole.ongele@fcc.gov.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20962-20964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06408]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2023-0580; FRL-11359-01-OW]
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; POTW
Influent PFAS Study Data Collection
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request, ``U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency POTW Influent PFAS Study Data Collection'' (EPA ICR
No. 2799.01, OMB Control No. 2040-NEW) to the Office of Management and
Budget for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as
described below. This is a request for approval of a new collection.
This notice allows for 60 days for public comments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 28, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
[[Page 20963]]
OW-2023-0580, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method),
by email to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
The 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: Sean Dempsey, Engineering and Analysis
Division, Office of Science and Technology, (4303T), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: 202-564-5088; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a request for approval of a new
collection. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
This notice allows 60 days for public comments. Supporting
documents, which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be
collecting, are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket
can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA
Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-
1744. For additional information about the EPA's public docket, visit
https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the EPA is soliciting
comments and information to enable it to: (i) evaluate whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate forms of information technology. 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. At that time, the 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: The Clean Water Act directs the United States
Environmental Protection Agency to develop national regulations known
as Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards (ELGs) to place limits
on the pollutants that are discharged by categories of industry to
surface waters and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). In addition,
the EPA conducts National Sewage Sludge Surveys (NSSSs) to collect
national concentration data on contaminants found in sewage sludge and
biosolids (sewage sludge treated to meet the requirements in 40 CFR
part 503 and intended to be applied to land as a soil amendment or
fertilizer), and to help inform future risk assessments and risk
management options. For many decades, industrial facilities have used
and discharged per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to POTWs. PFAS are a
class of synthetic chemicals of concern to the EPA because of their
widespread use and potential to accumulate in the environment. Certain
PFAS are known to cause adverse ecological and human health effects.
Most POTWs do not operate processes and technologies that effectively
reduce or eliminate PFAS in wastewater; therefore, PFAS are
subsequently discharged into surface waters and/or accumulate in sewage
sludge generated by the POTW which poses a potential risk for further
PFAS release depending on sewage sludge management practices.
As announced in the EPA's Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15,
published in January 2023, the EPA is conducting a POTW Influent PFAS
Study to collect and analyze nationwide data on industrial discharges
of PFAS to POTWs as well as PFAS in POTW influent, effluent, and sewage
sludge. The EPA will require, through an OMB-approved Information
Collection Request, a subset of large POTWs across the United States to
complete a questionnaire and collect and analyze wastewater and sewage
sludge samples. The data collection activities will produce a robust
data set that will enable the EPA to characterize the type and quantity
of PFAS in wastewater discharges from industrial users to POTWs
(including industrial categories that the EPA has determined
historically or currently use PFAS but for which there is insufficient
PFAS monitoring data available) as well as POTW influent, effluent, and
sewage sludge. The wastewater sampling data will primarily be used to
identify and prioritize industrial point source categories where
additional study or regulations may be warranted to control PFAS
discharges. The sewage sludge sampling will fulfill the EPA's data
needs for the upcoming NSSS by establishing a current national data set
of sewage sludge characteristics which the EPA will subsequently use to
inform upcoming risk assessments and the need for future regulations
and guidance pertaining to the management of sewage sludge.
This collection effort is necessary because there is only very
limited publicly accessible data on PFAS discharges from industrial
categories to POTWs; the relative PFAS contributions from residential,
commercial, and industrial sources to POTWs; and the fate and transport
of PFAS in POTW influent and sewage sludge. This collection effort is
also consistent with the Agency's October 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap
commitments to address PFAS through investment in scientific research
to fill gaps in understanding of PFAS and to prevent PFAS from entering
the environment.
As part of the POTW Influent PFAS Study, the EPA estimates that
approximately 400 POTWs with the highest daily flow rates of all POTWs
in the U.S. will complete a mandatory electronic questionnaire. The
objectives of the questionnaire will be to gather POTW-specific
information and data on industrial users discharging to the POTW, known
or suspected sources of PFAS discharges to the POTW, and wastewater and
sewage sludge management practices of the POTW. The EPA plans to use
the information and data collected in the questionnaire to select a
subset of 200 to 300 POTWs to participate in a two-phase sampling
program. Phase 1 will require each selected POTW to collect and analyze
one-time grab samples of industrial user effluent, domestic wastewater
influent, POTW influent, and POTW effluent for forty specific PFAS and
adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF). For each POTW selected, the EPA
intends to specify no more than ten industrial users for which the POTW
must collect and analyze effluent samples. The total number of
industrial users sampled as part of the sampling program is not
expected to exceed 2,000 facilities. Phase 2 will require selected
POTWs to collect and analyze one-time grab samples of sewage sludge for
forty specific PFAS and ancillary parameters.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: 400 of the largest POTWs in the
nation will receive the questionnaire (400 facilities)
[[Page 20964]]
and a subset of 200-300 facilities will be asked to conduct specific
sampling, conducted in two phases.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (Clean Water Act
Section 308) (citing authority).
Estimated number of respondents: 400 (total).
Frequency of response: One-time data collection.
Total estimated respondent burden: 25,640 hours. Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated respondent cost: $5,486,816 one-time cost.
Changes in estimates: This is a new data collection request and is
a one-time temporary increase to the agency's burden.
Deborah G. Nagle,
Director, Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2024-06408 Filed 3-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
