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Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review and Approval: Comment Request: National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Modification and Variance Requests: EPA ICR Number: 0234.09, OMB Control Number: 2080-0021

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

  [Federal Register: January 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 1)]
[Notices]
[Page 130-132]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ja07-46]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OECA-2006-0931; FRL-8265-2]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval: Comment Request: National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES). Modification and Variance Requests: EPA ICR
Number: 0234.09, OMB Control Number: 2080-0021

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is
scheduled to expire on January 31, 2007. Before submitting the ICR to
OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

[[Page 131]]


DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number: EPA-
HQ-OECA-2006-0931, by one of the following methods:
    ? http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
    ? E-mail: helm.john@epa.gov.
    ? Fax: 202-564-0029.
    ? Mail: DMR-QA Permittee Data Report Form, EPA Docket
Center, (EPA/DC) Environmental Protection Agency, Enforcement and
Compliance Docket and Information Center, Mail Code 2201T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    ? OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Attention: Desk Officer for EPA,
725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
    Instruction: Direct your comments to Docket ID No EPA-HQ-OECA-2006-
0931. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://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 http://www.regulations.gov
or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses. (For additional information about EPA's public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at 
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Helm, Office of Compliance,
Laboratory Data Integrity Branch, 2225A, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: 202-564-4144; fax number: 202-564-0029; e-mail address: 
helm.john@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-OECA-2006-0931, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in-person viewing at the DMR-QA Docket
in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room
is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-
1744, and the telephone number for the Docket is 202-566-1692.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and access those documents
in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the
system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified
in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c))(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify in the
subject line on the first page of your response the docket ID number
assigned to this action. You may also provide the name, date, and
Federal Register citation.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
NPDES permitted facilities.
    Abstract: Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance (DMR-QA)
participation is mandatory for major and selected minor permit holders
under the Clean Water Act's National Pollution Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES), Section 308. The DMR-QA study is designed to evaluate
the entire process used by permittes to routinely report monitoring
results in Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs). The study addresses the
analytic ability of the laboratories that perform chemical,
microbiological and whole effluent toxicity (WET) analyses required in
the NPDES permits and the ability to properly report these results in
the DMRs. Under DMR-QA, the permit holder is responsible for obtaining
un-graded results of analyses of test samples performed by in-house
and/or contract laboratories, and submitting these results to the
appropriate federal or state NPDES regulatory authority and the
commercial proficiency testing (PT) provider that supplies the test
samples. Permit holders are responsible for submitting corrective
action reports to the appropriate regulatory authority.
    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

[[Page 132]]

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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4.5
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, verifying, in processing, maintaining, and
providing information; 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: 7516.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 27,578 hours.
    Number of affected facilities is: 7,516.
    Estimated total annual costs: This includes an estimated burden
cost of $1,397,649, and an estimated cost of $538,554 for capital
investment or maintenance and operational 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 John Helm.

    Dated: December 19, 2006.
Richard Colbert,
Director, Agriculture Division.
[FR Doc. E6-22479 Filed 12-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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