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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 144 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43822-43823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18319]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2012-0033; FRL-9706-4]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Valuing 
Improved Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay Using Stated Preference 
Methods (New)

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), ``Valuing Improved Water Quality 
in the Chesapeake Bay Using Stated Preference Methods (New)'' (EPA ICR 
No. 2456.01, OMB Control No. 2010-NEW) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. On May 24, 2012 EPA solicited public comments for 60 
days on the proposed ICR. Certain supporting documents were not 
available for public review in the docket during the first 30 days of 
the comment period, thus EPA is re-opening the comment period for an 
additional 30 days from the publication of this notice. Public comments 
are being solicited on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collection as described below. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2012-0033 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method); by 
email to oei.docket@epa.gov; by fax at (202) 566-9744; or by mail to 
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    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: Dr. Nathalie Simon, National Center 
for Environmental Economics, Office of Policy, (1809T), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 202-566-2347; fax number: 202-566-2363; email 
address: simon.nathalie@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 Docket Center, EPA West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    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

[[Page 43823]]

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: The Clean Water Act (CWA) directs EPA to coordinate 
Federal and State efforts to improve water quality in the Chesapeake 
Bay. In 2009, Executive Order (E.O.) 13508 re-emphasized this mandate, 
directing EPA to define the next generation of tools and actions to 
restore water quality in the Bay and describe the changes to be made to 
regulations, programs, and policies to implement these actions. In 
response, EPA is undertaking an assessment of the costs and benefits of 
meeting established pollution budgets, called Total Maximum Daily Loads 
(TMDL), of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment for the Chesapeake Bay.
    The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses 64,000 square miles in 
parts of six states and the District of Columbia. While efforts have 
been underway to restore the Bay for more than 25 years, and 
significant progress has been made over that period, the TMDLs are 
necessary to continue progress toward the goal of a healthy Bay. The 
watershed states of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, 
Virginia, and Maryland, as well as the District of Columbia, have 
developed Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) detailing the steps 
each will take to meet its obligations under the TMDLs. EPA has begun a 
new study to estimate costs of compliance with the TMDLs. A multitude 
of benefits may also be anticipated to arise from restoring the 
Chesapeake Bay. It is important to put cost estimates in perspective by 
estimating corresponding benefits.
    EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics (NCEE) is 
undertaking a benefits analysis of improvements in Bay water quality 
under the TMDLs, as well as of ancillary benefits that might arise from 
terrestrial measures taken to improve water quality. As part of this 
analysis, NCEE plans to conduct a broad-based inquiry into benefits 
using a state-of-the-art stated preference survey. Benefits from the 
TMDLs for the Chesapeake will accrue to those who live on or near the 
Bay and its tributaries, as well as to those who live further away and 
may never visit the Bay but have a general concern for the environment. 
The latter category of benefits is typically called ``non-use values'' 
and estimating the monetary value can only be achieved through a stated 
preference survey.
    In addition, a stated preference survey is able to estimate ``use 
values,'' those benefits that accrue to individuals who choose to live 
on or near the Bay or recreate in the watershed. Stated preference 
surveys allow the analyst to define a specific object of choice or 
suite of choices such that benefits are defined in as precise a manner 
as feasible. While use benefits of water quality improvements in the 
Chesapeake Bay watershed will also be estimated through other revealed 
preference methods, the stated preference survey allows for careful 
specification of the choice scenarios and will complement estimates 
found using other methods. Participation in the survey will be 
voluntary and the identity of the participants will be kept 
confidential.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Individuals 18 years of age or 
older, residing in one of 18 east coast states and the District of 
Columbia.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: Primary survey: 2,400 respondents; 
400 non-response survey.
    Frequency of response: one time collection.
    Total estimated burden: 1,034 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $24,123 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.

    Dated: July 20, 2012.
Al McGartland,
Director, National Center for Environmental Economics, Office of 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-18319 Filed 7-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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