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[Federal Register: January 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 2)]
[Notices]               
[Page 362-364]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja10-60]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-R05-OW-2009-0932, FRL-9100-6]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Great Lakes Accountability System; EPA ICR No. 
2379.01, OMB Control No. 2005-NEW

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request for a new 
Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, 
EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 8, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-
OW-2009-0932, by one of the following methods:
    http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Great Lakes Accountability System, Attn: Rita 
Cestaric, EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office, 77 W. Jackson St., 
Chicago, Illinois 60604.
     Hand Delivery: Great Lakes Accountability System, Attn. 
Rita Cestaric, EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office, 77 W. Jackson 
St., Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday 
through Friday excluding legal holidays), and special arrangements 
should be made for delivery of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OW-
2009-0932. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be 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. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information. 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: Rita Cestaric, USEPA, Great Lakes 
National Program Office, 77 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 
60604; telephone number: (312) 886-6815; fax number: (312) 697-2014; e-
mail address: cestaric.rita@epa.gov or Marcia Damato, USEPA, Great 
Lakes National Program Office, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois 60604; telephone number: (312) 886-0266; fax number: (312) 
582-5862; e-mail address: damato.marcia@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 
No. EPA EPA-R05-OW-2009-0932, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at USEPA, Great Lakes 
National Program Office, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 
60604. Materials are available for viewing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays; telephone number (312) 
886-6815. An electronic version of the public docket is available at 
http://www.regulations.gov. This site can be used to obtain a copy of 
the draft collection of information, submit or

[[Page 363]]

view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the 
docket, and to 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 EPA-R05-OW-
2009-0932.

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 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?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
state, local and tribal governments and non-government organizations 
receiving Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding.
    Title: Great Lakes Accountability System.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2379.01, OMB Control No. 2005-NEW.
    ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. 
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 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 2010, EPA, in concert with its federal partners, will 
begin implementation of a new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) 
which was included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-88). The GLRI 
will invest funds in programs and projects strategically chosen to 
target the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes 
ecosystem.
    The legislation calls for increased accountability for the GLRI and 
directs 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 will be required to submit detailed information on 
GLRI projects as part of their funding agreement. Recipients will be 
required to provide project-level 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 would be 
entered and updated on at least a quarterly basis.
    A Web-based Great Lakes Accountability System (GLAS) is being 
developed as the primary mechanism for collecting information on GLRI 
activities. The Web site will contain a user-friendly data entry 
interface for recipients to enter and submit project information 
directly into the GLAS. The data entry interface will consist of a 
series of screens containing pull-down menus and text boxes, where 
users can enter project specific information. The GLAS will provide the 
necessary information for reports to the President and will be 
accessible to the public via Internet.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 101.9 
hours per response for state, local and tribal governments and 20.5 
hours per response for non-governmental organizations. 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 Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 458 (358 state, 
local and tribal governments, 100 non-government organizations).
    Frequency of response: Quarterly.
    Estimated average number of response cycles per year for each 
respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 38,530.2 hours (101.9 hours 
per annual response cycle (i.e., four quarters) for state, local 
governments and tribal governments, 20.5 hours per annual response 
cycle for non-government organizations).
    Estimated total annual costs: $1,675,228.04. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $1,675,228.04 for labor and an estimated cost 
of $0.00 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

[[Page 364]]

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 the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: December 30, 2009.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E9-31408 Filed 1-4-10; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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