SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR APPROVAL OF

STATE COASTAL NONPOINT POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION

1(a) TITLE OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION

Approval of State Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs (Renewal)

OMB Control Number 2040-0153; EPA ICR Number 1569.07

1(b) SHORT CHARACTERIZATION

This ICR renewal explains reporting requirements that coastal States and 

Territories (collectively referred to as States) must fulfill in order to obtain final approval 

of their Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs (referred to hereafter as “Coastal 

Nonpoint Programs”) under Section 6217 (Protecting Coastal Waters) of the Coastal 

Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 (CZARA). This ICR renewal also 

assesses whether State program requirements for implementation of management 

measures will impose any reporting of record-keeping requirements on affected entities.

CZARA requires States with Federally-approved coastal zone management 

programs to develop Coastal Nonpoint Programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

established Program Development and Approval Guidance for Section 6217 coastal 

nonpoint pollution control programs.

Section 6217 addresses persistent coastal pollution problems by improving 

coordination of Federal and State coastal zone management programs and water quality 

programs. In the past, there was limited integration of State Nonpoint Source 

Management Programs approved by EPA under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act 

(CWA) and State Coastal Zone Management Programs approved by NOAA under 

Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). Section 6217 formalizes 

coordination of the Section 319 and Section 306 programs by requiring EPA and NOAA 

to oversee preparation and review of the State Coastal Nonpoint Programs.

The program guidance describes the contents that each coastal State must include 

in the Coastal Nonpoint Program documentation and the criteria for program approval. 

Rather than create an independent program, the Section 6217 program guidance 

encourages States to implement their Coastal Nonpoint Programs through changes to 

existing CWA Section 319 and CZMA Section 306 programs. States failing to submit 

satisfactory Coastal Nonpoint Programs face reductions in Federal grants issued under 

CWA Section 319 and under CZMA Section 306.
2

Section 6217 requires States with approved coastal management programs to 

submit Coastal Nonpoint Programs within 30 months of the publication of the final 

program guidance (January 1993). Twenty-nine States and five Territories have 

submitted their Coastal Nonpoint Programs to the Office of Water within EPA, and to the 

Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management within NOAA. The two agencies 

have jointly reviewed the State Coastal Nonpoint Programs as required by Section 6217.

EPA and NOAA have approved programs from 16 States and five Territories, and 

conditionally approved programs from 13 States. The conditional approvals require 

States to submit additional information in order to obtain final program approval. 

CZARA Section 6217 requires States to obtain final approval of their Coastal Nonpoint 

Pollution Control Programs in order to retain their full share of funding available to them 

under CWA Section 319 and under CZMA Section 306.

2. NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION

2(a) NEED/AUTHORITY FOR THE COLLECTION

CZARA Section 6217(g)(1) requires EPA to issue guidance for coastal nonpoint 

source pollution control:

“The Administrator [of EPA], in consultation with the Secretary [of Commerce, 

overseeing NOAA] and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service and other Federal agencies, shall publish (and periodically revise 

thereafter) guidance for specifying management measures for sources of nonpoint 

pollution in coastal waters.”

In response to Section 6217(g)(1), EPA issued a draft technical document 

specifying management measures for controlling nonpoint source pollution in coastal 

waters in June 1991 and issued the final technical guidance document in January 1993.

CZARA Section 6217(a) requires EPA and NOAA to issue program guidance that

explain how States should prepare their Coastal Nonpoint Programs:

“Not later than 30 months after the date of the publication of final 

guidance under subsection (g), each State for which a management program has 

been approved pursuant to Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 

1972 shall prepare and submit to the Secretary and the Administrator a Coastal 

Nonpoint Pollution Control Program for approval pursuant to this section. The 

purpose of the program shall be to develop and implement management measures 

for nonpoint source pollution to restore and protect coastal waters, working in 

close conjunction with other State and local authorities.”

EPA and NOAA proposed program guidance in October 1992 for preparing the 
3

State Coastal Nonpoint Programs, which document State efforts to implement the 

management measures described in the technical guidance. EPA and NOAA issued the 

final program guidance in January 1993. CZARA Section 6217(b) specifies the contents 

of the Coastal Nonpoint Programs, which are incorporated into the program guidance 

requirements. Table 1 presents a summary of the program contents required by Section 

6217(b). Additional justification for each reporting item is provided in section 3(b) of 

this supporting statement.

In addition, CZARA Section 306(d)(16) requires State Coastal Nonpoint Pollution 

Control Programs to include enforceable policies and mechanisms to implement the 

applicable requirements of Section 6217.

Subsequent to the publication of the program and technical guidance, EPA and 

NOAA provided further program clarification in a January 6, 1995 letter and a March 16, 

1995 document entitled Flexibility for State Coastal Nonpoint Programs. These actions 

provide greater flexibility to States in prioritizing their activities; extend the 

implementation period for Section 6217(g) management measures from three years to 

eight years; and clarify a range of enforceable policies and mechanisms that could be 

used by States to implement their programs.

In April 1997, NOAA, EPA, the States and other interested parties began 

discussions regarding the progress made to date in developing and implementing State 

coastal nonpoint programs and the significant impediments to further progress. Based on 

these discussions, EPA and NOAA drafted a set of proposed administrative changes the 

agencies would use to guide future implementation of the CZARA program and made 

them available for a 60 day public comment period beginning March 11, 1998. After 

reviewing and responding to public comments on the proposed changes, NOAA and EPA 

issued final administrative changes to the program guidance. In some cases, the 

administrative changes impacted previous findings and conditions on State Coastal 

Nonpoint Programs. In such cases, EPA and NOAA reviewed those findings and 

conditions and made adjustments (including, where appropriate, elimination of 

conditions).

At this time, EPA and NOAA have approved programs from 16 States and five

Territories, and conditionally approved programs from 13 other States. In order for 

conditionally approved programs to gain final approval, certain conditions must be met 

within a specified time frame (usually five years). Such conditions could include the 

completion of a particular program element or the development of additional authority to 

ensure implementation of certain management measures. This ICR renewal is needed so 

that the remaining 13 States may complete development and obtain final approval of their 

programs.

2(b) PRACTICAL UTILITY/USERS OF THE DATA
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EPA and NOAA will use the Coastal Nonpoint Program submittals to determine 

whether to grant final approval of the State Coastal Nonpoint Programs. States not 

receiving final approval may lose a portion of both their CWA Section 319 and CZMA 

Section 306 funds under the penalty provisions of CZARA. The requested information 

will ensure the efficient distribution of Federal funds to States with comprehensive plans 

for controlling coastal water pollution. EPA and NOAA will also use the requested 

information to ensure that State recipients of Federal funds provide adequate 

opportunities for public participation during program development. States will use the 

information requested as part of management measure implementation in conformity with 

EPA’s technical guidance.

Table 1. Statutory Requirements in CZARA §6217

CZARA Citation Statutory Requirements for Coastal Nonpoint Programs 

§6217(b) Specify general management measures to protect coastal 

waters.

§6217(b)(1) Identify land uses which contribute significantly to the 

degradation of coastal waters.

§6217(b)(2) Identify critical coastal areas adjacent to impaired or 

threatened coastal waters, where the general management 

measures will be insufficient to maintain water quality

standards and/or designated uses.

§6217(b)(3) Identify additional management measures needed to attain or 

maintain water quality standards under CWA §303 and 

designated uses in the critical coastal areas identified in 

§6217(b)(2).

§6217(b)(4) Provide technical assistance to local governments and the 

public for implementing the additional management

measures identified in §6217(b)(3).

§6217(b)(5) Designate opportunities for public participation in all aspects 

of the coastal nonpoint program.

§6217(b)(6) Establish mechanisms for coordinating State and local 

agency implementation of the coastal nonpoint programs.

§6217(b)(7) Propose modified coastal zone boundary, as the State deems 

necessary, so that the State has adequate geographic 

jurisdiction to implement the management measures (NOAA 
5

reviewed the adequacy of existing boundaries for each 

coastal management program and recommended changes 

where necessary).

3. NONDUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS, AND OTHER COLLECTION 

CRITERIA

3(a) NONDUPLICATION

Under the original ICR, the EPA Assessment and Watershed Protection Division 

consulted with OPPE Desk Officer Harold Woodley and Masi Okasaki of NOAA to 

ensure that the information requested in the CZARA Section 6217 program guidance 

could not be acquired from other sources. EPA reviewed existing ICRs prepared by

EPA’s Office of Water and NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management 

to identify possible duplications of reporting requirements.

Upon reviewing ICR Number 1560.1 (EPA National Water Quality Inventory

Reports), EPA recognized similarities between the reporting requirements for the biennial 

State CWA Section 305(b) reports and those in the CZARA Section 6217 program 

guidance. The CWA Section 305(b) program guidance requires States and Territories to 

summarize total impaired estuarine and ocean waters and the sources of impairment in 

their 305(b) reports. We anticipate that States will be able to conduct monitoring 

activities associated with the CZARA Section 6217 program guidance through their 

existing CWA Section 305(b) processes.

3(b) PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIRED PRIOR TO ICR SUBMISSION TO OMB

EPA published a Federal Register notice on July 31, 2009 (74 FR 38182 – 38184)

to announce the renewal of this ICR. No comments were received.

3(c) CONSULTATIONS

Under the original ICR, NOAA and EPA held regional meetings to acquire 

respondent input during the initial development of the CZARA Section 6217 program 

guidance. The regional meetings were attended by representatives of State coastal 

management programs, State water quality control programs, the Coastal States 

Organization (CSO), and the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control 

Administrators (ASIWPCA). EPA and NOAA also distributed options papers and 

requested comments from each of the approved State coastal management programs.

EPA issued proposed management measures guidance in June 1991 and provided 

a six-month comment period on the management measures guidance. EPA convened 
6

technical workgroups composed of Federal and State experts in preparing both the 

proposed and the final management measures guidance. In addition, EPA held focus 

group meetings with various industry groups (agriculture, forestry, and marinas, in 

particular). The final technical guidance was published in January 1993.

NOAA and EPA issued proposed program guidance in October 1992 and 

provided a 60 day public comment period. The agencies held a series of focus group 

meetings with representatives from State coastal management and water quality agencies 

and began a second series of regional meetings with States and EPA regional offices 

during the summer of 1992. The State respondents expressed concern about flexibility to 

tailor their Coastal Nonpoint Programs to specific water quality problems in their coastal 

zones. EPA and NOAA have provided flexibility by allowing respondents to propose 

alternative management measures to those included in the technical guidance. The 

respondents must document that the alternative management measures are as effective as 

the pre-approved management measures in the technical guidance prepared by EPA.

The final program guidance was published in January 1993. In response to State 

concerns about potential burden requirements, EPA and NOAA made every effort to 

integrate components of existing CWA Section 319 and CZMA Section 306 programs

into the Coastal Nonpoint Program requirements. In order to minimize respondent 

burden, States may satisfy some reporting requirements contained in CZARA Section 

6217 by identifying existing program activities that already meet Coastal Nonpoint 

Program objectives.

In 1993 and 1994, EPA and NOAA worked closely with States to assist them in 

developing their programs. This assistance included highly detailed reviews of draft 

State Coastal Nonpoint Programs, as well as extensive meetings with individual States. 

Subsequently, on January 6, 1995, EPA and NOAA wrote letters to the State 

organizations that represent State nonpoint source and coastal zone management agencies 

to provide increased flexibility to the States with respect to criteria for program approval 

and schedules for implementation.

In April 1997, NOAA, EPA, the States, and other interested parties began 

discussions regarding the progress made to date in developing and implementing State 

Coastal Nonpoint Programs and the significant impediments to further progress. Both the 

States and Federal agencies recognized that while the goals of CZARA remain valid, the 

program and schedules originally conceived by NOAA and EPA were extremely 

ambitious, and additional flexibility would be needed to enable the States to successfully 

implement their programs. Based on this understanding, the parties proceeded to discuss 

in detail the specific aspects of the program that would require modification while 

maintaining the overall objective that States implement management measures needed to 

protect coastal waters.

Based on these discussions, EPA and NOAA drafted a set of proposed 
7

administrative changes to guide future implementation of the CZARA program and made 

them available for a 60 day public comment period beginning March 11, 1998. After 

reviewing and responding to public comments on the proposed changes, NOAA and EPA 

issued final administrative changes to the program guidance. In some cases, the 

administrative changes impacted previous findings and conditions on State Coastal 

Nonpoint Programs. In such cases, EPA and NOAA reviewed those findings and 

conditions and made adjustments (including, where appropriate, elimination of 

conditions).

On October 25, 2002 (67 FR 65563), EPA sought comments on a previous 

renewal of this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). On November 20, 2002 (67 FR 

70070), EPA extended the comment period 30 days. EPA received one comment from 

NOAA, providing recommendations for adjusting the Federal government burden hours 

to more accurately reflect the assessment of hours incurred by the agencies’ review of 

State programs. EPA incorporated NOAA’s recommendations to increase the estimate of 

the burden hours to the Federal government to more accurately reflect actual burdens (see 

Table 4).

NOAA and EPA have continued to consult with States and public interest groups 

throughout the process of formulating strategies for final approval and criteria for 

fulfilling conditions.

3(d) EFFECTS OF LESS FREQUENT COLLECTION

The development and approval of State Coastal Nonpoint Programs is a one-time 

collection activity, therefore less frequent collection is not possible. Of the 34 States that 

participate in CZARA Section 6217, 21 have Coastal Nonpoint Programs that have been 

fully approved by NOAA and EPA. 13 other States have completed development and 

obtained conditional approval of their Coastal Nonpoint Programs, and now need only to 

remove the existing conditions to obtain final approval.

3(e) GENERAL GUIDELINES

The guidance does not include any information collection activities that exceed 

the PRA-imposed guidelines contained in 5 CFR 1320.6.

3(f) CONFIDENTIALITY

The information collected under CZARA Section 6217 and this ICR renewal will 

not require States to collect any confidential information.

3(g) SENSITIVE QUESTIONS

Information to be reported is not of a sensitive nature.
8

4. THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED

4(a) RESPONDENTS/SIC CODES

The respondent community consists of the 29 coastal States and five coastal 

Territories with approved Coastal Zone Management Programs. The SIC Code for State 

respondents is 9511 (Administration of Environmental Quality Programs: Air and Water 

Resources and Solid Waste Management).

4(b) INFORMATION REQUESTED

(i) Data Items, including Record Keeping Requirements

The respondents have reported on the following items in their Coastal Nonpoint 

Program submittals under CZARA Section 6217. (Where applicable, the CZARA section 

requiring each item is listed in brackets.) No record keeping requirements are imposed 

on the respondents.

1. Categories and subcategories of nonpoint sources that generally impair or 

threaten coastal water quality within the respondent’s jurisdiction 

[CZARA §6217(b)].

2. Management measures selected from the CZARA §6217(g) technical 

guidance to address each significant nonpoint source category and 

subcategory identified above [CZARA §6217(b)].

3. Alternative management measures and technical documentation. (This 

optional item is included to allow the States additional flexibility in 

designing their Coastal Nonpoint Programs.)

4. Coastal waters not maintaining water quality standards and coastal waters 

threatened by increased pollution from new or expanding uses 

[§6217(b)(1)].

5. Land uses that are sources of nonpoint pollution entering impaired or 

threatened coastal waters [§6217(b)(1)].

6. Critical coastal areas adjacent to waters not maintaining water quality 

standards [CZARA §6217(b)(3)].

7. Additional management measures developed by the State or Territory to 

address threats or impairments identified in #5 above and for application 

in critical coastal areas [§6217(b)(3)].
9

8. Plans for revising additional management measures [CZARA 

§6217(b)(3)].

9. Plans for providing technical assistance for implementing additional 

management measures to local governments and the public [CZARA 

§6217(b)(4) and §6217(b)(5)].

10. The organization, structure, authority, and resources of lead agencies 

selected to implement management measures. (This information is needed 

to ensure that implementation of the Coastal Nonpoint Program is 

delegated to agencies with adequate authority and resources.)

11. Schedules for implementation of management measures. (This

information is needed to evaluate State progress towards implementing 

their Coastal Nonpoint Programs.)

12. Legislative and administrative authorities for implementing management 

measures. (This information is needed to ensure that the State has the 

authority to implement the Coastal Nonpoint Program.)

13. Mechanisms for coordinating State agency and local government 

participation in the Coastal Nonpoint Programs [CZARA §6217(b)(6)].

14. Procedures to ensure implementation of management measures including 

operation and maintenance, inspection, and monitoring activities. (This 

information is needed to ensure that the State can implement selected 

management measures in the Coastal Nonpoint Program.)

15. Plans to modify coastal zone boundaries [CZARA §6217(b)(6)].

16. Mechanisms for coordinating Coastal Nonpoint Programs with CWA 

programs under Sections 208, 303, 319, and 320 [CZARA §6217(a)(2) 

and §6217(b)(6)].

17. Provisions for public participation [CZARA §6217(b)(5)].

(ii) Respondent Activities

CZARA Section 6217 requires each respondent to prepare a one-time document 

describing their Coastal Nonpoint Program. The respondents have already performed the 

following activities and submitted their coastal Nonpoint Programs to NOAA and EPA in 

compliance with the program and technical guidances:
10

$ Reviewed the program and technical guidance documents describing the contents 

required in the Coastal Nonpoint Programs and the management measures for 

controlling nonpoint sources of water quality degradation in coastal areas.

$ Planned activities (i.e., delegate collection tasks, plan interagency meetings, 

establish reviewers, and delegate writing activities) to complete development of 

the Coastal Nonpoint Program.

$ Collected information relevant to the data items listed above (e.g., lists of 

impaired coastal waters, lists of management measures to be adopted, legal and 

geographical jurisdiction of agencies implementing management measures). The 

States acquired all of the information from existing sources.

$ Analyzed the information and constructed the Coastal Nonpoint Program, 

including revising coastal zone boundaries and planning new or modified State 

and local regulations to implement the Coastal Nonpoint Program.

$ Wrote draft and final Coastal Nonpoint Programs, provided notice and 

opportunity for public comment on their programs, and submitted the programs to 

EPA and NOAA for approval.

Under this ICR renewal, the 13 States that have received conditional approval for 

their Coastal Nonpoint Programs will be required to submit additional information to

obtain final program approval.

5. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED--AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION 

METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

5(a) AGENCY ACTIVITIES

EPA and NOAA activities under this ICR renewal will consist of the review of 

Coastal Nonpoint Program amendments and/or informational updates submitted by States 

to fulfill specified conditional approval requirements necessary to obtain final program 

approvals.

5(b) COLLECTION METHODOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

The States will submit amendments to their Coastal Nonpoint Programs when 

such amendments are required to fulfill and therefore remove the conditions set out in the 

conditional approval and obtain final program approval.

5(c) SMALL ENTITY FLEXIBILITY

This section is not applicable because respondents are States and Territories, and 
11

are not small businesses or organizations as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 

U.S.C. Sections 601(3) and (4).

5(d) COLLECTION SCHEDULE

There is no uniform schedule for the submission of State amendments to Coastal 

Nonpoint Programs. Rather, EPA and NOAA have set forth specific schedules for 

completion of conditions tailored to each State’s program.

6. ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND COST OF THE COLLECTION

6(a) ESTIMATING RESPONDENT BURDEN

The burden hour estimates for the original ICR were based upon discussions with 

Regional EPA and NOAA personnel who have direct contact with State respondents and 

past experience with Coastal Nonpoint Program submittal procedures. Burden estimates 

for specific elements were also acquired from a small sample of State respondents 

(Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, and Washington). The detailed breakdown of 

burden estimates for each activity is presented in Table 2.

Based on our analyses of State Coastal Nonpoint Programs that have been 

submitted to EPA and NOAA under Section 6217, we have estimated that the collection 

burden under this ICR renewal for the conditionally approved programs will be 

approximately 15 percent of the burden estimated in the original ICR. This estimate is 

based on States’ successful completion of the majority of program elements, and the 

additional work already underway by many States to complete program elements that 

require further development. In addition, while States will submit information under this 

ICR renewal more than once to address different aspects of their Coastal Nonpoint 

Program that require additional work specified under a conditional approval, other States 

may not submit any information under this ICR renewal because the conditions in their 

conditional approvals may be resolved through State rulemaking or legislative processes 

or as a result of investigations conducted for other reasons that support exemptions to 

existing conditions. Therefore, the estimate of the collection burden under this ICR 

renewal is an approximate calculation.

6(b) ESTIMATING RESPONDENT COSTS

The associated collection under this ICR renewal will have a moderate financial

impact on the respondents.

(i) Estimating Labor Costs

The respondent labor cost estimate under the original ICR was based upon an average 

hourly rate and benefits comparable to a Federal GS Grade 10, Step 7. The total hourly
12

rate, including benefits, was estimated in the original ICR to be $33. For this ICR 

renewal, the estimated hourly rate was increased to $37 to account for inflation. Table 2 

presents a detailed breakdown of the labor cost estimates for each activity.

TABLE 2. ESTIMATE OF BURDEN TO STATE RESPONDENTS WITH 

CONDITIONALLY APPROVED PROGRAMS, LABOR COSTS

Collection Activity

-A -

Burden 

hours per 

respondent

-BNumber of 

respondents

-CPersonhours

C = A x B

-DCost in 

Dollars

D = C x $37

1. Review documents

a. Program guidance

b. Technical guidance

1

4

13

13

 13

 52

 481

 1,924

2. Plan activities 16 13 208 7,696

3. Collect information

a. Identify general NPS categories 

and identify general management 

measures

b. Technical documentation for 

alternatives

c. Identify impaired coastal waters

d. Identify land uses

e. Identify critical coastal areas

f. Identify supplemental management 

measures

g. Identify lead agencies

h. Schedule

i. Legislative/administrative authority

j. Coordination mechanisms

k. Operation & maint. procedures

l. Inspection procedures

m. Monitoring procedures

n. Coastal zone boundaries

o. Technical assistance options

p. Public participation mechanisms 

70

10

4

24

10

16

4

12

15

15

8

8

26

4

4

4

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

 910

 130

 52

 312

 130

 208

 52

 156

 195

 195

 104

 104

 338

 52

 52

 52

33,670

 4,810

 1,924

11,544

 4,810

 7,696

 1,924

5,772

7,215

7,215

3,848

 3,848

12,506

1,924

1,924

1,924

4. Compile, review and analyze 

information

a. Develop State and local regulations

b. Revise coastal zone boundaries

c. Other analysis

60

5

30

13

13

13

 780

 65

 390

28,860

 2,405

14,430
13

5. Write Coastal Nonpoint Program

a. Draft program report

b. Final program report

10

15

13

13

 130

 195

 4,810

 7,215

6. Recordkeeping requirements Not 

applicable

- - -

TOTAL: ALL BURDEN ITEMS 375 13 4,875 $180,375

(ii) Estimating Capital and Operations and Maintenance Costs

No capital costs or operation and maintenance costs are associated with this ICR

renewal.

(iii) Capital/Start-up Operations and Maintenance Costs

No capital/start-up operation and maintenance costs are associated with this ICR

renewal.

(iv) Annualizing Capital Costs

As there are no capital costs associated with this ICR renewal, this section is not 

applicable.

6(c) ESTIMATING AGENCY BURDEN AND COST

The agency burden in the original ICR was based on discussions with EPA 

Regional Nonpoint Source Program Coordinators and NOAA Regional personnel. The 

cost was based upon an average hourly rate of $33, which included salary and benefits for 

a Federal employee Grade 10, Step 7. The total number of burden hours in the original 

ICR to the Federal government was estimated to be 13,240, and the total cost was 

estimated to be $466,420, based on the original 29 respondents. Based on comments 

received from NOAA in 2003, these figures were later determined to be underestimates

due to more updated and precise knowledge of staff time at NOAA and EPA devoted to 

reviewing State coastal nonpoint program submissions.

Under this ICR renewal, the Federal government burden will include the burden 

associated with EPA and NOAA review of amendments submitted by the 13 States that 

still need to fulfill conditional approval requirements. To calculate the Federal

government burden, the estimated hourly rate was increased to $37 to account for 

inflation. Table 3 presents a breakdown of the burden and cost estimates for each 

agency.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATE OF BURDEN TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
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Collection Activity -A -

Burden hours

(personhours)

-BPersonnel 

Costs

A x $37.00

-COther direct 

costs

-DTotal Dollars

B + C

1. EPA review of amendments 

to State Coastal Nonpoint 

Programs

10,500 $388,500 - $388,500

2. NOAA review of 

amendments to State Coastal 

Nonpoint Programs

13,000 481,000 - 481,000

TOTAL 23,500 $869,500 - $869,500

6(d) ESTIMATING THE RESPONDENT UNIVERSE AND TOTAL BURDEN 

AND COSTS

The universe of respondents consists of the 13 conditionally approved States.

The total burden and costs for these 13 respondents are summarized in 6(e)(i), 

with detail provided in Table 2.

6(e) BOTTOM LINE BURDEN HOURS AND COSTS/MASTER TABLES

(i) The Respondent Tally

States

The one-time total burden to the respondents is:

Total hours (375) X Number of Respondents (13) = 4,875 hours

The one-time total cost to the respondents is:

Total cost (4,875 X $37/hour) = $180,375

The respondents will perform the burden items over the three-year ICR renewal

period. Thus, the average annual burden/cost is equivalent to the total one-time 

burden/cost divided by three years:

Total burden (4,875 hours)/3 years = 1,625 hours/year

Total cost ($180,375)/3 years = $60,125/year (for all respondents)

Total cost per respondent per year = $60,125/13 respondents = $4,625

The master table for respondent burden and costs is:

Total Burden Total
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Hours Costs

Bottom Line 4,875 hours $180,375

(ii) The Agency Tally

The total cost to the Federal government is estimated at 23,500 hours, or 

$869,500. The Federal government will perform the collection activities over the threeyear period of this ICR renewal.

EPA burden hours are estimated at approximately 3,500 hours per year over three 

years, resulting in a total burden of 10,500 hours.

NOAA burden hours are estimated at approximately 4,333 hours per year over 

three years, resulting in a total burden of 13,000 hours.

Total Federal Agency Hours = 10,500 (EPA) + 13,000 (NOAA) = 23,500

The average annual burden/cost is equivalent to the total burden/cost divided by

three years:

Total burden (23,500 hours)/3 years = 7,833 hours/year

Total cost at $37/hour = ($869,500)/3 years = $289,833 annually

The master table for agency burden and costs is:

Total Burden Total

Hours Costs

Bottom Line 23,500 hours $869,500

(iii) Variations in the Annual Bottom Line

For many reasons, variations for State respondents and for Federal agencies are 

problematic to estimate. Some of the factors that affect these variations are described in

section 6(a). In general, activities associated with Federal approvals of State Coastal 

Nonpoint Programs have decreased over time, both for State respondents and for Federal

agencies, as more States have achieved full program approvals. Indeed, during the first 

several years of the Coastal Nonpoint Program development period, there were 

comparatively higher levels of activity among both the Federal partners (who developed 

program guidance and conducted “threshold reviews” of initial State program submittals) 

and the State respondents (who submitted materials for most or all 56 management 

measures specified in Congressionally-mandated program guidance, as well as 

information on State enforceable policies and mechanisms). Since that initial start-up 

period, activity has declined. However, since at least 2003, activity levels for CZARA

remain moderate among both State respondents and Federal agencies. Two factors seem 

to account for this:
16

1) Five States joined the Coastal Nonpoint Program as late entrants: 

Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas and Indiana. Minnesota’s program 

was approved in July 2006.

2) Among the 29 original participating States and Territories, the 13 States 

that remain conditionally approved have challenging and unique 

obstacles that account for their continued conditionally approved status, 

and these States, along with the Federal partners (NOAA and EPA), are 

working with due diligence to overcome the more difficult hurdles that 

remain. So while the number of conditions per State has greatly 

decreased, the few conditions that remain are the most challenging to 

resolve, and thus require disproportionately greater efforts.

6(f) REASONS FOR CHANGE IN BURDEN

The respondent burden in the original ICR is reduced under this ICR renewal

because States have already completed most activities in this one-time CZARA Section 

6217 requirement.

6(g) BURDEN STATEMENT

The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of 

information is estimated to average 125 hours per response. Burden means the total time, 

effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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; 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. 

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 are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR 

chapter 15. 

To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the 

provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent 

burden, including the use of automated collection techniques, EPA has established a 

public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0394, which is 

available for online viewing at www.regulations.gov, or in-person viewing at the Office 

of Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Public Reading Room, Room 3334, 

EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004. The EPA 

Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
17

through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room 

is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water Docket is 202-566-2426. An 

electronic version of the public docket is available at www.regulations.gov. This site can 

be used to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the 

public 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 above.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This section is not applicable because no statistical procedures are employed for 

the data collection.