U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST 

FOR

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEACH 

ACT GRANTS (RENEWAL)

EPA ICR No. 2048.04

OMB Control No. 2040-0244

August 2011
ii 9/8/2011

Contents

1. Identification of the Information Collection .........................................................................................1

1(a) Title of the Information Collection ...............................................................................................1

1(b) Short Characterization/Abstract....................................................................................................1

2. Need for and Use of the Collection.......................................................................................................2

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection ................................................................................................2

2(b) Practical Utility/Users of the Data ................................................................................................2

3. Nonduplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria .............................................................2

3(a) Nonduplication..............................................................................................................................2

3(b) Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB...........................................................2

3(c) Consultations.................................................................................................................................3

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection..............................................................................................3

3(e) General Guidelines........................................................................................................................3

3(f) Confidentiality ..............................................................................................................................3

3(g) Sensitive Questions.......................................................................................................................3

4. The Respondents and the Information Requested.................................................................................3

4(a) Respondents/SIC Codes................................................................................................................3

4(b) Information Requested..................................................................................................................3

5. The Information Collected-Agency Activities, Collection Methodology, and Information 

Management..........................................................................................................................................6

5(a) Agency Activities..........................................................................................................................6

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management...................................................................................6

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility.................................................................................................................7

5(d) Collection Schedule ......................................................................................................................7

6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection................................................................................7

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden.....................................................................................................7

6(b) Estimating Respondent Cost.........................................................................................................8

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost..........................................................................................12

6(d) Estimating the Respondent Universe and Total Burden and Costs.............................................13

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables..............................................................................13

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden....................................................................................................14

6(g) Burden Statement........................................................................................................................15
iii 9/8/2011

Tables

Table 1. BEACH Act Grant performance criteria summary.........................................................................4

Table 2. Individual respondent 3-year state burden hours............................................................................9

Table 3. Total Agency burden hours per activity over 3 years...................................................................13

Table 4. Annualized respondent burden and cost .......................................................................................13

Table 5. Total annualized respondent and Agency burden and costs.........................................................14

Table 6. Change in annual state burden for performance criteria tasks......................................................14
1 9/8/2011

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST

1. Identification of the Information Collection

1(a) Title of the Information Collection 

Reporting Requirements for BEACH Act Grants

1(b)Short Characterization/Abstract 

The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act amends the Clean 

Water Act (CWA) in part and authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to 

award BEACH Act Program Development and Implementation Grants to coastal and Great 

Lakes states, tribes, and territories (collectively referred to as states) for their beach monitoring 

and notification programs. The grants will assist those states to develop and implement a 

consistent approach to monitor recreational water quality; assess, manage, and communicate 

health risks from waterborne microbial contamination; notify the public of pollution occurrences, 

and post beach advisories and closures to prevent public exposure to microbial pathogens. To 

qualify for a BEACH Act Grant, a state must submit information to the EPA documenting that 

its beach monitoring and notification program is consistent with nine performance criteria 

outlined in the National Beach Guidance and Performance Criteria for Recreation Waters. For 

EPA to award a BEACH Act Implementation Grant, a state must document that its coastal 

monitoring and notification program includes or will include the following:

• A risk-based beach evaluation and classification plan.

• A sampling design and monitoring implementation plan.

• Monitoring report submission and delegation procedures.

• Methods and assessment procedures.

• A public notification and risk communication plan.

• Measures to notify the EPA and local governments.

• Measures to notify the public.

• Notification report submission and delegation procedures.

• Public evaluation of the program.

All beach program information will be collected by the EPA’s Office of Science and 

Technology, stored in the Beach Database, and displayed on the EPA’s Beaches website for use 

by the public, state environmental and public health agencies, and the EPA.

The third Information Collection Request (ICR) approval period expires in January 2012. This 

Supporting Statement is for the renewal ICR being submitted to Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for re-approval of the Reporting Requirements for BEACH Act Grants 

information collection. For the fourth ICR approval period after rule promulgation, the EPA

estimates that the annual respondent burden for the 37 eligible coastal and Great Lakes states, 

tribes, and territories will be 88,812 hours and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs of 
2 9/8/2011

$3,943,080, for a total annual cost of $11,463,642. There are no start-up costs. Because the 

Agency does not incur any additional O&M costs, the total annual respondent and Agency

burden and cost estimate is 91,957 hours (respondents and Agency) and $11,800,629 (which 

includes the respondent and Agency burden costs and the respondent O&M costs of $3,943,080). 

The EPA requests that OMB review and approve this ICR package proposal for 3 years.

2. Need for and Use of the Collection

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection 

The BEACH Act (Public Law 106-284) established a grant program to assist states in 

implementing a uniform monitoring and notification program for their coastal recreational 

waters. As a condition of receipt of a BEACH Act Grant, states must show evidence of meeting 

the nine performance criteria and the conditions under the BEACH Act. Therefore, a state 

applying for a grant must submit information on its programs to its EPA Regional Coordinator to 

document that its program is consistent with the performance criteria.

2(b)Practical Utility/Users of the Data 

Data will be used by the EPA, state and local environmental and public health agencies, and the 

public. The EPA will use the information submitted by a state to determine whether the state’s 

program is consistent with the performance criteria and the BEACH Act. State and local 

environmental and public health agencies will use the data as an indicator of program 

performance, and the public will use the data as reference to make informed decisions before 

going to the beach. The information provided by each state will also be used to report the status 

of beach monitoring and notification programs nationwide. A state must implement measures to 

notify the EPA of the results of its water quality sampling. Therefore, these data will be used to 

create and maintain a national database of water quality trends, advisories, and closings.

3. Nonduplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria

3(a) Nonduplication

The information requested from the states is required for receipt of a BEACH Act Grant and is 

not available from other sources. The EPA has made every reasonable attempt to ensure that the 

beach monitoring and notification data and information requested through the BEACH Act Grant 

Program is not already available through less burdensome mechanisms.

3(b)Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB

The EPA published the first Federal Register notice for this ICR on XXXX, XXXX (XX FR 

XXXX). The EPA requested comment from the public; no comments were received.
3 9/8/2011

3(c) Consultations 

The EPA consulted with the public through the first Federal Register notice, published on XX 

XX, XXXX.

3(d)Effects of Less Frequent Collection

The requirement for a state to submit its monitoring and notification data is a statutory

requirement under the BEACH Act. The frequency and format of such submittal is at the 

Administrator’s discretion [see CWA section 406(b)(B)(3)]. Since 2003, the EPA has required 

states to submit their monitoring and notification data annually. However, to provide more up-todate information to the public on the state of their beaches, the Agency is encouraging more 

frequent reporting. The Agency continues to expect state grant performance reports annually.

3(e) General Guidelines 

The BEACH Act Grant Program will be conducted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 

Act [Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 1320.5(d)(2)] and will adhere to 

OMB’s general guidelines for information collections.

3(f) Confidentiality

Measures to ensure the confidentiality of the collected beach monitoring and notification data are 

not necessary because the information submitted by the respondents is public information.

3(g)Sensitive Questions 

No information of sensitive nature will be collected as a result of this ICR.

4. The Respondents and the Information Requested

4(a) Respondents/SIC Codes

Information collected by the EPA under the BEACH Act will be submitted by environmental and 

public health agencies in coastal and Great Lakes states, territories, and tribes. No private 

industries will be required to submit information, and, therefore, no SIC codes are relevant.

4(b)Information Requested 

The EPA is requiring states to provide information on how a beach monitoring and notification 

program is consistent with the following nine performance criteria, developed from the BEACH 

Act and summarized in Table 1.
4 9/8/2011

Table 1. BEACH Act Grant performance criteria summary

Category

Performance 

criteria Requirement

BEACH Act 

section

Evaluation and 

Classification

1 Risk-based Beach Evaluation 

and Classification

406(b)(2)(A)(ii-iv)

406(c)(1)

Monitoring 2 Sampling Design and Monitoring 

Implementation Plan

406(c)(3)

3 Monitoring Report Submission 

and Delegation

406(b)(3)(A), (B)

406(c)(2)

4 Methods and Assessment 

Procedures

406(c)(4)

Public 

Notification and 

Prompt Risk 

Communication

5 Public Notification and Risk 

Communication Plan

406(c)(7)

6 Measures to Notify the EPA and 

Local Governments

406(c)(5)

7 Measures to Notify the Public 406(c)(6)

8 Notification Report Submission 

and Delegation

406(b)(3)(A), (B)

406(c)(2)

Public 

Evaluation

9 Public Evaluation of Program 406(b)(2)(A)(v)

1) Risk-based Beach Evaluation and Classification

A state must develop a risk-based beach evaluation and classification plan and apply it to state 

coastal recreation waters. A state or tribal program must describe the factors used in its 

evaluation and classification process and explain how its beaches are ranked as a result of the 

process. The process must result in the identification of a list of coastal recreation waters in the 

state, including coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by

the public.

2) Sampling Design and Monitoring Plan

A state must develop a sampling design and monitoring implementation plan. The plan must 

adequately address the frequency and location of monitoring and assessment of coastal recreation 

waters according to the periods of recreational use of the waters, the nature and extent of use 

during certain periods, the proximity of the waters to known point sources and nonpoint sources 

of pollution, and any effect of storm events on the waters.

3) Monitoring Report Submission and Delegation

A state must develop a mechanism to collect relevant information, submit timely reports to the 

EPA, and document any delegation of monitoring responsibilities to local governments.

Report Submission

A state recipient of a grant must submit to the EPA Administrator timely information and reports 

that describe the data collected as part of the monitoring program and the actions taken to notify

the public when water quality standards are exceeded.
5 9/8/2011

Delegation

If monitoring responsibilities are delegated to local governments, the state grant recipient must 

describe the process by which the state may delegate to local governments responsibility for 

implementing the monitoring program.

4) Methods and Assessment Procedures

A state must develop detailed methods and assessment procedures. Those procedures must 

adequately address both the methods to be used for detecting levels of pathogens and pathogen 

indicators that are harmful to human health and the assessment procedures for identifying shortterm increases in pathogens and pathogen indicators that are harmful to human health.

5) Public Notification and Risk Communication Plan

A state must develop an overall public notification and risk communication plan. The plan must 

describe the state’s public notification efforts and measures to inform the public of the potential 

risks associated with water contact activities in the coastal recreation waters that do not meet 

applicable water quality standards.

6) Measures to Notify EPA and Local Governments

A state must identify measures for promptly communicating to the EPA and local governments 

of the occurrence, nature, location, pollutants involved, and extent of any exceeding of, or 

likelihood of exceeding, applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen 

indicators. The state must identify how that information will be promptly communicated to the 

EPA and to a designated official of the local government that has jurisdiction over land adjoining 

the coastal recreation waters for which the failure to meet applicable standards has been 

identified.

7) Measures to Notify the Public

A state must develop measures to notify the public by posting signs at beaches or similar points 

of access or through functionally equivalent communication measures that are sufficient to give 

notice to the public that the coastal recreation waters are not meeting or are not expected to meet 

applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators.

8) Notification Report Submission and Delegations

A state must develop a mechanism to collect relevant information, submit timely reports to the 

EPA, and document any delegation of notification responsibilities to local governments.

Report Submission

A state or tribal recipient of a grant must submit to the EPA Administrator timely information 

and reports that describe data collected as part of the notification program and the actions taken 

to notify the public when water quality standards are exceeded.
6 9/8/2011

Delegation

If notification responsibilities are delegated to local governments, the state grant recipient must 

describe the process by which the state may delegate to local governments responsibility for 

implementing the notification program.

9) Public Evaluation of Program

A state must identify how to provide the public with an opportunity to review the program 

through a process that provides for public notice, review, and an opportunity to comment. That 

can be accomplished through a record of public comments, meetings, forums, or workshops.

5. The Information Collected-agency Activities, Collection 

Methodology, and Information Management

5(a) Agency Activities 

The BEACH Act Grant Program will be administered by the EPA Headquarters and the EPA 

Regional Offices, which have planned for and allocated resources for the efficient and effective 

management of the grant program. The EPA is conducting the following activities in 

administering the BEACH Act grants:

• The EPA Headquarters is to monitor state programs annually to ensure compliance with the 

performance criteria.

• The EPA Regions are to monitor state programs annually to ensure compliance with the 

performance criteria.

• The EPA Regions and the EPA Headquarters are to provide miscellaneous support to the 

states.

• The EPA Regions are to revise work plans and update the Quality Management Plan.

• The EPA Regions are to perform technical review of a Quality Assurance Project Plan and 

Grants Management Plan.

• Regions are to ensure that a Quality Assurance Project Plan is complete before 

implementation.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management 

The EPA Beach Program encourages states to electronically transmit beach monitoring and 

notification data directly to the EPA. Electronic reporting is intended to achieve data collection 

efficiencies and reduce the possibility of data input error.

It is the state’s responsibility to conduct ongoing data analysis, including performing data quality 

assurance/quality control to check for anomalies in the data that might be related to data entry or 

laboratory errors. Data quality review and analysis will include continuous analysis of laboratory

results, pollution occurrence events, public notification, and review of all program data. The 

beach monitoring and notification data will be maintained in the eBEACHES data system. 

Reporting of beach data to the EPA consists of beach program information, notification data, 
7 9/8/2011

monitoring data, locational data. The data collected under the BEACH Act Grant Program will 

be used for program performance evaluation to determine if a state program is consistent with 

the BEACH Guidance and Performance Criteria document, to analyze pollution occurrences at 

beaches across the nation and report to Congress on the status of the nation’s recreation waters.

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

Measures to assist small entities are not applicable because the respondents for the BEACH Act 

Grant Program are state government agencies. However, the EPA may make a grant to a local 

government for implementing a monitoring and notification program only if, after the 1-year 

period beginning on the date of publication of performance criteria, the EPA determines that the 

state is not implementing a program that meets the performance criteria.

5(d) Collection Schedule 

A state must show evidence documenting its compliance with the nine performance criteria as 

listed in the Federal Register and the National Beach Guidance and Performance Criteria to be 

eligible for a BEACH Act Grant.

6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden 

The BEACH Act requires states to devote time and resources to implement a monitoring and 

notification program to meet the performance criteria outlined in the National Beach Guidance 

and Performance Criteria for Recreation Waters. To develop burden estimates, the EPA 

estimated the number of hours that will be required by states to adhere to the following 

performance criteria:

1. A risk-based beach evaluation and classification plan.

2. A sampling design and monitoring implementation plan.

3. Monitoring report submission and delegation procedures.

4. Methods and assessment procedures.

5. A public notification and risk communication plan.

6. Measures to notify the EPA and local governments.

7. Measures to notify the public.

8. Notification report submission and delegation procedures.

9. Public evaluation of the program.

The Agency estimated that implementing a monitoring and notification program in accordance 

with the nine performance criteria will take an annual average of 88,812 hours and $3,943,080 

O&M for all 37 respondents.
8 9/8/2011

The following assumptions were made for this ICR on the basis of data collected by the EPA and 

consultations with respondents listed in section 3(c):

• The average beach (monitoring) season was assumed to be 18 weeks.

• The average number of samples collected per week at each monitored beach during the beach 

season was assumed to be 2 samples.

• The average cost of sample analysis was assumed to be $30 per sample.

• The frequency of reporting to the EPA is assumed to be quarterly.

6(b)Estimating Respondent Cost 

The annual cost for a state to implement the performance criteria necessary to comply with the 

BEACH Act Grant Program are attributed to labor costs and O&M costs. The total cost burden 

over 3 years for the 37 states and territories is estimated to be $34,390,927, which consists of 

$22,561,687 in labor costs and $11,829,240 in O&M costs.

Labor Costs

To develop labor costs, the EPA multiplied the number of hours that will be required to 

implement a monitoring and notification plan by the state employee hourly rate to generate a cost 

estimate. Because labor rates vary so widely among the state government personnel involved in 

implementing a state monitoring and notification program, the EPA used an average loaded 

hourly rate that is representative of the average salary for a managerial and technical state 

employee as listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for full-time state and local government 

workers in the 2010 National Compensation Survey. The managerial salary of $134.19 per hour 

is calculated as the hourly rate of $51.61 times an overhead factor of 1.6. That is, $51.61 + 

($51.61 x 1.6) = $134.19. The technical salary of $80.83 per hour is calculated as $31.09 times 

the 1.6 factor. Table 2 presents an estimate of the burden that state governments will incur to 

meet each performance criterion outlined in the National Beach Guidance and Grant 

Performance Criteria for Recreation Waters. The table identifies the activities to be performed 

by the state, the associated hours required for each activity, and the labor cost for each activity. 

Annual totals are presented at the end of Table 2.

Operation and Maintenance Costs 

In addition to labor costs, the states and territories incur O&M costs associated with the 

analytical fees and shipping for the water quality samples. Non-labor costs for the 37 states and 

territories are solely attributed to the laboratory fees that will be charged for analysis and to 

shipping charges for sending the sample bottles to the appropriate laboratory.
9 9/8/2011

Table 2. Individual respondent 3-year state burden hours 

Performance 

criterion State activity

3-year 

managerial burden

3-year 

technical burden

Total 

3-year burden

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost 

$134.19/hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total 

labor cost

$80.83/

hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost

(dollars)

1 -

Risk-based 

Beach 

Evaluation 

and 

Classification

Identify coastal 

recreation waters

1 $134 6 $485 7 $619

Identify and submit list of 

monitored waters

1 $134 6 $485 7 $619

Collect and submit 

beach lat/long 

coordinates 

(georeference beaches 

using maps, GPS, etc.)

20 $2,684 180 $14,550 200 $17,234

Identify bathing beaches 

and submit beach miles

20 $2,684 80 $6,467 100 $9,150

Determine legal authority 

for administering 

monitoring and 

notification programs

3 $403 6 $485 9 $888

Review available 

information

5 $671 15 $1,213 20 $1,883

Rank beaches 3 $403 100 $8,083 103 $8,486

Performance Criterion 

1 Total

53 $7,112 393 $31,768 446 $38,880

2 -

Sampling 

Design and 

Monitoring 

Implementati

on Plan

Identify sampling plan 

(when and where to

sample, what depth to 

sample, etc.)

3 $403 5 $404 8 $807

Ensure data quality 12 $1,610 100 $8,083 112 $9,694

Staff monitoring 

programs

4 $537 7 $566 11 $1,103

Train monitoring staff 16 $2,147 200 $16,167 216 $18,314

Create database and 

data submission process

40 $5,367 360 $29,100 400 $34,468

Manage data for beach 

season

20 $2,684 180 $14,550 200 $17,234

Program implementation 

and oversight

120 $16,102 120 $9,700 240 $25,802

Performance Criterion 

2 Total

215 $28,850 972 $78,571 1,187 $107,421
10 9/8/2011

Performance 

criterion State activity

3-year 

managerial burden

3-year 

technical burden

Total 

3-year burden

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost 

$134.19/hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total 

labor cost

$80.83/

hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost

(dollars)

3 -

Monitoring 

Report 

Submission 

and 

Delegation

Submit report that 

describes data collected 

and public notification 

activities

12 $1,610 35 $2,829 47 $4,439

Describe process by 

which the state may 

delegate to local 

governments the 

responsibility for 

implementing a 

monitoring program

6 $805 18 $1,455 24 $2,260

Performance Criterion 

3 Total

18 $2,415 53 $4,284 71 $6,700

4 -

Methods and 

Assessment 

Procedures

Identify laboratories for 

analysis

1 $134 12 $970 13 $1,104

Determine analytical 

procedures

0 $0 4 $323 4 $323

Identify sample collection 

techniques

1 $134 6 $485 7 $619

Collect water sample 0 $0 1,350 $109,126 1,350 $109,126

Determine data 

validation and 

verification procedures

2 $268 9 $728 11 $996

Analyze and submit 

monitoring data to the 

EPA

140 $18,786 2,600 $210,168 2,740 $228,954

Identify the use of 

predictive tools in beach 

monitoring. (If using 

predictive tools, identify 

what type of tool, how 

used, how applicable, 

etc.)

4 $537 20 $1,617 24 $2,153

Performance Criterion 

4 Total

148 $19,860 4,001 $323,417 4,149 $343,276

5 -

Public 

Notification 

and Risk 

Communication Plan

Perform a problem 

assessment and 

audience identification

2 $268 22 $1,778 24 $2,047

Determine and develop 

content and procedures 

for advisories and 

closings

4 $537 44 $3,557 48 $4,093

Performance Criterion 

5 Total

6 $805 66 $5,335 72 $6,140
11 9/8/2011

Performance 

criterion State activity

3-year 

managerial burden

3-year 

technical burden

Total 

3-year burden

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost 

$134.19/hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total 

labor cost

$80.83/

hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost

(dollars)

6 -

Measures to 

Notify EPA

and Local 

Governments

Determine the 

mechanisms for states to 

notify local governments 

of advisories and

closings, and removal of 

advisories and closings

3 $403 23 $1,859 26 $2,262

Determine the 

mechanisms for states to 

notify the EPA of 

advisories, closings, and 

removal of advisories 

and closings 

1 $134 13 $1,051 14 $1,185

Collect and submit 

notification data to the 

EPA

4 $537 22 $1,778 26 $2,315

Performance Criterion 

6 Total

8 $1,073 58 $4,688 66 $5,762

7 -

Measures to 

Notify the 

Public

Determine the 

mechanisms for states to 

notify the public of 

advisories, closings, and 

removal of advisories 

and closings

2 $268 20 $1,617 22 $1,885

Implement notification 

program (could include 

posting signs or 

functional equivalent)

45 $6,038 855 $69,113 900 $75,151

Performance Criterion 

7 Total

47 $6,307 875 $70,730 922 $77,036

8 -

Notification 

Report 

Submission 

and 

Delegation

Submit report that 

describes data collected 

and the public 

notification activities

6 $805 50 $4,042 56 $4,847

Describe process by 

which the state may 

delegate to local 

governments the 

responsibility for 

implementing a 

notification program 

2 $268 22 $1,778 24 $2,047

Performance Criterion 

8 Total

8 $1,073 72 $5,820 80 $6,894
12 9/8/2011

Performance 

criterion State activity

3-year 

managerial burden

3-year 

technical burden

Total 

3-year burden

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost 

$134.19/hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total 

labor cost

$80.83/

hour 

(dollars)

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost

(dollars)

9 -

Public 

Evaluation of 

Program

Ensure the monitoring 

and notification program 

meets the needs of the 

audiences and the 

objectives of the Agency

8 $1,073 96 $7,760 104 $8,834

Evaluate the monitoring 

and notification program

8 $1,073 96 $7,760 104 $8,834

Performance Criterion 

9 Total

16 $2,147 192 $15,520 208 $17,667

Total 519 $69,643 6,682 $540,133 7,201 $609,775

Annual Total 173 $23,214 2,227 $180,044 2,400 $203,258

The O&M costs were calculated as an average for the 3,651 coastal and Great Lakes beaches 

identified in EPA’s 2010 National Beaches Survey (the most recent version available) for the 37

states and territories eligible to participate in the BEACH Act Grant Program. The EPA obtained 

laboratory fees and shipping costs from testing labs and estimated the cost to be $30 per sample. 

The cost for each state was calculated using the equation below:

3,651 beaches × 36 samples (twice per week for 18 week season) × $30/sample = $106,570/state

37 states

EPA estimates an annual O&M cost of $106,570 per state, an annual total O&M cost of 

$3,943,080 for all 37 states, and a total O&M cost of $11,829,240 for 37 states over 3 years.

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost 

The BEACH Act requires the EPA to devote time and resources to manage the grant program. 

To develop burden estimates, the EPA estimated the number of hours that will be required to 

administer the program. The Agency estimates that it will take 85 hours per respondent to review 

and process the applications, monitor respondent programs, and provide miscellaneous support. 

When multiplied by 37 respondents, the annual Agency burden is 3,145 hours to administer the 

program and a total Agency burden of 9,435 hours over 3 years. The Agency used an average 

hourly salary for Agency employees of $107.15, which was calculated using an hourly rate of 

$41.21 times an overhead factor of 1.6. That is, $41.21 + ($41.21 x 1.6) = $107.15. The labor 

rate was obtained using 2011 salary tables provided by the Office of Personnel Management.

Table 3 presents an estimate of the burden that the EPA will incur to manage the BEACH Act Grant 

Program for years 1 through 3 of this ICR. The annual totals are presented at the bottom of the table.
13 9/8/2011

Table 3. Total Agency burden hours per activity over 3 years

Activities

Agency 

burden hours

Agency 

burden dollars

The EPA Headquarters to monitor state programs annually to 

ensure compliance with the performance criteria.

1,480 $158,582

The EPA Regions to monitor state programs annually to ensure 

compliance with the performance criteria.

2,035 $218,050

The EPA Headquarters and the EPA Regions to provide 

miscellaneous support to states. 

1,480 $158,582

The EPA Regions to revise work plans and update beach 

monitoring and notification program procedures. 

1,268 $135,866

The EPA Regions to perform technical review on Quality 

Assurance Project Plan and Grants Management Plan, DQOs 

and SOPs prior to implementation.

3,172 $339,880

Total over 3 years 9,435 $1,010,960

Annual total 3,145 $336,987

6(d)Estimating the Respondent Universe and Total Burden and Costs 

Table 4 presents an estimate of the total respondent burden and costs expected for the BEACH 

Act Grant Program. The total annual respondent burden is expected to be 88,812 hours and 

$3,943,080 O&M Costs. There are no start-up costs. 

Table 4. Annual respondent burden and cost

Performance 

criteria

Respondent 

hours/year

Respondent 

labor 

cost/year

O&M

cost/year

Number of 

respondents/

year

Total 

hours/year

Total 

cost/year

1 149 $12,960 37 5,501 $479,515

2 396 $35,807 37 14,640 $1,324,855

3 24 $2,233 37 876 $82,628

4 1,383 $114,425 37 51,171 $4,233,742

5 24 $2,047 37 888 $75,729

6 22 $1,921 37 814 $71,063

7 307 $25,679 37 11,371 $950,117

8 27 $2,298 37 987 $85,020

9 69 $5,889 37 2,565 $217,894

Total 2,400 $203,258 $3,943,080 37 88,812 $11,463,642

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables 

Table 5 presents an estimate of the total annual State and Agency burden and costs expected for 

the BEACH Act Grant Program. As shown in Table 5, the annual burden for the Agency and 37

states, tribes, and territories with coastal recreation waters is 91,957 hours and $11,800,629

including O&M costs.
14 9/8/2011

Table 5. Total annual respondent and Agency burden and costs 

Burden

(hours) Burden cost O&M cost Total Cost

37 States 88,812 $7,520,562 $3,943,080 $11,463,642

Agency 3,145 $336,987 $0 $336,987

Total 91,957 $7,857,549 $3,943,080 $11,800,629

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden 

The respondent average annual burden increased from the 2008 level of 2,374 hours to 2,400 

hours for the total number of 37 respondents. The Agency annual burden decreased from the 

2008 level of 3,200 hours to 3,145 hours. The EPA used 37 for the number of respondents (37 

currently receive BEACH Act grants) compared to 40 respondents used in the 2008 ICR. The 

EPA used 40 for the number of respondents in the 2008 ICR because the Agency expected 

additional tribes to apply for BEACH Act grants that had not done so during the original ICR 

period. However, no additional tribes applied for grants. Therefore, for this ICR renewal the EPA 

used the actual number (37) of states, territories, and tribes that currently receive BEACH Act 

grants. The increase in respondent burden is because the EPA is encouraging states to voluntarily 

report monitoring and notification data more frequently, up to four times each year. The increase 

in burden is minimized, however, because respondents have become more efficient in their 

reporting of data and information over the past several years and the EPA has made 

improvements to the eBEACHES data system. The annual O&M costs for all respondents also 

increased from $3,938,760 to $3,943,080 for all states. That is because the estimated number of 

beaches monitored by grant recipients increased slightly from 3,647 (estimated from the EPA’s 

2007 National List of Beaches) to 3,651 (estimated from the 2010 Annual Swimming Season 

Report). Relative to the 2008 ICR, the EPA maintained its estimate of two samples collected 

each week per monitored beach with a beach season length of 18 weeks and sample cost of $30 

per sample, according to data that the EPA collected and comments received from several state 

Beach Program contacts and testing labs.

The EPA also revised the labor rates, which increased from $47.00 to 51.61 for a managerial 

employee and decreased from $31.25 to $31.09 for a technical employee according to the 

average Bureau of Labor Statistics salaries for managerial and technical employees in state and 

local governments as shown in its 2010 National Compensation Survey Table. The changes are 

summarized in Table 6.

Table 6. Change in annual state burden for performance criteria tasks

Performance 

criteria State activity

Total annual burden 

(hours)

Change 

between 

current and 

previous ICR

Current 

ICR

Previous 

ICR

3 - Monitoring Report 

Submission and 

Delegation

Submit report that describes 

data collected and public 

notification activities

16 13 3

4 - Methods and 

Assessment 

Procedures

Analyze and submit 

monitoring data to the EPA

913 900 13
15 9/8/2011

6 - Measures to 

Notify EPA and Local

Governments

Collect and submit 

notification data to the EPA

9 4 4

8 – Notification 

Report Submission 

and Delegation

Submit report that describes 

data collected and the public 

notification activities

19 13 6

*Numbers might not add up exactly due to rounding.

6(g) Burden Statement 

The annual respondent burden and cost estimate for 37 states for the BEACH Grant Program is 

estimated to be 88,812 hours and $11,463,642 (including labor and O&M costs). There are no 

start-up costs. Because the Agency does not incur any additional O&M costs, the total annual 

respondent and Agency burden and cost estimate is 91,957 hours and $11,800,629 (includes 

respondent burden costs, O&M costs, and Agency burden costs). 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. That includes the time needed to review

instructions; develop, acquire, install, and use 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 the EPA’s regulations are listed in 40 

CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Part 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, the EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under 

Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0357, which is available for public viewing at the Water 

Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., 

NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Water 

Docket is (202) 566-2426. An electronic version of the public docket is available through 

Regulations.gov at http://www.regulations.gov/. 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, use the Regulations.gov website. Once there, click search, 

then key in the docket ID number identified above. Also, you can send comments to the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, 

Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Office for EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID No. 

EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0357 and OMB control number 2040-0244 in any correspondence.