1

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA**  **- HQ**  **- OECA** **- 2005**  **- 0062**  **; FRL 9007**  **- 7**  **] Proposed Information Collection Request**  **; Comment Request** ; **40 CFR Part 6: Procedures for Implementing the Nation**  **al Environmental Policy Act and**  **Assessing the Environmental Effects Abroad of EPA Actions**  **(Renewal) AGENCY:**  Environmental Protection Agenc y (EPA)
. **ACTION:** Notice. **SUMMARY:** The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (I CR) , “40 CFR Part 6: Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy

Act and Assessing the Environmental Effects Abroad of EPA Actions ” (EPA I CR No. 2243.06 , OMB Control No. 2020
- 0033 ) to the Office of Managem ent and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq .)
. Before doing so , EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently

approved through August 31, 2013
. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currentl y valid OMB control number. **DATES:** Comments must be submitted on or before Tuesday , April 23, 2013
. **ADDRESSES:** Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA
- HQ
- OECA
- 2005
- 0062 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method) or b y 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 information2

whose disclosure is restricted b y statute. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Jessica Trice, Office of Federal Activities, Mail Code 2252A, Environmental Protection Agency , 1200 Penns ylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564
- 6646; fax number: (202) 564
- 0072; email address: trice.jessica@epa.gov. **SUPPLEME NTARY INFORMATION:**  Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this I CR. 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 co llected; 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 techno logy , e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final I CR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the3

submission of the I CR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. Abstract : The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321
- 4347 establishes a national policy for the environment. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) oversees the NEPA implementation. CEQ’s Regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508 set the standard for NEPA compliance. They also require agencies to establish their own NEPA implementing procedures. EPA’s procedures for implementing NEPA are found in 40 CFR Part 6. Through this part, EPA adopted the CEQ Regulations and supplemented those regulations for actions by

EPA that are subject to NEPA requirements. EPA actions subject to NEPA include the award of wastewater treatment construction grants under Title II of the Clean Water Act, EPA’s issuance of new source National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Sy stem (NPDES) permits under section 402 of the Clean Water Act, certain research and development projects , development and issuance of regulations, EPA actions involving renovations or new construction of facilities, and certain grants awarded for projects authorized by Congress through the Agency ’s annual Appropriations Act. EPA is collecting information from certain applicants as part of the process of complying with either NEPA or Executive Order 12114 (‘‘Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions’’). EPA’ s NEPA regulations apply to the actions of EPA that are subject to NEPA in order to ensure that environmental information is available to the Agency ’s decision
- makers and the public before decisions are made and before actions are taken. When EPA conducts an environmental assessment pursuant to its Executive Order 12114 procedures, the Agency generall y follows its NEPA procedures. Compliance with the procedures is the responsibility

of EPA’s Responsible Officials, and for applicant proposed actions applicants may

be required to provide environmental information to EPA as part of the environment al review process. For this In formation Collection Request (ICR), applicant
-4

proposed projects subject to either NEPA or Executive Order 12114 (and that are not addressed in other EPA programs’ ICRs) are addressed through the NEPA process. Form Numbers: Non e. Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by

thi s action are certain grant or permit applicants who must submit environmental information documentation to EPA for their projects to comply

with NEPA or Executive Order 12114, including Wastewater Treatment Construction Grants Program facilities, State and Tribal Assistance Grant recipients and new
source National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permittees. Respondent’s o bligation to respond: V oluntary Estimated number of responden ts: 312
. Frequency of response: On occasion Total estimated burden: 38,472 hours T otal estimated cost: $ 3,503,245 , includes $ 7,638 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in Estimates: The above estimates are based on information and data available through the current I CR supporting documentation
. However, i t is anticipated that there will be slight decrease in h ours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the I CR currentl y approved b y OMB. This slight decrease is due to changes in the number of respondents and their associated EPA actions eligible for categorical exclusions which results in a reduction in total hours and burden
. Dated: ________________

____________

_________

________________

____________

______ _ ________ Cliff Rader Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities