[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87367-87368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25417]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OLEM-2024-0489; 12346-01-OLEM]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information 
Collection Request; Comment Request; Brownfields Competitive Grants and 
Noncompetitive Funding Programs

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), Brownfields Competitive 
Grants and Noncompetitive Funding Programs (EPA ICR Number 7789.01, OMB 
Control Number 2050-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 
Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects 
of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a 
request for approval of a new collection. This notice allows for 60 
days for public comments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 31, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OLEM-2024-0489, to EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4624273428233568252e342f35322f28270623362768212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f19390839f9482df929983988285989f90b1948190df969e87">[email protected]</span></a>, or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460. EPA's policy is that all 
comments received will be included in the public docket without change 
including any personal information provided, unless the comment 
includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Barnes, Office of 
Brownfields and Land Revitalization, (5105T), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: (202) 566-0943; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#432122312d26306d202b312a30372a2d22032633226d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5634372438332578353e243f25223f38371633263778313920">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a request for approval of a new 
collection. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    This notice allows 60 days for public comments. Supporting 
documents, which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be 
collecting, are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket 
can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA 
Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-
1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit 
http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of 
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate forms of information technology. EPA 
will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. 
The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and 
approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: This ICR describes the burden of activities for the 
collection of information from those organizations and entities that 
apply for cooperative agreements from EPA under the authority of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA) as amended by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and 
Local Development (BUILD) Act (Pub. L. 115-141). Subtitle A of

[[Page 87368]]

CERCLA, as amended, authorizes EPA to award grants or cooperative 
agreements to states, Tribal Nations, local governments, and other 
eligible entities to support the assessment and cleanup of brownfields 
properties, and subtitle C authorizes a noncompetitive $50 million 
program to establish and enhance state and Tribal response programs. 
The authority for these financial assistance programs is codified at 
CERCLA 104(k) and CERCLA 128(a) respectively. Congress appropriates 
specific amounts of funding for both programs in EPA's State and Tribal 
Assistance Grant account.
    With this ICR, EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization 
(OBLR) seeks authorization to collect information from grant applicants 
and noncompetitive funding requesters using several standard 
instruments (templates) that will streamline the data collection effort 
and improve the quality, efficiency, and fairness of the competitions 
and allocations. EPA estimates that all respondents who voluntarily 
respond to this information collection by electing to participate in 
the Brownfields Program have determined that the expected benefits of 
participation outweigh any burden associated with preparing the 
response.
    This new ICR provides the burden estimate for activities associated 
with optional applicant use instruments, and EPA review of the 
submissions; and seeks approval for seven standard application/request 
templates. EPA's goal in providing these templates is to provide an 
example for applicants and requesters of how the information in an 
application or funding request can be presented. Applicants and 
requesters who choose not to use the sample formats for providing 
information will not be punished. However, when the information in an 
application or funding request is presented using a standard format, 
EPA staff can review applications and funding requests more 
efficiently.
    Form Numbers: OMB Control Number: 2050-NEW; EPA ICR Number: 
7789.01.
    Respondents/affected entities: State/local/tribal governments; Non-
Profits.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: required to obtain or retain a 
benefit (2 CFR part 1500).
    Estimated number of respondents: 1,215 (total).
    Frequency of response: Annually.
    Total estimated burden: 7,865 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $1,060,540.53 (per year), which includes $0 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no increase or decrease of hours 
in the total estimated respondent burden because this is a new ICR 
being submitted to OMB.

    Dated: October 28, 2024.
Brian Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization.
[FR Doc. 2024-25417 Filed 10-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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