U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST 

FOR

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEACH 

ACT GRANTS (RENEWAL)

EPA ICR No. 2048.05

OMB Control No. 2040-0244

 

September 2015
ii 10/13/2015

Contents

Information Collection Request....................................................................................................................3

1. Identification of the Information Collection .........................................................................................3

1(a) Title of the Information Collection ...............................................................................................3

1(b) Short Characterization/Abstract....................................................................................................3

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.................................................................................................................................2

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection..............................................................................................2

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..................................................................................................................................3

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

1) Risk-based Beach Evaluation and Classification Process............................................................................4

2) Tiered Monitoring Plan ................................................................................................................................4

3) Methods and Assessment Procedures ..........................................................................................................4

4) Monitoring report submission ......................................................................................................................4

5) Delegation of monitoring responsibilities....................................................................................................4

6) Public notification and risk communication plan.........................................................................................4

7) Actions to Notify the Public.........................................................................................................................4

8) Notification Report Submission...................................................................................................................4

9) Delegation of notification responsibilities ...................................................................................................4

10) Adoption of new or revised WQS and identification and use of a beach notification threshold .............5

11) Public evaluation of program...................................................................................................................5

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

Management..........................................................................................................................................5

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

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

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility.................................................................................................................6

5(d) Collection Schedule ......................................................................................................................6

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

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

6(b) Estimating Respondent Cost.........................................................................................................7

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost..........................................................................................12
iii 10/13/2015

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

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables..............................................................................14

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden....................................................................................................15

6(g) Burden Statement........................................................................................................................15

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST

1. Identification of the Information Collection

1(a) Title of the Information Collection 

BEACH Act Grant Program

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 EPA documenting that its 

beach monitoring and notification program is consistent with 11 performance criteria outlined in 

the National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition. For 

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

notification program includes or will include the following:

• Risk-based Beach Evaluation and Classification

• Tiered monitoring plan

• Methods and assessment procedures

• Monitoring report submission

• Delegation of monitoring responsibilities

• Public notification and risk communication plan

• Actions to notify the public

• Notification report submission

• Delegation of notification responsibilities

• Preparation and submittals of schedules for adoption of new or revised WQS and identification 

and use of a beach notification threshold

• Public evaluation of program
2 10/13/2015

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

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

state environmental and public health agencies, and EPA.

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 marine coastal and 

Great Lakes 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 11 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 EPA, state and local environmental and public health agencies, and the 

public. 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 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. 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

EPA published the first Federal Register notice for this ICR on [add FR cite after publication], 

requesting comment from the public on this ICR. 

3(c) Consultations 

EPA will be conducting consultations before the renewal is submitted to OMB.

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, EPA has required states 

to submit their monitoring and notification data annually. However, to provide more up-to-date 
3 10/13/2015

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 

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

public health agencies in coastal and Great Lakes states, territories, and tribes. 

4(b)Information Requested 

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

program is consistent with the following 11 performance criteria, developed from the BEACH 

Act and summarized in Table 1.

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 Tiered monitoring plan 406(c)(3

3 Methods and assessment 

procedures

406(c)(4)

4 Monitoring report submission 406(b)(3)(A), (B)

5 Delegation of monitoring 

responsibilities

406(c)(2)

Public 

Notification and 

Prompt Risk 

Communication

6 Public notification and risk 

communication plan

406(c)(7)

7 Actions to notify the public 406(c)(5)

8 Notification report submission 406(b)(3)(A), (B)

9 Delegation of notification 

responsibilities

406(c)(2)
4 10/13/2015

Implementation 

Schedules

10 Preparation and submittals of 

schedules for adoption of new or 

revised WQS and identification 

and use of a beach notification 

threshold

406(a)(1)(A) and 

(B);

406(b)(2)(A)(i) 

Public 

Evaluation

11 Public evaluation of program 406(b)(2)(A)(v)

1) Risk-based Beach Evaluation and Classification Process

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

their coastal recreation waters. A state must describe the factors used in its evaluation and 

classification process and explain how its beaches are ranked using this process. The process 

must result in a list of beaches in the state’s beach program.

2) Tiered Monitoring Plan

A state must develop a tiered monitoring plan that can adapt to changing conditions and 

adequately protect public health. The plan must adequately address the frequency and locations 

and methods of monitoring and assessment of coastal waters. 

3) Methods and Assessment Procedures

A state must develop a detailed methods and assessment procedures plan.

4) Monitoring report submission

A state must develop a mechanism to collect and report monitoring data in timely reports. 

5) Delegation of monitoring responsibilities

A state must describe any delegation that they have made, or intend to make, to local 

governments to administer the beach monitoring program.

6) Public notification and risk communication plan 

A state must develop public notification and risk communication plans.

7) Actions to Notify the Public

A state must 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

A state must compile their notification actions in timely reports submitted to EPA.

9) Delegation of notification responsibilities 

A state must describe any delegation of notification responsibilities that they have made, or 

intend to make, to local governments to administer the beach notification program.
5 10/13/2015

10) Adoption of new or revised WQS and identification and use of a beach 

notification threshold

A state must develop and implement schedules leading to adoption of new or revised WQS, or 

submit a request for a waiver, and for the identification and use of an appropriate beach 

notification threshold, including any support for an alternative threshold.

11) Public evaluation of program

A state must provide the public with an opportunity to review the program through public notice 

and an opportunity to comment.

5. The Information Collected-Agency Activities, Collection 

Methodology, and Information Management

5(a) Agency Activities 

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

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

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

the BEACH Act grants:

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

performance criteria.

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

performance criteria.

• EPA Regions and EPA Headquarters are to provide miscellaneous support to the states.

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

• 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 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 EPA consists of beach program information, notification data, 

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 National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition to 
6 10/13/2015

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, 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, 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 11 performance criteria as 

listed in the Federal Register and the National Beach Guidance and Required Performance 

Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition 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 Required Performance Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition. To develop burden estimates, EPA 

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

performance criteria:

•Risk-based Beach Evaluation and Classification

•Tiered monitoring plan

•Methods and assessment procedures

•Monitoring report submission

•Delegation of monitoring responsibilities

•Public notification and risk communication plan

•Actions to notify the public

•Notification report submission

•Delegation of notification responsibilities

•Preparation and submittal of schedules for the adoption of new or revised WQS and 

identification and use of a beach notification threshold

•Public evaluation of program
7 10/13/2015

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

with the 11 performance criteria will take an annual average of 92,391 hours and $12,825,060

O&M for all 38 respondents.

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

consultations with respondents listed in section 3(c):

• The average beach (monitoring) season was assumed to be 26 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 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 38 states is estimated to be $40,366,062, which consists of $11,172,022 in 

labor costs and $ 29,193,840 in O&M costs.

Labor Costs

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

the beach program 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, 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 May 2014,

National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. The managerial 

salary (state government Management 11-0000 median) is calculated as the hourly rate of $40.51

multiplied by an overhead factor of 1.6 ($64.82). The technical salary (19-4000 Life, Physical 

and Social Science Technicians) is calculated as $22.74 multiplied by an overhead factor of 1.6

($36.38). 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 Required Performance 

Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition. 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 38 states 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.
8 10/13/2015

Table 2. Individual respondent 3-year state burden hours

Performance 

criterion State activity

3-year 3-year Total

managerial burden technical burden 3-year burden

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost 

$64.82/hour 

(dollars)1

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost 

$36.38/hour 

(dollar) 1

Total 

burden 

per 

activity 

(hours)

Total labor 

cost

(dollars)

1 - Risk-based 

Beach 

Evaluation 

and 

Classification 

Process

Identify factors used to 

evaluate and rank 

beaches.

3 $194 18 $655 21 $849

Identify state or tribal 

coastal recreation waters.

2 $130 180 $6,549 182 $6,679

Notify EPA at least 

annually if the list of 

beaches changes 

significantly because of 

revised beach rankings or 

changes to monitoring 

and notification 

requirements and 

considerations.

40 $2,593 240 $8,732 280 $11,325

Provide for public review 

of the risk-based rank and 

classification.

10 $648 150 $5,458 160 $6,106

Performance Criterion 1 

total

55 $ 3,565 588 $21,394 643 $ 24,959 

2 - Tiered 

Monitoring 

Plan

Adequately prioritize, in 

the tiered monitoring plan 

the frequency, locations, 

and methods of 

monitoring and 

assessment of coastal 

waters.

100 $6,482 400 $14,554 500 $21,036

Provide for public review 

of the tiered monitoring 

plan.

20 $1,296 120 $4,366 140 $5,662

Develop appropriate 

quality control policies 

and procedures and 

submit adequate quality 

management plans and 

quality assurance project 

plans to EPA for approval.

50 $3,241 500 $18,192 550 $21,433

Performance Criterion 2 

total

170 $ 11,019 1020 $37,112 1190 $48,131 
9 10/13/2015

3 - Methods 

and 

assessment 

procedures 

Submit to EPA methods 

for characterizing water 

quality relative to human 

health in coastal 

recreation areas.

50 $3,241 250 $9,096 300 $12,337

Provide documentation of 

the performance of 

methods other than those 

that EPA recommended 

or approved or validated.

40 $2,593 200 $7,277 240 $9,870

Identify and submit to 

EPA procedures for 

assessing short-term 

increases in fecal 

indicator bacteria 

densities that indicate risk 

to human health in 

coastal recreation waters.

50 $3,241 200 $7,277 250 $10,518

Performance Criterion 3 

Total

140 $9,075 650 $23,650 790 $32,725

4 - Monitoring 

report 

submission 

Make monitoring data 

available to the public, 

including posting on a 

website.

50 $3,241 150 $5,458 200 $8,699

Report monitoring data to 

EPA at least annually or a 

frequency that the EPA 

administrator determines. 

Reported data must be 

consistent with EPA 

reporting requirements. 

(See EPA grant website)

90 $5,833 2750 $100,056 2,840 $105,889

Performance Criterion 4 

Total

140 $9,074 2900 $105,514 3040 $114,588

5 - Delegation 

of monitoring 

responsibilities

If a state delegates 

monitoring 

responsibilities to local 

governments, the states 

grant recipient must 

describe the process that 

the state follows.

6 $389 40 $1,455 46 $1,844

Performance Criterion 5 

Total

6 $389 40 $1,455 46 $1,844
10 10/13/2015

6 - Public

notification 

and risk 

communication 

plan 

Identify measures to 

notify EPA and local 

governments (if 

applicable) when 

indicator bacteria levels 

exceed a beach 

notification threshold.

2 $130 40 $1,455 42 $1,585

Identify measures to 

notify the public when a 

beach notification 

threshold has been 

exceeded by posting a 

sign or functional 

equivalent.

2 $130 40 $1,455 42 $1,585

Identify measures that 

inform the public of the 

potential risks associated 

with water contact 

activities in the coastal 

recreation waters that do 

not meet applicable 

WQS.

2 $130 40 $1,455 42 $1,585

Provide for public review 

of the public notification 

and risk communication 

plan.

2 $130 50 $1,819 52 $1,949

Performance Criterion 6 

Total

8 $520 170 $6,184 178 $6,704

7 - Actions to 

notify the 

public

Promptly issue a public 

notification for 

exceedance of the beach 

notification threshold 

when there is no reason 

to doubt the accuracy of 

the sample.

20 $1,296 200 $7,277 220 $8,573

If there is a reason to 

doubt the accuracy of the 

first sample, the state 

agency may resample 

before issuing a 

notification.

15 $972 855 $31,108 870 $32,080

Performance Criterion 7 

Total

35 $2,268 1055 $38,385 1090 $40,653
11 10/13/2015

8 - Notification 

Report 

Submission 

States and tribes must 

report to EPA at least 

annually, or at a 

frequency the EPA 

Administrator 

determines, on the 

occurrence, nature, 

location, pollutants 

involved, and extent of 

any exceedances of any 

WQS for pathogens and 

pathogen indicators.

8 $519 72 $2,620 80 $3,139

Performance Criterion 8 

Total

8 $519 72 $2,620 80 $3,139

9 - Delegation 

of notification 

responsibilities

States must identify any 

local governments to 

which they have 

delegated responsibility 

for implementing a 

notification program and 

describe the process by 

which the state may 

delegate such authority.

6 $389 18 $655 24 $1,044

Performance Criterion 9 

Total

$6 $389 $18 $655 $24 $1,044

10 –

Preparation 

and Submittal 

of schedule for 

Adoption of 

new or revised 

WQS and 

identification 

and use of a 

beach 

notification 

threshold 

Develop and implement 

two separate schedules

to adopt new or revised 

WQS by FY 2016 and to 

identify and use a beach 

notification threshold by 

FY 2016

13 $843 200 $7,277 213 $8,120

Before identification and 

use of a new beach 

notification threshold, 

continue to make beach 

notification decisions 

using the existing 

threshold based on the 

currently applicable WQS, 

e.g., SSM.

0 $00 $00 $0

Performance Criterion 10 

Total

13$843 200 $7,277 $213 $8,120
12 10/13/2015

11 - Public 

evaluation of 

program

Provide an opportunity 

for the public to 

comment on the: Beach 

evaluation and 

classification process; 

Sampling design and 

monitoring plan; and 

Public notification and 

risk communication plan. 

[Already accounted for 

under 1, 2 and 6.]

0 $0 0 $0 0 $0

Performance Criterion 11 

Total

0 $0 0 $0 0 $0

Total 581 $37,661 6713 $244,246 7294 $281,907

Annual Total 194 $12,554 2,238 $81,415 2,431 $93,969

The O&M costs were calculated as an average for the 6,238 coastal and Great Lakes beaches 

identified in EPA’s 2010 National Beaches Survey (the most recent version available) for the 38

states and territories eligible to participate in the BEACH Act Grant Program. 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:

6,238 beaches × 2 samples (twice per week) x 26 week season × $30/sample = $256,086/state

38 states

EPA estimates an annual O&M cost of $256,086 per state, an annual total O&M cost of 

$9,731,280 for all 38 states, and a total O&M cost of $29,193,840 for 38 states over 3 years.

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost 

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

develop burden estimates, 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 38 respondents, the annual Agency burden is 3,240 hours to administer the 

program and a total Agency burden of 9,720 hours over 3 years. EPA employee costs were 

estimated assuming a GS-12 Step 1 federal employee earning $61,486 per year and a $29.56 

hourly rate plus a 1.6% overhead rate. That is, $29.56 x 1.6 = $47.30. The labor rate was 

obtained using 2015 salary tables provided by the Office of Personnel Management.

Table 3 presents an estimate of the burden that 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 10/13/2015

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

Activities

Agency 

burden 

hours

Agency 

burden 

dollars

EPA Headquarters to monitor state programs annually to 

ensure compliance with the performance criteria.

1,510 $71,423

EPA Regions to monitor state programs annually to ensure 

compliance with the performance criteria.

2,137 $101,080

EPA Headquarters and EPA Regions to provide 

miscellaneous support to states.

1,513 $71,565

EPA Regions to revise work plans and update beach 

monitoring and notification program procedures.

1,298 $61,395

EPA Regions to perform technical review on Quality 

Assurance Project Plan and Grants Management Plan, 

DQOs and SOPs prior to implementation.

3,262 $154,293

Total over 3 years 9,720 $459,756

Annual total 3,240 $153,252

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 92,391 hours and 

$9,731,280 O&M Costs. There are no start-up costs. 
14 10/13/2015

Table 4. Annual respondent burden and cost

Performance 

Criteria

Respondent 

Hours/year

Respondent 

labor 

cost/year

Number of 

respondents/year

Total 

hours/year

Total 

cost/year

1 214 $8,320 38 8,145 $316,147

2 397 $16,044 38 15,073 $609,659

3 263 $10,908 38 10,007 $414,517

4 1,013 $38,196 38 38,507 $1,451,448

5 15 $615 38 583 $23,357

6 59 $2,235 38 2,255 $84,917

7 363 $13,551 38 13,807 $514,938

8 27 $1,046 38 1,013 $39,761

9 8 $348 38 304 $13,224

10 71 $2,707 38 2,698 $102,853

11 0 $0 38 0 $0

Total 2,431 $93,969 38 92,391 $3,570,821

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 38

states, tribes, and territories with coastal recreation waters is 92,391 hours and $13,455,354

including O&M costs.

Table 5. Total annual respondent and Agency burden and costs

Annual

Burden 

(hours) Burden cost O&M cost Total cost

38 

states

92,391 $3,570,822 $9,731,280 $13,302,102

Agency 3,240 $153,252 $0 $153,252

Total 95,631 $3,724,074 $9,731,280 $13,455,354
15 10/13/2015

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden 

The respondent average annual burden increased from the 2012 level of 2,400 hours to 2,431for 

the total number of 38 respondents. EPA used 38 for the number of respondents compared to 37

respondents in the 2012 because an additional tribe qualified for a BEACH grant. The increase in 

respondent burden is because EPA added additional performance criteria for submitting 

implementation schedules and public evaluation. 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 EPA has made improvements to the eBEACHES data system. The 

annual O&M costs for all respondents also increased from $3,943,080 to $9,731,280 for all 

states. That is because the number of beaches monitored and reported by grant recipients 

increased significantly from 3,651 (estimated from the 2010 Annual Swimming Season Report)

to 6,238 (estimated from EPA database BEACON). In addition, EPA maintained its estimate of 

two samples collected each week per monitored beach and a sample cost of $30 per sample; 

however, EPA increased the estimated average beach season length of 18 weeks to 26 weeks 

based on the beach seasons reported by states in the BEACON database as well as in grant 

applications.

EPA also revised the labor rates, which decreased from $51.61 to $40.51 for a managerial 

employee and decreased from $31.09 to $22.74 for a technical employee according to the 

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

local government. 

6(g) Burden Statement 

The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is 

estimated to average 92,391 hours per response. 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 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, EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket 

ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0641, 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 
16 10/13/2015

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-2015-0641 and OMB control number 2040-0244 in any correspondence.

See the accompanying Federal Register notice for instructions to provide comments 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.