## U.S. ENVIRONMENT **AL PROTECTION**  **AG ENCY** 



# INFORMA

**TION COLLECTION REQUEST FOR**  **REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEACH**

**ACT GRANTS (RENEW AL)** 

**EPA ICR No.**  **2048.0 5**  **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) Effec ts 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) C ollection Methodology and Management
................................ ................................ ................... 5 5(c) Small Entity Flexibility
................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 6 5(d) Collection Schedule
................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 6 6. E stimating 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
................................ ................................ .......................... 12iii 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



## I **NFORMA TION**  

## C **OLLECTION** 

## R **EQUEST 1.**  **Identification of the Information Collection 1(a)**  **Title of the Information Collection** BEACH Act Grant Program 

### 1(b) **Short Characterization/A bstract**  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 Pro gram Development and Implementation Grants to coastal and Great Lakes states, tribes, and territories (collectivel y 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 program2 10/13/2015

All beach program information will be collected by EPA’s Of

fice 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/ Au**  **thorit y**  **for the Collectio n**  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 appl ying 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 b y EP A, 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 infor med decisions before going to the beach. The information provided b y 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 - dat e3 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. **Th e Respondents and the Information Requested**  **4(a) Respondents**  In formation collected b y 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 Reque sted**  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. BEA CH A** **ct Grant performance c riteria summary**  **Category Performance** 

**criteria Requirement**  **BEA CH A** **ct 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 r isk communication p lan 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 a doption of new or revised WQ S 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 adequatel y protect public health. The plan must adequate ly address the frequency

and location s and methods of monitoring and assessment of coastal waters
. **3) M**  **ethods and A**

**ssessment Procedures** A state must develop a detailed methods and assessment procedures plan. **4) M**  **onitoring 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) P**  **ublic notification and risk communication plan** A state must develop public notification and risk communication plans
. **7) Ac**  **tions to Notify the Public**  A state must give notice to the public that the coastal recreation waters are not meeting or are not expecte d 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 delegati on 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) Ad**  **option of new or revised WQS and identification and use of a beach**  **notificati on 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 -** **A genc**  **y Activities, Collection**  **Methodology , and**  **Information Management 5(a)**  **Ag ency** 

**A ctivities**  The BEACH Act Grant Program will be administered b y 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 be ach monitoring and notification data directl y 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 anal ys is, including perf orming 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 anal ys is will include continuous anal ys is 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 B each Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition to6 10/13/2015

anal yz e 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
- ye ar 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 program7 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 $12,825,06 0 O&M for all 3 8 respondents
. The following assumptions were made for this ICR on the basis of data collected b y EPA and consultations with respondents listed in s ection 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 anal ys is 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 3 8 states is e stimated 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 hourl y rate to generate a cost estimate. Because labor rates vary so widel y among the state government personnel involved in implementing a state monitoring and notification program, EPA used an average loaded hourl y 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 Employ ment and Wage Estimates . The managerial salary (state government Management 11
- 0000 median) i s 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 ) i s 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 b y 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 anal ytical fees and shipping for the water quality s amples. Non
- labor costs for the 3 8 states are solely attributed to the laboratory fees that will be charged for anal ys is 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 mo nitoring 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 qualit y control policies and procedures and submit adequate quality ma nagem ent plans and qualit y assuran ce 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 $48,1319 10/13/2015 **3 -**  **Methods and**  **assessment procedures**  Subm it to EPA methods

for characterizing water qualit y relative to hum an health in coastal recreation areas. 50 $3,241 250 $9,096 300 $12,337

Provide documentation of the performance of me thods 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 adm inistrator determines. Reported data mu st 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 $1,84410 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 $40,65311 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 Ad**  **option of new or revised**  **WQS and identification**  **and use of a beach**  **notification threshold**  Develop and implement

two separate schedule s 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 $0 0 $0 0 $0

**Performance Criterion 10 Total**  13 $ 843 200 $7,277 $213 $8,12012 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 3 8 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 3 8 states, and a total O&M cost of $29,193,840 for 3 8 states over 3 years . 

### 6(c) **Estimating A gency**  **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 3 8 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 201 5 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 A gency**  **b urden**  **h ours**  **p er**  **a ctivity**  **over 3 y** **ears**
**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 com pliance with the performance criteria. 2,137 $101,080 EPA Headquarters and EPA Regions to provide mi scellaneous support to states. 1,513 $71,565 EPA Regions to revise work plans and update beach mo nitoring 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 **An nual 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. A nnual respondent burden and cost**  **Performance Criteria**  **Respondent**

**Hours/y ear**  **Respondent**

**labor cost/y** **ear Number of** 

**respondents/y ear**  **Total**

**hours/y ear**  **Total**

**cost/y ear** 
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 9 2,391 hours and $ 1 3,455,354 including O&M costs. **T able 5. Total**  **a nnual**  **r espondent and A** **gency b**  **urden and c**  **osts** Annual **Burden**

**(hours) Burden cost**  **O&M cost Total cost**  **38 states**  92,391 $3,570,822 $9,731,280 $13,302,102 **Ag ency**  3,240 $153,252 $0 $153,252 **Total** 95,631 $3,724,074 $9,731,280 $13,455,35415 10/13/2015



### 6(f) **Reasons for Change in Burden** The respondent average annual burden increased from the 20 12 level of 2,400 hours to 2 , 431 for the total number of 3 8 respondents
. EPA used 3 8 for the number of respondents compared to 37 respondents in the 20 12 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 i s 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 s ignificantl y from 3,651 (estimated from the 2010 Annual Swimming Season Report) to 6,238 (es timate d 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 b y states in the BEACON database as well as in grant applications. EPA also revised the labor rates, which de creased from $51.61 to $40.51 for a managerial employee and decreased from $31.09 to $22.74 for a technical emplo yee 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 b y persons to generate, maintain, retain, or dis close or provide information to or for a f

ederal agency
. That includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and u s e 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 P art 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 D ocket IDNo. 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/
. T o submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those documents in the public16 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 IDNo. 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, a nd any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the use of automated collection techniques.