1

FOCUS GROUPS AS USED BY EPA FOR ECONOMICS PROJECTS (Renewal)

EPA ICR No. 2205.04

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Part A

Section 1. Identification of the Information Collection

1(a) Title of the Information Collection:

Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects (Renewal)

EPA ICR Number 2205.15, OMB Control Number 2090-0028

1(b) Short Characterization/Abstract:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking approval for a generic information collection 

request (ICR) for the conduct of focus groups and one-on-one interviews related to economics 

projects primarily for the purpose of survey development. Focus groups are groups of individuals 

brought together for moderated discussions on a specific topic or issue. These groups are typically 

formed to gain insight and understanding of attitudes and perceptions held by the public 

surrounding a particular issue. One-on-one interviews, as the term implies, are individual interviews 

in which a respondent is generally asked to review materials and provide feedback on their content 

and design as well as the thought processes that the materials invoke.

Focus groups and one-on-one interviews (hereafter referred to collectively as “focus groups”) used 

as a qualitative research tool have three major purposes:

 To better understand respondents’ attitudes, perceptions and emotions in response to specific 

topics and concepts;

 To obtain respondent information useful for better defining variables and measures in later 

quantitative studies; and

 To further explore findings obtained from quantitative studies.

Through these focus groups, the Agency will be able to gain a more in-depth understanding of the 

public’s attitudes, beliefs, motivations and feelings regarding specific issues and will provide 

invaluable information regarding the quality of draft survey instruments. Focus group discussions 

are necessary and important steps in the design of a quality survey.

Section 2. Need for and use of the Collection

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection

Over the next three years, the Agency anticipates embarking on a number of survey development 

efforts associated with a variety of economics projects including those related to valuation of 

ecosystems, non-fatal health risks, improvements to water quality, and urban visibility to name a 

few. Focus groups are an important part of any survey development process, allowing researchers 

to directly gauge what specific issues are important to the public and providing a means for explicitly 

testing draft survey materials. 

If this information is not collected, a vital link in developing methods to better understand the 

economic benefits and costs associated with Agency actions will be lost. This loss will cause further 

delays in the development of improved estimates of benefits and costs.
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This data collection is conducted for research purposes; there are no legal requirements. The 

materials prepared for these discussions will fully conform to federal regulations – specifically the 

Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Hawkins-Stafford Amendments of 1988 (P.L 100-297), and 

the Computer Security Act of 1987.

2(b) Practical Utility/Users of the Data

The information collected in the focus groups will help inform economics projects as well as

economics-related surveys under development. To the extent that the surveys are ultimately 

successfully administered, they will serve to expand the Agency’s understanding of benefits and 

costs of a variety of actions and could provide the means to quantitatively assess the effects of 

others. Participation in the focus groups will be voluntary and the identity of the participants will be 

kept confidential.

Focus groups generally do not yield meaningful quantitative findings and do not yield data about 

public opinion that can be generalized. As such, they cannot be used directly to estimate benefits 

and costs associated with a specific environmental action. However, program offices engaged in 

survey research use focus groups as an important tool in the survey development process to test 

and refine their ideas. The conduct of quantitative research would need to be completed to develop 

new estimates of benefits or costs.

Section 3. Non duplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria

3(a) Non duplication

It is not expected that any of the information to be submitted to the EPA during these focus group 

studies is duplicative or is already in the possession of the Federal Government. The proposed focus 

groups will address the needs of the Agency and significantly improve our ability to test and redefine 

ideas that will allow EPA to conduct further quantitative research on various environmental 

economics issues.

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

On February 4, 2015 (80 FR 6075), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). 

EPA received no comments. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and 

OMB within 30 days of this notice.

3(c) Consultations

EPA will use in-house staff and/or outside contractors (including possible contacts with the academic 

community) to develop focus group plans for areas of interest. According to OMB guidelines for 

generic clearances for focus groups, EPA has established an independent review process to assure 

the development and implementation of high quality focus groups by EPA. EPA will provide OMB a 

copy of the survey instrument for inclusion in the public docket.

This ICR covers the conduct of focus groups related to environmental economics projects. As such, 

follow up with respondents regarding the accuracy of estimated burden hours is not possible as 

focus groups by their very nature are structured as one-time collections. Focus groups are often 

conducted at facilities designed for this purpose, therefore deviations from estimated burden hours

are generally small. 

The need for generic ICRs to facilitate the survey administration process was discussed at a 

workshop hosted at Resources for the Future on October 2, 2006 entitled: Sample 

Representativeness: Implications for Administering and Testing Stated Preference Surveys. Generic 

ICRs for the conduct of focus groups were specifically identified as a means of reducing review times 
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for focus groups and enhancing Agency’s ability to navigate the survey approval process. See 

http://www.rff.org/rff/Events/upload/32432_1.pdf for a summary of the workshop.

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection

Each focus group will be a one-time collection exercise for the enrolled participants.

3(e) General Guidelines

This collection does not violate any of OMB’s general guidelines for information collections.

Information will be collected according to the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320. Respondents will be asked 

to participate in one focus group and their participation will be voluntary. There will be no need for 

participants to maintain records or submit documents or proprietary trade secrets. There will be 

complete protection of any demographic information collection from participant—full names, phone 

numbers and addresses will not be associated with responses. 

EPA has developed EPA Information Quality Guidelines (2002) to ensure the utility, objectivity and 

integrity of information that is disseminated by the Agency. It is EPA’s intention that collection of 

information under this ICR will result in information that will be collected, maintained, and used in 

ways consistent with both the EPA Information Quality Guidelines (2002) and the OMB Information 

Quality Guidelines (2002). EPA intends to conduct a pre-dissemination review when the Agency 

prepares to disseminate information collected under this ICR.

3(f) Confidentiality

Each focus group will fully conform to federal regulations – specifically the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 

U.S.C. 552a), the Hawkins-Stafford Amendments of 1988 (P.L 100-297), and the Computer Security 

Act of 1987. 

3(g) Sensitive Questions

No questions will be asked that are of a personal or sensitive nature.

Section 4. The Respondents and the Information Requested

4(a) Respondents/SIC Codes

The target population for the focus group discussions will vary by project, but will generally include 

members of the general public.

4(b) Information Requested

(i) Data items, including record keeping requirements

(ii) Respondent Activities

Respondents will be asked to participate in a moderated discussion on a particular topic or issue, 

during which they will be asked their thoughts, perceptions and beliefs regarding the issue. The 

collection will be a one-time event and there will be no need for participants to maintain records or 

submit documents or proprietary trade secrets. There will be complete protection of any 

demographic information collection from participants -- names, phone numbers and addresses will 

not be associated with responses.
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Section 5. The Information Collected – Agency Activities, Collection Methodology, and 

Information Management

5(a) Agency Activities

Agency activities associated with this information collection will include:

-- Drafting focus groups scripts and accompanying materials

-- Observing and in some cases moderating the focus group discussions

-- Summarizing focus group results and making changes to draft materials as appropriate

In addition, the Agency has established a three-member cross-office panel to review focus group 

projects proposed under this ICR. Membership on the panel is on a rotational basis and consists of 

one economist from the Office of Policy’s National Center for Environmental Economics and two 

economists from elsewhere in the Agency. Each of the panel members must have experience with 

surveys. Only projects that have as their primary goal the estimation of benefits, the estimation of 

costs, or the elicitation of preferences for health outcomes, safety and/or environmental goods will 

be considered. Additional details about the panel review process can be found in the Appendix 2. 

Under the previous approved generic ICR for focus groups, EPA conducted focus groups associated 

with four distinct projects. The respondent burden hours associated with each project is listed in the 

table below.

Information Collection Title Status Responses Hours

Risk Reduction Focus Group Modified 75 125

Identifying Perceived Benefits and 

Disadvantages of Restoration Adoption in an 

Urbanizing Watershed 

Modified 420 227

Estimating the Benefits of Improved Water 

Quality in the Chesapeake Bay 

New 160 320

Exploring Barriers to Business Investment in 

Emission Reduction Technologies New 280 843

Total Burden Actually Used for Information Collections 

Under Currently Approved ICR: 935 1515

Total Burden Approved Under Current ICR 4078

Burden Remaining 2563

Supporting statements for each of these projects was reviewed by the internal review panel prior to 

their submission to OMB for approval.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

Focus group studies are directed group discussions that do not produce quantitative data, but which 

enable skilled observers to infer the underlying views and assumptions of the group that are 

expressed in the discussion. To facilitate interpretation, discussions are generally recorded and 

videotaped so that both a visual record and written transcript of the discussion are available for 

review. Participants are informed in advance that the sessions will be recorded. Transcripts and 

video tapes will be maintained in the individual project files.

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

No information will be collected from small businesses or small organizations or small governmental 

jurisdictions as a result of this information collection.
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5(d) Collection Schedule

Focus groups will be scheduled according to the needs of individual projects. No firm schedule for 

this collection has been established otherwise.

Section 6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of Collection

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden

6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs

Estimates of respondent burden were derived from projected focus group usage over the next three 

years. Each program office was asked for the number and size of the focus groups that they 

anticipate conducting for economics projects over the next three years. The total estimated hourly 

burden imposed by this collection of information over the next three years for focus groups is 

approximately 2,744 hours or approximately 915 hours annually. The total burden per year is valued 

at approximately $30,302. There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs 

associated with this collection. There is a total of about 528 respondents per year. This is derived by 

taking the approximate number of studies multiplied by the average number of focus groups per 

study and again multiplied by the average number of participants per group. The total number of 

respondents for the 3 year collection would be about 1,584. 

TABLE 1a. – Average Annual Respondent Burden and Costs1

Center Subject

Approximate 

Number of 

Studies

Average 

Number of 

Focus Groups 

per Study

Average 

Number of 

Participants 

per Group

Average 

Hours of 

Duration for 

Each Group 

(includes 

screening)

Total 

Estimated 

“Respondent

” Hours 

Over next 3 

years

Total 

Estimated

Burden per 

Year ($)2

Office of 

Policy

Various (e.g, water 

quality valuation, 

recreational benefits, 

health risk valuation, ))

4 13 9.7 1.8 908 $10,027

Office of 

Research and 

Development

Various (e.g.,water 

quality valuation, 

ecosystem services 

valuation, sustainable 

communities, water 

quality in the Great 

Lakes)

12 11.25 8 1.7 1836 $20,275

TOTAL 2,744 $30,302

1

 There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.

2 Hourly rate ($33.13) from “Table 1. Employer costs per hour worked for employee compensation and costs as a percent of total 

compensation: Civilian workers, by major occupational and industry group, December 2014”. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of 

Labor Statistics. (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t01.htm)

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Costs

The Agency incurs costs to develop the focus group materials, organize and conduct focus group 

discussions, and observe focus group discussions. These expenses will vary by specific project. The 

table below provides a hypothetical assessment of what the costs might be per year based on a 

number of assumptions regarding the level of effort required. EPA person-costs are estimated using 
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an hourly rate for a GS-14 (step 1) based in Washington, DC in 2015 (See GS Pay Tables at: 

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salarytables/pdf/2015/DCB_h.pdf). Time spent on each step may vary as well as the GS-level of the 

employees involved. Contractor costs will also depend on the location of focus groups, degree of 

involvement in materials preparation and whether written transcripts of each focus group are 

required. The estimates presented below assume that the Agency prepares all of the materials and 

that approximately 3 individuals observe each focus group. 

Estimated Average Annual Agency Burden and Costs

Task

Costs (and Person-hours) Per Focus Group Hour Total Hours and Cost

EPA

($51.43/

Hour)

Estimated 

Contractor Costs1

O&M Cost Number of focus 

group hours/year.

Total Cost/Year

Prepare 

Materials for 

Focus Group 

Discussion

$1029

(20 hrs) -- -- 108 $111,132

Organize and 

conduct focus 

group 

discussion

(contractor)

--

$5,000 -- 108

$540,000

Observe focus 

group 

discussion

$154

(3 hrs)

-- --

108 $16,632

Total $1,183 $5,000

--

108 $667,764

Notes: 1includes recruiting respondents, meeting space, respondent reimbursement for approximately 9 participants, and 

recording of discussion.

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

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables

We expect respondent focus group hours to total 2,744 over the next 3 years or 915 each year. 

These hours will be spread over approximately 187 focus groups over the course of the 3-year time 

frame (~63 per year).

(i) Respondent Tally

Action

Approximate 

Number of 

Focus 

Groups per 

year

Estimated 

Respondent 

Hours per 

Year

Total labor 

Cost per 

Year

Total Annual 

Capital Costs

Total Annual 

O&M costs

Focus Group 

Discussion

63 915 $30,302 $0 $0

(ii) Agency Tally

Approximate 

Number of 

Focus 

Groups per 

year

Estimated 

Focus Group 

Hours per 

year

Total 

Capital/Startup 

Cost Per Year

Total 

Labor Cost 

per Year

Total Annual 

Cost 

Focus Group 

Discussion

63 108 $540,000 $127,764 $667,764
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6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden

The request for 915 annual burden hours represents a decrease of 3,163 (=4,078-915) hours in the 

total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. Burden 

estimates derived for this (and the previous) renewal are based on projected use estimates for this 

generic ICR provided by the various program offices at EPA. These projections are based on 

anticipated, new and continuing projects over the coming three years. A decrease in burden over 

the previous ICR conveys simply that EPA anticipates less need for the conduct of focus groups 

under this ICR than in the past. 

6(g) Burden Statement

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

to average 1.7 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. This includes the 

time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize 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 of 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 number for EPA’s regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 

48 CFR Chapter 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

Number EPA-HQ-OA-2008-0701, which is available for online viewing at www.regulations.gov, or in 

person viewing at the OEI Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 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 Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OEI docket is 

(202) 566-1752. An electronic version of the public docket is available at www.regulations.gov. 

This site can be used 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. When in the system, select “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, D.C. 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for 

EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OA-2008-0701 and OMB Control Number 

2090-0028 in any correspondence.
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Part B.

There are no tabulated results for this information collection.

Information gathered from focus groups is qualitative in nature. They allow for a more in-depth 

understanding of respondents’ attitudes, beliefs, motivations, and feelings than do quantitative studies. 

It serves the narrowly defined need for direct and informal opinion on a specific topic.
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Appendix 1

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed 

Collection; Comment Request; Focus Groups as Used by EPA 

for Economics Projects (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2205.15, 

OMB Control No. 2090-0028

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]

[Notices]

[Pages 6075-6076]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office 

[www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2015-02200]

=======================================================================

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA HQ-OA-2008-0701; FRL-9922-48-OA]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Focus 

Groups as used by EPA for Economics Projects (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 

submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Focus Groups as used 

by EPA for Economics Projects (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2205.15, OMB 

Control No. 2090-0028) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 

(PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific 

aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This 

is a proposed renewal of the ICR, which is currently approved through 

June 30, 2015. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA2008-0701, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 

email to oei.docket@epa.gov, 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.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathalie Simon, Office of Policy, (MC 

1809T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 

Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-2347; fax number: 202-

566-2363 email address: simon.nathalie@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 automated electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 

technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. 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: EPA is seeking renewal of a generic ICR for the conduct 

of focus groups and protocol interviews (hereafter jointly referred to 

as focus groups) related to economics projects. Over the next three 

years, the Agency anticipates embarking on a number of survey 

development efforts associated with a variety of economics projects 

including those related to valuation of ecosystems, children's health 

risks, mortality risk reductions, improvements to coastal waters 

including the Chesapeake Bay, to name a few. Focus groups are an 

important part of any survey development process, allowing researchers 

to directly gauge what specific issues are important to the public and 

providing a means for explicitly testing draft survey materials. These 

focus groups will allow the Agency to gain a more in-depth 

understanding of the public's attitudes, beliefs, motivations and 

feelings regarding specific issues and will provide valuable 

information regarding the quality of draft survey instruments.

 The information collected in the focus groups may be used to 

develop and improve economics-related surveys. To the extent that these 

surveys are ultimately successfully administered, they will serve to 

expand the Agency's understanding of benefits and costs of a variety of 

actions and could provide the means to quantitatively assess the 

effects of others. Participation in the focus groups will be voluntary 

and the identity of the participants will be kept confidential.

 Form Numbers: None.

 Respondents/affected entities: Individuals.

 Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.

 Estimated number of respondents: 2,066 (total).

 Frequency of response: Once.

 Total estimated burden: 1,359 hours (per year). Burden is defined 

at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)
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 Total estimated cost: $41,356 (per year), includes $0 annualized 

capital or operation & maintenance costs.

 Changes in Estimates: There is no change in the total estimated 

respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB.

[[Page 6076]]

 Dated: January 27, 2015.

Joel Beauvais,

Associate Administrator, Office of Policy.

[FR Doc. 2015-02200 Filed 2-3-15; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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Appendix 2

Proposed Process for Review of Focus Group Submissions

Under Generic ICR “Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects” 

1. A cross-office, standing panel has been created, consisting of three economists with survey 

experience, to review requests from individuals or teams wishing to conduct focus groups under the 

generic ICR. One member of the panel will be from NCEE. Nominations for the other two seats will be 

solicited from the Program offices through the Econ Forum and will be decided by the Econ Forum 

Steering Committee. Membership on the panel will be on a rotational basis with each member appointed 

to a 1-year term. Members will be permitted to serve up to five, consecutive terms, but must then step 

down for a 12-month period before serving in this capacity again. In order to prevent wholesale turn-over 

of the panel at one time, the following maximum term limits may be applied to members of the first panel 

(if needed):

NCEE – no more than 3 consecutive terms

Program Office #1 – no more than 4 consecutive terms

Program Office #2 – no more than 5 consecutive terms.

2. Only relevant projects will be considered. Relevant projects are defined as those with an economics 

component. That is, they must have as their primary goal the estimation of benefits, the estimation of 

costs, or the elicitation of preferences for health outcomes, safety and/or environmental goods. 

3. Projects submitted for consideration must be entered into the Science Inventory Database. The 

Science Inventory Database is a publicly searchable database designed to track and report peer review 

and other science activities across the Agency. Peer review work products are divided into three 

categories: highly influential scientific assessments, influential scientific information and other products. 

Creating an entry in the database will allow more public scrutiny of the proposed research and will allow 

the project to be reflected in the Agency’s Annual report to OMB summarizing peer review activities. 

Entries should clearly indicate whether or not the survey under development will yield data that is 

expected to be "highly influential." According to EPA’s Science Policy Council Peer Review Handbook, 

influential scientific or technical work products are those expected to have “a major impact, [involve] 

precedential, novel, and/or controversial issues, or the Agency has a legal and/or statutory obligation to 

conduct a peer review.” Highly influential scientific assessments are those that “could have a potential 

impact of more than $500 million in any year,” or that are considered “novel, controversial, or precedentsetting or has significant interagency interest.” Our reading of these definitions would place all surveys in 

the “influential scientific assessments” category. The classification of a specific survey as “highly 

influential” will need to be determined on a case by case basis. Most surveys developed specifically for 

direct input into an economic analysis for a rule or regulation will be considered “highly influential.” 

However, other survey activities could also be considered “highly influential” depending on the subject 

matter. 
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4. Supporting statements, clearly indicating peer review plans, must accompany each request. 

Individuals or teams wishing to submit a project for consideration under this generic ICR must submit a 

draft supporting statement for review by the standing panel. Since focus group results are not expected 

to yield data that can be analyzed statistically, only Part A of the supporting statement will be expected.

In addition to the other standard requirements of the supporting statement, the document should clearly 

describe the need for and purpose of the project as well as the projected peer-review plan to assess the 

quality of any potential survey instruments. For highly influential projects, an external peer review panel 

process, as recommended by the EPA Peer Review Handbook, will be expected under this generic ICR. 

This panel review could take one of two forms: periodic consultations with experts in the field throughout 

the survey development process or a panel review of the survey development process in advance of 

submitting an ICR to OMB should the project advance to that stage. 

5. Time-lines for project completion should accompany the supporting statement, highlighting hard 

deadlines where they exist. In assessing the project, the review panel will consider whether in their view 

there is sufficient and reasonable time to complete the focus groups given these timing constraints. As 

separate ICR approval will be required for administration of any survey once developed, the submitted 

timeline should reflect the date by which the project team expects to file the ICR for any anticipated 

survey administration.