Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0078-0009
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activity; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; National Wastewater Operator Training and Technical Assistance Program (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1977.03, OMB Control Number 2040-0238
Posted Date: 2008-01-23T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 15)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3956-3958]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja08-41]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0078, FRL-8519-3]

 
Agency Information Collection Activity; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; National Wastewater Operator Training and Technical 
Assistance Program (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1977.03, OMB Control 
Number 2040-0238

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection 
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before 
submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting 
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as 
described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OW-2003-0078, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for 

submitting comments.
     E-mail: ow-docket@epa.gov (Identify Docket ID number EPA-
HQ-OW-2003-0078, in the subject line)
     Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only 
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments identified by the Docket ID 
number EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0078. EPA's policy is that all comments received 
will be included in the public docket without change and may be made 
available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 

information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through 
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an 

``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 

automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or

[[Page 3957]]

viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit 
the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm
.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gajindar Singh, Municipal Support 
Division, Office of Wastewater Management, OWM Mail Code: 4204M, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-0634; e-mail address: 
singh.gajindar@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for the ICR identified in this 
document (ID number EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0078), which is available for online 
viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Water 

Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/ DC 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 Water Docket is 202-566-2426.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of 

information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing 
of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the 
public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, 
select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified in this 
document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of technical information/data you used that 
support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
state and local governments, state and county colleges, and 
organizations that provide training assistance through the Clean Water 
Act 104(g)(1) Program to municipal wastewater treatment plants.
    Title: National Wastewater Operator Training and Technical 
Assistance Program (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1977.03, OMB Control No. 2040-0238.
    ICR status: The current ICR expires on June 30, 2008. 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 in title 
40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, 
are listed in 40 CFR part 9, and displayed either by publication in the 
Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related 
collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB 
control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR 
part 9.
    Abstract: The Wastewater Operator Training Program provides on-site 
technical assistance to municipal wastewater treatment plants. 
Information will be collected from the network of forty-six states or 
the 104(g)(1) training centers set up through out the United States. 
The information will be collected to identify the facilities assisted, 
the different types of assistance the program provides and the 
environmental outcomes and benefits of the assistance provided by the 
program. The information will be collected and submitted on either an 
annual or semi-annual basis. A Microsoft Access database and an Excel 
spreadsheet have been developed for this purpose. This ICR will be used 
by EPA for the technical and financial management of the 104(g)(1) 
Program. The 104(g)(1) Program training centers participate in the 
information collection in compliance with the grant conditions. All 
information in the data system will be made public upon request.
    Burden Statement: The total number of respondents is estimated to 
be 46 including the states and the training centers. The annual public 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information 
is estimated to be seven hours per respondent for 46 respondents with a 
total burden of 322 hours at an annual cost of $14,361(assuming an 
average hourly salary of $44.60). All forty-six (46) training centers 
and EPA have the necessary equipment, desk-top computers and software, 
to collect and manage this information. There will be no additional 
start-up or maintenance costs associated with this project to perform 
this information collection request. Burden means the total time, 
effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, 
maintain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal 
agency. This 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 
information. The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's 
estimate, which is only briefly summarized here:

[[Page 3958]]

    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 46.
    Frequency of response: Three times a year.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
Three.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 322 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $14,361. This includes an estimated 
reporting burden cost of $14,361 and an estimated cost of $0 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the total estimated 
respondent burden hours compared with that identified in the ICR 
currently approved by OMB. EPA has not modified the requirements that 
were included in the previous ICR.

    Dated: January 8, 2008.
James A. Hanlon,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. E8-1100 Filed 1-22-08; 8:45 am]

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