Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0078-0010
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2008-01-24T05:00Z

Information Collection Request for the

National Wastewater Operator Training and

Technical Assistance Program

Section 104(g)(1) of the Clean Water Act

EPA ICR No. 1977.03

OMB Control No. 2040-0238

January 23, 2008.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Wastewater Management

Municipal Assistance Branch

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue (4204-M)

EPA East Building, 7th Floor

Washington, D.C.  20460



Table of Contents

  TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u    HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539056"  1.0  
IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION	  PAGEREF _Toc186539056 \h 
1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539057"  1.a	Title of the Information Collection	
 PAGEREF _Toc186539057 \h  1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539058"  1.b	Short Characterization/Abstract	 
PAGEREF _Toc186539058 \h  1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539059"  2.0  	NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION
  PAGEREF _Toc186539059 \h  1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539060"  2.a	Need and Authority for the
Collection	  PAGEREF _Toc186539060 \h  1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539061"  2.b	Practical Utility of the Data and
Users of the Data	  PAGEREF _Toc186539061 \h  1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539062"  3.0  	NON-DUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS,
AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA	  PAGEREF _Toc186539062 \h  2  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539063"  3.a	Non-duplication	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539063 \h  2  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539064"  3.b	Public Notice Required Prior to ICR
Submission to OMB	  PAGEREF _Toc186539064 \h  2  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539065"  3.c	Consultations	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539065 \h  2  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539066"  3.d	Effects of Less Frequent Data
Collection	  PAGEREF _Toc186539066 \h  3  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539067"  3.e	General Guidelines	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539067 \h  3  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539068"  3.f	Confidentiality	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539068 \h  3  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539069"  3.g	Sensitive Questions	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539069 \h  3  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539070"  4.0	THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION
REQUESTED	  PAGEREF _Toc186539070 \h  4  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539071"  4.a	Respondents and NAICS Codes	 
PAGEREF _Toc186539071 \h  4  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539072"  4.b	Information Requested	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539072 \h  4  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539073"  4.b(i)	Data Items, including
Record-keeping Requirements	  PAGEREF _Toc186539073 \h  4  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539074"  4.b(ii)	Respondent Activities	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539074 \h  5  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539075"  5.0 	THE INFORMATION COLLECTED:  AGENCY
ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539075 \h  5  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539076"  5.a	Agency Activities	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539076 \h  5  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539077"  5.b	Collection Methodology and
Management	  PAGEREF _Toc186539077 \h  5  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539078"  5.c	Small Entity Flexibility	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539078 \h  6  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539079"  5.d	Collection Schedule	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539079 \h  6  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539080"  6.0 	ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND COST OF
THE COLLECTION	  PAGEREF _Toc186539080 \h  6  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539081"  6.a	Estimating Respondent Burden	 
PAGEREF _Toc186539081 \h  8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539082"  6.b	Estimating Respondent Costs	 
PAGEREF _Toc186539082 \h  8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539083"  6.c	Estimating Agency Burden and Cost	 
PAGEREF _Toc186539083 \h  8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539084"  6.d	Estimating Respondent Universe and
Total Burden Hours and Costs	  PAGEREF _Toc186539084 \h  9  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539085"  6.e	Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost
Tables	  PAGEREF _Toc186539085 \h  9  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539086"  6.f 	Reasons for Change in Burden	 
PAGEREF _Toc186539086 \h  10  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539087"  6.g 	Burden Statement	  PAGEREF
_Toc186539087 \h  10  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539088"  Attachment 1	  PAGEREF _Toc186539088 \h 
11  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc186539089"  Attachment 2	  PAGEREF _Toc186539089 \h 
14  

 



1.0  	IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION tc \l1 "1.0 
IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION 

1.a	Title of the Information Collection tc \l2 "1.a	Title of the
Information Collection 

National Wastewater Operator Training and Technical Assistance 

Program Section 104(g)(1) of the Clean Water Act. 

EPA ICR No.: 1977.03	

OMB Control No.: 2040-0238

1.b	Short Characterization/Abstract

In 1982 Congress recognized the need for wastewater operator training. 
Sections 104(g)(1) and 308 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorize this
Information Collection Request (ICR) regarding the Wastewater Operator
Training and Technical Assistance Program, otherwise known as the 104(g)
Program.  The purpose of the 104(g) Program is to provide an adequate
supply of trained personnel to operate and maintain existing and future
treatment works and related activities, and to enhance substantially the
proficiency of those engaged in such activities.  The statute calls upon
U.S. EPA, in cooperation with state and interstate agencies,
municipalities, educational institutes, and other organizations, to
develop training and retrain people in the field of, or who are entering
into the field of, operations and maintenance of treatment works and
related activities.

2.0  	NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION

2.a	Need and Authority for the Collection tc \l2 "2.a	Need and Authority
for the Collection 

Sections 104(g)(1) and 308 of the Clean Water Act provide the authority
for the Wastewater Operator Training Program.  The U.S. EPA has made the
decision to collect information to track data pertaining to the 104(g)
Program.  The goal of this collection is to evaluate the outcomes and
environmental benefits of the 104(g) Program’s assistance activities. 
This information will also help assistance providers to improve the
outreach activities that are provided through the 104(g) Program.

2.b	Practical Utility of the Data and Users of the Data tc \l2 "2.b
Practical Utility of the Data and Users of the Data 

U.S. EPA uses the information collected to update its 104(g) Program
database that contains information on the wastewater treatment plants
assisted by the 104(g) Program.  The database is used as a source of
information to monitor the pollutant reduction progress, compliance
status, and other environmental outcomes and benefits to the wastewater
treatment plants assisted through the 104(g) Program.  

3.0  	NON-DUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS, AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA tc
\l1 "3.0  NON-DUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS,	     AND OTHER COLLECTION
CRITERIA 

3.a	Non-duplication tc \l2 "3.a	Non-duplication 

U.S. EPA has researched and discussed the data collection
responsibilities with the Wastewater Operator Training and Technical
Assistance Program’s training centers.  There are no other reporting
requirements of this nature being conducted by these centers.  Our
research revealed no duplicative reporting requirements. 

3.b	Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB tc \l2 "3.b
Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB 

In compliance with the 1995 Paperwork Reduction Act, any agency
developing a non-rule related ICR must solicit public comments for a
60-day period prior to submitting the ICR to Office of Management and
Budget (OMB).  The comments, which are used partly to determine
realistic burden estimates for respondents, must be considered when
completing the Supporting Statement that is submitted to OMB.  EPA has
published the Federal Register notice for this draft ICR renewal on
January 23, 2008, (Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 15, pages 3956-3958)
and is soliciting public comments.

3.c	Consultations

Participant trainers of  the National Operator Training Program were
requested  for comments on this information collection request.  The
following people were contacted:

Phillip Preston, Indiana Department of Environmental Management 

Richard Weigand, West Virginia Environmental Training Center

Bill Patenaude, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Brett Ward, University of Tennessee Municipal Technologies Advisory
Services

Steve Duerre, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Bill Engel, Director University of Florida TREEO Center

Robert Gott, Program Coordinator, New Mexico

Doug Hill, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Larry Murphree, Environmental Trainer, Mississippi

Six of the above trainers responded.  Two respondents from Mississippi
consider the actual burden to be more than in the ICR because of
difficulties in gathering the information from their main offices, where
all the records are kept. One respondent indicates that the reporting
requirements are appropriate for the 104(g) Program because the
pollutant reduction data is necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness
of the program. The last three respondents feel that the required
reporting burden is either less than or is same as the one reported in
the ICR, and stated that we should collect additional information about
biosolids, total phosphorus violations, and staffing problems. 

3.d	 tc \l2 "3.d	 Effects of Less Frequent Data Collection tc \l2
"Effects of Less Frequent Data Collection 

The EPA collects the information three times a year for the Wastewater
Operator Training and Technical Assistance Program ICR.  The EPA Office
of Wastewater Management collects annual pollutant load reduction
information.  The EPA Regions, under grant conditions,  require
semi-annual, mid-fiscal year (May) and the end of the fiscal year
(November), reporting on the status of any given year’s assistance
projects.  The pollution reduction information is essential to
illustrate the environmental benefits of the 104(g) Program.  The EPA
collects this information to track the number of facilities assisted and
the status of the projects.  Thus, EPA ensures that the training center
grantees’ commitments to the EPA Regions are met.  If EPA collects
data less frequently, it would impair EPA’s ability to monitor the
grantee’s progress per the grant conditions and may be detrimental to
the 104(g) Program. 

3.e	General Guidelines tc \l2 "3.e	General Guidelines 

This ICR is consistent with 5CFR 1320.5(D)(2), and adheres to all
guidelines for information collection requests.

3.f	Confidentiality tc \l2 "3.f	Confidentiality 

Where information submitted in conjunction with this ICR contains trade
secrets or similar confidential business information, the respondent has
the authority to request that this information be treated as
confidential business information.  All data so designated will be
handled pursuant to 40 CFR Part 2.  This information will be maintained
according to procedures outlined in EPA’s Security Manual Part III,
Chapter 9, dated August 9, 1976.  Pursuant to Section 308(b) of the CWA,
effluent data may not be treated as confidential.

3.g	Sensitive Questions

The reporting requirements addressed in this ICR do not include
sensitive questions.

4.0	THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED tc \l1 "4.0  THE
RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED 

4.a	Respondents and NAICS Codes tc \l2 "4.a	Respondents and SIC and
NAICS Codes 

	The following is a list of North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS) codes associated with the Wastewater Operator Training
Program:

924110 - Environmental Protection Program Administration

611310 - Colleges

611210 - Junior Colleges

4.b	Information Requested

 tc \l2 "4.b	Information Requested 

4.b(i)	Data Items, including Record-keeping Requirements

Reporting:

1) Spreadsheet reporting categories:

A.) Number of Facilities that have Completed Assistance: achieved
compliance, maintained compliance, improved performance, and no
improvement; and

B.) Number of Facilities that are Continuing Assistance: achieved
compliance, maintained compliance, improved performance, and no
improvement.

(See Attachment 1 for spreadsheet and guidance.)

2) Database reporting categories for each facility assisted:

EPA Region, Facility Name, Facility Street Address, City/Town, State,
Zip Code, Start Assistance Date, Compliance Status at the Start,
Compliance Achieved Date, Conclusion Assistance Date, Type of Facility,
Top Five Performance Limiting Factors, Repeat Assistance Facility, If
Repeat - Date of Last Assistance, Tribal Assistance, Design Size of the
Plant, Comments, Other Benefits, Permit Number, Biological Oxygen Demand
Average Start, Total Suspended Solids Average Start, Nitrogen Average
Start, Biological Oxygen Demand Average End, Total Suspended Solids
Average End, Nitrogen Average End, Longitude, Latitude, and Annual
Average Flow.

(See Attachment 2 for database and guidance.)

U.S. EPA requires that the Wastewater Operator Training and Technical
Assistance Program training center grantees report this information.  It
will be to the training center grantee’s benefit to keep the requested
information on hand after reporting, but it will not be required by the
U.S. EPA.  The 104(g) Program’s trainers will use the reporting
requirements covered by this ICR to measure an assisted facility’s
improvement and the subsequent environmental benefits of the assistance
efforts.

4.b(ii)	Respondent Activities

Under the grant compliance requirements, the EPA Regions require the
respondents to submit status data semi-annually on a spreadsheet created
by EPA. The training center grantee will submit the information
electronically to the corresponding U.S. EPA Regional Office, with a
copy to U.S. EPA Headquarters.  The information collected is based on
the trainer’s activity at the assisted site.  The trainer knows the
status of the facility being assisted, and hence, no extraneous paper
work will be required.

The respondents, under the grant conditions, will be required to submit
the pollutant data information on an annual basis in the format
established by U.S. EPA.  This information will be submitted
electronically from the training center grantee to the corresponding
U.S. EPA Regional Office, with a copy to U.S. EPA Headquarters.  The
majority of the information collected will be obtained while the trainer
is at the facility being assisted.  The pollution reduction information
will be obtained via either an on-site visit or the telephone.

5.0 	THE INFORMATION COLLECTED:  AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION
METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT tc \l1 "      	5.0 THE
INFORMATION COLLECTED:  AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION METHODOLOGY, AND
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 

5.a	Agency Activities tc \l2 "5.a	Agency Activities 

In collecting and analyzing the information associated with Wastewater
Operator Training Program ICR, the U.S. EPA will compile and maintain up
to five years of data.  The spreadsheet forms and 104(g) Program
database format will be created by U.S. EPA and sent to the 104(g)
Program’s training center grantees.  The U.S. EPA will review the
provided information, and create an annual accomplishment report that
will be placed on the EPA’s website. 

5.b	Collection Methodology and Management tc \l2 "5.b	Collection
Methodology and Management 

The data will be entered into the spreadsheet form and the database form
by the 104(g) Program training centers, the information will be
submitted electronically to the appropriate U.S. EPA Regional Office,
with a copy to U.S. EPA Headquarters.  The U.S. EPA will ensure the
accuracy and completeness of information collected by reviewing each
submittal upon receipt.  The data will be stored at U.S. EPA
Headquarters’ Wastewater Operator Training Program coordinator’s
desk top computer.  The public may access the data upon request to the
U.S. EPA.

5.c	Small Entity Flexibility

 tc \l2 "5.c	Small Entity Flexibility 

The Wastewater Operator Training Program ICR does not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Therefore,
this section does not apply to this ICR.

5.d	Collection Schedule tc \l2 "5.d	Collection Schedule 

Information will be collected three times a year for the Wastewater
Operator Training Program ICR.  Annual reporting for the database
information is required in November of each year.   Semi-annual
reporting for the status of any given year’s assistance projects in
spreadsheet format is required mid-fiscal year (May) and the end of the
fiscal year (November).	

6.0 	ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND COST OF THE COLLECTION

The total number of respondents is estimated to be the forty-six 104(g)
Program training center grantees.  The responses are collected three
times per year.  The projected combined annual cost of this ICR to all
forty-six 104(g) training center grantee respondents and the federal
government will be approximately $24,600.  The average annual cost to
each 104(g)(1) training center will be $312.20, for a total cost of
$14,361.20 per year.  The average annual cost to EPA’s Regional
Offices and Headquarters will be $930.88, for a total cost of $10,239.68
per year.  The projected combined annual burden hours of this ICR will
be 498 hours.  The average annual burden hours to each State or training
center grantee will be 7 hours, for a total of 322 hours per year for
all 46 public respondents.  The average annual burden hours to each EPA
Regional Office and Headquarters will be 16 hours, for a total of 176
burden hours.  

Data will be collected on an annual basis, in November of each year, for
the database collection, and data for the spreadsheet information will
be collected on a semi-annual basis, in May and November of each year. 
This information collection is required under the grant requirements;
EPA expects that 100% of the 104(g) training centers will respond to
this collection request.  All forty-six (46) training centers grantees
and U.S. EPA have the necessary equipment, desk-top computers with
appropriate 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, 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.  

Salaries for the 104(g) Program training center grantee staff are based
on the Bureau of Labor statistics weekly earnings as of October, 2007.  
The U.S. EPA salaries are based on the 2007 federal salary, GS-level 13
step 5.  A loaded wage estimate was calculated by multiplying the
federal wage by 1.6.

The cost imposed on the training center grantees to the requirements
discussed in this ICR is a function of the burden placed on them for
record keeping and reporting the information described above and the
wages of a typical worker performing these activities.

Estimates of civilian salaries associated with this information
collection have been prepared using the Bureau of Labor’s statistics
for October, 2007.  This information is on the Bureau of Labor’s
web-page at the following Internet address:    HYPERLINK
"http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t02.htm" 
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t02.htm 

This ICR estimates the average loaded annual salary for a civilian
professional employee is $89,200 per year, at the hourly rate of $44.60;
and

U.S. EPA estimates that the total annual civilian employee response cost
is $14,361.20 for record keeping and reporting.

Estimates of the federal government respondent costs associated with
this information collection have been prepared using the Federal Salary
Table 2007.  This information is on the Office of Personnel
Management’s web-page at the following Internet address:    HYPERLINK
"http://opm.gov/oca/07tables/html/gs_h.asp" 
http://opm.gov/oca/07tables/html/gs_h.asp 

The average annual salary for a federal employee working on data
collection and submission for this ICR is estimated to be equivalent to
a GS-13, Step 5, and a loaded salary of $116,360 per year, at the hourly
rate of $58.18; and

EPA estimates that the total annual federal employee response cost is
$10,239.68 for record keeping and reporting.

6.a	Estimating Respondent Burden  tc \l2 "6.a	Estimating Respondent
Burden for each Grantee 

Activity:  Spreadsheet

	

No. of

Respondents	

No. of

Person Hours/ Respondent	

Total Annual Hours

Training center grantees, civilian professional specialty and technical
staff; record keeping and reporting for the spreadsheet (semi-annual).	

46	

2	

92

                              

Activity: Database

     	

No. of

Respondents	

No. of

Person Hours/ Respondent	

Total Annual Hours

Training center grantees, civilian professional specialty and technical
staff; record keeping and reporting for the database (annual).	

46	

5	

230

6.b	Estimating Respondent Costs 

Activity:  Spreadsheet

	

Cost  Per     Hour	

Total Annual Labor Cost

Training center grantees, civilian professional specialty and technical
staff; record keeping and reporting for the spreadsheet (semi-annual).	

$44.60	

$4,103.20

Activity: Database

     	

Cost Per     Hour	

Total Annual Labor Cost

Training center grantees, civilian professional specialty and technical
staff; record keeping and reporting for the database (annual).	

$44.60	

$10,258.00

6.c	Estimating Agency Burden and Cost

                             

Activity:  Spreadsheet

     	

No. of

Respondents	

No. of

Person Hours Per Respondent	

Cost   Per     Hour	

Total Annual Hours	

Total Annual Labor 

Cost

U.S. EPA staff; record keeping and reporting for the spreadsheet
(semi-annual).	

11	

8	

$58.18	

88	

$5,119.84

                              Activity: Database

     	

No. of

Respondents	

No. of

Person Hours per Respondent	

Cost   Per     Hour	

Total Annual Hours	

Total Annual Labor 

Cost

U.S. EPA staff; record keeping and reporting for the database (annual).	

    

11	

    

8	

$58.18	

88	

$5,119.84

Total annual hours per each EPA respondent is 16 hours.

6.d	Estimating Respondent Universe and Total Burden Hours and Costs

                              

Activity:  Spreadsheet

     	

No. of

Respondents	

No. of

Person Hours	

Cost     Per     Hour	

Total Annual Hours	

Total Annual Labor 

Cost

Training center grantees, civilian professional specialty and technical
staff; record keeping and reporting for the spreadsheet 

(semi-annual).	

46	

2	

$44.60	

92	

$4,103.20

U.S. EPA staff; record keeping and reporting for the spreadsheet 
(semi-annual).	

  

11	

8	

  

$58.18	

88	

$5,119.84

SUB-TOTALS                                                              
                                                               180      
 $9,223.04

                              

Activity: Database

     	

No. of

Respondents	

No. of

Person Hours	

Cost     Per     Hour	

Total Annual Hours	

Total Annual Labor 

Cost

Training center grantees, civilian professional specialty and technical
staff; record keeping and reporting for the database (annual).	

46	

5	

$44.60	

230	

$10.258.00

U.S. EPA staff; record keeping and reporting for the  database (annual).

    

11	

    

8	

  

$58.18	

88	

$5,119.84

SUB-TOTALS                                                              
                                                              318       
 $15,377.84

6.e	Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables

	

No. of

respondents includes the 46 grantees and the 10 EPA Regional Offices and
EPA Headquarters	

Total Annual Hours	

Total Annual Labor 

Cost

TOTALS:	

57	

498	

$24,600.88

6.f 	Reasons for Change in Burden

There is no change in the burden hours from the previous ICR approved by
the OMB as the 104(g) Program and the number of reporting States or
training centers remains the same. Increase in the cost is due to the
increase in the wages of the professional staff.

 

6.g 	Burden Statement

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.  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 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 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 No.
EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0078, 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 Reading Room is
(202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water Docket is (202)
566-2426.  An electronic version of the public docket is available
through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at
http://www.regulations.gov/.  Use FDMS 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.  Once in the system, 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-2003-0078 and OMB control
number 2040-0238 in any correspondence.

Attachment 1

National Wastewater Operator Training and Technical Assistance Program 

Excel Reporting Spreadsheet

Region

	State

	Grant amount

Training Completed

	Achieved Compliance

	Maintained Compliance

	Improved Performance

	No Improvement

Training Ongoing

	Achieved Compliance

	Maintained Compliance

	Improved Performance

	No Improvement

Total

Carry-overs from previous year

Number new projects

Diagnostic Evaluations

New Initiatives (BNR)

	Continuing Work (BNR)

	

Attachment 1 continued

Wastewater Operator Training Program / 104(g) Excel Spreadsheet
Reporting

Definitions of Categories / Reporting Fields for Training Completed
Facilities:

Achieved Compliance: Starts with the facility out of compliance with its
NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance.  After the
facility has completed its assistance, the facility was in compliance
with its NPDES permit.  In order to be rated as achieved compliance at
the end of assistance, the facility needs to be in compliance with all
elements of its NPDES permit for three consecutive months.

Maintained Compliance: Starts with the facility in compliance with its
NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance.  However,
the facility is demonstrating performance problems which could lead to
non-compliance with its NPDES permit.  After the facility completed its
assistance, the facility has halted any further deterioration in
performance, improved its performance, and continued to stay in
compliance with its NPDES permit.  The underlying theme with compliance
maintenance facilities is that there is “something wrong” with
performance but it is not “wrong” enough to exceed NPDES permit
levels.  

Improved Performance: Starts with the facility out of compliance with
its NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance. 
However, compliance assistance is leading the facility to better
operation and maintenance.  After the assistance has been completed at
the facility, “total” compliance may have not been achieved on a
consistent basis, but the facility is definitely operating better.  The
facility has reduced periods of non-compliance, reduced levels of
pollutants discharged, or has had significant increases in efficiencies
such as: lower energy usage, better (and often lower) chemical usage for
proper operation, and adequate financial support enabling operators to
better address problems in a more timely fashion.  The facility may not
be in “total” compliance with its NPDES permit, but it has
“significantly” increased its performance.  The facility has
completed its compliance assistance training with the Program and may
still be out of compliance, this is due to circumstances beyond the
Program’s control such as, the need for an upgrade to the treatment
facility.  

No Improvement: Starts with the facility out of compliance with its
NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance training, and
continues to be out of compliance with little or no improvement.  The
facility has opted to discontinue its participation in the Program.

Definitions of Categories / Reporting Fields for Training Continuing
Facilities:

Achieved Compliance: Starts with the facility out of compliance with its
NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance.  Even though
the facility has achieved compliance, it is continuing its assistance to
ensure a permanent compliance status. 

Maintained Compliance: Starts with the facility in compliance with its
NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance.  However,
the facility is demonstrating performance problems which could lead to
non-compliance with its NPDES permit.  After the facility has completed
its assistance, the facility has halted any further deterioration in
performance, improved its performance, and has continued to stay in
compliance with its NPDES permit.

Improved Performance: Starts with the facility out of compliance with
its NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance. 
However, the assistance is leading the facility to better operation and
maintenance.  After the assistance has been completed at the facility,
“total” compliance may have not been achieved, but the facility is
definitely operating better.  The facility has reduced periods of
non-compliance, reduced levels of pollutants discharged, or has had
significant increases in efficiencies such as; lower energy usage,
better (and often lower) chemical usage for proper operation, and
adequate financial support enabling operators to better address problems
in a more timely fashion.  The facility may not be in “total”
compliance with its NPDES permit, but it has “significantly”
increased its performance.  The facility is continuing its compliance
assistance efforts with the Program and the trainer is working on
bringing the facility into “total” compliance with its NPDES permit,
but has not achieved this status on a consistent basis.

No Improvement: Starts with the facility out of compliance with its
NPDES permit at the beginning of the compliance assistance training, and
continues to be out of compliance with little or no improvement.  The
facility has decided to continue to work with the Program to solve its
compliance problems.

Attachment 2

	Fields requested in MS Access Database

	ID

	Region

	Facility Name

	Facility Street Address

	City/Town

	State

	Zip code

	Start Assist Date

	Compliance status at start

	Conclusion Assist Date

	Type of Facility

	Performance Limiting Factors (in order of priority)

	Repeat Assist Facility

	If repeat, last assist date

	Tribal assistance

	Design size of plant (MGD)

	Comments

	Other Benefits

	Permit Number

	CBOD/BOD AVG - Start

	CBOD/BOD AVG - End

	Lbs of CBOD/BOD reduced

	Nitrogen AVG - Start

	Nitrogen AVG - End

	Lbs of Nitrogen reduced

	TSS AVG - Start

	TSS AVG - End

	Lbs of TSS reduced

	Annual AVG Flow (MGD)

Attachment 2 continued

  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 104(g)(1) DATABASE GUIDANCE

The following information corresponds to the data input form of the
104(g)(1) Program database.

(1a) COMPLIANCE ACHIEVED DATE:  The assistance work at the facility has
resulted in the facility being in compliance for at least  ninety (90)
days.  The date entered into this field should be the day the facility
continuously achieved compliance for ninety (90) days.  If the
compliance achieved date is entered so must the compliance achieved
date.

(1b) CONCLUSION ASSISTANCE DATE: Enter the date that the assistance work
has been completed at the facility.  This date will be the same as of
most likely after the compliance achieved date.

(2)   TYPE OF FACILITY:    Choose the one option that most applies to
the facility using the drop-down box.

         Options:  AL, AS, CS, EA, L, OD, PO, RBC, SBR, SP, TF, TF/SC,
WTL, OTH

AL         -	Aerated Lagoon

AS         -	Activated Sludge

CS	 -	Contact Stabilization

EA	 -	Extended Aeration

L		 -	Lagoon

OD	 -	Oxidation Ditch

PO	 -	Primary Treatment Only

SBR       -	Sequencing Batch Reactors

RBC	 -	Rotating Biological Contactors

SP	 -	Stabilization Pond

TF	 -	Trickling Filter

TF/SC    -	Trickling Filter/Solids Contact

WTL      - 	Wetlands to Lagoons

OTH	  -	Other {Type OTH in this field and use the comment field (4) to
explain.}



(3)  PERFORMANCE LIMITING FACTORS  = PLFs:

     Options: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S,
T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Up to four letters can be assigned to each facility based on the
"performance limiting factors" that were found at each facility that
most contributed to its non-compliance or its poor state of O&M. These
should be listed from top to bottom from the PLF that most contributed
to the PLF that least contributed to the facility’s non-compliance or
poor state of O&M. Use your best judgement in applying these factors. 

A	-	Poor understanding and application of process control by operator

B	-	Staffing (too few staff , low pay, turnover, etc.)

C	-	Support from municipality (administrative and technical)

D	-	Operating budget and user charge system

E	-	Operability/maintainability considerations (process flexibility,
automation, standby units, alternate power source)

F	-	Inflow and infiltration

G	-	Lagoon leakage

H	-	Process design errors (clarifiers, aerators, disinfection, etc.)

I	-	Over loaded

J	-	Under loaded

K	-	Solids handling and sludge disposal

L	-	Pretreatment, industrial dischargers, and toxics

M	-	O&M manual (lack of or deficient)

N	-	QA/QC problems

O	-	Spare parts inventory

P	-	Chemical inventory

Q	-	Laboratory deficiencies (process control / NPDES testing)

R	-	NPDES reporting / record keeping

S	-	Equipment / unit processes broken down/inoperable

T	-	Hydraulic related problems

U	-	Poor aeration system 

V           -	Sludge accumulation	

W	-	Job description (performing operator evaluations without a written
operator job description)

X	-	Illegal dischargers / non-dischargers

Y           -	Algae problems in lagoons	

Z	-	Other  (Type OTH in this field and use the comment field (5) to
explain.)

(4)  REPEAT ASSISTANCE FACILITY: Indicate with either a yes or no, if
this facility has been assisted by the program in the past five years. 
A drop-down box is present for easier data entry purposes.

(*) LAST ASSISTANCE DATE: Applies only to Repeat Assistance Facilities. 
If applicable indicate the date of the last conclusion assistance date -
(1b) at this facility, otherwise leave blank.

(5) COMMENTS:  Pertinent facility information, the type of facility -
(2) or the need to expand on the type of facility, or PLFs - other (3).

(6) OTHER BENEFITS:  Energy savings, cost savings, chemical addition
savings, etc.

(7) POLLUTANT (CBOD/BOD, NITROGEN, & TSS) AVG. - Start: The average of
the effluent monthly averages of the particular pollutant (CBOD/BOD,
Nitrogen, & TSS) on the facility’s Discharge Monitoring Report for the
three months prior to the start of assistance date.

(8) POLLUTANT (CBOD/BOD, NITROGEN, & TSS) AVG. - End: The average of the
effluent monthly averages of the particular pollutant (CBOD/BOD,
Nitrogen, & TSS) on the facility’s Discharge Monitoring Report for the
three months after the conclusion of assistance date (1b).

(9) ANNUAL AVERAGE FLOW {MGD}: The annual average of the effluent flow,
in millions of gallons per day, during the assistance period.

The Pounds of CBOD/BOD Reduced , Pounds of Nitrogen Reduced, and Pounds
of TSS Reduced are fields that will automatically calculate information,
data input is not required.

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