Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0041-0022
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: RadNet
Posted Date: 2023-06-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 39845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13062]

[[Page 39845]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0041; 10986-01-OAR]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; RadNet 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``RadNet'' (EPA ICR No. 
0877.15, OMB Control No. 2060-0015) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on 
specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described 
below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through March 31, 2024. 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 August 21, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2003-0041, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Griggs, OAR/ORIA/NAREL, 
Environmental Protection Agency, National Analytical Radiation 
Environmental Laboratory, 540 South Morris Ave., Montgomery, AL 36115; 
telephone number: (334) 270-3400; fax number: (334) 270-3450; email 
address: [email protected].

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: RadNet is a national network of stations collecting 
environmental media that include air, precipitation, and drinking 
water. Samples are sent to EPA's National Analytical Radiation 
Environmental Lab (NAREL) in Montgomery, Alabama, where they are 
analyzed for radioactivity. RadNet provides emergency response/homeland 
security and ambient monitoring information on levels of environmental 
radiation across the nation. All stations operators participate in 
RadNet voluntarily. Station operators complete information forms that 
accompany the samples. The forms request information pertaining to 
sample type, sample location, start and stop date and times for 
sampling, length of sampling period, and volume represented. Data from 
RadNet are made available regularly on the Agency websites--Envirofacts 
and the EPA website www.epa.gov/radnet.
    Form numbers: RadNet Air Particulate Sample (EPA Form 5900-24); 
RadNet Precipitation Report Form (EPA Form 5900-27); RadNet Drinking 
Water Report Form (EPA Form 5900-29); and RadNet Supply Request Form 
(EPA Form 5900-23).
    Respondents/affected entities: Primarily State and Local Officials.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 213.
    Frequency of response: Varies depending upon sample media type. 
Responses vary from twice weekly to quarterly.
    Total estimated burden: 3,640 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $2,622,124 (per year), includes annualized 
capital costs, operational costs, and maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: There is a 2.2 percent reduction in burden 
from 3,722 hours annually. While the RadNet network is fully 
established and operating with essentially no changes expected, 30% of 
the drinking water sampling locations have not responded since the 
beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a 4.5 percent increase in 
costs due to increases in federal and contractor salaries and cost of 
goods and supplies.

Jonathan D. Edwards,
Director, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air.
[FR Doc. 2023-13062 Filed 6-16-23; 8:45 am]
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