2023-25109. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC) Program: Post-Award Reporting and Public Outreach ...

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC) Program: Post-Award Reporting and Public Outreach Information Collections (EPA ICR Number 2794.01, OMB Control Number 2035–NEW) 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 request for approval of a new collection. This notice allows for 60 days for public comments.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before January 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA–HQ–OEJECR–2023–0530, to EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to [e-mail], 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:

Aarti Iyer, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; email address: [e-mail]; phone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This is a request for approval of a new collection. 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.

This notice allows 60 days for public comments. 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 forms of information technology. 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: To help expand historically underserved and overburdened communities' access to critical resources, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC) Program. The 18 Centers will operate in cooperative agreements with EPA to remove barriers and improve access for communities who wish to apply for financial assistance awards to tackle their environmental justice concerns. The Centers will provide assistance and training to build capacity in: identifying sources of funding; navigating grant application systems; compiling strong grant proposals; managing grants; and developing partnerships and coalitions. With this Information Collection Request (ICR), EPA seeks authorization to collect post-award information from each Center to track their progress. Collection of this information enables EPA to assess and manage the TCTAC Program, which ensures responsible stewardship of public funds; rigorous evidence-based learning and improvement; and transparent accountability to the American public. This ICR also requests authorization for the Centers to collect input and insights from communities who seek to obtain technical assistance services, as well as stakeholders who have valuable experience and expertise in community engagement and empowerment. These information collections will enable the Centers to document local priorities, needs, and norms to ensure that they develop useful and relevant technical assistance and training services. Furthermore, feedback about these services will enable the Centers to conduct self-assessments to identify best practices and areas for improvement. Lastly, this ICR requests authorization for the National Centers in the TCTAC Program to conduct quarterly needs assessments for the Regional Centers, in order to identify the best ways in which the National Centers can support, expand, and bolster the technical assistance that local communities may need.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: To be determined.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory for grant recipients as per reporting requirements included in EPA regulations 2 CFR parts 200 and 1500, and voluntary for public outreach information collections via surveys and focus groups.

Estimated number of respondents: To be determined. This data will be available for the next public review period.

Frequency of response: To be determined. This data will be available for the next public review period.

Total estimated burden: To be determined. This data will be available for the next public review period.

Total estimated cost: To be determined. This data will be available for the next public review period.

Changes in the Estimates: This is a new collection therefore there is no change in burden.

Matthew Tejada,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice, Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights.