[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20520-20522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11335]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5468-9]
Request for Comments: The Pesticides Enforcement and Applicator
Certification Cooperative Agreements Output Projection/Quarterly
Accomplishments Reporting Form; Agency Information Collection
Activities up for Renewal (OMB Control Number 2070-0113)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U. S. C.
3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection
Request (ICR)
[[Page 20521]]
listed below is coming up for renewal. Before submitting the renewal
package to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), EPA is soliciting
comments on specific aspects of the collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 8, 1996.
ADDRESSES: United States Environmental Protection Agency; Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance; Enforcement Capacity and Outreach
Office (2201A); 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D. C. 20460. Interested
persons can obtain a copy of this ICR, without charge, by writing to
the following address: Ms. Sandy Farmer; United States Environmental
Protection Agency; OPPE Regulatory Information Division (2136); 401 M
Street, SW., Washington, DC; EPA ICR Number 1547/OMB Control No. 2070-
0113.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John J. Neylan III, Telephone number
(202) 564-5033; facsimile number (202) 564-0034; E-mail
([email protected]).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected Entities: Entities affected by this action are those
States, Territories, and Indian Tribes which have entered into
cooperative agreements with the Agency for pesticide enforcement and/or
for certification and training activities.
Title: Pesticides Enforcement and Applicator Certification
Cooperative Agreement Output Projections/Quarterly Accomplishments
Reporting Form; (OMB Control No. 2070-0113); EPA ICR No. 1547; Expires
August 31, 1996. This is a request for an extension of a currently
approved collection.
Abstract: This information collection request is for EPA Form 5700-
33H, the Pesticides Enforcement and Applicator Certification
Cooperative Agreement Output Projections/Quarterly Accomplishments
Reporting Form. This reporting form is required from States,
Territories, and Tribes (States) that have cooperative agreements
(grants) with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)
and/or the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances
(OPPTS) under the authority of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act, sections 23(a)(1) and (2), 26(a), and 11(a)(2)(D). The
reporting form is used by grantees to report: a) the number and type of
inspections projected and completed, the number and type of samples
expected to be taken and actually collected, the number and type of
enforcement actions taken; and b) the number and type of applicators
projected to be trained, certified, and recertified and the number and
type actually trained, certified, and recertified during a specific
period of time and according to recertification periods.
States submit the completed forms to their EPA Regional Office,
where it is entered into a data base. The information is used to
evaluate whether planned activities are actually accomplished, whether
the activities undertaken are commensurate with grant funding levels,
to ensure that adequate coverage is given to the entire, broad scope of
compliance and enforcement activities, and to provide a basis for
adjusting enforcement plans throughout the year, dependent on emerging
situations. Additionally the training, certification, and
recertification information is also used to determine if funding levels
are adequate, to determine if a State's Certification Plan is being
implemented, and to afford a basis for adjustment as needed.
The information collected under this ICR is not confidential and
will be provided upon request by writing to the address listed above.
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.
The Agency needs to obtain the information required by this
information collection in order to determine (1) if the activities
planned are commensurate with the proposed funding level, (2) if the
planned activities adequately cover the scope of enforcement and
certification and training activities that correspond to a strong
pesticide program, (3) if planned activities are actually implemented,
and 4) if planned activities need to be adjusted to fit changing
circumstances.
The EPA would like to solicit comments 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 the information on
those who 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.
Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection
Estimating Respondent Burden
The estimates for developing and providing to EPA the information
found in Form 5700-33H are based upon discussions with State pesticide
regulatory officials. The information collection involves two groups of
respondents: 70 respondents complete projections and report enforcement
accomplishments (Group A); and 55 respondents complete certification
and training reports (Group B). The type of information being collected
and reported on 5700-33H is that which a State Pesticide Agency would
already be maintaining as a part of the State's competent management of
a Federally-funded grant program. Completion of the enforcement/
certification and training activities projection report is estimated to
take four hours. The total number of hours to complete the quarterly
enforcement accomplishment reports is 20 hours, while it takes six
hours to execute the certification accomplishments report and three
hours to document annually the total number of certified applicators by
category.
Estimating Respondent Cost
The cost to respondents to provide the information collected under
this ICR is estimated to be minor. The Agency did not have approximate
hourly rates for State employees and therefore in calculating costs EPA
substituted hourly labor rates for Federal managers ($76.00), Technical
($55.00), and clerical support ($25.00).
Estimating Agency Burden Cost
The costs to the Government to process, analyze, and maintain the
information requested in Form 5700-33H is based on four work hours per
report received [five reports from each respondent in Group A, and
three reports from each respondent in Group B annually], and ten hours
of Headquarters personnel at an average GS-9 Step 4 grade plus 10.4%
estimated overhead costs. Other direct costs are limited to printing
costs for the reporting form. The number of respondents is based upon
the number of States, Tribes and Territories that have entered into
cooperative agreements with the Agency.
[[Page 20522]]
Bottom Line Burden Hours and Costs
The estimates of costs for Form 5700-33H are discussed below. The
annual burden costs for respondents consist of reading instructions,
compiling information, completing forms, and filing the forms with EPA.
The total time associated with providing the enforcement activity
projections and quarterly accomplishments reports is 24 hours, times 70
respondents, which equals 1680 hours at an annual cost of $25,200.00.
The total time associated with providing the certification and training
activities projections and semiannual accomplishment reports is nine
hours, times 55 respondents, which equals 495 hours at an annual cost
of $7425.00. The entire annual cost of this collection is $32,625.00.
Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden,
to the address listed above.
Dated: April 24, 1996.
Elaine G. Stanley,
Director, Office of Compliance, Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance.
[FR Doc. 96-11335 Filed 5-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
