[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 34060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16513]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5846-4]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Information Collection Request for the 1997
State Source Water Assessment and Protection Programs Guidance
AGENCY: Environment 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 EPA is planning to submit the
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): The 1997 State Source Water Assessment
and Protection Programs Guidance, EPA ICR# 1816.01. 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 August 25, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, MC 4606. U.S. EPA
401 M. St., SW. Washington D.C. 20460. Interested persons may obtain a
copy by requesting EPA ICR# 1816.01.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Karpoff: 202-260-1899; FAX:
(202) 260-0732; E-mail: korpoff.andrea@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected Entities: Entities affected by this action are States
exercising primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems.
Title: The 1997 State Source Water Assessment and Protection
Programs Guidance, EPA ICR# 1816.01.
Section 1453 of the Safe Drinking Water Acts Amendments of 1996
authorizes State Source Water Assessment Programs (SWAPs) to achieve or
maintain compliance with SDWA requirements and to protect public
health.
Abstract: Section 1453(a)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act
requires States to submit a Source Water Assessment Program within 18
months after the guidance is issued, on or before August 6, 1997. These
SWAPs describe the process by which a State delineates source Water
Protection Areas, conducts contamination source inventories and
susceptibility analyses, and indicates whether or not it plans to
implement a Source Water Protection Program. A State must develop a
SWAP with public participation.
Once a State program is approved by EPA, the State has two years to
complete the source water assessments for the public water systems
within their borders. Section 1453 (a)(4) allows a State to request an
extension of up to 18 months to complete the assessments. The extension
request must indicate the reason a State requires additional time and
must include a description of how and when the State will complete the
assessment within the requested extension period. The request must also
include information on the progress in implementing the assessments by
the end of the first 18 months.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, an information collection request 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 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 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.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2115
hours per State response. The annual cost burden is estimated to
average $70,000.00 per State response. These burden estimates are for
both the SWAP proposal and for requested time extensions by States for
completion of the assessments. The estimates are based on estimates by
four States of differing size populations and geographic location
across the nation's regions. These States also vary by administrative
structure for the Source Water Assessment and Protection Programs.
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 collection, 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.
Respondents/Affected Entities: 49 States.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 49 States.
Frequency of Response for each Individual Information Request:
Once.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 103,635 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost Burden: $3,433,136.
Dated: June 12, 1997.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 97-16513 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am]
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