E6-11252. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Applications for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Discharge Permit and the Sewage Sludge Management Permit, EPA ICR No....

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2006. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 16, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0138, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to [e-mail], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Docket, Mail Code 4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lynn Stabenfeldt, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202.564.0602; fax number: 202.501.2399; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On March 7, 2006 (71 FR 11407-11411), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one set of comments on the draft ICR. EPA's response to those comments is reflected in the ICR supporting statement. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0138, which is available for online viewing at www.regulations.gov,, or in person viewing at the Water Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 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 [phone], and the telephone number for the Water Docket is [phone].

Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at www.regulations.gov,, to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those comments in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “docket search,” then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov.

Title: Applications for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Discharge Permit and the Sewage Sludge Management Permit.

ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 0226.18, OMB Control No.2040-0086.

ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2006. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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 in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: This ICR calculates the burden and costs associated with permit applications for NPDES discharges and sewage sludge management activities. EPA uses the data contained in applications and supplemental information requests to set appropriate permit conditions, issue permits, and assess permit compliance. EPA maintains certain national application information in databases that assist permit writers in determining permit conditions. For most permits, EPA has developed standard application forms. In some cases, such as requests for additional information and storm water applications from municipal separate sewer systems, standard forms do not exist because standard forms are not appropriate for the information collected or because they have not been developed. Application forms correspond to the different types of applicants, each form requesting information necessary for issuing permits to the associated applicants. Depending on the application form they are using, applicants may be required to supply information about their facilities, discharges, treatment systems, sewage sludge use and disposal practices, pollutant sampling data, or other relevant information. Section 308 of the Clean Water Act authorizes EPA to request from dischargers any information that may be reasonably required to carry out the objectives and provision of the Act. Under this authority, EPA sometimes requests information supplemental to that contained in permit applications. In its burden and cost calculations, this ICR includes requests for information supplemental to permit applications. Other parts of the Clean Water Act and Federal regulations authorize EPA to collect information that supplements permit applications, such as section 403(c). This ICR calculates the burden and costs for all information collection activities associated with applications for permits. Application information is necessary to obtain an NPDES or sewage sludge permit.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average less than 5 hours per response. 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 which have subsequently changed; 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: Entities potentially affected by this action are publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), privately owned treatment works, new and existing manufacturing and commercial dischargers, storm water dischargers, treatment works treating domestic sewage (TWTDS), and other entities that apply for NPDES permits.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 249,494.

Frequency of Response: Once every five years.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,358,253 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $48,587,228, includes $0 for capital investment and $5,379,500 for O&M costs.

Changes in the Estimates: The estimated decrease in burden is 41,728 hours compared to the total estimated burden hours currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burden. This change is primarily the result of updating the universe of permitted facilities subject to these requirements.

Dated: July 7, 2006.

Oscar Morales,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.