[Federal Register: May 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 89)] [Notices] [Page 25473-25474] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr08my98-51] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6011-7] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Industry Screener Questionnaire: Phase I Cooling Water Intake Structures AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Industry Screener Questionnaire: Phase I Cooling Water Intake Structures (EPA ICR number 1828.01). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection activities and its expected burden and cost. In particular, the ICR describes the collection methodology EPA will use to distribute the data collection instrument and includes a representative sample of the data collection instrument. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 8, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY: Contact Sandy Farmer by phone at (202) 260-2740, e-mail at farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/ICR. In all requests, refer to EPA ICR No. 1828.01. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Industry Screener Questionnaire: Phase I Cooling Water Intake Structures (EPA ICR No. 1828.01). This is a new collection. Abstract: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') is currently developing regulations under section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act (``CWA''), 33 U.S.C. Section 1326(b). Section 316(b) provides that any standard established pursuant to sections 301 or 306 of the Clean Water Act and applicable to a point source shall require that the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impact. Section 316(b) is unique in that it applies to the intake of water and not the discharge. The intent is to minimize the impingement and entrainment of fish and other aquatic organisms as they are drawn into an industrial facility's cooling water intake. As the result of a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental groups headed by the Hudson Riverkeeper (Cronin, et al. v. Reilly, 93 Civ. 0314 (AGS)), the United States District Court, Southern District of New York entered a Consent Decree on October 10, 1995. The Consent Decree established a seven year schedule for EPA to take final action with respect to regulations addressing impacts from cooling water intake structures. The screener questionnaire contains three types of questions. These questions are either scoping, stratifying, or characterizing in nature. EPA intends to use data from the scoping questions to determine who is potentially in scope of Section 316(b). EPA intends to use data from stratifying questions to support the subsequent survey sample frame development for the detailed industry questionnaire. EPA intends to use data from the characterizing questions to assist EPA in structuring the subsequent detailed questionnaire and to support the Agency's development of Section 316(b) regulations. The screener questionnaire collects information on such topics as cooling water use within industry groups; cooling water intake structure location, design configurations, construction, and capacity; and types of intake water sources. In addition, EPA is requesting facility and firm level economic data. This economic data will enable EPA to consider cooling water use across a broad variety of facility and firm sizes. The subsequent detailed questionnaire is structured to seek more in-depth information on the unique features of cooling water use and other [[Page 25474]] important intake structure and environmental characteristics. EPA has the authority to collect this information under Section 308 of the CWA (33 U.S.C. Section 1318). All recipients of the screener questionnaire are required to complete and return the questionnaire to EPA. The survey instrument will be mailed after OMB approves the ICR. 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 Federal Register Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on September 18, 1997. EPA received six sets of comments (75 comments in all). EPA's response to these comments are presented in Attachment 4 of the ICR. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 50 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; 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: Nonutility Power Producers (SIC 49 and all other Industrial Self-Generators), Paper and Allied Products (SIC 2611, 2621, and 2631), Chemical and Allied Products (SIC 28 except 2895, 2893, 2851, and 2879), Petroleum and Coal Products (SIC 2911), and Primary Metals (SIC 3312, 3315, 3316, 3317, 3353, 3363, 3365, and 3366). Estimated number of respondents: 2,600. Frequency of Response: This is a one time collection. Estimated total Annual Hour Burden: 130,000 hours. Estimated total annualized cost burden: $7,125,300. As a result of the insights gained from the public comment and pretest activities, EPA reduced the burden on respondents by simplifying and shortening the screener questionnaire. In particular, EPA moved several financial questions back so that only those facilities that are within the scope of CWA Section 316(b) will have to answer those questions. In addition, EPA reduced the level of detail of the questions in the electricity generation section. EPA has also lengthened the response time from 30 to 60 days. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please refer to EPA ICR No. 1828.01 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PPE Regulatory Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. Dated: May 4, 1998. Joseph Retzer, Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 98-12308 Filed 5-7-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P