[Federal Register: December 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 244)]
[Notices]               
[Page 70403-70404]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21de98-78]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6206-4]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; NPDES Modification and Variance Requests

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 following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) Modification and Variance Requests, EPA ICR 
No. 0029.07, OMB Control No. 2040-0068, expires February 28, 1999. The 
ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual data 
collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 20, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY: Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone 
at (202) 260-2740, by email at farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov, or 
download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA 
ICR No. 0029.07.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: NPDES Modification and Variance Requests (OMB Control No. 
2040-0068; EPA ICR No. 0029.07) expiring 02/28/99. This is a request 
for extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: This ICR calculates the burden and costs associated with 
modifications and variances made to NPDES permits and to the National 
Sewage Sludge Management Program permit requirements. The regulations 
specified at 40 CFR 122.62 and 122.63 specify information a facility 
must report in order for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
to determine whether a permit modification is warranted. A NPDES permit 
applicant may request a variance from the conditions that would 
normally be imposed on the applicant's discharge. An applicant must 
submit information so the permitting authority can assess whether the 
facility is eligible for a variance, and what deviation from Clean 
Water Act (CWA) provisions is necessary. In general, EPA and authorized 
States use the information to determine whether: (1) the conditions or 
requirements that would warrant a modification or variance exist, and 
2) the progress toward achieving the goals of the (CWA) will continue 
if the modification or variance is granted. Other uses for the 
information provided include: updating records on permitted facilities, 
supporting enforcement actions, and overall program management, 
including policy and budget development and responding to Congressional 
inquiries. An agency may

[[Page 70404]]

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 4/30/98 (63 FR 23781); no 
comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4.16 
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: NPDES permit applicants that request 
a variance or modification of the NPDES or sewage sludge management 
conditions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,594.
    Frequency of Response: varies
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 293,323 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $0.
    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. 0029.07 and OMB Control No. 2040-0068 in any 
correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OP 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: December 15, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-33738 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P