[Federal Register: April 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 66)]
[Notices]               
[Page 16961-16962]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap99-67]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6320-7]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; National Estuary Program

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 document announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: National Estuary Program, EPA 
ICR Number 1500.04, OMB Control Number 2040-0138, expiration date: June 
30, 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 May 7, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 1500.04.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: National Estuary Program (OMB Control 
No. 2040-0138; EPA ICR No. 1500.04) expiring 6/30/99. This is a request 
for extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Annual Workplans: The National Estuary Program (NEP) 
involves collecting information from those state or local agencies or 
nongovernmental organizations that receive funds under section 320 of 
the Clean Water Act. The regulation requiring this information is found 
at 40 CFR part 35. Prospective grant recipients seek funding to develop 
or oversee and coordinate implementation of comprehensive conservation 
and management plans (CCMP) for estuaries of national significance. In 
order to receive funds, grantees must submit an annual workplan to EPA. 
The workplan consists of two parts: (a) progress on projects funded 
previously; and (b) new projects proposed with dollar amounts and 
completion dates. The workplan is reviewed by EPA and also serves as 
the scope of work for the grant agreement. EPA also uses these 
workplans to track performance of each of the 28 estuary programs 
currently in the NEP.
    Biennial Reviews: EPA provides funding to NEPs after their CCMPs 
have been approved by the Administrator if such programs demonstrate 
adequate progress in implementing their CCMPs through a biennial review 
process. Biennial reviews are used to determine progress each NEP is 
making in implementing its CCMP and achieving environmental results. In 
addition to evaluating progress, the results are used to identify areas 
of weakness each NEP should address for long-term success in protecting 
and restoring their estuaries. EPA will also compile successful tools 
and approaches as well as lessons learned from all biennial reviews to 
transfer to the NEPs and other watershed programs. For this ICR cycle, 
biennial reviews will be required of the first 17 NEPs in FY1999 and 
the first 21 NEPs in FY2001. Biennial reviews are required in addition 
to annual workplans.
    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 document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on 12/23/98 
(63 FR 71115); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public recording and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 100 
hours per response for annual workplans and 250 hours per response for 
biennial review. 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

[[Page 16962]]

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: state or local governments or 
nongovernmental organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.
    Frequency of Response: annual workplans; biennial reviews.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,967 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. 1500.04 and OMB Control No. 2040-0138 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 the EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: March 31, 1999.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-8633 Filed 4-6-99; 8:45 am]
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