[Federal Register: August 17, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 158)] [Notices] [Page 44720-44721] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr17au99-44] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6423-5] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE) Program AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE) Program, OMB Control Number 2040-0164, EPA ICR Number 1654.03, expiring October 31, 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 September 16, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by email at farmer.sandy@epa.gov, or download a copy of the ICR off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1654.03. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE) Program (OMB Control No. 2040-0164; EPA ICR No. 1654.03) expiring October 31, 1999. This is an extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: EPA initially collects facility information and thereafter annually collects water, energy, and cost savings information from participants in the WAVE program. WAVE Partners are commercial businesses or institutions that voluntarily agree to implement cost-effective water efficiency measures in their facilities. Initially the WAVE Program targeted the lodging industry, but is expanding to include office buildings, educational institutions and medical facilities. Another type of participant, ``Supporters,'' will work with EPA to promote water efficiency. Supporters are equipment manufacturers, water management companies, utilities, state and local governments, or the like. The purpose of the WAVE Program is pollution prevention. As defined by EPA, pollution prevention means ``source reduction'' as defined under the Pollution Prevention Act, and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, or through protection of natural resources by conservation. By promoting water efficiency, WAVE prevents pollution in two basic ways. First, wastewater flows are reduced which can increase treatment efficiency at wastewater treatment plants resulting in reduced pollutant loads. Second, less water used means that less energy will be used to treat, transport, and heat drinking water and to transport and treat wastewater. To the extent that the reduced energy use so achieved is electrical energy, power plant emissions are reduced. Water efficiency also causes less water to be withdrawn and helps preserve streamflow to maintain a healthy aquatic environment; in addition, less pumping of groundwater lowers the [[Page 44721]] chance that pollutants that may be in the groundwater will be drained into a water supply well. EPA uses the information to maintain a profile of program membership and to monitor the success of the program, demonstrate that pollution prevention can be accomplished with a non-regulatory approach, and to promote the program to potential partners. Participation in the WAVE Program is voluntary; however, a participant joins the program by signing and submitting a Membership Agreement and an annual Results Report to EPA to receive and retain program benefits, such as software and publicity. No participant is required to submit confidential business information. EPA maintains and distributes a list of program participants, and presents aggregated data only in its program progress reports. 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 April 29, 1999 (64 FR 23069); no comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average three hours and three minutes per Membership Agreement response, and five hours and 54 minutes per Results Report response. Approximately 870 facilities will be subject to this information collection for an estimated annual burden of 2,556 hours. 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: Businesses, Institutions, State and local governments. Estimated Number of Respondents: 870. Frequency of Response: Annual. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2556 hours. Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden (non-labor costs): $0.00. 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. 1654.03 and OMB Control No. 2040-0164 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, 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: August 11, 1999. Joseph Retzer, Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 99-21313 Filed 8-16-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P