[Federal Register: December 20, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 243)] [Notices] [Page 71134-71135] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr20de99-79] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6512-5] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Pre-award Compliance Review Report for all Applicants Requesting Federal Financial Assistance 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: Pre-award Compliance Review Report for all Applicants Requesting Federal Financial Assistance, EPA ICR No. 0275.07, EPA Form 4700-4, OMB Control No. 2090-0014, Expiration Date March 31, 2000. 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 19, 2000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by email at farmer.sandy@epa.gov, or download off the Internet at http:// www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0275.07. For technical information about the collection contact Ann Goode, at (202) 260-4575. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Pre-award Compliance Review Report for all Applicants Requesting Federal Financial Assistance, EPA ICR No. 0275.07, EPA Form 4700-4, OMB Control No. 2090-0014, expiration date March 31, 2000. This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: The information request and gathering is part of the requirement of 40 CFR part 7, ``Nondiscrimination in Programs Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency,'' at 40 CFR 7.80. The regulation implements statutes which prohibit discrimination on the bases of race, color, national origin, sex and handicap. This information is also required, in part, by the Department of Justice regulations, 28 CFR 42.406 and 28 CFR 42.407. The information is collected on a short form from grant and loan applicants as part of the application. The EPA Director of Civil Rights manages the data collection through a regional component or delegated state, both of whom also carry out the data analysis and make the recommendation on the respondent's ability to meet the requirements of the regulation, as well as the respondent's current compliance with the regulation. The information and analysis is of sufficient value for the Director to determine whether the applicant is in compliance with the regulation. Analysis of the data allows EPA to determine: (1) Whether there appears to be discrimination in the provision of program or activity services between the minority and non-minority population. This allows EPA to determine whether any action is necessary by it before the award of the grant or loan. (2) Whether the respondent is designing grant or loan financed facilities to be accessible to handicapped individuals or whether a regulatory exemption is applicable. This allows EPA to determine whether design changes are necessary prior to the award of the grant or loan, which can save the respondent a significant amount of money, e.g., ensuring a facility is accessible to the handicapped is much less costly if this requirement is included in the design rather than after construction has begun. (3) Whether the respondent receives or has applied for financial assistance from other Federal agencies. This information allows EPA to canvass these other agencies to avoid conducting duplicate compliance audits, reviews, or complaint investigations and is a reduction of burden on respondents. Responses to the collection of information are required to obtain a grant or loan and are kept on file by the state distributing the funds. 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 28, 1999 (64 FR 22861); no comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one half (\1/2\) hour 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. Affected Entities: State, local, and tribal governments; universities; associations; and non-profit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,100. [[Page 71135]] Frequency of Response: 1 per 1 to 2 years. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 6,550 hours. Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden (non-labor costs): $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. 0275.07 and OMB Control No. 2090-0014 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information, Collection Strategies Division (2822), 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 14, 1999. Oscar Morales, Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. 99-32863 Filed 12-17-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P