[Federal Register: September 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 175)] [Notices] [Page 49180-49181] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr10se99-96] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6436-4] Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; Comment Request; National Health Protection Survey of Beaches 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 EPA is planning to submit the following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): National Health Protection Survey of Beaches, EPA ICR No. 1814.02, OMB Control No. 2040-0189, and current expiration date 02/28/2000. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 9, 1999. ADDRESSES: Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Standards and Applied Science Division (4305), 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by contacting EPA staff listed in the section below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles Kovatch at EPA, telephone 202-260-0642, email kovatch.charles@epa.gov, facsimile 202-260-9830. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are State, County, City, and Tribal representatives with responsibilities for assessing the impact of water contaminated by microbiological pollutants on persons using beaches and related recreational waters. Title: National Health Protection Survey of Beaches, OMB Control No. 2040-0189, EPA ICR No. 1814.02, expiring 02/28/2000. Abstract: Bacterial and other microbiological contaminants continue to pose potentially adverse human health problems for the nation's recreational waters, including bathing beaches. These adverse effects have been one of EPA's long-standing concerns and are directly related to such Clean Water responsibilities as water quality standards, surface water quality, and Agency efforts to ensure that the waters of the United States are ``fishable'' and ``swimmable.'' Recent studies have confirmed that health effects resulting from bathing in contaminated waters. Thus, water quality in bathing beach areas remains an important concern to EPA. EPA believes there is a need to improve the overall quality and availability of public information about beach health protection activities; these include, but are not limited to, water quality standards, monitoring and assessment activities, and beach closures. Many organizations share responsibility for these activities. Consequently, EPA will survey environmental public health officials from State, Tribal, County, and City agencies, as well as representatives from various interest groups to compile and verify this information. EPA will then assemble it into a format that can be readily analyzed and shared with responsible parties, as well as the public. This information collection effort will involve distributing a questionnaire to various agencies (e.g., State, Tribal, County, City) to evaluate the condition of bathing beaches at freshwater (the Great Lakes and others) and marine (estuarine and coastal) sites around the Nation. Responses to the questionnaire are required to determine compliance with water quality standards, assess public health risks, and determine what steps EPA should take next, if any. Completion of the questionnaire may be voluntary. 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 EPA would like to solicit comments to: (i) evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2 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. (This burden assumes that the number of respondents will continue to increase [[Page 49181]] as the survey is phased in. For the first two years of the program an average of 350 questionnaires were distributed. EPA assumes the total number of questionnaires to be sent in the next three years as 4,500; 1,000 surveys the first year; 1,500 questionnaires the second year; 2,000 questionnaires the third year.) Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,500. Frequency of Response: One time per year. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,000 hours (per year). (13,500 total hours/3 years; 3,000 hours the first year; 4,500 hours the second year; 6,000 hours the third year.) Dated: September 1, 1999. Tudor T. Davies, Director, Office of Science and Technology. [FR Doc. 99-23589 Filed 9-9-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-U