[Federal Register: April 3, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 63)]
[Notices]
[Page 16575-16577]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ap06-53]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0172; FRL-8052-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Smart Growth and Active Aging National Recognition
Program; EPA ICR No. 2221.01, OMB Control No. 2090-XXXX
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request for a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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 June 2, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2006-0172, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
Email: oei.docket@epa.gov.
Fax: 202-566-0224.
Mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: Office of Environmental Information (OEI)
Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-
0172. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov
[[Page 16576]]
or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous
access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you
send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov
your e-mail address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket
and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the
EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Sykes, Aging Initiative, Office
of Children's Health Protection, Room 2512 Ariel Rios North, Mail
Code:1107A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-3651; fax number:
202-564-2733; e-mail address: sykes.kathy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0172, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of
Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/
DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading
Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Office of
Environmental Information Docket is 202-566-1752.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified in this document.
What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.
What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
communities, municipalities, and counties that choose to participate in
the Recognition Program.
Title: Smart Growth and Active Aging National Recognition Program.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2221.01, OMB Control No. 2090-XXXX.
ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity.
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
in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when
approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by
publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such
as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: EPA's Initiative on Aging is planning to launch a Smart
Growth and Active Aging National Recognition Program for communities,
municipalities, tribes, and counties (collectively referred to as
``communities''). Communities would submit a letter to EPA indicating
that their State or local Area Agency on Aging is engaged in their
smart growth planning activities and active aging programs, and
complete an on-line questionnaire describing their processes and
programs in these two areas. The purpose of the Program is to recognize
communities that excel in promoting the health and well-being of older
adults through smart growth and active aging and to raise public
awareness of the interconnectedness and importance of these two areas
to the aging population. In addition, the on-line questionnaire would
include links to helpful information on the Internet. This would assist
in educating communities on available resources to help them do better
in the areas where they have not met the criteria for recognition.
Finally, the Program would enable EPA to compile ``lessons learned''
from communities that have successfully implemented smart growth and
active aging principles. EPA would use this information to create a
learning network on its Web site where all communities could benefit
from this experience.
The Recognition Program would be voluntary. EPA expects communities
to participate only if they see a benefit by doing so. A primary
benefit to communities would be recognition at the national level as
leaders in smart growth and active aging. National recognition would
promote their image
[[Page 16577]]
as a desirable place to live. This could help them attract residents of
all ages, which could benefit the communities (e.g., economically), as
well as the new residents (e.g., because they could partake of their
community's amenities, such as walkable neighborhoods, fitness trails,
and more transportation choices). In addition, communities that
participate but are not recognized under the Program (i.e., because
they do not meet the criteria for recognition) would benefit by
learning about their areas for improvement, finding ways to address
these areas based on links to helpful resources on the Internet, and
modifying their behavior as appropriate.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one
hour and 45 minutes 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 which have subsequently changed; 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.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total annual number of respondents on average: 110
communities.
Average frequency of response: Once.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 186 hours.
Estimated total annual cost: $8,284. This includes an estimated
labor cost of $8,183, an estimated operation and maintenance cost of
$101, and no capital cost.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: March 22, 2006.
William H. Sanders,
Acting Director, Office of Children's Health Protection and
Environmental Education.
[FR Doc. E6-4765 Filed 3-31-06; 8:45 am]
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