80_FR_68750 80 FR 68536 - National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011 Draft Report

80 FR 68536 - National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011 Draft Report

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 214 (November 5, 2015)

Page Range68536-68537
FR Document2015-28266

This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft report on the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA 2011) and opens a 30-day public review and comment period on the draft report. The NWCA 2011 is the first national assessment of the ecological condition of the nation's wetlands. The NWCA 2011 draft report describes the results of a nationwide probabilistic survey of wetlands conducted in the spring and summer of 2011 by EPA and its state and tribal partners. Results are based on ecological data collected at over 1,000 sites using standardized protocols and include estimates of wetland area in ``good,'' ``fair,'' and ``poor'' condition, nationally and by ecoregion, for a biological indicator based on plants and key wetland stressors. The report also provides information on the design and implementation of the scientific assessment, possible implications, and future actions. This report completes the first series of probability-based surveys conducted under EPA's National Aquatic Resource Surveys program.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68536-68537]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28266]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0667; FRL-9936-59-OW]


National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011 Draft Report

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft report 
on the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA 2011) and opens a 
30-day public review and comment period on the draft report. The NWCA 
2011 is the first national assessment of the ecological condition of 
the nation's wetlands. The NWCA 2011 draft report describes the results 
of a nationwide

[[Page 68537]]

probabilistic survey of wetlands conducted in the spring and summer of 
2011 by EPA and its state and tribal partners. Results are based on 
ecological data collected at over 1,000 sites using standardized 
protocols and include estimates of wetland area in ``good,'' ``fair,'' 
and ``poor'' condition, nationally and by ecoregion, for a biological 
indicator based on plants and key wetland stressors. The report also 
provides information on the design and implementation of the scientific 
assessment, possible implications, and future actions. This report 
completes the first series of probability-based surveys conducted under 
EPA's National Aquatic Resource Surveys program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0667, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA 
may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 
accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the 
official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish 
to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents 
located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or 
other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full 
EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia 
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please 
visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregg Serenbetz, Wetlands Division, 
Office of Water (4502T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
566-1253; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wetland Condition Assessment 
2011: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation's Wetlands is the first 
report assessing the condition of the nation's wetlands and the fifth 
report in a series of National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS), a 
national-scale monitoring program designed to produce statistically-
valid assessments that answer critical questions about the condition of 
waters in the United States.
    The key goals of the NWCA are to (1) describe the ecological 
condition of the nation's wetlands and stressors commonly associated 
with poor condition; (2) collaborate with states and tribes in 
developing complementary monitoring tools, analytical approaches, and 
data management technology to aid wetland protection and restoration 
programs; and (3) advance the science of wetland monitoring and 
assessment to support wetland management needs. EPA began planning 
activities for the NWCA in 2006 and engaged with a broad group of 
stakeholders including state environmental and natural resource 
agencies, tribes, federal agencies, academia, and other organizations 
to help inform different aspects of the assessment.
    Both tidal and nontidal wetlands were targeted for sampling. To 
select wetland sites for sampling, EPA used the same digital map of 
wetland locations that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses in their 
Wetland Status and Trends program. While not a comprehensive map of all 
wetlands throughout the U.S., these mapped locations are used to 
statistically represent the extent of wetlands nationally. Sampling 
sites for the NWCA were randomly selected from this digital map and 
distributed based on the prevalence of wetlands across the U.S. using a 
survey design that ensures the results reflect the full range of 
wetlands in the target population. Each wetland site was sampled using 
standardized field protocols to collect ecological data on plants, 
soil, water chemistry, algae, and wetland stressors. The use of 
standardized field and laboratory protocols is another key feature of 
the NWCA and allows the data to be combined to produce a nationally 
consistent assessment. The results presented in the NWCA 2011 report 
are based on data from 1,138 wetland sites sampled during the spring 
and summer of 2011 in the conterminous U.S. (41 sites sampled in Alaska 
are not included in the national and regional results in the report). 
The NWCA 2011 report describes the ecological condition of wetlands 
nationally and in four ecoregions (Coastal Plains, Eastern Mountains 
and Upper Midwest, Interior Plains, and West) using a biological 
indicator of condition and several physical, chemical, and biological 
indicators of stress.
    This is the first time a national monitoring study of the 
ecological condition of wetlands has been conducted. Under the NARS 
program, studies have been completed for wadeable streams (2004), lakes 
(2007), rivers and streams (2008-2009), and coastal waters (2010). The 
release of the NWCA 2011 final report will complete the first full 
cycle of NARS reports. EPA and our partners plan to continue to assess 
each of these water body types on a five year rotating basis.
    This draft report has undergone external peer review. States and 
other stakeholders also reviewed and commented on the draft report. The 
purpose of this action is to solicit public comment on the draft report 
before finalizing it. EPA is seeking comment on the information 
contained in the draft report, the reasonableness of the conclusions, 
and the clarity with which the information is presented. The draft 
report and other supporting materials may also be viewed and downloaded 
from EPA's Web site at http://www2.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/national-wetland-condition-assessment.

    Dated: October 28, 2015.
Kenneth J. Kopocis,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2015-28266 Filed 11-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

68536 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 214 / Thursday, November 5, 2015 / Notices paperwork burden for very small finalized the Mandatory Reporting of 5. Estimated total annual costs: businesses affected by this collection. Greenhouse Gases Rule (GHG Reporting $113,837,441. This includes an What should I consider when I Rule) (74 FR 56260; October 30, 2009). estimated cost of $38,477,161 for capital prepare my comments for the EPA? You The GHG Reporting Rule, which became investment as well as maintenance and may find the following suggestions effective on December 29, 2009, operational costs, an estimated helpful for preparing your comments: establishes reporting requirements for respondent burden cost of $63,360,249, 1. Explain your views as clearly as certain large facilities and suppliers. It and an estimated EPA cost of possible and provide specific examples. does not require control of greenhouse $12,000,030. 2. Describe any assumptions that you gases. Instead, it requires that sources Are there changes in the estimates used. emitting above certain threshold levels from the last approval? There is a 3. Provide copies of any technical of (CO2 e) monitor and report emissions. decrease of 102,121 hours in the total information and/or data you used that Subsequent rules have promulgated estimated respondent burden compared support your views. requirements for additional facilities, with that identified in the last ICR 4. If you estimate potential burden or suppliers, and mobile sources; provided renewal. This change in burden reflects costs, explain how you arrived at the clarification and corrections to existing an adjustment in the number of estimate that you provide. requirements; finalized confidentiality respondents from projected to actual, an 5. Offer alternative ways to improve business information (CBI) adjustment of labor rates and capital the collection activity. determinations, amended recordkeeping costs to reflect 2013 dollars, a re- 6. Make sure to submit your evaluation of the activities and costs requirements, and implemented an comments by the deadline identified associated with Subparts W and RR, and alternative verification approach. under DATES. the addition of new segments and new Collectively, the GHG Reporting Rule 7. To ensure proper receipt by the and its associated rulemakings are reporters under Subpart W. EPA, be sure to identify the docket ID referred to as the Greenhouse Gas What is the next step in the process number assigned to this action in the Reporting Program (GHGRP). for this ICR? The EPA will consider the subject line on the first page of your The purpose for this ICR is to renew comments received and amend the ICR response. You may also provide the and revise the GHG Reporting Rule ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package name, date, and Federal Register to update and consolidate the burdens will then be submitted to OMB for citation. and costs imposed by all of the current review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR What information collection activity ICRs under the GHGRP. 1320.12. At that time, the EPA will issue or ICR does this apply to? [Docket ID Burden Statement: The annual public another Federal Register notice No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2012–0333.] Affected entities: Entities potentially reporting and recordkeeping burden for pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to affected by this action are suppliers of this collection of information is announce the submission of the ICR to certain products that will emit GHG estimated to average 1.24 hours per OMB and the opportunity to submit when released, combusted, or oxidized, response. Burden means the total time, additional comments to OMB. If you motor vehicle and engine effort, or financial resources expended have any questions about this ICR or the manufacturers, including aircraft engine by persons to generate, maintain, retain, approval process, please contact the manufacturers; facilities in certain or disclose or provide information to or technical person listed under FOR for a Federal agency. This includes the FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. industrial categories that emit greenhouse gases; and facilities that time needed to review instructions; Dated: October 28, 2015. emit 25,000 metric tons or more of develop, acquire, install, and utilize Paul M. Gunning, carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 e) per technology and systems for the purposes Director, Climate Change Division, Office of year. of collecting, validating, and verifying Air and Radiation. Title: Information Collection Request information, processing and [FR Doc. 2015–28275 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am] for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting maintaining information, and disclosing BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Program. and providing information; adjust the ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2300.17 existing ways to comply with any ICR status: This ICR is currently previously applicable instructions and ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION scheduled to expire on May 31, 2016. requirements which have subsequently AGENCY An agency may not conduct or sponsor, changed; train personnel to be able to and a person is not required to respond respond to a collection of information; [EPA–HQ–OW–2015–0667; FRL–9936–59– to, a collection of information, unless it search data sources; complete and OW] displays a currently valid OMB control review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the National Wetland Condition number. The OMB control numbers for Assessment 2011 Draft Report the EPA’s regulations in title 40 of the information. CFR, after appearing in the Federal The ICR provides a detailed AGENCY: Environmental Protection Register when approved, are listed in 40 explanation of the EPA’s estimate, Agency (EPA). CFR part 9, are displayed either by which is only briefly summarized here: ACTION: Notice. publication in the Federal Register or 1. Estimated total number of potential by other appropriate means, such as on respondents: 9,899. SUMMARY: This notice announces the the related collection instrument or 2. Frequency of response: Annual, availability of EPA’s draft report on the form, if applicable. The display of OMB quarterly. National Wetland Condition Assessment jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES control numbers in certain EPA 3. Estimated total average number of (NWCA 2011) and opens a 30-day regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR responses for each respondent: 72. public review and comment period on part 9. 4. Estimated total annual burden the draft report. The NWCA 2011 is the Abstract: In response to the FY2008 hours: 903,871 hours. This includes first national assessment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. estimated total respondent hours of ecological condition of the nation’s 2764; Pub. L. 110–161) and under 878,911 hours and estimated total EPA wetlands. The NWCA 2011 draft report authority of the Clean Air Act, the EPA hours of 24,960 hours. describes the results of a nationwide VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Nov 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 214 / Thursday, November 5, 2015 / Notices 68537 probabilistic survey of wetlands answer critical questions about the wadeable streams (2004), lakes (2007), conducted in the spring and summer of condition of waters in the United States. rivers and streams (2008–2009), and 2011 by EPA and its state and tribal The key goals of the NWCA are to (1) coastal waters (2010). The release of the partners. Results are based on ecological describe the ecological condition of the NWCA 2011 final report will complete data collected at over 1,000 sites using nation’s wetlands and stressors the first full cycle of NARS reports. EPA standardized protocols and include commonly associated with poor and our partners plan to continue to estimates of wetland area in ‘‘good,’’ condition; (2) collaborate with states assess each of these water body types on ‘‘fair,’’ and ‘‘poor’’ condition, nationally and tribes in developing complementary a five year rotating basis. and by ecoregion, for a biological monitoring tools, analytical approaches, This draft report has undergone indicator based on plants and key and data management technology to aid external peer review. States and other wetland stressors. The report also wetland protection and restoration stakeholders also reviewed and provides information on the design and programs; and (3) advance the science of commented on the draft report. The implementation of the scientific wetland monitoring and assessment to purpose of this action is to solicit public assessment, possible implications, and support wetland management needs. comment on the draft report before future actions. This report completes the EPA began planning activities for the finalizing it. EPA is seeking comment on first series of probability-based surveys NWCA in 2006 and engaged with a the information contained in the draft conducted under EPA’s National broad group of stakeholders including report, the reasonableness of the Aquatic Resource Surveys program. state environmental and natural conclusions, and the clarity with which DATES: Comments must be received on resource agencies, tribes, federal the information is presented. The draft or before December 7, 2015. agencies, academia, and other report and other supporting materials ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, organizations to help inform different may also be viewed and downloaded identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– aspects of the assessment. from EPA’s Web site at http:// OW–2015–0667, to the Federal Both tidal and nontidal wetlands were www2.epa.gov/national-aquatic- eRulemaking Portal: http:// targeted for sampling. To select wetland resource-surveys/national-wetland- www.regulations.gov. Follow the online sites for sampling, EPA used the same condition-assessment. instructions for submitting comments. digital map of wetland locations that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses in Dated: October 28, 2015. Once submitted, comments cannot be Kenneth J. Kopocis, edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish their Wetland Status and Trends program. While not a comprehensive Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of any comment received to its public Water. docket. Do not submit electronically any map of all wetlands throughout the U.S., information you consider to be these mapped locations are used to [FR Doc. 2015–28266 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am] Confidential Business Information (CBI) statistically represent the extent of BILLING CODE 6560–50–P or other information whose disclosure is wetlands nationally. Sampling sites for restricted by statute. Multimedia the NWCA were randomly selected from submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be this digital map and distributed based FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS on the prevalence of wetlands across the COMMISSION accompanied by a written comment. U.S. using a survey design that ensures The written comment is considered the [OMB 3060–0562] the results reflect the full range of official comment and should include wetlands in the target population. Each Information Collection Being Reviewed discussion of all points you wish to wetland site was sampled using by the Federal Communications make. EPA will generally not consider standardized field protocols to collect Commission Under Delegated comments or comment contents located ecological data on plants, soil, water Authority outside of the primary submission (i.e., chemistry, algae, and wetland stressors. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing AGENCY: Federal Communications The use of standardized field and system). For additional submission Commission. laboratory protocols is another key methods, the full EPA public comment feature of the NWCA and allows the ACTION: Notice and request for policy, information about CBI or data to be combined to produce a multimedia submissions, and general comments. nationally consistent assessment. The guidance on making effective results presented in the NWCA 2011 SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort comments, please visit http:// report are based on data from 1,138 to reduce paperwork burdens, and as www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting- wetland sites sampled during the spring required by the Paperwork Reduction epa-dockets. and summer of 2011 in the Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501– FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: conterminous U.S. (41 sites sampled in 3520), the Federal Communications Gregg Serenbetz, Wetlands Division, Alaska are not included in the national Commission (FCC or Commission) Office of Water (4502T), Environmental and regional results in the report). The invites the general public and other Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania NWCA 2011 report describes the Federal agencies to take this Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; ecological condition of wetlands opportunity to comment on the telephone number: 202–566–1253; nationally and in four ecoregions following information collections. email address: serenbetz.gregg@epa.gov. (Coastal Plains, Eastern Mountains and Comments are requested concerning: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Upper Midwest, Interior Plains, and Whether the proposed collection of National Wetland Condition Assessment West) using a biological indicator of information is necessary for the proper 2011: A Collaborative Survey of the performance of the functions of the jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES condition and several physical, Nation’s Wetlands is the first report chemical, and biological indicators of Commission, including whether the assessing the condition of the nation’s stress. information shall have practical utility; wetlands and the fifth report in a series This is the first time a national the accuracy of the Commission’s of National Aquatic Resource Surveys monitoring study of the ecological burden estimate; ways to enhance the (NARS), a national-scale monitoring condition of wetlands has been quality, utility, and clarity of the program designed to produce conducted. Under the NARS program, information collected; ways to minimize statistically-valid assessments that studies have been completed for the burden of the collection of VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Nov 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1


Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:02:31
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:02:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesComments must be received on or before December 7, 2015.
ContactGregg Serenbetz, Wetlands Division, Office of Water (4502T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
FR Citation80 FR 68536 
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