81 FR 10240 - Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs) To Detect Changing Baselines in Freshwater Wadeable Streams

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 39 (February 29, 2016)

Page Range		10240-10241
FR Document		2016-04087

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of a document titled, ``Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs) to Detect Changing Baselines in Freshwater Wadeable Streams'' (EPA/600/R-15/280). The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development. The document describes the development of the current regional monitoring networks (RMNs) for riffle-dominated, freshwater wadeable streams. The final document is available via the Internet on the NCEA home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/risk/ecological-risk-assessment-products-and- publications.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 39 (Monday, February 29, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 39 (Monday, February 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10240-10241]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04087]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9942-41-ORD]


Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs) To Detect Changing Baselines 
in Freshwater Wadeable Streams

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the 
availability of a document titled, ``Regional Monitoring Networks 
(RMNs) to Detect Changing Baselines in Freshwater Wadeable Streams'' 
(EPA/600/R-15/280). The document was prepared by the National Center 
for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and 
Development. The document describes the development of the current 
regional monitoring networks (RMNs) for riffle-dominated, freshwater 
wadeable streams.
    The final document is available via the Internet on the NCEA home 
page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at 
http://www.epa.gov/risk/ecological-risk-assessment-products-and-publications.

DATES: The document will be available on or around February 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The final report, ``Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs) to 
Detect Changing Baselines,'' is available primarily via the Internet on 
the Ecological Risk Assessment Products and Publications Web page at 
http://www.epa.gov/risk/ecological-risk-assessment-products-and-publications. A limited number of paper copies are available from the 
Information Management Team, NCEA; telephone: 703-347-8561; facsimile: 
703-347-8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your 
name, mailing address, and the document title.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact 
Britta Bierwagen, NCEA; telephone: 703-347-8613; facsimile: 703-347-
8694; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Information About the Project/Document

    The United States Environmental Protection Agency is working with 
its regional offices, states, tribes, river basin commissions, and 
other entities to establish Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs) for 
freshwater wadeable streams. RMNs have been established in the 
Northeast, Mid Atlantic, and Southeast, and efforts are expanding into 
other regions. Long term biological, thermal, hydrologic, physical 
habitat, and water chemistry data are being collected at RMN sites to 
document current conditions and detect long term changes. Consistent 
methods are being used to increase the comparability of data, minimize 
biases and variability, and ensure that the data meet data quality 
objectives. RMN surveys build

[[Page 10241]]

on existing state and tribal bioassessment efforts, with the goal of 
collecting comparable data at a limited number of sites that can be 
pooled at a regional level. Pooling data enables more robust regional 
analyses and improves the ability to detect trends over shorter time 
periods. This document describes the development and implementation of 
the RMNs. It includes information on selection of sites, expectations 
for data collection, the rationale for collecting these data, data 
infrastructure, and provides examples of how the RMN data will be used 
and analyzed. The report concludes with a discussion on the status of 
monitoring activities and next steps.

    Dated: February 19, 2016.
Mary A. Ross,
Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2016-04087 Filed 2-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

10240 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 39 / Monday, February 29, 2016 / Notices

Stationary Combustion Turbines (40 public docket, visit: http:// ACTION: Notice of availability.
CFR part 60, subpart KKKK) (Renewal)’’ www.epa.gov/dockets.
(EPA ICR No. 2177.06, OMB Control No. Abstract: Owners and operators of SUMMARY: Environmental Protection
2060–0582), to the Office of affected facilities are required to comply Agency (EPA) is announcing the
Management and Budget (OMB) for with reporting and record keeping availability of a document titled,
review and approval in accordance with requirements for the general provisions ‘‘Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs)
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. of 40 CFR part 60, subpart A, as well as to Detect Changing Baselines in
3501 et seq.). This is a proposed for the specific requirements at 40 CFR Freshwater Wadeable Streams’’ (EPA/
extension of the ICR, which is currently part 60, subpart KKKK. This includes 600/R–15/280). The document was
approved through February 29, 2016. submitting initial notification reports, prepared by the National Center for
Public comments were previously performance tests and periodic reports Environmental Assessment (NCEA)
requested via the Federal Register (80 and results, and maintaining records of within EPA’s Office of Research and
FR 32116) on June 5, 2015 during a 60- the occurrence and duration of any Development. The document describes
day comment period. This notice allows startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the development of the current regional
for an additional 30 days for public the operation of an affected facility, or monitoring networks (RMNs) for riffle-
comments. A fuller description of the any period during which the monitoring dominated, freshwater wadeable
ICR is given below, including its system is inoperative. These reports are streams.
estimated burden and cost to the public. used by EPA to determine compliance The final document is available via
An Agency may neither conduct nor with the standards. the Internet on the NCEA home page
sponsor, and a person is not required to Form Numbers: None. under the Recent Additions and the
respond to, a collection of information Respondents/affected entities: Data and Publications menus at http://
unless it displays a currently valid OMB Stationary combustion turbines. www.epa.gov/risk/ecological-risk-
control number. Respondent’s obligation to respond: assessment-products-and-publications.
DATES: Additional comments may be
Mandatory (40 CFR part 60, subpart DATES: The document will be available
submitted on or before March 30, 2016. KKKK). on or around February 29, 2016.
Estimated number of respondents:
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, ADDRESSES: The final report, ‘‘Regional
589 (total).
referencing Docket ID Number EPA– Frequency of response: Initially and Monitoring Networks (RMNs) to Detect
HQ–OECA–2012–0524 to: (1) EPA semiannually. Changing Baselines,’’ is available
online using www.regulations.gov (our Total estimated burden: 59,000 hours primarily via the Internet on the
preferred method), or by email to (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR Ecological Risk Assessment Products
docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA 1320.3(b). and Publications Web page at http://
Docket Center, Environmental Total estimated cost: $5,930,000 (per www.epa.gov/risk/ecological-risk-
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, year). There are no annualized capital/ assessment-products-and-publications.
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., startup or operation & maintenance A limited number of paper copies are
Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB via costs. available from the Information
email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Changes in the Estimates: There is an Management Team, NCEA; telephone:
Address comments to OMB Desk Officer adjustment increase in burden hours 703–347–8561; facsimile: 703–347–
for EPA. and costs for both the respondents and 8691. If you are requesting a paper copy,
EPA’s policy is that all comments the Agency as currently identified in the please provide your name, mailing
received will be included in the public OMB Inventory of Approved Burdens. It address, and the document title.
docket without change including any should be noted that the increase is not FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
personal information provided, unless due to any program changes. The technical information, contact Britta
the comment includes profanity, threats, increase is due to an adjustment in labor Bierwagen, NCEA; telephone: 703–347–
information claimed to be Confidential rates and in the number of new or 8613; facsimile: 703–347–8694; or
Business Information (CBI), or other modified sources. This ICR uses email: bierwagen.britta@epa.gov.
information whose disclosure is updated labor rates from the Bureau of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
restricted by statute. Labor Statistics to calculate burden
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: costs. Additionally, this ICR assumes I. Information About the Project/
Patrick Yellin, Monitoring, Assistance, the respondent universe subject to the Document
and Media Programs Division, Office of regulation has continued to grow at a The United States Environmental
Compliance, Mail Code 2227A, constant rate since the last ICR renewal. Protection Agency is working with its
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Courtney Kerwin, regional offices, states, tribes, river basin
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, commissions, and other entities to
Acting Director, Collection Strategies
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) Division. establish Regional Monitoring Networks
564–2970; fax number: (202) 564–0050; (RMNs) for freshwater wadeable
[FR Doc. 2016–04243 Filed 2–26–16; 8:45 am]
email address: yellin.patrick@epa.gov. streams. RMNs have been established in
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: the Northeast, Mid Atlantic, and
Supporting documents which explain in Southeast, and efforts are expanding
detail the information that the EPA will ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION into other regions. Long term biological,
be collecting are available in the public thermal, hydrologic, physical habitat,
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

AGENCY
docket for this ICR. The docket can be and water chemistry data are being
viewed online at www.regulations.gov [FRL–9942–41–ORD] collected at RMN sites to document
or in person at the EPA Docket Center, current conditions and detect long term
Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs)
WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 changes. Consistent methods are being
To Detect Changing Baselines in
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, used to increase the comparability of
Freshwater Wadeable Streams
DC. The telephone number for the data, minimize biases and variability,
Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For AGENCY: Environmental Protection and ensure that the data meet data
additional information about EPA’s Agency (EPA). quality objectives. RMN surveys build

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Document Created: 2016-02-27 02:05:14
Document Modified: 2016-02-27 02:05:14

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Dates		The document will be available on or around February 29, 2016.
Contact		For technical information, contact Britta Bierwagen, NCEA; telephone: 703-347-8613; facsimile: 703-347- 8694; or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 10240