81 FR 19173 - Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund Program

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 64 (April 4, 2016)

Page Range		19173-19174
FR Document		2016-07667

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit a request to renew an existing information collection request (ICR), ``Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program'' (EPA ICR No. 1391.10, OMB Control No. 2040-0118), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through July 31, 2016. 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.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19173-19174]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07667]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0015; FRL-9944-45-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Clean 
Water Act State Revolving Fund Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit a request to renew an existing information collection request 
(ICR), ``Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program'' (EPA ICR No. 
1391.10, OMB Control No. 2040-0118), to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments 
on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described 
below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through July 31, 2016. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 3, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2004-0015, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Mylin, Municipal Support 
Division, Office of Wastewater Management, 4204M, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 202-564-0607; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public docket for this ICR, docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0015. The 
docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the 
EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-
1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit 
http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.), EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it to:
     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;
     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;
     enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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.

[[Page 19174]]

    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. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal 
Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: The Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) were 
established by the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA) as a 
financial assistance program for a wide range of wastewater 
infrastructure and other water quality projects. The 1987 amendments 
added Title VI to the CWA, enabling EPA to provide grants to all 50 
states and Puerto Rico to capitalize CWSRFs. The CWSRFs can provide 
loans and other forms of assistance for a wide array of projects, 
including construction of wastewater treatments facilities, green 
infrastructure projects, agricultural best management practices, and 
other water quality projects. Eligible borrowers of CWSRF funding range 
from municipalities to nonprofit organizations and other private 
entities. Recently, Title VI of the CWA was amended in 2014 by the 
Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Additional 
information about the CWSRFs is available at http://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/learn-about-clean-water-state-revolving-fund-cwsrf.
    This ICR renews the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Number 
2040-0118 CWSRF ICR and provides updated estimates of the reporting 
burden associated with the information collection activities. The 
updated estimates are based on EPA's most recent public consultation 
and capture the estimated impact of the WRRDA amendments.
    The individual information collections covered under this ICR are 
briefly described as follows:

Capitalization Grant Agreement/Intended Use Plan

    The Capitalization Grant Agreement is the principal instrument by 
which a CWSRF commits to manage its revolving fund program in 
conformity with the requirements of the Clean Water Act. The grant 
agreement contains or incorporates by reference the intended use plan, 
application materials, required certifications, and other documentation 
required by EPA. The intended use plan describes how a CWSRF program 
intends to use its funds for the upcoming year to meet the objectives 
of the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Annual Report

    The annual report indicates how the CWSRF has met its goals and 
objectives of the previous state fiscal year as stated in the grant 
agreement and, more specifically, in the intended use plan. The report 
provides information on loan recipients, loan amounts, loan terms, 
project categories of eligible costs, and similar data on other forms 
of assistance.

Annual Audit

    The CWA requires a CWSRF to undergo an annual audit. Though an 
audit conducted under the Single Audit Act meets this requirement, EPA 
still recommends that a CWSRF also undergo a separate independent audit 
as a best management practice. The audit must contain an opinion on the 
financial condition of the CWSRF program, a report on its internal 
controls, and a report on compliance with applicable laws and the CWA.

Clean Water National Information Management System (CWNIMS) and CWSRF 
Benefits Reporting (CBR)

    To meet the CWA objective of ``promoting the efficient use of fund 
resources,'' states must enter financial data, including project 
disbursements, into the CWNIMS database on an annual basis. This 
publicly available information is used by the EPA to assess compliance 
with the CWSRFs' mandate to use all funds in an ``expeditious and 
timely'' manner and achieve the objectives of the CWA. Project level 
data is collected on a quarterly basis using the CBR System to record 
projected environmental results from CWSRF projects.

Public Awareness Policy

    Per EPA Grants Policy Issuance (GPI) 14-02: Enhancing Public 
Awareness of EPA Assistance Agreements, CWSRF borrowers must publicize 
the EPA's involvement in project funding only up to the funding amount 
in each year's capitalization grant. The CWSRFs have various options to 
meet this requirement.
    With the exception of the public awareness policy, the respondents 
for the information collection activities are the state environmental 
departments, and/or finance agencies responsible for operating the 
CWSRFs. The public awareness policy directly impacts CWSRFs borrowers 
that are designated as recipients of federal funds. The burden 
associated with the public awareness policy may have an impact on small 
entities. However, this impact is mitigated by the fact that the CWSRFs 
have flexibility in determining which borrowers must comply with this 
requirement.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities affected by this action are 
state environmental departments, and/or finance agencies responsible 
for operating the CWSRFs and eligible CWSRF borrowers.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain a 
benefit per Title VI of CWA as amended by WRRDA.
    Estimated number of respondents: 51 state environmental departments 
and/or finance agencies (per year); 393 eligible CWSRF borrowers (per 
year).
    Frequency of response: Varies by requirement (i.e., quarterly, 
semi-annually and annually).
    Total estimated burden: 57,376 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $6,074,741 (per year).
    Changes in Estimates: This renewal adds two information collections 
activities not included in the previous version of the ICR. 
Specifically, the renewal includes the additional burden associated 
with the EPA requirement that the CWSRFs submit data into the CWNIMS 
and CBR databases on a recurring basis. The renewal also reflects the 
additional burden related to the recently released public awareness 
policy, directing CWSRF borrowers that receive federal funds to 
publicize EPA's role in funding the projects.
    Though these information collection activities add additional 
burden, the total estimated reporting burden under this renewal is 
significantly lower compared to the previously approved ICR. The 
estimate of the annual burden has been decreased by 748,471 hours while 
the total annual cost burden has been decreased by $17,744,006. This 
significant revision is due to the removal of the burden associated 
with CWSRF applications and ongoing ARRA reporting.

    Dated: March 25, 2016.
Sheila E. Frace,
Acting Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-07667 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices 19173

publication in the Federal Register or the next 3 years. This change is an ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
by other appropriate means, such as on adjustment. referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
the related collection instrument or OW–2004–0015, online using
III. What is the next step in the process
form, if applicable. The display of OMB www.regulations.gov (our preferred
for this ICR?
control numbers for certain EPA method), by email to ow-docket@
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR EPA will consider the comments epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket
part 9. received and amend the ICRs as Center, Environmental Protection
Abstract: This information collection appropriate. The final ICR package will Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
activity provides the EPA with then be submitted to OMB for review Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
notification of supplemental registration and approval pursuant to 5 CFR DC 20460.
of distributors of pesticide products. 1320.12. EPA will issue another Federal EPA’s policy is that all comments
EPA is responsible for the regulation of Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR received will be included in the public
pesticides as mandated by the Federal 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the docket without change, including any
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide submission of this ICR to OMB and the personal information provided, unless
Act (FIFRA), as amended. Section 3(e) opportunity for the public to submit the comment includes profanity, threats,
of FIFRA (see 7 U.S.C. 136a (e), allows additional comments for OMB information claimed to be Confidential
pesticide registrants to distribute or sell consideration. If you have any questions Business Information (CBI) or other
a registered pesticide product under a about this ICR or the approval process information whose disclosure is
different name instead of or in addition in general, please contact the person restricted by statute.
to the name under the original listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
registration. Such distribution and sale CONTACT. Mark Mylin, Municipal Support
is termed ‘‘supplemental distribution’’ Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Division, Office of Wastewater
and the product is termed a ‘‘distributor Management, 4204M, Environmental
product.’’ EPA requires the pesticide Dated: March 25, 2016.
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
registrant to submit a supplemental James Jones,
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
statement (EPA Form 8570–5, Notice of Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical
telephone number: 202–564–0607;
Supplemental Distribution of a Safety and Pollution Prevention.
email address: mylin.mark@epa.gov.
Registered Pesticide Product) when the [FR Doc. 2016–07490 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
registrant has entered into an agreement BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
with a second company that will Supporting documents which explain in
distribute the registrant’s product under detail the information that the EPA will
the second company’s name and ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION be collecting are available in the public
product name. AGENCY docket for this ICR, docket number
Burden statement: The annual public EPA–HQ–OW–2004–0015. The docket
reporting and recordkeeping burden for can be viewed online at
[EPA–HQ–OW–2004–0015; FRL–9944–45–
this collection of information is OW] www.regulations.gov or in person at the
estimated to average 0.32 hours per EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room
response. The ICR, a copy of which is Proposed Information Collection 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
available in the docket, provides a Request; Comment Request; Clean Washington, DC. The telephone number
detailed explanation of this estimate, Water Act State Revolving Fund for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.
which is only briefly summarized here: Program For additional information about EPA’s
Estimated total number of potential public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/
AGENCY: Environmental Protection dockets.
respondents: 1,885.
Frequency of response: On occasion. Agency (EPA). Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
Estimated total average number of ACTION: Notice. the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), EPA
responses for each respondent: 1. is soliciting comments and information
Estimated total annual burden hours: SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental to enable it to:
603 hours. Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to • Evaluate whether the proposed
Estimated total annual costs: $54,463. submit a request to renew an existing collection of information is necessary
This includes an estimated burden cost information collection request (ICR), for the proper performance of the
of $ 54,463 and an estimated cost of $ ‘‘Clean Water State Revolving Fund functions of the Agency, including
0 for non-burden hour paperwork costs, Program’’ (EPA ICR No. 1391.10, OMB whether the information will have
e.g., investment or maintenance and Control No. 2040–0118), to the Office of practical utility;
operational costs. Management and Budget (OMB) for • evaluate the accuracy of the
Changes in the estimates from the last review and approval in accordance with Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
approval: The renewal of this ICR will the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). proposed collection of information,
result in an overall increase of 216 Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public including the validity of the
hours in the total estimated respondent comments on specific aspects of the methodology and assumptions used;
burden identified in the currently proposed information collection as • enhance the quality, utility and
approved ICR. This increase reflects the described below. This is a proposed clarity of the information to be
increase in the number of applications extension of the ICR, which is currently collected; and
approved through July 31, 2016. An • minimize the burden of the
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

the Agency expects to receive in the
next 3 years. EPA had expected to Agency may not conduct or sponsor and collection of information on those who
receive about 1,451 notice submissions a person is not required to respond to are to respond, including through the
annually over the past three years. a collection of information unless it use of appropriate automated electronic,
Based on the number of submissions displays a currently valid OMB control mechanical or other technological
received annually over that period, the number. collection techniques or other forms of
Agency now expects to receive about DATES: Comments must be submitted on information technology, e.g., permitting
1,885 notice submissions annually over or before June 3, 2016. electronic submission of responses.

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19174 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices

EPA will consider the comments Annual Report borrowers must comply with this
received and amend the ICR as The annual report indicates how the requirement.
appropriate. The final ICR package will CWSRF has met its goals and objectives Form Numbers: None.
then be submitted to OMB for review of the previous state fiscal year as stated
and approval. At that time, EPA will Respondents/affected entities: Entities
in the grant agreement and, more affected by this action are state
issue another Federal Register notice to specifically, in the intended use plan.
announce the submission of the ICR to environmental departments, and/or
The report provides information on loan
OMB and the opportunity to submit finance agencies responsible for
recipients, loan amounts, loan terms,
additional comments to OMB. project categories of eligible costs, and operating the CWSRFs and eligible
Abstract: The Clean Water State similar data on other forms of CWSRF borrowers.
Revolving Funds (CWSRF) were assistance. Respondent’s obligation to respond:
established by the 1987 amendments to Required to obtain or retain a benefit per
Annual Audit
the Clean Water Act (CWA) as a Title VI of CWA as amended by
financial assistance program for a wide The CWA requires a CWSRF to WRRDA.
range of wastewater infrastructure and undergo an annual audit. Though an
audit conducted under the Single Audit Estimated number of respondents: 51
other water quality projects. The 1987 state environmental departments and/or
amendments added Title VI to the CWA, Act meets this requirement, EPA still
recommends that a CWSRF also finance agencies (per year); 393 eligible
enabling EPA to provide grants to all 50 CWSRF borrowers (per year).
states and Puerto Rico to capitalize undergo a separate independent audit as
CWSRFs. The CWSRFs can provide a best management practice. The audit Frequency of response: Varies by
loans and other forms of assistance for must contain an opinion on the requirement (i.e., quarterly, semi-
a wide array of projects, including financial condition of the CWSRF annually and annually).
construction of wastewater treatments program, a report on its internal
controls, and a report on compliance Total estimated burden: 57,376 hours
facilities, green infrastructure projects, (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
agricultural best management practices, with applicable laws and the CWA.
1320.03(b).
and other water quality projects. Eligible Clean Water National Information
borrowers of CWSRF funding range Total estimated cost: $6,074,741 (per
Management System (CWNIMS) and
from municipalities to nonprofit year).
CWSRF Benefits Reporting (CBR)
organizations and other private entities. Changes in Estimates: This renewal
To meet the CWA objective of
Recently, Title VI of the CWA was ‘‘promoting the efficient use of fund adds two information collections
amended in 2014 by the Water resources,’’ states must enter financial activities not included in the previous
Resources Reform and Development Act data, including project disbursements, version of the ICR. Specifically, the
(WRRDA). Additional information about into the CWNIMS database on an annual renewal includes the additional burden
the CWSRFs is available at http:// basis. This publicly available associated with the EPA requirement
www.epa.gov/cwsrf/learn-about-clean- information is used by the EPA to assess that the CWSRFs submit data into the
water-state-revolving-fund-cwsrf. compliance with the CWSRFs’ mandate CWNIMS and CBR databases on a
This ICR renews the Office of to use all funds in an ‘‘expeditious and recurring basis. The renewal also
Management and Budget (OMB) timely’’ manner and achieve the reflects the additional burden related to
Number 2040–0118 CWSRF ICR and objectives of the CWA. Project level data the recently released public awareness
provides updated estimates of the is collected on a quarterly basis using policy, directing CWSRF borrowers that
reporting burden associated with the the CBR System to record projected receive federal funds to publicize EPA’s
information collection activities. The environmental results from CWSRF role in funding the projects.
updated estimates are based on EPA’s projects.
Though these information collection
most recent public consultation and Public Awareness Policy activities add additional burden, the
capture the estimated impact of the
Per EPA Grants Policy Issuance (GPI) total estimated reporting burden under
WRRDA amendments.
14–02: Enhancing Public Awareness of this renewal is significantly lower
The individual information EPA Assistance Agreements, CWSRF compared to the previously approved
collections covered under this ICR are borrowers must publicize the EPA’s ICR. The estimate of the annual burden
briefly described as follows: involvement in project funding only up has been decreased by 748,471 hours
Capitalization Grant Agreement/ to the funding amount in each year’s while the total annual cost burden has
Intended Use Plan capitalization grant. The CWSRFs have been decreased by $17,744,006. This
various options to meet this significant revision is due to the
The Capitalization Grant Agreement is requirement. removal of the burden associated with
the principal instrument by which a With the exception of the public CWSRF applications and ongoing ARRA
CWSRF commits to manage its awareness policy, the respondents for reporting.
revolving fund program in conformity the information collection activities are
with the requirements of the Clean the state environmental departments, Dated: March 25, 2016.
Water Act. The grant agreement and/or finance agencies responsible for Sheila E. Frace,
contains or incorporates by reference operating the CWSRFs. The public Acting Director, Office of Wastewater
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

the intended use plan, application awareness policy directly impacts Management.
materials, required certifications, and CWSRFs borrowers that are designated [FR Doc. 2016–07667 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
other documentation required by EPA. as recipients of federal funds. The BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
The intended use plan describes how a burden associated with the public
CWSRF program intends to use its funds awareness policy may have an impact
for the upcoming year to meet the on small entities. However, this impact
objectives of the Clean Water Act is mitigated by the fact that the CWSRFs
(CWA). have flexibility in determining which

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Document Created: 2016-04-02 03:53:55
Document Modified: 2016-04-02 03:53:55

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.
Dates		Comments must be submitted on or before June 3, 2016.
Contact		Mark Mylin, Municipal Support Division, Office of Wastewater Management, 4204M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
FR Citation		81 FR 19173