SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through October 31, 2026. 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.

Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on June 22, 2026 during a 60-day comment period (91 FR 37109). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. Supporting documents, which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are available in the public docket for this ICR. 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 www.epa.gov/​dockets.

Abstract: The Microbial Rules ICR examines public water system and primacy agency burden and costs for recordkeeping and reporting requirements in support of the microbial drinking water regulations. These recordkeeping and reporting requirements are mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR parts 141 and 142.

The following microbial regulations are included under the ICR: the Surface ( printed page 68137) Water Treatment Rule, the Total Coliform Rule, the Revised Total Coliform Rule, the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Filter Backwash Recycling Rule, the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Ground Water Rule, and the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule. Future microbial-related rulemakings will be added to this consolidated ICR after the regulations are promulgated as part of the extension of initial, rule-specific, ICRs.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are public water systems and primacy agencies.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR parts 141 and 142.

Estimated number of respondents: 144,491 (total).

Frequency of response: Varies by requirement ( i.e., on occasion, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually.

Total estimated burden: 14,873,334 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $988,370,000 (per year), which includes $219,520,000 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in the estimates: There is a net decrease of 147,377 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This reflects a decrease of 187,587 hours for public drinking water system (PWS) activities largely related to Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) initial implementation. This also reflects an increase of 4,129 hours for air carrier activities due to updated aircraft and 36,081 for primacy agencies.

There has been a substantial decrease in the estimated labor costs, which reflect the correction of typographical errors in the currently approved ICR (see section 15 “Change in Burden” of the associated Supporting Statement) for more information.

91 FR 68136