Notice2021-21081
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Estimating Benefits of Surface Water Quality Improvements
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 29, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Estimating Benefits of Surface Water Quality Improvements" (EPA ICR No. 2588.01, OMB Control No. 2080-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a request for approval of a new collection. 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53960-53961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21081]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OA-2019-0292; FRL-8752-01-OA]
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request;
Estimating Benefits of Surface Water Quality Improvements
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an
information collection request (ICR), ``Estimating Benefits of Surface
Water Quality Improvements'' (EPA ICR No. 2588.01, OMB Control No.
2080-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing
so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the
proposed information collection as described below. This is a request
for approval of a new collection. 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 November 29, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2019-0292, online using <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> (our preferred method) 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: Chris Moore, OA/OP/NCEE, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004; telephone number 202-566-
2348; fax number: 202-566-2448; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87eae8e8f5e2a9e4eff5eef4c7e2f7e6a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6e0301011c0b400d061c071d2e0b1e0f40090118">[email protected]</span></a>.
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. The docket can be viewed online at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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 <a href="http://www.epa.gov/dockets">http://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting
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. 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: Researchers and analysts in EPA's Office of Research and
Development (ORD), Office of Water (OW), and National Center for
Environmental Economics (NCEE) are collaborating to improve EPA's
ability to perform benefit cost analysis on changes in surface water
quality (lakes, rivers, and streams). We are requesting approval to
conduct a survey that will provide data critical to that effort.
A number of non-market valuation methods can be used to estimate
the economic benefits of improving environmental quality, but they
often require more time and resources than federal agencies have to
complete the regulatory impact analysis. Benefit transfer can provide
reasonably accurate estimates of economic benefits under certain
conditions with fewer resources and far less time. Federal agencies
rely on benefit transfer often when analyzing the economic impacts of
environmental regulation. In conducting benefit cost analyses of
surface water regulations, however, it has become apparent that there
is a lack of data on some features of policy analysis that have forced
analysts to make assumptions about the relationships between a number
of factors. This information collection is necessary to provide insight
on those relationships and improve the EPA's and other federal
agencies' ability to perform benefit transfer in regulatory analysis.
Analysts in the Office of Policy, the Office of Water, and the
Office of Research and Development have begun work on an integrated
hydrological and economic model that will be capable of estimating
benefits for a wide range of surface water regulations. The data
collected with this survey will inform that effort. Analysts elsewhere
in the EPA and other federal agencies may also be able to use the
results of this study to improve benefit transfer in other applications
as well.
The survey will be administered electronically via the internet. An
internet-based survey mode provides several advantages in efficiency
and accuracy over other collection modes. It is also necessary to meet
several of our research objectives described in the ICR Supporting
Statement. EPA is requesting comment on two alternative approaches to
sample recruitment: A probability-based internet panel, and a mail
invitation to the internet survey. Some sections of the draft
Supporting Statement cannot be completed until a recruitment mode has
been chosen. Where possible, the draft Supporting
[[Page 53961]]
Statement provides details on both approaches. EPA will consider public
comments, expert opinion, and peer reviewed literature before choosing
a recruitment mode. The final Supporting Statement will reflect the
chosen mode, present all details of that approach, and be submitted for
public comment.
Participation in the survey will be voluntary and the identity of
the participants will be kept confidential.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: Eligible respondents for this survey
will be U.S. civilian, non-institutionalized individuals, age 18 years
and older.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
Estimated number of respondents: 6,120.
Frequency of response: One-time collection.
Total estimated burden: 2,040 hours.
Total estimated cost: Total estimated burden and cost for Agency
$670,391.
Changes in Estimates: This is a new collection. The survey is a
one-time data collection activity.
Al McGartland,
Office Director, National Center for Environmental Economics, Office of
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-21081 Filed 9-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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