Notice2021-27097
Proposed Information Collection Requests; Comment Request: Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides Rules, Microbial Rules, and Public Water System Supervision Program Renewal Information Collection Requests
Primary source
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Published
December 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit the following information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) for the: Microbial Rules ICR, OMB Control No. 2040-0205; the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program ICR, OMB Control No. 2040-0090; and the Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides (DBPCR) Rules, OMB Control No. 2040-0204. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described in this document. This is a proposed extension of the Microbial ICR, which is currently approved through July 31, 2022; the PWSS Program ICR and the DBPCR ICR, which are both currently approved through March 31, 2023. These rules are designed to ensure that Americans receive safe drinking water and ensure fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. 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 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71265-71266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27097]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0439; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0442; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0443; FRL
9129-01-OW]
Proposed Information Collection Requests; Comment Request:
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides
Rules, Microbial Rules, and Public Water System Supervision Program
Renewal Information Collection Requests
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit the following information collection requests (ICRs) to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) for the: Microbial
Rules ICR, OMB Control No. 2040-0205; the Public Water System
Supervision (PWSS) Program ICR, OMB Control No. 2040-0090; and the
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides
(DBPCR) Rules, OMB Control No. 2040-0204. Before doing so, EPA is
soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed
information collection as described in this document. This is a
proposed extension of the Microbial ICR, which is currently approved
through July 31, 2022; the PWSS Program ICR and the DBPCR ICR, which
are both currently approved through March 31, 2023. These rules are
designed to ensure that Americans receive safe drinking water and
ensure fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people
regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. 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 February 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing the Docket ID numbers EPA-
HQ-OW-2011-0439 for the DBPCR ICR; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0442 for the
Microbial Rules ICR; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0443 for the PWSS Program ICR
online using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (our preferred method), by
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#58170f751c373b333d2c183d2839763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="531c047e173c30383627133623327d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
The 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: Kevin Roland, Drinking Water
Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water,
(4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-4588: fax number: 202-
564-3755; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8efce1e2efe0eaa0e5ebf8e7e0ceebfeefa0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6a4b9bab7b8b2f8bdb3a0bfb896b3a6b7f8b1b9a0">[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 dockets for these ICRs (see the ADDRESSES section of this
document for Docket ID numbers for each ICR). The dockets can be viewed
online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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 the 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, the 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. The
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as
appropriate. The final ICR packages will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval. At that time, the EPA will issue another Federal
Register notice to announce the submission of the ICRs to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. To support the data
collection and program implementation in the rules and activities
listed below, EPA is currently modernizing the Safe Drinking Water
Information System (SDWIS). EPA is designing the modernized SDWIS in
coordination with state drinking water and information technology
programs, which will house monitoring data and other compliance
information in a system centrally hosted by EPA and accessed by
participating state primacy programs. This central data system can
facilitate the transfer of additional data between states and EPA where
needed to improve program oversight to protect public health. EPA will
continue to work with its primacy partners on SDWIS modernization.
Microbial Rules (EPA ICR No. 1895.10, Docket No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0442)
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: The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), the
Total Coliform Rule (TCR), the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR), the
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR), the Filter
Backwash Recycling Rule (FBRR), the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule (LT1ESWTR), the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR), the Ground Water Rule (GWR), and the
Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR). Future microbial-related
rulemakings will be added to this consolidated ICR after the
regulations are promulgated and the initial, rule-specific, ICRs are
due to expire.
[[Page 71266]]
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: 146,808 (total).
Frequency of response: Varies by requirement (i.e., on occasion,
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually).
Total estimated burden: 18,127,581 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $972,102,000 (per year), includes
$228,972,000 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in Estimates: There is no estimated increase or decrease of
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared to what was
identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB.
Public Water System Supervision Program (EPA ICR No. 0270.47, EPA-HQ-
OW-2011-0443)
Abstract: The Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program ICR
examines public water systems, primacy agencies (i.e., states and
tribes with primary enforcement authority) and tribal operator
certification provider burden, and costs for ``cross-cutting''
recordkeeping and reporting requirements (i.e., the burden and costs
for complying with drinking water information requirements that are not
associated with contaminant-specific rulemakings). EPA intends to
collect information and data as part of the agency's oversight of state
primacy programs and national SDWA implementation. The following
activities have recordkeeping and reporting requirements that are
mandatory for compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at
40 CFR parts 141 and 142: The Consumer Confidence Report Rule (CCR),
the Variance and Exemption Rule (V/E Rule), General State Primacy
Activities, the Public Notification Rule (PN), and Proficiency Testing
Studies for Drinking Water Laboratories. The information collection
activities for both the Operator Certification and the Capacity
Development Program are driven by the grant withholding and reporting
provisions under sections 1419 and 1420, respectively, of the Safe
Drinking Water Act. The information collection for the Tribal Operator
Certification Program is driven by grant eligibility requirements
outlined in the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set-Aside
Program Final Guidelines and the Tribal Drinking Water Operator
Certification Program Guidelines.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by
this action are new and existing 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: 148,674 (total).
Frequency of response: Varies by requirement (i.e., on occasion,
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually).
Total estimated burden: 3,643,372 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $192,654,000 (per year), includes $38,121,000
in operation and maintenance costs.
Changes in Estimates: There is an expected decrease of hours in the
total estimated respondent burden compared to what was identified in
the ICR currently approved by OMB, due to use of centralized software
for data entry and rule compliance calculations. The updated, estimated
burden will be incorporated into a revised supporting statement (which
will be available in the docket) and in a second Federal Register
notice (for public comment) at a later date, to be determined, before
the ICR package is sent to OMB for approval.
The Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and Radionuclides
Rules (EPA ICR No. 1896.11, EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0439)
Abstract: The Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical, and
Radionuclides Rules ICR examines public water system and primacy agency
burden and costs for recordkeeping and reporting requirements in
support of the Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts, Chemical and
Radionuclides Rules. These recordkeeping and reporting requirements are
mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR parts 141 and 142. The following
regulations are included: The Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection
Byproducts Rule (Stage 1 DBPR), the Stage 2 Disinfectants and
Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 DBPR), the Chemical Phase Rules
(Phases II/IIB/V), the Radionuclides Rule, Disinfectant Residual
Monitoring and Associated Activities under the Surface Water Treatment
Rule (SWTR),\1\ the Arsenic Rule and the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR),
including the Lead and Copper Rule Short Term Revisions.
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\1\ Includes only SWTR components relating to disinfectant
residual monitoring and associated activities. All remaining SWTR
requirements are included in the Microbial Rules ICR.
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Future microbial-related rulemakings will be added to this
consolidated ICR after the regulations are promulgated and the initial,
rule-specific, ICRs are due to expire.
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: 146,772 (total).
Frequency of response: Varies by requirement (i.e., on occasion,
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually).
Total estimated burden: 5,161,356 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $455,885,000 (per year), which includes
$252,952,000 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in Estimates: There is no estimated increase or decrease of
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared to what was
identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB.
Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2021-27097 Filed 12-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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