Notice2022-28565
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; National Estuary Program (Renewal)
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
January 4, 2023
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "National Estuary Program (Renewal)" (EPA ICR No. 1500.11, OMB Control No. 2040-0138) 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 September 30, 2023. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information without a currently valid OMB control number.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28565]
[[Page 352]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369; FRL-10501-01-OW]
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request;
National Estuary Program (Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``National Estuary
Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1500.11, OMB Control No. 2040-0138) 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 September 30, 2023. An
Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information without a currently valid OMB
control number.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 6, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0369 online using <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> (our preferred method), by
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#703f275d341f131b1504301500115e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cd829ae089a2aea6a8b98da8bdace3aaa2bb">[email protected]</span></a>, 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: Vince Bacalan, Oceans, Wetlands and
Communities Division; Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, (Mail
Code 4504T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-0930; fax number:
202-566-1336; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b1d3d0d2d0ddd0df9fc7d8dfd2d4f1d4c1d09fd6dec7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="345655575558555a1a425d5a5751745144551a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents that 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 20460. 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">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: The National Estuary Program (NEP) involves collecting
information from the state, local entity or nongovernmental
organization that receives funds under section 320 of the Clean Water
Act (CWA) (i.e., the NEP). The regulation requiring this information is
found in 40 CFR part 35.
Prospective grant recipients seek funding to develop and coordinate
the implementation of Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans
(CCMPs) for estuaries of national significance. To receive funds,
grantees must submit annual work plans to EPA, which are used to track
performance of each of the 28 estuary program locations currently in
the NEP. EPA provides funding to the 28 NEPs to support long-term
implementation of CCMPs in the form of assistance agreements, and each
NEP is evaluated on its progress every five years. The primary purpose
of the program evaluation process is to help EPA determine whether the
28 programs included in the NEP are making adequate progress
implementing their CCMPs. EPA also requests that each of the 28 NEPs
receiving section 320 funds report annually on a number of performance
measures that allow EPA to maintain effective program management,
execute its fiduciary responsibility to the program, and summarize
environmental results achieved within the overall NEP. Information
gathered may be included in agency reports along with other EPA program
measures.
The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also
known as Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), on November 15, 2021,
enhances the work of the NEPs with additional funding to accelerate and
more extensively implement CCMPs, ensure that benefits reach
disadvantaged communities, and build the adaptive capacity of
ecosystems and communities. As part of this expanded investment, the
NEP is also required to track certain investments and benefits under
the Justice40 Initiative (part II section 223 of 86 FR 7619, February
1, 2021), which will increase the overall burden estimates for this
renewal.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by
this action are those state or local entities or nongovernmental
organizations in the NEP that receive assistance agreements under
section 320 of the CWA.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain a
benefit (section 320 of the CWA).
Estimated number of respondents: 28 (total).
Frequency of response: Annual.
Total estimated burden: 5,360 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: $319,724 (per year), includes $0 annualized
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in Estimates: There is likely an increase in the total
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by
OMB. This increase is due to program evaluations taking place in the
next three years, compared to two years in the currently approved ICR.
Expanded reporting is expected under BIL, in addition to annual
appropriation reporting, as well as new requirements (i.e., NEP equity
strategies designed to meet expectations under the Justice40
Initiative). Note that these estimates will be updated in the final
Federal Register publication.
Brian Frazer,
Acting Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Office of
Water.
[FR Doc. 2022-28565 Filed 1-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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