Notice2025-05341
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense® Program (Renewal)
Primary source
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Published
March 28, 2025
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense[supreg] Program (Renewal) (EPA ICR Number 2233.09, OMB Control Number 2040-0272) 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 request for approval of a new collection. This document allows for 60 days for public comments.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14139-14140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05341]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0125; FRL-12585-01-OW]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information
Collection Request; Comment Request; The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's WaterSense[supreg] 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), the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense[supreg] Program (Renewal) (EPA
ICR Number 2233.09, OMB Control Number 2040-0272) 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 request for approval of a new
collection. This document allows for 60 days for public comments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OW-2025-0125 to EPA online using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (our
preferred method); by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d49b83f990bbb7bfb1a094b1a4b5fab3bba2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aee1f983eac1cdc5cbdaeecbdecf80c9c1d8">[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: Kersey Manliclic, WaterSense Branch,
Water Infrastructure Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Office
of Water (Mail Code 4204M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
566-9981; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6409050a080d07080d074a0f011617011d240114054a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0ada1aeaca9a3aca9a3eeaba5b2b3a5b980a5b0a1eea7afb6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a request for renewal of an existing
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.
This document allows 60 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 <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 EPA's public docket, visit
<a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://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 forms of information technology. 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
document to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.
Abstract: WaterSense is a voluntary program designed to create
self-sustaining markets for water-efficient products and services via a
common label. Data collected under this ICR will help WaterSense
demonstrate results and carry out evaluation efforts to ensure
continual program improvement. In addition, data will help the EPA
assess consumer satisfaction with labeled products, monitor market
penetration, and inform future product categories and specifications.
This ICR will cover a few areas of the program including:
<bullet> Product specification development relies on input from
consumers and manufacturers;
<bullet> Program partners are asked to submit an Annual Reporting
Form to inform the EPA of their program-related activities. The EPA
uses the information
[[Page 14140]]
collected to track the progress of the program in transforming the
market for water-efficient products and practices, to provide
information on WaterSense labeled water-efficient products and services
to consumers, and to recognize partner accomplishments;
<bullet> Program partners can voluntarily submit additional
information to be considered for annual recognition as well as
recognition of water conservation achievements, innovations, events,
etc. online;
<bullet> To assess progress in educating consumers about the
WaterSense program, the EPA may conduct a brief Consumer Awareness
Survey and/or ``Pulse Surveys'' of a sample of consumers during the
next three years. The purpose of these surveys will be to obtain
information at the national level and/or regional level on consumer
awareness and the understanding of WaterSense.
All shipment and sales data submitted by WaterSense manufacturer
and retailer/distributor partners are collected as CBI. EPA's
contractor is currently managing CBI collected on this project using
the procedures outlined in the contractor's CBI security plan entitled
Security Plan for Handling Confidential Business Information Under the
Clean Water Act. Project staff are trained in CBI-handling procedures,
as outlined in this plan. Only staff demonstrating their understanding
of CBI handling procedures by passing a written test will be permitted
access to CBI. EPA will ensure that any future or additional direct
contractor will have procedures in place for managing CBI.
Form numbers: * Forms not yet finalized in italics.
Partnership Agreement
<bullet> Builders 6100-19
<bullet> Licensed Certification Providers 6100-20
<bullet> Manufacturers 6100-13
<bullet> Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-07
<bullet> Promotional Partners 6100-06
<bullet> Retailers/Distributors 6100-12
Application for Professional Certifying Organization Approval
<bullet> Application for Professional Certifying Organization
Approval 6100-XX
Annual Reporting Form
<bullet> Builders 6100-09
<bullet> Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-09
<bullet> Promotional Partners 6100-09
Annual Reporting Form--Online and Hard-Copy Confidential Business
Information (CBI) Forms
<bullet> Plumbing Manufacturers 6100-09
<bullet> Non-plumbing Manufacturers 6100-09
<bullet> Retailers/Distributors 6100-09
Award Application Form
<bullet> Builders 6100-17
<bullet> Licensed Certification Providers 6100-17
<bullet> Manufacturers 6100-17
<bullet> Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-17
<bullet> Promotional Partners 6100-17
<bullet> Retailers/Distributors 6100-17
Consumer Awareness Survey
<bullet> Consumer Awareness Survey 6100-XX
Partner Success Stories
<bullet> Partners in Action ``Share My Story'' Form 6100-XX
Landscape Transformation Stories
<bullet> Landscape Transformation Story Map form 6100-XX
Partner Events
<bullet> Event Notification Form 6100-XX
Respondents/affected entities: Respondents will consist of
WaterSense partners, participants in the consumer survey/pulse surveys,
and stakeholders that voluntarily submit information (e.g., landscape
transformation information). WaterSense partners include product
manufacturers; professional certifying organizations; retailers;
distributors; utilities; federal, state, and local government; home
builders; licensed certification providers; NGOs; and trade
associations. Non-partner respondents will not have NAICS codes as they
will be randomly sampled citizens.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
Estimated number of respondents: 1,224 (total per year).
Frequency of response: Once a prospective partner organization
reviews WaterSense materials and decides to join the program, it will
submit the appropriate Partnership Agreement for its partnership
category (this form is only submitted once). Professional Certifying
Organizations must include additional documentation to begin their
partnership by completing an Application for Professional Certifying
Organization Approval (this form is only submitted once). Each year,
the EPA also asks partners to submit an Annual Reporting Form and
Awards Application (voluntarily at the partner's discretion). The EPA
also may conduct one Consumer Awareness Surveys over the three-year
period of the ICR as well as ad hoc ``Pulse Surveys'' of the market.
Partners can voluntarily submit information regarding their success
stories or events at any time in the year. Partners/stakeholders can
voluntarily submit information regarding their landscape transformation
efforts at any time in the year.
Total estimated burden: 8,710 hours (per year for both respondents
and EPA). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $989,335 (per year for both respondents and
EPA), which includes $2,415 annualized capital or operation &
maintenance costs.
Changes in the estimates: There is an increase of 1,949 hours in
the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This is due to the following factors:
<bullet> The labor rates were updated and respondent burden hours
reflect feedback from this round of ICR consultations.
<bullet> WaterSense added a few new forms that require minimal time
for respondents to complete--e.g., the program also added forms
designed to collect successful landscaping stories, case studies/
success stories, and events.
<bullet> An actual consumer awareness survey had been conducted
since the last ICR. Insights regarding that burden are reflected in
this ICR.
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2025-05341 Filed 3-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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