Notice2026-07703
Proposed Information Collection Request Supporting Statement for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 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
April 21, 2026
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit the "Information Collection Request (ICR) Supporting Statement for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program (Renewal)" (EPA ICR No. 0229.25, OMB Control No. 2040-0004) 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 July 31, 2026. This notice allows for 60 days for public comments.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21287-21288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07703]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0719; FRL-13325-01-OW]
Proposed Information Collection Request Supporting Statement for
the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program (Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit the ``Information Collection Request (ICR) Supporting Statement
for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program
(Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0229.25, OMB Control No. 2040-0004) 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 July 31, 2026. This
notice allows for 60 days for public comments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OW-2008-0719, to EPA 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#135c443e577c70787667537663723d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4d021a6009222e2628390d283d2c632a223b">[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: Doris Ihejirika, National Program
Branch, Water Permits Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Mail
Code: 4203M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-2110; email
address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7b32131e11120912101a553f140912083b1e0b1a551c140d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0841606d62617a616369264c677a617b486d7869266f677e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
which is currently approved through July 31, 2026. An agency may not
conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information
[[Page 21288]]
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
This notice 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="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 forms of information technology. EPA is
continuously seeking new opportunities to effectively reduce
duplication and support efficiency in the permitting program by
leveraging information technology tools such as automating workflows,
which enables real-time access and expediting permitting issuance. 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: This consolidated Information Collection Request (ICR)
renews the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Program ICR. It calculates the information collection burden and costs
associated with the NPDES program, identifies the types of activities
regulated under the NPDES program, describes the roles and
responsibilities of state governments and the Agency, and presents the
program areas that address the various types of regulated activities.
This ICR renewal (Office of Management and Budget [OMB] control no.
2040-0004, EPA ICR no. 0229.25, expiration date 07/31/2026)
consolidates the information collection burden and costs associated
with activities previously reported in 22 of the NPDES program or
NPDES-related ICRs. The Clean Water Act (CWA) provides that NPDES
permits are required for the discharge of pollutants to waters of the
United States. The CWA requires that EPA develop and implement the
NPDES permit program. CWA section 402(b) allows states to acquire
authority to administer the NPDES program, enabling them to issue NPDES
permits for discharges within the state. At present, 47 states and the
U.S. Virgin Islands are authorized to administer the NPDES permit
program. In states that do not have authority for these programs, the
Agency administers the program and issues NPDES permits. Because some
permit applications are processed by states and some by EPA, this ICR
calculates government burden and cost for both authorized states and
EPA.
Form Numbers: OMB No. 1004-0189; OMB No. 2040-0300; OMB No. 2040-
0004; OMB No. 2040-0284, OMB No. 2040-0287; OMB No. 6100-056; OMB No.
6100-057.
Respondents/affected entities: Any point source discharger of
pollutants, including but not limited to publicly owned and privately
owned treatment works (POTWs and PrOTWs), industrial dischargers to
POTWs and PrOTWs, industrial and commercial dischargers to waters of
the United States, sewage sludge management and disposal operations,
large vessels, dischargers of stormwater, construction sites,
municipalities, pesticide applicators, local and state governments.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory, pursuant to sections
301, 302, 304, 306, 307, 308, 316(b), 401, 402, 403, 405, and 510 of
the CWA; the 1987 Water Quality Act (WQA) revisions to CWA section
402(p); 40 (CFR) parts 122, 123, 124, and 125 (and parts 501 and 503
for Biosolids); and the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act (CPA).
Estimated number of respondents: 853,912 (total).
Frequency of response: The frequency of response varies depending
on the specific response activity and can range from ongoing and
monthly to once every five years.
Total estimated burden: 33,221,897 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $2,256,697,795 (per year), which includes
$38,342,315 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 2,078,802 hours
in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR
currently approved by OMB. Due to improved electronic data collection,
instead of paper submissions, EPA's estimates of permittee respondents
increased from 9,310,277 in the current ICR to 10,837,897 in this
version of the ICR, which reflects 16% increase. In addition, capital
and O&M cost burden increased due to inflation which impacted factors
such as laboratory analytic and labor costs.
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2026-07703 Filed 4-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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