Notice2026-10191
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (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
May 21, 2026
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories" (EPA ICR Number 0234.15, OMB Control Number 2080-0021) 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 proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through August 31, 2026. This notice allows for 60 days for public comments.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29954-29955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10191]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OECA-2013-0547; FRL-10383.1-01-OECA]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information
Collection Request; Comment Request; Performance Evaluation Studies on
Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Performance
Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories'' (EPA ICR Number
0234.15, OMB Control Number 2080-0021) 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 proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently
approved through August 31, 2026. This notice allows for 60 days for
public comments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OECA-2013-0547, 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#4b2f2428202e3f65242e282a0b2e3b2a652c243d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d2b6bdb1b9b7a6fcbdb7b1b392b7a2b3fcb5bda4">[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: Gregory Savitske, Compliance,
Inspector, and Training Division, Office of Compliance, Mail Code
2227A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
[[Page 29955]]
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
564-2601; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#deadbfa8b7aaadb5bbf0b9acbbb9b1aca79ebbaebff0b9b1a8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9aab8afb0adaab2bcf7beabbcbeb6aba099bca9b8f7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
which is currently approved through August 31, 2026. 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 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
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: Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance (DMR-QA)
study program participation is mandatory for Major and selected Minor
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders
in accordance with Clean Water Act Section 308. The DMR-QA study
program is designed to evaluate the analytic ability of laboratories
that perform chemical, microbiological and whole effluent toxicity
(WET) analyses required in NPDES permits for reporting results in the
Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR). Under DMR-QA, the permit holder is
responsible for having their in-house and/or contract laboratories
analyze proficiency test samples and submit results to proficiency
testing (PT) providers for grading. Graded results are transmitted by
either the permit holder or PT provider to the appropriate federal or
state NPDES permitting authority. Permit holders are responsible for
submitting corrective action reports to the appropriate permitting
authority.
Form Number: 6400-01.
Respondents/affected entities: Major and selected Minor permit
holders under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES).
Respondent's obligation to respond: Major permit holders must
participate annually. Minor permit holders must participate if selected
by the state or EPA DMR-QA coordinator.
Estimated number of respondents: 5,500 (total).
Frequency of response: Major permit holders must participate
annually. Minor permit holders must participate if selected by the
state or EPA DMR-QA coordinator.
Total estimated burden: 36,300 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $6,241,180 (per year), which includes
$3,995,365 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in the Estimates: The total estimated respondent burden is
projected to remain the same as the ICR currently approved by OMB; this
is attributed to the estimated number of respondents receiving this ICR
remaining stable over the past three years. The estimated cost has
increased due to increases in both labor and non-labor costs to account
for changes in employee benefit and compensation costs as well as
inflation.
Loren Denton,
Director, Compliance, Inspector, and Training Division, Office of
Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2026-10191 Filed 5-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 21, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.