[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 246 (Wednesday, December 23, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 71114-71115] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-34041] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6207-5] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Approval of State Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Approval of State Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs, EPA ICR Number 1569, and OMB Control Number 2040-0153, expiring on January 31, 1999. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 22, 1999. ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to, and copies of the ICR may be obtained without charge from, the Nonpoint Source Control Branch, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (4503-F), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dov Weitman at (202) 260-7088 (phone), (202) 260-7024 (facsimile), [email protected] (E-Mail); or Stacie Craddock at (202) 260-3788 (phone), (202) 260-1977 (facsimile), [email protected] (E-Mail). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 24 states and 5 territories with conditionally approved Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs (CZARA section 6217). Title: Approval of Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs, (OMB Control No. 2040-0153; EPA ICR No. 1569) expiring January 31, 1999. Abstract: Under the provisions of national Program Development and Approval Guidance implementing section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 (CZARA) which was jointly developed and published by EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 24 coastal states and 5 coastal territories with Federally approved Coastal Zone Management Programs have developed and submitted to EPA and NOAA Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Programs. All the submitted programs have been conditionally approved by EPA and NOAA. The conditional approvals will require states and territories to submit additional information in order to obtain final program approval. Recent administrative changes mutually agreed to by states, territories, EPA and NOAA are expected to expedite the final approval process. CZARA section 6712 requires states and territories to obtain final approval of their Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Programs in order to retain their full share of funding available to them under section 319 of the Clean Water Act and section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act. 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. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15. The EPA would like to solicit comments 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. Burden Statement: The original Information Collection Request estimated that the reporting burden to develop and obtain approval of Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs under the national Program Development and Approval Guidance would average 1,874 hours per respondent over the 3-year term of the collection effort. Because all affected coastal states and territories have completed development and obtained conditional approval of their Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs and now need only to remove the existing conditions to obtain final [[Page 71115]] approval, EPA estimates that the remaining reporting burden will be approximately 20 percent of the original burden estimate, or approximately 375 hours per respondent annualized to a burden of 125 hours for each of the 29 respondents. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions, develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose information. Dated: December 16, 1998. Robert H. Wayland III, Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. [FR Doc. 98-34041 Filed 12-22-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P