______________________________________

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA-HQ-AO-2007-0408 [Insert the FRL # ]  

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment
Request; Regulatory Pilot Projects (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1755.08; OMB
Control No. 2010-0026

AGENCY:	Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:	Notice.

SUMMARY:	In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a
request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  This ICR is
scheduled to expire on October 31, 2007.   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 [insert date 60 days
after publication in the Federal Register].  

ADDRESSES  (TBI):  Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ–OA-2007-0408 identified by the Docket ID numbers provided for
each item in the text, by one of the following methods:

  HYPERLINK "http://www.regulations.gov"  www.regulations.gov : Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

     	•	Email:    HYPERLINK "mailto:oei.docket@epa.gov" 
oei.docket@epa.gov  

     	•	Fax:  (202) 566-9744

Mail: OA Docket, EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mail Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460 

Hand Delivery: Office of the Administrator Docket in the EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 

Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.

Instructions:  Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-AO-2007-0408
identified by the Docket ID. EPA's policy is that all comments received
will be included in the public docket without change and may be made
available online at   HYPERLINK "http://www.regulations.gov" 
www.regulations.gov , including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be
CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail.  The  
HYPERLINK "http://www.regulations.gov"  www.regulations.gov  website is
an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment.  If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet.  If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit.  If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may
not be able to consider your comment.  Electronic files should avoid the
use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any
defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at   HYPERLINK
"http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm" 
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm . 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerald Filbin,  Office of Policy,
Economics, and Innovation, (1807T), Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:
202-566-2182  ; fax number: 202-566-2220; email address:
filbin.gerald@epa.gov 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

	EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-AO-2007-0408, which is available for   SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 online
viewing at   HYPERLINK "http://www.regulations.gov"  www.regulations.gov
,   SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 or in person viewing at the Office of the
Administrator Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC.  The EPA/DC Public
Reading Room   SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number
for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the
Office of the Administrator Docket is 202-566-0219.

	Use   HYPERLINK "http://www.regulations.gov"  www.regulations.gov  to
obtain a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view
public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket,
and to access those documents in the public docket that are available
electronically.  Once in the system, select “search,” then key in
the docket ID number identified in this document.  

What Information is EPA Interested In?   

	Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically solicits
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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider when I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:

    	1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.

    	2. Describe any assumptions that you used.

    	3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.

    	4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.

    	5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.

    	6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.

    	7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does this Apply to?

Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-2007-0408

Affected entities:  Entities potentially affected by this action are
primarily state environmental agencies seeking information from
facilities participating in or whose participation is being solicited
for pilot projects to test innovation in environmental permitting. 
State and tribal environmental agencies that wish to provide input for
the annual competition solicitation, or that submit proposals in the
annual competition are also effected, as well as state agencies that are
recipients of State Innovation Grants that are required to report on
progress and outcomes for each grant-funded project.  Other parties
affected by this request may include industrial facilities and state
agencies that have been participants in Project XL in circumstances
where projects are being completed or terminated and information
characterizing the outcomes of those projects is being sought by EPA to
close out those individual projects. 

 

Title:  Regulatory Reinvention Pilots 

ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1755.08, OMB Control No. 2010-0026

ICR status:  This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on October 31,
2007. 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 in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if
applicable.  The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: This is an information collection request renewal that will
allow for the continued solicitation of proposals for innovative pilot
projects and to allow EPA to continue its commitments to monitor the
results of previous and ongoing pilot tests of regulatory innovation. 
The renewal of this ICR is important as it will allow the Agency to
measure performance outcomes of regulatory innovation piloting and to
assess the broader applicability of those pilot projects.  The ICR is
also necessary to allow EPA to identify State and Tribal co-regulators
as well as additional regulated entities who are interested in
partnering with EPA in innovative pilot projects, allowing the Agency to
continue its commitment to innovation and regulatory flexibility with
facilities, communities, and states in achieving environmental results. 
The renewal of this ICR will allow OEPI to continue to receive and work
with project sponsors on proposals for innovation.  Responses related to
Project XL are voluntary, as are any responses by state environmental
agencies to EPA’s request for input for the design of the annual
competition.  States seeking funding for an environmental regulatory
innovation project must submit a project proposal in the annual
competition (see   HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants"
 http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants ) to receive a grant award
and submittal of a proposal does not automatically guarantee an
assistance agreement between EPA and a state for the purpose of
implementing an innovation project.  In requiring the submittal of a
proposal in competition, EPA is adhering to its own policies on
competition (EPA 5700.7) and performance measurement (EPA 5700.8). 
Similarly, states implementing innovative regulatory pilot tests in
projects funded by a State Innovation Grant are required to report on
progress during the operation of a project and to provide a final
project report summarizing outcomes and major findings of each project. 
EPA’s policy on performance measurement in assistance agreements is an
implementation outcome under the Government Performance and Results Act
(GPRA § 1115 (a)(4) and §1116(c) ).  EPA’s innovation piloting
efforts  are multi-media in nature and  include programs authorized
under  the full range of authorizing legislation (e.g., the   SEQ
CHAPTER \h \r 1 Clean Air Act, Section 103 (b)(3) (42 U.S.C. § 7403
(b)(3)) the Clean Water Act, Section 104 (b)(3) (33 U.S.C. § 1254
(b)(3)); the Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001 (42 U.S.C. §6981);
the Toxics Substances Control Act, Section 10 (15 U.S.C. §2609); the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20 (7
U.S.C. § 136r); and the Safe Drinking Water Act, Sections 1442 (a) and
(c) (42 U.S.C. § 1(a) and (c)).

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden
for this collection of information is estimated to average 44 hours per
response.  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 which have
subsequently changed; 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 the
information.   

	

	The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency’s estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:

	Estimated total number of potential annual respondents: 1270

	Frequency of response:  35 quarterly; 1234 annually 

	Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:  1.2

	Estimated total annual burden hours: 7748 hours.

	Estimated total annual costs: $ 331,460.  This includes an estimated
burden cost of $331,460 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital
investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?

	There is an increase of 2292 hours in the total estimated respondent
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by
OMB. This increase reflects the need to collect information on project
performance and outcomes in the form of quarterly reporting and final
project reporting for current and future projects that is not addressed
in other ICRs.

What is the Next Step in the Process for this ICR?

	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 pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12.  At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv)
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
submit 

additional comments to OMB.  If you have any questions about this ICR or
the approval process, please contact the technical person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Dated: ________________      

___________________________________

  

Elizabeth A. Shaw

Director, Office of Environmental Policy Innovation  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1


BILLING CODE 6560-50

Page   PAGE  1  of   NUMPAGES  9 

