[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27600-27601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12712]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2018-0229; FRL-9979-22-OARM]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Monthly 
Progress Reports (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Monthly Progress 
Reports (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1039.15, OMB Control No. 2030-0005) 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 December 31, 2018. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-
2018-0229 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], 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: Thomas Valentino, Policy Training and 
Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management (3802R), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-4522; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 
www.regulations.gov 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 https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    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 automated electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. 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: Appropriate Government surveillance of contractor 
performance is required to give reasonable assurance that efficient 
methods and effective cost controls are being used for various cost-
reimbursable and fixed-rate contracts. Per 48 CFR 1552.211 regulations, 
on a monthly basis the Agency requires contractors to provide the 
Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) with a report detailing: (a) 
What was accomplished on the contract for that period, (b) expenditures 
for the same period of time, and (c) what is expected to be 
accomplished on the contract for the next month. Responses to the 
information collection are mandatory for contractors and are required 
for the contractors to receive monthly payments.
    Form Numbers: EPA Form 1900-68.

[[Page 27601]]

    Respondents/Affected Entities: Private sector.
    Respondent's Obligation to Respond: Mandatory per 48 CFR 1552.211.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 337 (total).
    Frequency of Response: Monthly.
    Total Estimated Burden: 97,056 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total Estimated Cost: $9,074,736 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 19,650 hours (97,056-
77,406) in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR 
currently approved by OMB because there are approximately 337 contracts 
and orders requiring response in 2018 instead of only 266 in 2014. This 
figure has increased to 337 due in part to shorter-value and shorter-
length contracts being awarded due to budget uncertainty; e.g., 
continuing funding resolutions, sequestration budget cuts.

    Dated: May 24, 2018.
Pamela D. Legare,
Deputy Director, Office of Acquisition Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-12712 Filed 6-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


