
[Federal Register: November 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 221)]
[Notices]               
[Page 67508-67509]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14no08-78]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2007-0466; FRL-8740-7]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; State Review Framework; EPA ICR Number 2185.03, 
OMB Control No. 2020-0031

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)(44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the 
nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 15, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OECA-
2007-0466 to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to carbone.chad@epa.gov, or by mail to: 
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Enforcement and 
Compliance Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2201T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail 
to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chad Carbone, Office of Enforcement 
and Compliance Assurance, Office of Compliance, MC: 2221A, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-2523; fax number: 202-
564-0027; e-mail address: carbone.chad@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On July 14, 2008 (73 FR 40336), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any 
additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB 
within 30 days of this notice. EPA has established a public docket for 
this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA EPA-HQ-OECA-2007-0466, which is 
available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in 
person viewing at the Enforcement and Compliance Docket in the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room 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 Enforcement and Compliance Docket. Docket is 
202-566-1927. Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA 
receives them and without change, unless the comment contains 
copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other 
information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For 
further information about the electronic docket, go to http://
www.regulations.gov.
    Title: State Review Framework.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2185.03, OMB Control No. 2020-0031.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2008. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
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: The State Review Framework (``Framework'') is an 
oversight tool designed to assess state performance in enforcement and 
compliance assurance. The Framework's goal is to evaluate state 
performance by examining existing data to provide a consistent level of 
oversight and develop a uniform mechanism by which EPA Regions, working 
collaboratively with their states, can ensure that state environmental 
agencies are consistently implementing the national compliance and 
enforcement program in order to meet agreed-upon goals. Furthermore, 
the Framework is designed to foster dialogue on enforcement and 
compliance performance between the states that will enhance 
relationships and increase feedback, which will in turn lead to 
consistent program management and improved environmental results. This 
amendment will allow EPA to collect information from enforcement and 
compliance files reviewed during routine on-site visits of state or 
local agency offices that will assist in the evaluation of the State 
Review Framework implementation from FY 2009 to the end of FY 2011. 
Also, this request will allow EPA to make inquiries to assess the State 
Review Framework process, including

[[Page 67509]]

the consistency achieved among the EPA Regions and states, the 
resources required to conduct the reviews, and the overall 
effectiveness of the program.
    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 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 612 
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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: 50 states and 4 territories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54.
    Frequency of Response: Once every four years.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 11,016.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $357,684, includes $0 annualized 
capital or O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 5,894 hours in 
the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is based on EPA's recent experience 
with administering the program, an estimated increase in the number of 
respondents during the next cycle, and its work with the states to try 
to improve the value and utilization of the elements and metrics by 
which state environmental programs are measured.

    Dated: November 6, 2008.
John Moses,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E8-27111 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
