[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48925-48926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20131]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2010-0291; FRL-9999-93-OECA]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; State 
Review Framework

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``State Review Framework (EPA ICR 
No. 2185.07, OMB Control No. 2020-0031) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 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 May 31, 2020. 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.

[[Page 48926]]


DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 18, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID EPA-HQ-OECA-
2010-0291 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method 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: Christopher Knopes, Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Compliance; 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-2337; email address: 
knopes.christopher@epa.gov.

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 http://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: The State Review 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 request will allow 
OECA 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 2020 to the end of FY 2023. It will allow also 
EPA to make inquiries to assess the State Review Framework process, 
including the consistency achieved among the EPA Regions and states, 
the resources required to conduct the reviews, and the overall 
effectiveness of the program.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: States, localities, and territories.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required as part of program 
authorization under the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Acts.
    Estimated number of respondents: 54.
    Frequency of response: Once every five years.
    Total estimated burden: 2,358 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $86,982 (per year).
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 36 hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This decrease is due to using a different sampling of respondents 
to provide the hourly estimates, in addition to the respondents' 
continued experience with the review process and collective efforts to 
make the review more efficient.

    Dated: August 29, 2019.
Christopher A. Knopes,
Director, Planning, Measures, and Oversight Division, Office of 
Compliance, OECA.
[FR Doc. 2019-20131 Filed 9-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


