[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73557-73558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26087]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2013-0547; FRL--10383-01-OECA]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Performance 
Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories'' (EPA ICR No. 0234.14, 
OMB Control No. 2080-0021) 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

[[Page 73558]]

currently approved through May 31, 2023. 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 January 30, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OECA-
2013-0547, 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: Gregory Savitske, Monitoring, 
Assistance, and Media Programs Division, Office of Compliance, (2227A), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-2601; fax number: (202) 564-0050; 
email address: Savit[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 Paperwork Reduction Act, 
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: Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) 
study program participation is mandatory for Major and selected Minor 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders 
in accordance with Clean Water Act Section 308. The DMR-QA study 
program is designed to evaluate the analytic ability of laboratories 
that perform chemical, microbiological and whole effluent toxicity 
(WET) analyses required in NPDES permits for reporting results in the 
Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR). Under DMR-QA, the permit holder is 
responsible for having their in-house and/or contract laboratories 
analyze proficiency test samples and submit results to proficiency 
testing (PT) providers for grading. Graded results are transmitted by 
either the permit holder or PT provider to the appropriate federal or 
state NPDES permitting authority. Permit holders are responsible for 
submitting corrective action reports to the appropriate permitting 
authority.
    Form Numbers: 6400-01.
    Respondents/affected entities: Major and selected Minor permit 
holders under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES).
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Major permit holders must 
participate annually. Minor permit holders must participate if selected 
by the state or EPA DMR-QA coordinator.
    Estimated number of respondents: 5,500 (total).
    Frequency of response: Major permit holders must participate 
annually. Minor permit holders must participate if selected by the 
state or EPA DMR-QA coordinator.
    Total estimated burden: 36,300 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $5,240,070 (per year), includes $3,243,350 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: The total estimated respondent burden is 
projected to remain the same as the ICR currently approved by OMB; this 
is attributed to the estimated number of respondents receiving this ICR 
remaining stable over the past three years. Labor costs will likely 
increase to account for changes in employee benefit and compensation 
costs as well as inflation. Non-labor costs for obtaining proficiency 
test samples will also likely increase.

    Dated: November 23, 2022.
Elizabeth Vizard,
Acting Director, Monitoring, Assistance, and Media Programs Division, 
Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2022-26087 Filed 11-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


