[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11290-11291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03827]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0408; FRL-10020-68-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; EPA's 
WaterSense Program (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``EPA's WaterSense 
Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2233.08, OMB Control No. 2040-0272) 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 June 30, 2021. 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 April 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2006-0408 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to OW-Docket@epa.gov, 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: Tara O'Hare, WaterSense Branch, Water 
Infrastructure Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of 
Water, (Mail Code 4204M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-
8836; email address: ohare.tara@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

[[Page 11291]]

viewed online at www.regulations.gov. 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 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.), 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: WaterSense is a voluntary program designed to create 
self-sustaining markets for water-efficient products and services via a 
common label. The program provides incentives for manufacturers and 
builders to design, produce, and market water-efficient products and 
homes. The program also encourages consumers and commercial and 
institutional purchasers of water-using products and systems to choose 
water-efficient products and use water-efficient practices.
    As part of strategic planning efforts, EPA encourages programs to 
develop meaningful performance measures, set ambitious targets, and 
link budget expenditures to results. Data collected under this ICR will 
assist WaterSense in demonstrating results and carrying out evaluation 
efforts to ensure continual program improvement. In addition, the data 
will help EPA estimate water and energy savings and inform future 
product categories and specifications. All shipment and sales data 
submitted by WaterSense manufacturer and retailer/distributor partners 
are collected as confidential business information (CBI) using the 
procedures outlined in the WaterSense CBI security plan under the Clean 
Water Act.
    On April 10, 2020, EPA published a Federal Register document (85 FR 
20268) that sought input on whether and how the program could better 
understand and collect information on consumer satisfaction with 
labeled products. Based on the comments received on the notice (and 
summarized in the supporting statement), there is no support for 
conducting a survey or study on consumer satisfaction for use in future 
product reviews. There is, however, support for a general survey that 
would help to provide information to improve awareness of the 
WaterSense label and brand, which is covered under the existing ICR.
    Form Numbers: *Forms not yet finalized in italics.

Partnership Agreement

 Builders 6100-19
 Licensed Certification Providers 6100-20
 Manufacturers 6100-13
 Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-07
 Promotional partners 6100-06
 Retailers/distributors 6100-12

Application for Professional Certifying Organization Approval

 Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-X3

Annual Reporting Form

 Builders 6100-09
 Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-09
 Promotional partners 6100-09

Annual Reporting Form--Online and Hard-Copy Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) Forms

 Plumbing Manufacturers 6100-09
 Non-plumbing Manufacturers 6100-09
 Retailers/Distributors 6100-09

Provider Quarterly Reporting Form

 Licensed Certification Providers 6100-09

Award Application Form

 Builders 6100-17
 Licensed Certification Providers 6100-17
 Manufacturers 6100-17
 Professional Certifying Organizations 6100-17
 Promotional Partners 6100-17
 Retailers/Distributors 6100-17

Consumer Awareness Survey

 Survey form 6100-X2

    Respondents/affected entities: Respondents will consist of 
WaterSense partners and participants in the consumer survey. WaterSense 
partners include product manufacturers; professional certifying 
organizations; retailers; distributors; utilities; federal, state, and 
local governments; home builders; licensed certification providers; and 
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: EPA estimates the total number of 
respondents (over 3 years) to be 2,561.
    Frequency of response: Once a prospective partner organization 
reviews WaterSense materials and decides to join the program, it will 
submit the appropriate Partnership Agreement for its partnership 
category (this form is only submitted once). Professional Certifying 
Organizations must include additional documentation to begin their 
partnership by completing an Application for Professional Certifying 
Organization Approval (this form is only submitted once). Each year, 
EPA also asks partners to submit an Annual Reporting Form and Awards 
Application (voluntarily at the partner's discretion). Licensed 
certification providers for WaterSense-labeled new homes are asked to 
submit a Provider Quarterly Reporting Form four times each year. EPA 
also may conduct two Consumer Awareness Surveys over the three-year 
period of the ICR.
    Total estimated burden: 6,830 hours (per year for both respondents 
and EPA). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $598,527 (per year for both respondents and 
EPA), includes $1,578 annualized capital or operation & maintenance 
costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 2,096 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease is due to changes in program 
requirements including using online forms for all non-CBI related data, 
discontinuing the individual irrigation partner category, and 
simplifying the quarterly provider reporting requirements, which have 
reduced operation & maintenance costs and lowered the estimated burden. 
EPA also better understands how long it takes partners to complete 
program forms and has better historical data to project new partners/
forms over the next three years.

    Dated: February 18, 2021.
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2021-03827 Filed 2-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


