  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 

										

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST FOR 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEACH ACT GRANTS (RENEWAL)

EPA ICR No. 2048.03

OMB Control No. 2040-0244

October 2008

Table of Contents

 TOC \f 1.	Identification of the Information Collection	  GOTOBUTTON
_1__1_ 4 

1(a)	Title Of The Information Collection	  GOTOBUTTON _1__2_ 4 

1(b)	Short Characterization/Abstract	  GOTOBUTTON _1__3_ 4 

2.	Need for And Use of the Collection	  GOTOBUTTON _1__4_ 5 

2(a)	Need/Authority For The Collection	  GOTOBUTTON _1__5_ 5 

2(b)	Practical Utility/Users Of The Data	  GOTOBUTTON _1__6_ 5 

3.	Nonduplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria	 
GOTOBUTTON _1__7_ 5 

3(a)	Nonduplication	  GOTOBUTTON _1__8_ 5 

3(b)	Public Notice Required Prior To ICR Submission To OMB	  GOTOBUTTON
_1__9_ 5 

3(c)	Consultations	  GOTOBUTTON _1__10_ 6 

3(d)	Effects Of Less Frequent Collection	  GOTOBUTTON _1__11_ 6 

3(e)	General Guidelines	  GOTOBUTTON _1__12_ 6 

3(f)	Confidentiality	  GOTOBUTTON _1__13_ 6 

3(g)	Sensitive Questions	  GOTOBUTTON _1__14_ 6 

4.	The Respondents And The Information Requested	  GOTOBUTTON _1__15_ 6 

4(a)	Respondents/SIC Codes	  GOTOBUTTON _1__16_ 6 

4(b)	Information Requested	  GOTOBUTTON _1__17_ 7 

5.	The Information Collected-Agency Activities, Collection Methodology,
And Information Management	  GOTOBUTTON _1__19_ 9 

5(a)	Agency Activities	  GOTOBUTTON _1__20_ 9 

5(b)	Collection Methodology And Management	  GOTOBUTTON _1__21_ 9 

5(c)	Small Entity Flexibility	  GOTOBUTTON _1__22_ 10 

5(d)	Collection Schedule	  GOTOBUTTON _1__23_ 10 

6.	Estimating The Burden And Cost Of The Collection	  GOTOBUTTON _1__24_
10 

6(a)	Estimating Respondent Burden	  GOTOBUTTON _1__25_ 10 

6(b)	Estimating Respondent Cost	  GOTOBUTTON _1__26_ 11 

Labor Costs	  GOTOBUTTON _1__27_ 11 

Operation and Maintenance Costs	  GOTOBUTTON _1__29_ 15 

6(c)	Estimating Agency Burden And Cost	  GOTOBUTTON _1__30_ 16 

6(d)	Estimating The Respondent Universe And Total Burden And Costs	 
GOTOBUTTON _1__32_ 17 

6(e)	Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables	  GOTOBUTTON _1__34_ 17 

6(f)	Reasons For Change In Burden	  GOTOBUTTON _1__36_ 18 

6(g)	Burden Statement	  GOTOBUTTON _1__38_ 19 

 

List of Tables

 TOC \f D Table 1. BEACH Act Grant Performance Criteria Summary	 
GOTOBUTTON _1__18_ 7 

Table 2. Individual Respondent 3-Year State Burden Hours 	  GOTOBUTTON
_1__28_ 11 

Table 3. Total Agency Burden Hours Per Activity over 3 Years	 
GOTOBUTTON _1__31_ 16 

Table 4. Annualized Respondent Burden And Cost	  GOTOBUTTON _1__33_ 17 

Table 5. Total Annualized Respondent and Agency Burden and Costs	 
GOTOBUTTON _1__35_ 18 

Table 6. Changes in State and Territory Burden Estimates from Original
2002 ICR	  GOTOBUTTON _1__37_ 18 

 

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST

1.	Identification of the Information Collection tc "1.	Identification of
the Information Collection" 

1(a)	Title Of The Information Collection  tc "1(a)	Title Of The
Information Collection " \l 2 

Reporting Requirements for BEACH Act Grants 

1(b)	Short Characterization/Abstract  tc "1(b)	Short
Characterization/Abstract " \l 2 

The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH ) Act
amends the Clean Water Act (CWA) in part and authorizes the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award BEACH Act Program
Development and Implementation Grants to coastal and Great Lakes states,
tribes, and territories for their beach monitoring and notification
programs.   The grants will assist states to develop and implement a
consistent approach to monitor recreational water quality; assess,
manage, and communicate health risks from waterborne microbial
contamination; notify the public of pollution occurrences, and post
beach advisories and closures to prevent public exposure to microbial
pathogens.  To qualify for a BEACH Act Grant, a state must submit
information to EPA documenting that its beach monitoring and
notification program is consistent with nine performance criteria
outlined in the National Beach Guidance and Performance Criteria for
Recreation Waters.  For EPA to award a BEACH Implementation Grant, a
state must document that its coastal monitoring and notification program
includes or will include the following:

Risk-based beach evaluation and classification

Sampling design and monitoring implementation plan

Monitoring report submission and delegation

Methods and assessment procedures

Public notification and risk communication plan

Measures to notify EPA and local governments

Measures to notify the public

Notification report submission and delegation

Public evaluation of program

All beach program information will be collected by the EPA Office of
Science and Technology, stored in the Beach Database, and displayed on
EPA’s Beaches Website for use by the public, state environmental and
public health agencies, and EPA.  

The second ICR approval period expires in July of 2008. This Supporting
Statement is for the renewal ICR being submitted to OMB for re-approval
of the Reporting Requirements for BEACH Act Grants information
collection.  For the second ICR approval period after rule promulgation,
EPA estimates that the Annualized Respondent Burden and Cost for 40
eligible coastal and Great Lakes states, tribes, and territories will be
94,947 hours and $11,388,919 for all 40 states annualized (1 year). 
This includes annualized Operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs of
$3,938,760 for all states.  There are no start-up costs.  Since the
Agency does not incur any additional O&M costs, the Total Annualized
Respondent and Agency Burden and Cost estimate is 98,147 hours
(respondents and Agency) and $12,256,690.80 (which includes the
respondent and Agency burden costs and the respondent O&M costs of
$3,938,760).  EPA requests that the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) review and approve this Information Collection Request (ICR)
package proposal for 3 years. 

2.	Need for and Use of the Collection tc "2.	Need for And Use of the
Collection" 

2(a)	Need/Authority for the Collection  tc "2(a)	Need/Authority For The
Collection " \l 2 

The BEACH Act (Public Law 106-284) established a grant program to assist
states in implementing a uniform monitoring and notification program for
their coastal recreational waters.  As a condition of receipt of a BEACH
Grant, states must show evidence of meeting the nine performance
criteria and the conditions under the BEACH Act.  Therefore, a state
applying for a grant must submit information on its programs to its EPA
Regional Coordinator and EPA Headquarters to document that its program
is consistent with the performance criteria.  

2(b)	Practical Utility/Users Of The Data  tc "2(b)	Practical
Utility/Users Of The Data " \l 2 

Data will be used by EPA, state and local environmental and public
health agencies, and the public.  EPA will use the information submitted
by a state to determine whether the state’s program is consistent with
the performance criteria and the BEACH Act.  State and local
environmental and public health agencies will use the data as an
indicator of program performance, and the public will use the data as
reference to make informed decisions before going to the beach.  The
information provided by each state will also be used to report the
status of beach monitoring and notification programs nationwide.  A
state must implement measures to notify EPA of the results of its water
quality sampling.  Therefore, these data will be used to create a
national database of water quality trends, advisories, and closings.

3.	Nonduplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria tc "3.
Nonduplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria" 

3(a)	Nonduplication  tc "3(a)	Nonduplication " \l 2 

The information requested from the respondents is required for receipt
of a BEACH Grant and is not available from other sources.  EPA has made
every reasonable attempt to ensure that the beach monitoring and
notification data and information requested through the BEACH Act Grant
Program is not currently available through less burdensome mechanisms.

3(b)	Public Notice Required Prior To ICR Submission To OMB  tc "3(b)
Public Notice Required Prior To ICR Submission To OMB " \l 2 

On July 8, 2008, EPA published the first Federal Register notice for
this information collection request on July 8, 2008 (73 FR 39013). EPA
requested comment from the public; no comments were received.

3(c)	Consultations  tc "3(c)	Consultations " \l 2 

EPA consulted with the public through the first Federal Register notice,
published on July 8, 2008.

3(d)	Effects Of Less Frequent Collection  tc "3(d)	Effects Of Less
Frequent Collection " \l 2 

The requirement for a state to submit its monitoring and notification
data is a statutory requirement under the BEACH Act; therefore, EPA is
requesting an annual report on a state’s program as a grant
requirement. Monitoring and notification data may be submitted more
frequently.

3(e)	General Guidelines  tc "3(e)	General Guidelines " \l 2 

The BEACH Act Grant Program will be conducted in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)) and will adhere to OMB’s
general guidelines for information collections. 

3(f)	Confidentiality  tc "3(f)	Confidentiality " \l 2 

Measures to ensure the confidentiality of the collected beach monitoring
and notification data are not necessary because the information
submitted by the state respondents is public information.

3(g)	Sensitive Questions  tc "3(g)	Sensitive Questions " \l 2 

No information of sensitive nature will be collected as a result of this
ICR.

4.	The Respondents And The Information Requested tc "4.	The Respondents
And The Information Requested" 

4(a)	Respondents/SIC Codes  tc "4(a)	Respondents/SIC Codes " \l 2 

Information collected by EPA under the BEACH Act will be submitted by
state environmental and public health agencies in coastal and Great
Lakes states, territories, and tribes.  No private industries will be
required to submit information and therefore no SIC codes are relevant. 

4(b)	Information Requested  tc "4(b)	Information Requested " \l 2 

EPA is requiring states to provide information on how a beach monitoring
and notification program is consistent with the following nine
performance criteria, developed from the BEACH Act and summarized in
Table 1. 

Table 1. BEACH Act Grant Performance Criteria Summary  tc "Table 1.
BEACH Act Grant Performance Criteria Summary " \f D  

Category	Performance Criteria	Requirement	BEACH Act Section	Chapter
Discussed

Evaluation and Classification	1	Risk-based Beach Evaluation and
Classification	406(b)(2)(A)(ii-iv)

406(c)(1)     	3

Monitoring	2	Sampling Design and Monitoring Implementation Plan
406(c)(3)	4

	3	Monitoring Report Submission and Delegation	406(b)(3)(A), (B)

406(c)(2)	4

	4	Methods and Assessment Procedures	406(c)(4)	4

Public Notification and Prompt Risk Communication	5	Public Notification
and Risk Communication Plan	406(c)(7)	5

	6	Measures to Notify EPA and Local Governments	406(c)(5)	5

	7	Measures to Notify the Public	406(c)(6)	5

	8	Notification Report Submission and Delegation	406(b)(3)(A), (B)

406(c)(2)	5

Public Evaluation	9	Public Evaluation of Program	406(b)(2)(A)(v)	2





Risk-based Beach Evaluation and Classification

A state must develop a risk-based beach evaluation and classification
plan and apply it to state coastal recreation waters.  A state or tribal
program must describe the factors used in its evaluation and
classification process and explain how its beaches are ranked as a
result of the process.  This process must result in the identification
of a list of coastal recreation waters in the state, including coastal
recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used
by the public. 

Sampling Design and Monitoring Plan

A state must develop a sampling design and monitoring implementation
plan.  This plan must adequately address the frequency and location of
monitoring and assessment of coastal recreation waters based on the
periods of recreational use of the waters, the nature and extent of use
during certain periods, the proximity of the waters to known point
sources and nonpoint sources of pollution, and any effect of storm
events on the waters. 

Monitoring Report Submission and Delegation

A state must develop a mechanism to collect relevant information and
submit timely reports to EPA and document any delegation of monitoring
responsibilities to local governments. 

Report Submission

A state or tribal recipient of a grant must submit to the EPA
Administrator timely information and reports that describes the data
collected as part of the monitoring program, and the actions taken to
notify the public when water quality standards are exceeded.

Delegation

If monitoring responsibilities are delegated to local governments, the
state grant recipient must describe the process by which the state may
delegate to local governments responsibility for implementing the
monitoring program. 

Methods and Assessment Procedures

A state must develop detailed methods and assessment procedures.  These
procedures must adequately address both the methods to be used for
detecting levels of pathogens and pathogen indicators that are harmful
to human health and the assessment procedures for identifying short-term
increases in pathogens and pathogen indicators that are harmful to human
health.  

Public Notification and Risk Communication Plan

A state must develop an overall public notification and risk
communication plan.  The plan must describe the state’s public
notification efforts and measures to inform the public of the potential
risks associated with water contact activities in the coastal recreation
waters that do not meet applicable water quality standards. 

Measures to Notify EPA and Local Governments

A state must identify measures for promptly communicating to EPA and
local governments of the occurrence, nature, location, pollutants
involved, and extent of any exceeding of, or likelihood of exceeding,
applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen
indicators.  The state must identify how this information will be
promptly communicated to EPA and to a designated official of the local
government that has jurisdiction over land adjoining the coastal
recreation waters for which the failure to meet applicable standards has
been identified. 

Measures to Notify the Public

A state must develop measures to notify the public through the posting
of signs at beaches or similar points of access or through functionally
equivalent communication measures that are sufficient to give notice to
the public that the coastal recreation waters are not meeting or are not
expected to meet applicable water quality standards for pathogens and
pathogen indicators. 

Notification Report Submission and Delegations

A state must develop a mechanism to collect relevant information and
submit timely reports to EPA and document any delegation of notification
responsibilities to local governments. 

Report Submission

A state or tribal recipient of a grant must submit to the Administrator
timely information and reports that describes data collected as part of
the notification program and the actions taken to notify the public when
water quality standards are exceeded.

Delegation

If notification responsibilities are delegated to local governments, the
state grant recipient must describe the process by which the state may
delegate to local governments responsibility for implementing the
notification program. 

Public Evaluation of Program

A state must identify how to provide the public with an opportunity to
review the program through a process that provides for public notice,
review, and an opportunity to comment.  This can be accomplished through
a record of public comments, meetings, forums, or workshops. 

5.	The Information Collected-Agency Activities, Collection Methodology,
And Information Management tc "5.	The Information Collected-Agency
Activities, Collection Methodology, And Information Management" 

5(a)	Agency Activities  tc "5(a)	Agency Activities " \l 2 

The BEACH Act Grant Program will be administered by EPA Headquarters and
EPA Regional Offices, which have planned for and allocated resources for
the efficient and effective management of the grant program.  EPA is
conducting the following activities in administering the BEACH Act
grants:



EPA Headquarters to monitor state programs annually to ensure compliance
with the performance criteria.

EPA Regions to monitor state programs annually to ensure compliance with
the performance criteria.

EPA Regions and EPA Headquarters to provide miscellaneous support to the
states. 

EPA Regions to revise work plans and update Quality Management Plan.

EPA Regions to perform technical review on Quality Assurance Project
Plan and Grants Management Plan.

Regions to ensure that Quality Assurance Project Plan is complete prior
to implementation. 

5(b)	Collection Methodology And Management  tc "5(b)	Collection
Methodology And Management " \l 2 

The EPA Beach Program encourages states to electronically transmit beach
monitoring and notification data directly to EPA.  Electronic reporting
is intended to achieve data collection efficiencies and reduce the
possibility of data input error.

It is the State’s responsibility to conduct ongoing data analysis,
including performing data QA/QC to check for anomalies in the data that
may be related to data entry or laboratory errors.  Data quality review
and analysis will include: continuous analysis of laboratory results,
pollution occurrence events, public notification, and review of all
program data.  The beach monitoring and notification data will be
maintained in the BEACH Database.  Historically, reporting of beach data
to EPA through the National Beach Health Survey has been limited to
beach program information and notification data.  The new BEACH Database
will maintain monitoring and locational data and grants information. 
The data collected under BEACH Act Grant Program will be used for
program performance evaluation to determine if a state program is
consistent with BEACH Guidance and Performance Criteria document, to
analyze pollution occurrences at beaches across Nation, and report to
Congress on status of Nation’s recreation waters. 

5(c)	Small Entity Flexibility  tc "5(c)	Small Entity Flexibility " \l 2 

Measures to assist small entities are not applicable because the
respondents for the BEACH Act Grant Program are state government
agencies.  However, EPA may make a grant to a local government for
implementation of a monitoring and notification program only if, after
the 1-year period beginning on the date of publication of performance
criteria, EPA determines that the State is not implementing a program
that meets the performance criteria.

5(d)	Collection Schedule  tc "5(d)	Collection Schedule " \l 2 

A state must show evidence documenting its compliance with the nine
performance criteria as listed in the Federal Register to be eligible
for a BEACH Grant.

6.	Estimating The Burden And Cost Of The Collection tc "6.	Estimating
The Burden And Cost Of The Collection" 

6(a)	Estimating Respondent Burden  tc "6(a)	Estimating Respondent Burden
" \l 2 

		

The BEACH Act requires states to devote time and resources to implement
a monitoring and notification program to meet the performance criteria
outlined in the National Beach Guidance and Performance Criteria for
Recreation Waters.  To develop burden estimates, EPA estimated the
number of hours that will be required by states to adhere to the
performance criteria.   

The Agency estimated that implementing a monitoring and notification
program in accordance with the nine performance criteria will take
94,947 annualized hours and $3,938,760 O&M for all 40 respondents. 

	

The following assumptions were made for this ICR based on data collected
by EPA and consultations with respondents listed in Section 3(c):

The average beach (monitoring) season was assumed to be 18 weeks.

The average number of samples collected per week at each beach during
the beach season was assumed to be 2 samples.

The average cost of sample analysis was assumed to be $30/sample. 		

6(b)	Estimating Respondent Cost  tc "6(b)	Estimating Respondent Cost "
\l 2 

The annual cost for a state or territory to implement the performance
criteria necessary to comply with the BEACH Grant Program are attributed
to labor costs and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.  The total
cost burden over 3 years for the 40 states and territories are estimated
to be $35,785,082 which consists of $23,968,802 in labor costs, and
$11,816,280 in O&M costs. 

Labor Costs  tc "Labor Costs " \l 3 

To develop labor costs, EPA multiplied the number of hours that will be
required to implement a monitoring and notification plan by the state
employee hourly rate to generate a cost estimate.   Because labor rates
vary so widely among the state government personnel involved in
implementing a state monitoring and notification program, EPA used an
average loaded hourly rate that is representative of the average salary
for a managerial and technical state employee as listed by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics for full-time state and local government workers in the
National Compensation Survey (June 2005).  The managerial salary of
$122.20 per hour was calculated using a rate of $47.00 per hour plus an
overhead rate of 1.6%.  The technical salary of $81.25 per hour was
calculated using a rate of $31.25 per hour plus an overhead rate of
1.6%.  Table 2 presents an estimate of the burden that state governments
will incur to meet each performance criterion outlined in the National
Beach Guidance and Grant Performance Criteria for Recreation Waters. 
The table identifies the activities to be performed by the state, the
associated hours required for each activity, and the labor cost for each
activity.  Annualized totals are presented at the end of Table 2.

Table 2. Individual Respondent 3-Year State Burden Hours   tc "Table 2.
Individual Respondent 3-Year State Burden Hours  " \f D  

Performance Criterion	State Activity	3 Year Managerial Burden	3 Year
Technical Burden	Total 3 Year  Burden



Total Burden Per Activity (Hours)	Total Labor Cost $122.20/hour
(Dollars)	Total Burden Per Activity (Hours)	Total Labor Cost

$81.25/hour (Dollars)	Total Burden Per Activity (Hours)	Total Labor Cost
(Dollars)

1 - 

Risk-based Beach Evaluation and Classification	Identify coastal
recreation waters.a 	1	122.20	6	487.50	7	609.70

	Identify and submit list of monitored waters.a	1	122.20	6	487.50	7
609.70

	Collect and submit beach lat/long coordinates (georeference beaches
using maps, gps, etc.).a	20	2,444.00	180	14,625.00	200	17,069.00

	Identify bathing beaches and submit beach miles.a 	20	2,444.00	80
6,500.00	100	8,944.00

	Determine legal authority for administering monitoring and notification
programs.a	3	366.60	6	487.50	9	854.10

	Review available information.	5	611.00	15	1,218.75	20	1,829.75

	Rank beaches.	3	366.60	100	8,125.00	103	8,491.60

	Performance Criterion 1 Total	53		6,476.60	393	31,931.25	446	38,407.85

2 - 

Sampling Design and Monitoring Implementation Plan	Identify sampling
plan (when and where to sample, what depth to sample, etc.).	3	366.60	5
406.25	8	772.85

	Ensure data quality.	12	1,466.40	100	8,125.00	112	9,591.40

	Staff monitoring programs.	4	488.80	7	568.75	11	1,057.55

	Train monitoring staff.	16	1955.20	200	16,250.00	216	18,205.20

	Create database and data submission process.a	40	4,888.00	360	29,250.00
400	34,138.00

	Manage data for beach season.	20	2,444.00	180	14,625.00	200	17,069.00

	Program implementation and oversight.	120	14,664.00	120	9,750.00	240
24,414.00

	Performance Criterion 2 Total	215	26,723.00  	972	78,975.00	1,187
105,248.00

3 - 

Monitoring Report Submission and Delegation	Submit report that describes
data collected and public notification activities.	8	977.60	30	2,437.50
38	3,425.910

	Describe process by which the state may delegate to local governments
the responsibility for implementing a monitoring program.	6	733.20	18
1,462.50	24	2,195.70

	Performance Criterion 3 Total	14	1,710.80	48	3,900.00	62	5,610.80

4 - 

Methods and Assessment Procedures	Identify laboratories for analysis.	1
122.20	12	975.00	13	1,097.20

	Determine analytical procedures.	0	0.00	4	325.00	4	325.00

	Identify sample collection techniques.	1	122.20	6	487.50	7	609.70

	Collect water sample	0	0.00	1350	109,687.50	1,350	109,687.50

	Determine data validation and verification procedures.	2	244.40	9
731.25	11	975.65

	State analyze and submit monitoring data to EPA.	135	16,497.00	2565
208,406.25	2,700	224,903.25

	Identify the use of predictive tools in beach monitoring.  (If
currently using predictive tools, identify what type of tool, how used,
how applicable, etc.)	4	488.80	20	1,625.00	24	2,113.80

	Performance Criterion 4 Total	143	17,474.60	3966	322,237.50	4,109
339,712.10

5 - 

Public Notification and Risk Communica-tion Plan	Perform a problem
assessment and audience identification.	2	244.40	22	1,787.50	24	2,031.90

	Determine and develop content and procedures for advisories and
closings. 	4	488.80	44	3,575.00	48	4,063.80

	Performance Criterion 5 Total	6	733.20	66	5,362.50	72	6,095.70

6 - 

Measures to Notify EPA and Local Governments	Determine the mechanisms
for states to notify local governments of advisories and closings, and
removal of advisories and closings	3	366.60	23	1,868.75	26	2, 235.35

	Determine the mechanisms for states to notify EPA of advisories,
closings, and removal of advisories and closings. 	1	122.20	13	1,056.25
14	1,178.45

	Collect and submit notification data to EPA.	1	122.20	12	975.00	13
1,097.20

	Performance Criterion  6 Total	5	611.00	48	3,900.00	53	4,511.00

7 - 

Measures to Notify the Public	Determine the mechanisms for states to
notify the public of advisories, closings, and removal of advisories and
closings.	2	244.40	20	1,625.00	22	1,869.40

	State to implement notification program. This may include the posting
of signs or functional equivalent.  	45	5,499.00	855	69,468.75	900
74,967.75

	Performance Criterion 7 Total	47	5,743.40	875	71,093.75	922	76,837.15

8 - 

Notification Report Submission and Delegation	Submit report that
describes data collected and the public notification activities.	3
366.60	35	2,843.75	38	3,210.35

	Describe process by which the state may delegate to local governments
the responsibility for implementing a notification program. 	2	244.40	22
1,787.50	24	2,031.90

	Performance Criterion 8 Total	5	611.00	57	4,631.25	62	5,242.25

9 - 

Public Evaluation of Program	Ensure the monitoring and notification
program meets the needs of the audiences and the objectives of the
Agency.	8	977.60	96	7,800.00	104	8,777.60

	Evaluate the monitoring and notification program.	8	977.60	96	7,800.00
104	8,777.60

	Performance Criterion 9 Total	16	1,955.20	192	15,600.00	208	17,555.20

TOTAL	504	61,588.80	6,617	537,631.25	7,121	599,220.05

ANNUALIZED TOTAL	168.00	20,529.60	2,205.67	179,210.67	2,374	199,740.27

a Indicates that most of the burden for this activity incurred during
the initial ICR period.

Operation and Maintenance Costs  tc "Operation and Maintenance Costs "
\l 3 

In addition to labor costs, the states and territories incur O&M costs
associated with the analytical fees and shipping for the water quality
samples.  Non-labor costs for the 40 states and territories are solely
attributed to the laboratory fees that will be charged for analysis and
to shipping charges for sending the sample bottles to the appropriate
laboratory.   

The O&M costs were calculated as an average based on the 3,647 coastal
and Great Lakes beaches identified in EPA’s 2007 National List of
Beaches (the most recent version currently available) for the 40 states
and territories eligible to participate in the BEACH Act Grant Program. 
EPA obtained laboratory fees and shipping costs from testing labs and
estimated the cost to be $30 per sample.  The cost for each state was
calculated using the equation below: 

3,647 beaches X 36 samples (twice per week for 18 week season) X $30 per
sample =    $98,469/state

40 states

EPA estimated an annualized O&M cost of $98,469 per state, an Annualized
Total O&M cost of $3,938,760 for all 40 states, and a Total O&M cost of
$11,816,280 for 40 states over 3 years.  

  

6(c)	Estimating Agency Burden And Cost  tc "6(c)	Estimating Agency
Burden And Cost " \l 2 

The BEACH Act requires EPA to devote time and resources to manage the
grant program.  To develop burden estimates, EPA estimated the number of
hours that will be required to administer this program.  The Agency
estimated that it will take 80 hours per respondent to review and
process the applications.   When multiplied by 40 respondents, the
Annualized Agency Burden is 3,200 hours to administer the program and a
Total Agency Burden of 9,600 hours over 3 years. The Agency used an
average hourly salary for Agency employees of $102.60, which was
calculated using a rate of $39.46 plus an overhead rate of 1.6 percent. 
The labor rate was obtained using 2008 salary tables provided by the
Office of Personnel Management.

Table 3 presents an estimate of the burden that EPA will incur to manage
the BEACH Act Grant Program for Years 1 through 3 of this ICR.  The
annualized totals are presented at the bottom of the table. 

Table 3. Total Agency Burden Hours Per Activity over 3 Years  tc "Table
3. Total Agency Burden Hours Per Activity over 3 Years " \f D  

Activities	Agency Burden Hours  	Agency Burden Dollars ($)

EPA Headquarters to monitor state programs annually to ensure compliance
with the performance criteria	1371	$104,664.60

EPA Regions to monitor state programs annually to ensure compliance with
the performance criteria	2057	$211,048.40

EPA Headquarters and EPA Regions to provide miscellaneous support to
states. 	1371	$140,64.60

EPA Regions to revise work plans and update beach monitoring and
notification program procedures. 	1371	$140,64.60

EPA Regions to perform technical review on Quality Assurance Project
Plan and Grants Management Plan, DQOs and SOPs prior to implementation.
3429	$351,815.40

Total over 3 years	9600	$984,960

Annualized total	3200	$328,320



6(d)	Estimating The Respondent Universe And Total Burden And Costs  tc
"6(d)	Estimating The Respondent Universe And Total Burden And Costs " \l
2 

Table 4 presents an estimate of the total respondent burden and costs
expected for the BEACH Act Grant Program.  The Total Annualized
Respondent Burden is expected to be 94,947 hours and $3,938,760 O&M
Costs.  There are no start-up costs, and the burden estimate does not
include labor costs. 

Table 4. Annualized Respondent Burden And Cost  tc "Table 4. Annualized
Respondent Burden And Cost " \f D  

Performance criteria	Respondent hrs/yr	Respondent labor cost/yr	O&M
cost/yr	Number of Respondents/yr	Total Hrs/yr	Total cost/yr

1	149	$12,802.62

40	5,947	$512,104.67

2	396	$35,082.67

40	15,827	$1,403,306.67

3	21	$1,870.26

40	827	$74,810.67

4	1,370	$113,237.37

40	54,787	$4,529,494.67

5	24	$2,031.90

40	960	$81,276.00

6	18	$1,503.67

40	707	$60, 146.67

7	307	$25,612.38

40	12,293	$1,024,495.33

8	21	$1,747.42

40	827	$69,896.67

9	69	$5,851.73

40	2,773	$234,069.33

Total	2,374	$199,740.27	$3,938,760	40	94,947	$7,989,610.80

			

6(e)	Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables  tc "6(e)	Bottom Line
Burden Hours and Cost Tables " \l 2 

Table 5 presents an estimate of the Total Annualized State and Agency
Burden and Costs expected for the BEACH Act Grant Program.  As shown in
Table 5, the Annualized Burden for the Agency and 40 states, tribes, and
territories with coastal recreation waters is 98,147 hours and
$12,256,690.80 including O&M costs.

Table 5. Total Annualized Respondent and Agency Burden and Costs  tc "

Table 5. Total Annualized Respondent and Agency Burden and Costs " \f D
 

	Burden (Hours)	Burden Cost	O&M Cost (Dollars) 	Total Cost

40 States	94,947	$7,989,610.80	$3,938,760	$11,928,370.80

Agency	3,200	$328,320	$0	$328,320

Total	98,147	$8,317,930.80	$3,938,760	$12,256,690.80



6(f)	Reasons For Change In Burden  tc "6(f)	Reasons For Change In Burden
" \l 2 

The respondent average annual burden remains at the 2005 level of 7,121
hours for the total average annual number of 40 respondents, with the
Agency annual burden also remaining at the corresponding 3,200 hours. 
EPA used the higher number of respondents because the Agency expects
several tribes to apply for BEACH Act Grants that had not done so during
the original ICR period.  The annual operation and maintenance costs for
all respondents also increased from $3,749,760 to $ 3,938,760 for all
states.  This is because the estimated number of beaches monitored by
grant recipients increased from 3,472 (estimated from EPA’s 2003
National List of Beaches) to 3,647 (estimated from the 2007 National
Beaches Survey), a 5.0% increase.  Relative to the 2005 ICR, EPA
maintained its estimate of two samples collected each week per beach
monitored with a beach season length of 18 weeks based on data that EPA
collected and comments received from several state Beach Program
contacts.

EPA also revised the labor rates, which increased from $42.96 to 47.00
for a Managerial employee and from $30.03 to $31.25 for a Technical
employee based on the average Bureau of Labor Statistics salaries for
managerial and technical employees in state and local governments as
shown in their June 2005 National Compensation Survey Tables.  

Burden estimates for specific tasks under the performance criteria
listed in Table 2 remain consistent with changes made under the 2005 ICR
update based on respondent consultations.  The original estimates for
these tasks were significantly lower than the actual burden reported by
these respondents.   

6(g)	Burden Statement  tc "6(g)	Burden Statement " \l 2 

The Annualized Respondent Burden and Cost Estimate for 40 states for the
BEACH Grant Program is estimated to be 94,947 hours and $11,928,370.80. 
There are no start-up costs.  Since the Agency does not incur any
additional O&M costs, the Total Annualized Respondent and Agency Burden
and Cost estimate is 98,147 hours and $8,317,930.80 (includes respondent
burden costs, O&M costs, and Agency burden costs).  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; 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.  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 are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR
chapter 15.     

	To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of
the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing
respondent burden, including the use of automated collection techniques,
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0357, which is available for public viewing at the Water
Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays.  The telephone number for the Water Docket is
(202) 566-2426.  An electronic version of the public docket is available
through Regulations.gov at http://www.regulations.gov/.  Use
Regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically.  Once
in the system, select “search,” then key in the docket ID number
identified above.  Also, you can send comments to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725
17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Office for EPA. 
Please include the EPA Docket ID No.  (EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0357) and OMB
control number (2040-0244) in any correspondence.

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