[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12000-12001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04197]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0128; FRL-10020-81-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Clean 
Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) (Reinstatement)

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), ``Clean Watersheds 
Needs Survey (CWNS) (Reinstatement)'' (EPA ICR No. 0318.14, OMB Control 
No. 2040-0050) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects 
of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a 
reinstatement of the ICR. 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 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2021-0128 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: Elisabeth Schlaudt, Office of Water, 
State Revolving Fund Branch, (4204M), Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC

[[Page 12001]]

20460; telephone number: 202-564-8934; email address: 
schlaudt.elisabeth@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. EPA is temporarily 
suspending its Docket Center and Reading Room for public visitors, with 
limited exceptions, to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Our 
Docket Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service 
via email, phone, and webform. 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: The Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) is required by 
Clean Water Act (CWA) Sections 205(a) and 516. It is a periodic 
inventory of existing and planned publicly owned wastewater conveyance 
and treatment facilities, combined sewer overflow correction, 
stormwater management and other water pollution control facilities in 
the United States, as well as an estimate of how many of these 
facilities need to be built. The CWNS is a joint effort between EPA and 
the states. The CWNS collects cost and technical data from states that 
are associated with publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and other 
water pollution control facilities, existing and planned. The 
respondents who provide this information to EPA are state agencies 
responsible for environmental pollution control and local facility 
contacts who provide documentation to the states. Periodically, the 
states request data or documentation from contacts at the facility or 
local government level. These respondents are referred to as 
facilities.
    No confidential information is used, nor is sensitive information 
protected from release under the Public Information Act. EPA achieves 
national consistency in the final results through the application of 
uniform guidelines and validation techniques.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: States, Territories, and Local 
Facilities.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 56 States and Territories, 5,349 
Local Facilities (total).
    Frequency of response: Every 4 years.
    Total estimated burden: 9,645 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $505,004 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 541 hours and 
$134,820 in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR 
previously approved by OMB. This increase is based upon an increase in 
facility universe, as well as an adjustment in labor rates and 
benefits.

    Dated: February 18, 2021.
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2021-04197 Filed 2-26-21; 8:45 am]
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