OMB understands
that EPA is developing an iniative to streamline the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements for this program and applauds this
effort. EPA has agreed to keep OMB informed of progress in this
initiative and to include a discussion of changes made as a result
of it in the next resubmission of this information collection
approval. OMB urges EPA to continue working with members of the
regulated community in its streamlining efforts. EPA should give
careful attention to additional issues raised by representatives of
the regulated community that it has not yet included in the
initiative, including the definition of significant noncompliance
and signif- cant industrial user, expanded use of best management
practices as permit standards, allowing use of general permits,
providing greater flexibility to POTWs in the determination of
local limits, and the possibility of a tiered program in which
larger POTWs with adequate resources are given greater authority
and flexibility in implementing the program, while smaller POTWs
can opt to continue with a streamlined version of the current
program. All of these issues and the others that EPA has already
included in the initiative are directly related to ensuring that
information collected has practical utility and that record keeping
and reporting requirememts impose the minimum burden necessary for
the proper performance of the agency's function, as specified in 5
CFR 1320.9. OMB understands that under EPA's projected schedule,
the necessary regulatory changes to impelment the streamlining
initiative should be in place by the time the current approval for
this information collection expires in 1999. OMB will review
carefully the results of the streamling effort in its
reconsideration of this information collection at that time.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
10/31/1999
10/31/1999
10/31/1996
20,882
0
19,859
1,765,156
0
2,322,688
47,349,000
0
0
This ICR calculates the burden and
costs associated with managing the National Pretreatment Program
mandated by sections 402(a) and (b) and 307(b) of the Clean Water
Act. This ICR is a renewal of the current ICR for the National
Pretreatment Program, OMB Control No. 2040-0009, ICR No. 0002.07.
The Pretreatment Program is a joint regulatory effort by Federal,
State, and local authorities to control nondomestic (i.e.,
industrial and commercial) sources of pollutants discharged to
POTWs. Data are collected to determine compliance with the
regulations.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
National Pretreatment Program Information Collection Request