This ICR is
approved. OMB notes, as pointed out by a commenter, that Section
305(b) of the CWA requires states to provide information on the
social and economic costs and benefits of attaining water quality
standards. However, OMB also recognizes that as a practical matter,
it is difficult to provide more than rough estimates of these costs
and benefits in the context of broad, state-wide water quality
assessments. OMB expects that states would generally produce more
detailed analyses of the costs and benefits of attaining standards
on a water segment specific basis as part of the TMDL development
process. OMB understands that EPA will update this ICR to
incorporate a specific, objectively supported estimate of the full
information- collection-related burden to states associated with
TMDL development, as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(a)(4), in conjunction
with new regulations regarding compliance with Section 303(d) to be
promulgated in the summer of 2000. EPA should include a reasonable
estimate of the burden to states of assessing the social and
economic costs and benefits of attaining water quality standards in
the ICR update. EPA should also provide guidance to states to
assist them in estimating costs and benefits in conjunction with
TMDL development.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2003
04/30/2003
04/30/2000
59
0
58
245,676
0
229,854
0
0
0
Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act
(CWA) requires each State to describe the quality of its waters in
biennial reports submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). The biennial 305z(b) reports also serve as a vehicle
for compliance with additional reporting requirements in CWA
sections 303(d), 314(a), and 106(e). Section 303(d) requires States
to identify and rank waters which cannot meet water quality
standards following the implementation of technology-based
controls.
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.