The information collection requirements associated with this proposed rule are not approved. It is not clear that all of the information to be provided by facilities has practical utility, as required by 5 CFR 1320.9(a), or that the collection reduces to the extent practicable and appropriate the burden on persons providing information, as required by 5 CFR 1320.9(c). In addition, the burden estimate for one of the required information items appears too low, and as such does not satisfy the requirement at 1320.8(a)(4) to include a specific, objectively supported estimate of burden. Specifically, the requirement to provide a delineation of the littoral zone may not have practical utility, given the additional requirement to submit a Source Water Baseline Characterization Study. Some stakeholders have suggested that the litoral zone is not an adequate basis for identifying adverse environmental impacts. It is not clear what useful information this delineation would provide beyond that already contained in the Baseline Characterization Study. In addition, the burden estimate for the Baseline Characteriztion Study appears too low. The Supporting Statement estimates 404 hours to prepare this study, which must include: a sampling plan with documentation of all methods and quality assurance procedures, biweekly sampling for one year, taxinomic identification and categorization, identification of 10 most important commercial and recreational species, identification of all rare and endangered species, a compilation of available life history information for the ten species, and a determination of those species most susceptible to entrainment or impingement. In the past, permittees have required considerably more resources than estimated in this ICR to conduct such studies. In the ICR for the final rule, EPA should reassess the practical utility of each required data item, and revise its burden estimates to ensure that they are objectively supported.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
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0
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0
0
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US EPA is proposing the New Facility Rule under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC Section 1326(b). The information requested will be included in permit application and will be used by a permitting authority to assess the facility-level compliance with the requirements of the proposed rule. The information requested regarding location, design and structure of cooling water intake structures, velocity, flow, technologies to minimize to minimizing impingement and entrainment and the restoration technologies would help the permitting authorities to determine whether a facility has minimized the adverse ...
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.
Information Collection Request for Cooling Water Intake Struc- tures New Facility Proposed Rule