This ICR is
approved for one year. OMB is concerned about the apparent
duplication between the analysis and reporting required for the WP
studies and that required for the DMR-QA studies. Through the WP
studies, labs are required to demonstrate the ability to reliably
analyze various pollutants in order to receive or maintain State
certification. In the DMR-QA studies, NPDES permittees are required
to demonstrate that the labs they use are able to reliably analyze
many of the same pollutants for compliance monitoring under the
NPDES program. In practice, permittees instruct their lab(s) to
purchase and analyze the test samples on their behalf and send them
the results, which the permittees then send to the compliance
authority. The labs are also required to send the same results to
the compliance authority as a double check. EPA should explore the
possibility for the 2002 calendar year of allowing labs to analyze
and report on a single set of samples for both the WP and DMR-QA
studies, and to send in a single set of results on behalf of all of
the NPDES permittees they service. Permittees would then be
required simply to identify the labs they use for compliance
analyses, and the compliance authority could check to make sure
that these labs have submitted test analyses that fall within
acceptable limits. By 2002, EPA will have had two years worth of
experience with running the performance evaluation program through
private, third party providers and should be able to streamline the
process, in coordination with state and regional compliance
authorities, so that labs and permittees are not required to
perform and/or submit duplicate results for the same analytes in
order to demonstrate the ability to reliably analyze them. EPA
should consult with OMB and keep OMB informed of its progress in
this streamlining effort.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
10/31/2002
10/31/2002
10/31/2001
23,430
0
18,000
241,619
0
217,243
0
0
0
EPA receives analytical data on
several different types of water and wastewater from a variety of
laboratories and must rely on these data as a primary basis for
many of its regulatory de- cisions. The Performance Evaluation
studies provide an objective demonstration that contributing
laboratories are capable of pro- ducing and reporting valid data,
and successful performance in these studies required by many
EPA/state offices that certify laboratories for water and
wastewater analyses. These studies have recently been privatized
and are currently being conducted by 12 private companies
accredited by the NIST to conduct studies
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.
Performance Evaluation Studies on Water and Wastewater Laboratories