This ICR is approved. The terms of clearance for the previous ICR requested that a progress report be filed with this ICR on the status of the Agency's work group to reduce burden associated with this ICR through redesign of the 7520 Reporting Form series and through consideration of other burden reduction measures as suggested by State regulators and the regulated community. In accordance with this requirement, the current ICR does include a progress report which indicates that the redesign of the 7520 series has been temporarily supplanted by a broader initiative, known as the National Source Water Contamination Prevention Strategy, designed to focus reporting within the UIC program on "more meaningful measures of program progress." These will include measures of "program success (or lack thereof) based on the prevention of contamination of underground sources of drinking water (USDW) as well as how the UIC program is contributing to public health protection." The progress report further indicates that this initiative has involved "numerous meetings with opertors and state officials." Finally, the progress report indicates that once the National Strategy and accompanying measures are completed, final modifications of the 7520 Reporting Forms will take place. OMB supports this on-going effort to develop more meaningful program measures for the UIC program and reduce reporting burden. OMB understands from program staff that the Agency intends to complete the Strategy in 2002. This would allow an additional two years for redesign of the 7520 Forms before this ICR expires. When this ICR is resubmitted for renewal, it should include a report on the National Strategy, with particular emphasis on changes in reporting and record keeping requirements for the UIC program that are included in the Strategy. OMB expects that the 7520 Forms will have been revised by that time, consistent with the provisons of the National Strategy, but if this is not the case, the status report should also indicate why not and provide a schedule for revisions to the forms.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
10/31/2005
10/31/2005
01/31/2002
422,287
0
438,048
1,091,945
0
1,135,273
31,828,000
0
27,649,000
The Underground Injection COntrol (UIC) Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) established a Federal and State regulatory system to protect underground sources of drinking water (USDW) from contamination by injection fluids. Owners and operators of underground injection wells must obtain permits, conduct environmental monitoring, maintain records, and report results to EPA or the State primacy Agency. States must report to EPA on permittee compliance and related information. The information is reported using standardized forms, and the regula- tions are codified at 40 CFR Part 144 through 148.
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.
Underground Injection Control Program