MEMORANDUM
Date: August 24, 2006
Subj: Request for OMB Approval of Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) Survey to Capture Office of Enforcement & Compliance Assurance (OECA) Measurement
From: John Gorman, Section Chief
Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance, Region 2
Thru: Carolyn Scully, Desk Officer
Office of Environmental Information
To: Amy Flynn, OIRA Desk Officer
Office of Management and Budget
As a condition of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the generic Regional Compliance Assistance Program Evaluations ICR, No. 1860.03, Expiration date March 31, 2008, EPA agreed to submit each specific questionnaire covered by this clearance to OMB for review.
The Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, is seeking Information Collection Request (ICR) approval for a generic clearance through March 31, 2008 from the OMB. This survey request is to measure the Region’s success in reporting the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) goals as defined through Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) for measuring the effectiveness of the Region’s compliance assistance outcomes achieved from direct compliance assistance provided to regulated entities. The three GRPR outcome measures include (1) the number of respondents reporting an increased understanding, (2) the number reporting a change in environmental practices, and (3) the number reporting a reduction in pollution. Through this time period, we estimate we will reach approximately 15,000 multi-sector recipients.
Information will be collected from facility visits, facility re-visits, on-going facility specific work, and response to inquiry. The method of survey delivery will be primarily through mailed surveys or phone conversations several months after, but within the same fiscal year, the direct assistance was provided to determine if actual changes were made. Results will be recorded in the Compliance Assistance Module of the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS). Direct compliance assistance provided to regulated entities as a result of workshops, presentations, and training will be conducted through pre and post-tests on the day of the event.
The affected audience for this ICR includes members of the regulated community and, to a lesser extent, state and local regulators and compliance assistance providers that receive EPA compliance assistance tools or services. We estimate we will reach approximately 15,000 multi-sector recipients.
If you have any questions, please contact Linda Longo, EPA Region 2, at 212-637-3565.
cc: Hans Scheifele, OECA
John Gorman, Region 2
Attachments:
Examples of Region 2 Compliance Assistance
ICR Response to Questions/Survey Questions
REQUEST FOR FY2007 REAPPROVAL OF INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITY
AUGUST 24, 2006
EPA REGION 2
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE SECTION
John Gorman, Section Chief, 212-637-4008
Linda Longo, Compliance Assistance Coordinator, 212-637-3565
Background
Under The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), the region is required to report to the Office of Compliance (OC) on outcome measurements achieved from direct compliance assistance provided to regulated entities. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2006, the Region must report the percent of regulated entities that (1) increased understanding, (2) changed environmental management practices, and (3) reduced, treated or eliminated pollution as a result of EPA assistance.
The region collects compliance assistance outcome data from many programs and numerous sector initiatives. Therefore, this survey will be used by regional staff contacting sector recipients from various media and programs. The affected audience for this Information Collection Request (ICR) includes members of the regulated community and, to a lesser extent, state and local regulators and compliance assistance providers that receive EPA compliance assistance tools or services. We estimate reaching out to approximately 15,000 recipients through Fiscal Year 2007.
Survey Purpose and Description
We propose to use the six (6) generic survey questions already approved by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ICR #1860.03 OMB Control # 2020-0015 in February 2006 which granted us approval through Fiscal Year 2006.
Measurement will be collected from facility visits, facility re-visits, on-going facility specific work, response to inquiry, workshops, training courses, and presentations. Regulated entities receiving this direct assistance will be contacted several months after the event, but during the same Fiscal Year, to review if knowledge of environmental requirements and best management practices was increased and acted on.
The proposed survey below does not involve fact-finding for the purposes of regulatory development or enforcement.
We are requesting to use the exact survey that was approved for FY06.
OMB Control # 2020-0015
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Compliance Assistance Survey
Fiscal Year 2007
Please check all boxes that apply. Thank you.
1. What regulatory actions as a result of the compliance assistance activity:
Did you take |
Do you intend to take |
□ File a notification □ Obtain a permit or certification □ Provide data to EPA, state, or local regulator □ Submit reports to EPA, state, or local regulator □ Comply with an environmental requirement □ No regulatory actions will be taken Other, specify:__________________________ |
□ File a notification □ Obtain a permit or certification □ Provide data to EPA, state, or local regulator □ Submit reports to EPA, state, or local regulator □ Comply with an environmental requirement □ No regulatory actions will be taken Other, specify:__________________________ |
2. What process changes at your facility as a result of the compliance assistance activity:
Did you make |
Do you intend to make |
□ Change the storage or handling of a waste or emission □ Change a process or practice □ Purchase new process equipment □ Implement material or waste recycling system □ Install pollution control equipment (e.g., scrubbers, control technique) □ Install a waste treatment system □ Switch to renewable energy □ No process changes will be taken Other, specify:__________________________ |
□ Change the storage or handling of a waste or emission □ Change a process or practice □ Purchase new process equipment □ Implement material or waste recycling system □ Install pollution control equipment (e.g., scrubbers, control technique) □ Install a waste treatment system □ Switch to renewable energy □ No process changes will be taken Other, specify:__________________________ |
What management changes at your facility as a result of the compliance assistance activity:
Did you take |
Do you intend to take |
□ Conduct a self audit □ Institute an environmental management policy, system or procedure □ Institute training or other communication to improve awareness and/or practices □ Identify pollution prevention opportunity □ No management action will be taken Other, specify:__________________________ |
□ Conduct a self audit □ Institute an environmental management policy, system or procedure □ Institute training or other communication to improve awareness and/or practices □ Identify pollution prevention opportunity □ No management action will be taken Other, specify:__________________________ |
Who (if anyone) have you contacted for further assistance as a result of the compliance assistance activity:
Who have you contacted |
Who do you intend to contact |
□ A vendor □ A state or local regulatory agency □ A non-regulatory local source for additional compliance assistance □ No contacts will be made □ Other, specify:________________________ |
□ A vendor □ A state or local regulatory agency □ A non-regulatory local source for additional compliance assistance □ No contacts will be made □ Other, specify:________________________ |
Please identify any reductions or the elimination of a pollutant(s) that resulted, or will result, from the actions taken as a result of the compliance assistance activity.
Resulted |
Will result |
□ Reduced or eliminated waste (solid/hazardous) □ Reduced or eliminated air emissions (air, fugitive) □ Reduced or eliminated pollution emissions (e.g. wastewater) □ None □ Don’t know Other, specify:__________________________
|
□ Reduced or eliminated waste (solid/hazardous) □ Reduced or eliminated air emissions (air, fugitive) □ Reduced or eliminated pollution emissions (e.g. wastewater) □ None □ Don’t know Other, specify:__________________________
|
OMB Control # 2020-0015 OMB Control # 2020
6. Have you realized, or expect to realize, a cost savings from actions taken as a result of the compliance assistance activity.
__ Yes
__ No
The contact information below is OPTIONAL. We will contact you if we need clarification
on the survey. Your contact information will not be included in any aggregated reports.
Respondent Name:___ ____________________________________________________
Facility Name: ____________________________________________________________
Facility Address:___________________________________________________________
Contact Phone Number: _____________________________________________________
E-Mail Address: ___________________________________________________________
Thank you very much for your time and support in helping us better serve environmental assistance to the regulated community.
Questions on the survey, please contact Linda Longo, 212-637-3565, [email protected]
Thank you for your input!
John Gorman, Section Chief
Compliance Assistance Section
Compliance Assistance and Program Support Branch
Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance, Region 2
Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 10 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, gathering information, and completing and reviewing the information. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimate, and any suggestions for reducing the burden, including the use of automated collection techniques, to the Director, Office of Environmental Information, Collection Strategies Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency (Mail Code 2822),1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20460; and to the Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management & Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington D.C. 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA. Include the EPA ICR 1860.03 and the OMB control number 2020-0015 in any correspondence. Do not send completed survey to the Washington, D.C address.
Send competed surveys to the following address:
Linda Longo
Environmental Assistance Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2
290 Broadway, 21st floor
New York, NY 10007
III. Survey Methodology and Use of Results
The region will normally notify the regulated entity at the time of compliance assistance delivery that EPA plans to follow up with them to assess the quality of the assistance. At this time regional staff will indicate the assessment method to be used (e.g., phone, letter, email). The method of survey delivery will primarily be through mailed surveys or phone conversations conducted several months after the direct assistance to determine if actual changes were made.
Results will be recorded in the Compliance Assistance Module of the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) and reported to regional managers for certification to Office of Compliance at mid-year and end-of-year.
Respondents Burden
To minimize the respondent burden, the simple and clear six (6) generic survey questions approved by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be used.
a) How many respondents do you anticipate will respond to the survey?
15,000
b) How long will it take to complete the survey?
10 minutes
c) Calculate the cost per hour for the respondent. The ICR calculates $68.63/hour
Total Burden Hours:
15,000 x 10 min. / 60 min. = 2,500 hours over a three year period
2,500 / 3 = 833 hours for one year
Total Respondents Cost:
2,500 x $68.63 = $171,575 over a three year period
$171,575 / 3 = $57,192 for one year
Agency Burden
Time it will take staff to review the responses and conduct analysis. The ICR calculates $41.25/hour.
Total Agency Burden (EPA staff time in hours multiplied by cost per hour):
2,500 hours x $41.25 = $103,125 over a three year period
$103,125 / 3 = $34,375 for one year
Examples of Region 2 Compliance Assistance
Supplement to the Information Collection Request package
Example Compliance Assistance Site Visits Conducted in Region 2:
Lead in Drinking Water in Schools/Children's Health Initiative
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)
Compliance assistance facility visit for dry cleaners, fleet maintenance, and department of public works
Compliance assistance facility visit in target area of New Brunswick, NJ
Underground Storage Tank (UST) facility assistance to Tribal Nations
Resource Conservation Recover Act (RCRA) facility compliance assistance visit
Example Compliance Assistance Workshops/Presentations Conducted in Region 2:
Healthcare teleconference on pharmaceutical waste management
Resource Conservation Recover Act (RCRA) healthcare workshop to regulated entities
Asbestos, hazardous waste, lead in drinking water and other media and audit policy information
National Game Bird Association conference for management of lead at outdoor shooting ranges
New York Wetlands Forum Conference for mitigating wetlands
Landfill contamination of surface and groundwater and public water supplies
Pretreatment, industrial construction and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
Wet Weather Combined Sewer Overflow and review of Abatement Long-Term Control Plans
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | MEMORANDUM |
| Author | llongo |
| Last Modified By | CScully |
| File Modified | 2006-08-31 |
| File Created | 2006-08-29 |