This is a request an updated Information Collection Request (ICR) accompanying the issuance of a revised regulation. The title of this submission is: ÂCooperative Agreements and Superfund State Contracts for Superfund Response Actions. This ICR authorizes the collection of information under EPAÂs Superfund Rule at 40 CFR Part 35, Subpart O, that establishes the administrative requirements for CERCLA-funded cooperative agreements for State, political subdivisions, and Federally-recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal Consortia response actions. The regulation includes only those provisions mandated by CERCLA, required by OMB circulars, or added by EPA to ensure sound and effective financial assistance management under this regulation. The information is collected from applicants and/or recipients of EPA assistance and is used to make awards, pay recipients, and collect information on how Federal funds are being utilized. EPA requires this information to meet its Federal stewardship responsibilities. Recipient responses are required to obtain a benefit (Federal funds) under 40 CFR Part 31, ÂUniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments and under 40 CFR Part 35, ÂState and Local Assistance.Â
US Code:
42 USC 9601 et seq.
Name of Law: Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation and Liability Act
PL:
Pub.L. 99 - 499 104(a-j)
Name of Law: Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation and Liability Act
The Subpart O rule is being revised. The decrease in burden from the most recently approved ICR of $65,653 and 990 hours reflects a change in methodology from the prior ICR. In the prior ICR, burden was assigned on Âfull respondent basis and an average number of respondents per year. In this revised ICR burden is now computed using a five year average of the actual number of new cooperative agreements awarded and the actual number of amendments to those cooperative agreements. This more sophisticated method revealed that the Âfull (new) respondent population has decreased, but there is an increased number of total respondents due to the addition of ÂamendmentsÂ. Revisions to pricing factors from the Regions and States modified some prior burden estimates. New cooperative agreement policies such as the Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements, and the Post Award Monitoring Policy have added a significant burden to annual CA burden hours, therefore 3 hours per CA type (1 hour for amendment CAs) have been added to account for this increased monitoring need.
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.