EPA believes there is a need to improve the overall quality and availability of public information about the health risks associated with the consumption of chemically contaminated fish and shellfish, which includes, but is not limited to, water quality standards, monitoring and assessment activities, and the issuance of fish advisories. State, territorial, and tribal health departments or environmental agencies share responsibility for these activities. Consequently, EPA's Office of Water will conduct an annual fish advisory survey. The survey will be sent to environmental health officials in state, territorial, and tribal agencies. The survey will obtain and verify information on the waterbodies currently under advisory, the location of the waterbodies, waterbody type, fish species cited in the advisory, the pollutant cited in the advisory, the type of advisory issued including the population of concern, and the residue data used to assess the need to issue the advisory. In addition, the survey will obtain information on the agency and persons responsible for maintaining and issuing advisories in freshwater lakes and rivers, and estuarine and coastal marine waters nationwide. The survey also obtains information on the monitoring design used, the risk assessment methodology employed, and risk communication practices used. Responses to the survey (either on paper or electronically via the Internet) are required to assess public health risks of consuming locally caught fish and shellfish and to determine what steps EPA should take next, if any. Completion of the questionnaire is voluntary.
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.