This change to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Program ICR, to implement provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is approved. This change transfers 271,520 hours of burden from Emergency ICR 2030-0046, which expires on Sept 30, 2009, to this ICR, and approves EPAÂs collection of 5 additional data items required by EPA to meet the requirements of ARRA that were not previously approved under this ICR. These are: Last Construction Contract Executed (Date); Construction Start Date; Construction Completed Date; Is Project Green Infrastructure; and Green Infrastructure Amount. The additional burden primarily reflects the increase in grant applicants and awards expected as a result of ARRA, as well as accounting for the new reporting requirements.
Additionally, OMB notes that EPA is providing States with the options of entering information required under ARRA Section 1512 into the DWSRF Project Benefits Reporting System (PBRS). This option provides states with an ARRA data entry mechanism to improve data quality and consistency of reported information. Once the information is entered in PBRS, States can download a spreadsheet formatted for direct upload into FederalReporting.gov. However, since recipients are required to submit the Section 1512 data directly to FederalReporting.gov, States will need to submit those data on their own accord on a quarterly basis beginning in October 2009 as stipulated in the final OMB reporting guidance. The collection of Section 1512 data in FederalReporting.gov is separately authorized by OMB control number 0430-0004. This option (to report 1512 data to PBRS and download a spreadsheet formatted for FederalReporting.gov) is purely voluntary; States wishing to use some other method of reporting to FederalReporting.gov are free to do so. It is indended merely to assist States in their 1512 reporting.
OMB understands that when EPA renews this collection (which expires on 2/28/2010), the above listed items will be incorporated into the supporting statement for the ICR. Additionally, EPA will include these specific items in the two requests for public comment that precede the submission of the ICR to OMB.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
02/28/2010
02/28/2010
02/28/2010
3,213
0
1,556
468,390
0
196,870
0
0
0
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104-182) authorized the creation of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program in each State and Puerto Rico to assist public water systems to finance the costs of infrastructure needed to achieve or maintain compliance with SDWA requirements and to protect public health. Section 1452 authorizes the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award capitalization grants to the States and Puerto Rico who, in turn, provide low-cost loans and other types of assistance to eligible drinking water systems. States can also reserve a portion of their grants to conduct various set-aside activities. The information collection activities will occur primarily at the program level through the (1) Capitalization Grant Application and Agreement/State Intended Use Plan; (2) Biennial Report; (3) Annual Audit; and (4) Assistance Application Review. Information collected is needed for input into the DWSRF National Information Management System.
Justification for increase: This increase is due to the ARRA increase in grants that was previously approved under an Emergency ICR (OMB #2030-0046) that expires 09/30/2009.
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.
1803j07 final.doc
Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund Programs - Application Review