The Section 316(b) regulations for Phase III facilities (71 FR 35,006; June 16, 2006) require the collection of information from new offshore oil and gas extraction facilities which use a cooling water intake structure(s) that uses at least 25 percent of the water it withdraws for cooling purposes, and has a design intake flow greater than two (2) million gallons per day (MGD). Section 316(b) of the CWA requires that any standard established under section 301 or 306 of the CWA and applicable to a point source must require that the location, design, construction and capacity of cooling water intake structure(s) at that facility reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impact. Such impact occurs as a result of impingement (where fish and other aquatic life are trapped on structural components at the entrance to cooling water intake structures) and entrainment (where aquatic organisms, eggs, and larvae are taken into the cooling system, passed through the heat exchanger, and then pumped back out with the discharge from the facility). The rule contains requirements applicable to the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures at new offshore oil and gas extraction facilities. These requirements seek to establish the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impact associated with the use of cooling water intake structure(s).
There is an increase of 22,675 hours in burden from the ICR currently approved by OMB. The change in burden is mainly the result of the increase in the number of facilities performing recurring activities, as well as facilities shifting from the initial approval period to the permit implementation and renewal period of the Section 316(b) Phase III rule.
$199,544
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Amelia Letnes 202 564-5627
No
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.