In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2019
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2016
38
0
37
91,276
0
88,812
11,353,146
0
3,943,080
Congress passed the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act in October 2000 to amend the Clean Water Act, in part by adding section 406, "Coastal Recreation Waster Monitoring and Notification." Section 406(b) authorizes EPA to make grants to States and local governments to develop and implement programs for monitoring and public notification for coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public.
There is an increase of 2,464 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This is primarily due to one additional tribe having qualified for a BEACH grant. However, the net burden per respondent is similar because respondents have become more efficient in their reporting of data and information over the past several years due to EPA improvements to the eBEACHES data system. The annual O&M costs for all respondents increased from $3,943,080 to $11,353,146 for all states. That is because the number of beaches monitored and reported by grant recipients increased significantly from 3,651 (estimated from the 2010 Annual Swimming Season Report) to 6,238 (estimated from the EPA database, BEACON). EPA maintained its estimate of two samples collected each week per monitored beach; however, EPA increased the sample cost of $30 per sample to $35 and the estimated average beach season length of 18 weeks to 26 weeks based on the beach seasons reported by states in the BEACON database as well as in grant applications.
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.