The Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance (OECA) is the component of the Environmental
Protection Agency responsible for administrative, civil and
criminal enforcement of the environmental laws that EPA
administers. EPA's criminal enforcement program, and, to a lesser
extent, its civil enforcement program are, like other federal law
enforcement programs, dependent on tips and complaints from
concerned citizens and members of the regulated community. The OECA
Tips & Complaints web page provides a convenient means by which
these individuals can voluntarily submit tips and complaints
regarding suspected violations of environmental law. Tips or
complaints received through the web page are used by civil and/or
criminal enforcement personnel at EPA to determine whether an
investigation is warranted into the suspected or alleged
misconduct. In some cases, EPA may decide to refer tips or
complaints for investigation to other federal agencies or to State
or local authorities within whose jurisdiction the matter may
appropriately fall. The OECA Tips and Complaints web page does not
replace or otherwise supplant other means of providing tips or
complaints to EPA; it merely provides a convenient means by which
to supply these tips or complaints online.
There is an increase of 542
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the
ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase reflects that tips and
complaints are being filed at a higher rate, which is a strong
indication of the success of this program.
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.