In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2023
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2020
39
0
38
88,569
0
91,276
11,063,780
0
11,353,146
The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act authorizes the EPA to award BEACH Act Program grants to coastal and Great Lakes states, tribes, and territories for their beach monitoring and notification programs. The grants assist those jurisdictions to develop and implement a consistent approach to monitor recreational water quality; assess, manage, and communicate health risks from waterborne microbial contamination; notify the public of pollution occurrences; and post beach advisories and closures to prevent public exposure to microbial pathogens. To qualify for a BEACH Act grant, a jurisdiction must submit information to the EPA documenting that its beach monitoring and notification program is consistent with performance criteria outlined in the National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition.
There is a decrease of 2,707 hours in the total respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to the respondents no longer needing to prepare and submit schedules for the adoption of new or revised water quality standards (WQS) and identification and use of a beach notification threshold (BNT). The EPA no longer requests respondents submit these schedules because they are using BNTs or alternate BNTs and have either adopted new or revised WQS or are in the process of doing so. This decrease in hours is partially offset by one additional tribe having qualified for a BEACH grant. The total respondent cost decreased by $587,496. The decrease in cost is partially offset by slight increases in the salary rates. The O&M decreased by $289,366 due to a reduction in the total number of beaches. The number of beaches reported by the jurisdictions varies from year to year for many reasons. Reasons for removing beaches include the destruction of beaches by natural disasters, change in beach ownership, and existing beaches being combined within a jurisdictions monitoring and notification 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.