In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is filing comment and withholding approval at
this time. The agency shall examine public comment in response to
the proposed rulemaking and will include in the supporting
statement of the next ICR--to be submitted to OMB at the final rule
stage--a description of how the agency has responded to any public
comments on the ICR, including comments on maximizing the practical
utility of the collection and minimizing the burden.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to regulate perchlorate in drinking water
distributed by public water systems (PWS). In 2011, the EPA
determined that a national primary drinking water regulation
(NPDWR) for perchlorate would result in a meaningful opportunity to
reduce health risks (USEPA, 2011). Based on the best available
scientific information on the health effects of perchlorate, the
EPA is proposing a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) of 56
µg/L. The EPA is also proposing an enforceable maximum contaminant
level (MCL) of 56 µg/L and compliance monitoring consistent with
the Standardized Monitoring Framework for inorganic contaminants in
40 CFR 141.23(c). The proposed rule includes several reporting
requirements. During the first three years after rule finalization
(i.e., the period covered by this ICR), states that have primacy
will be required to read and understand the rule and modify their
existing regulations to incorporate the relevant requirements. As
part of their upfront costs, the EPA also expects that the primacy
agencies will provide training to agency staff as well as training
and assistance for water systems. After the initial three-year
period, water systems will be required to provide monitoring
results to primacy agencies, which must report violation-related
information to the EPA. Systems may also include perchlorate
monitoring information in their annual consumer confidence report
(CCR). Finally, systems will have public notification requirements
in the event of an MCL violation. For the period covered by this
ICR (the three years following rule promulgation), the EPA
estimates that the reporting burden for 55 primacy agencies
(including 49 states with primacy, one tribal nation, and 5
territories) will be 145,618 hours, or 48,539 hours per year and
2,648 hours per respondent. Total costs for the labor will be
approximately $7.38 million, or $2.46 million per year. Water
systems will not incur any information collection or reporting
burden during the first three years after rule
promulgation.
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.