Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 6400-01 Private Sector Permittees Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 6400-01 State/Local Permitees Form and Instruction	Modified
0234ss13.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-03-27

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
41809	Private Sector Permittees Form and Instruction	Modified
180159	State/Local Permitees Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2080-0021	ICR Reference No: 202003-2080-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201611-2080-001
Agency/Subagency: EPA/ORD	Agency Tracking No: 0234.13
Title: Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal)
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 05/01/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 03/31/2020
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2023	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2020
Responses	5,500	0	5,700
Time Burden (Hours)	36,300	0	37,620
Cost Burden (Dollars)	3,375,790	0	3,194,052

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Abstract: Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) study program participation is mandatory for major and selected minor National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders in accordance with Clean Water Act Section 308. The DMR-QA study program is designed to evaluate the analytic ability of the laboratories that perform chemical, microbiological and whole effluent toxicity (WET) analyses required in the NPDES permits for reporting results in Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR). Under DMR-QA, the permit holder is responsible for having their in-house and/or contract laboratories perform proficiency tests and submit results for grading by proficiency test (PT) providers. Graded results are transmitted by either the permittee or PT provider to the appropriate federal or state NPDES regulatory authority. Permit holders are responsible for submitting corrective action reports to the appropriate regulatory authority when results are unsatisfactory.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 33 USC 1251 Name of Law: Clean Water Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 54140	10/09/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 17874	03/31/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Private Sector Permittees	6400-01	NPDES Permittee Data Report Form
State/Local Permitees	6400-01	NPDES Permittee Data Report Form

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	5,500	5,700	0	0	-200	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	36,300	37,620	0	0	-1,320	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	3,375,790	3,194,052	0	0	181,738	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Participation in the DMR-QA PE study has decreased from an estimated average of 5,700 permittees to 5,500 since the last renewal of this ICR. This is due to a slight decrease of NPDES major permittees over the last three years through permit terminations or permittees using state-certified laboratories that are exempt from DMR-QA PE studies. O&M costs increased to reflect the costs of obtaining PE samples from the PT Providers. The estimated annual average cost of obtaining PE samples increased from $560.36 to $613.78 per respondent.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $5,280

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 03/31/2020

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