National Study of Nutrient Removal and Secondary Technologies: POTW Screener Questionnaire (Renewal)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form TBD POTW Screener Questionaire Form and Instruction	Modified
2553ss03 (1).docx Supporting Statement A	2021-07-30
2553br03.xlsx Supplementary Document	2021-07-30
2553ss03b.docx Supporting Statement B	2021-07-30

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
229730	POTW Screener Questionaire Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2040-0294	ICR Reference No: 202107-2040-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201910-2040-001
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OW	Agency Tracking No: 2553.03
Title: National Study of Nutrient Removal and Secondary Technologies: POTW Screener Questionnaire (Renewal)
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 07/30/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2021
Responses	12,000	14,880
Time Burden (Hours)	8,747	49,755
Cost Burden (Dollars)	8,800	32,736

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Abstract: This study will collect nationwide data on nutrient pollutant removal from publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) with conventional secondary treatment. The data will help set realistic and achievable nutrient reduction targets; help POTW operators understand the range of opportunities to optimize nutrient removals based on data from their peers; and encourage improved nutrient removal performance at POTWs with less expense. The full study is designed with multiple phases over the course of four to five years. The first phase of the study is a screener questionnaire, to collect basic information and characterize the full population of POTWs. This information will help establish a baseline of nutrient performance at the national level for all POTWs.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

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:
	86 FR 11292	02/24/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 40562	07/28/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
POTW Screener Questionaire	TBD	National Study of Nutrient Removal and Secondary Technologies: POTW Screener Questionnaire

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	12,000	14,880	0	0	-2,880	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	8,747	49,755	0	0	-41,008	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	8,800	32,736	0	0	-23,936	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: In this renewal EPA proposes three revisions to the currently approved screener questionnaire ICR and supporting statement. First, EPA has reduced the maximum number of respondents from 16,500 to 15,000 reflecting survey responses already received as of October 30, 2020. Second, EPA has made minor clarifying edits to the survey questions such as providing additional examples of certain technology classifications. Third, EPA is revising the respondent burden estimates. The original average burden estimate assumed it would take one hour to complete the registration process and three hours to complete the full questionnaire. EPA reviewed start and end times associated with questionnaires submitted online and found that the average time to complete the long version of the online questionnaire was 1.1 hours and the time to complete the short version was 26 minutes. EPA revised the average burden to 2.25 hours for the questionnaire and 15 minutes for registration (Questionnaire Section A) based on this information.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $319,476

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

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? No

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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: 07/30/2021

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