Water Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
0988rtc15.docx Supplementary Document	2021-10-27
0988ss15.docx Supporting Statement A	2021-10-27

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
233420	Voluntary WQS Program Information; States and Tribes	Modified
233419	Dispute Res. Requests and TAS Applications; Tribes and States	Modified
233418	Great Lakes WQS Requirements; States and Tribes	Modified
233416	Great Lakes WQS Requirements; Dischargers	Modified
233415	2015 WQS Program Revisions	Removed
233414	Administering State and Tribal WQS	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2040-0049	ICR Reference No: 202110-2040-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201903-2040-001
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OW	Agency Tracking No: 0988.15
Title: Water Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/29/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2021
Responses	1,277	2,643
Time Burden (Hours)	480,242	507,887
Cost Burden (Dollars)	263,520	263,520

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Abstract: The Water Quality Standards (WQS) regulation at 40 CFR part 131 establishes the framework for states and authorized tribes to adopt WQS for waters of the United States, and for the EPA to review and approve or disapprove the WQS. This ICR is for information collections needed to implement the WQS regulation, required to obtain or retain benefits (e.g., relaxed regulatory requirements) under the WQS regulation, and to collect voluntary program information useful in administering WQS programs effectively and efficiently. This ICR renewal describes the estimated information collection burden for states, authorized tribes, tribes seeking authorization, and certain Great Lakes dischargers to: adopt, review, and revise WQS; comply with specific requirements of the regulation; submit tribal applications to be treated in a similar manner as a state (TAS); request regulatory relief; request certain EPA dispute resolution assistance; and provide voluntary WQS program information.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 33 USC 1313c 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:
	86 FR 15665	03/24/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 59712	10/28/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 5

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
2015 WQS Program Revisions
Administering State and Tribal WQS
Dispute Res. Requests and TAS Applications; Tribes and States
Great Lakes WQS Requirements; Dischargers
Great Lakes WQS Requirements; States and Tribes
Voluntary WQS Program Information; States and Tribes

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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	1,277	2,643	0	-1,364	-2	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	480,242	507,887	0	-199,060	171,415	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	263,520	263,520	0	0	0	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Revised estimate reflects addition of two authorized tribes with EPA-approved water quality & discontinuation of Great Lakes Bioassay Tests, which are no longer conducted.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,610,307

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? 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: 10/29/2021

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