Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Influent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Study and National Sewage Sludge Survey

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
National Sewage Sludge Survey Form and Instruction	New
POTW Influent PFAS Study Form and Instruction	New
Questionnaire for the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Influent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Study and National Sewage Sludge Survey (NSSS) Form and Instruction	New
2799ssb01.docx Supporting Statement B	2024-10-09
2799ss01.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-10-09

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
271510	National Sewage Sludge Survey Form and Instruction	New
271509	POTW Influent PFAS Study Form and Instruction	New
271508	Questionnaire for the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Influent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Study and National Sewage Sludge Survey (NSSS) Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202410-2040-006
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OW	Agency Tracking No: 2799.01
Title: Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Influent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Study and National Sewage Sludge Survey
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/17/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	800	0
Time Burden (Hours)	25,640	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	3,891,520	0

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Abstract: This data collection is intended to gather data necessary to identify and quantify sources of PFAS discharges, prioritize industrial categories for potential regulation, and establish a current national data set of sewage sludge characteristics. This data collection will support two separate United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies. POTW Influent PFAS Study. As announced in the EPAs Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15, published in January 2023, the EPA will conduct the POTW Influent PFAS Study to gather nationwide data on industrial and domestic wastewater discharges of PFAS into the environment. To accomplish this goal, the EPA will require a subset of POTWs across the United States to complete an electronic questionnaire and conduct wastewater sampling to obtain information on types and quantities of PFAS in discharges from industrial facilities, domestic wastewater or sewage, and POTW influent and effluent. The data will primarily be used to identify and prioritize industrial point source categories where additional study or regulations may be warranted to control PFAS discharges. National Sewage Sludge Survey (NSSS). The EPA also plans to conduct a NSSS to identify the presence of pollutants in sewage sludge using samples collected from POTWs. This NSSS will focus on obtaining a current national data set on PFAS concentrations and ancillary parameters found in sewage sludge. The data generated by the NSSS will inform future risk assessments and risk management options for sewage sludge. The data collection design represents the EPAs efforts to gather sufficient data to perform the analyses required to accurately review and determine whether Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards (ELGs) are warranted to address PFAS discharges from for specific industries and administer an ICR that limits the burden placed on respondents.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 33 USC 1321(j)(5) Name of Law: Clean Water Act (CWA) (original title: Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972)
  

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:
	89 FR 20962	03/26/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 82238	10/10/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
National Sewage Sludge Survey	n/a	POTW and NSSS Data Template
POTW Influent PFAS Study	n/a	POTW and NSSS Data Template
Questionnaire for the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Influent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Study and National Sewage Sludge Survey (NSSS)	n/a	QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORK

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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	800	0	0	800	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	25,640	0	0	25,640	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	3,891,520	0	0	3,891,520	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Associated with a new ICR - no previous burden as baseline.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $703,019

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: 10/17/2024

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