[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 28, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 28859] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-13924] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-5831-8] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Quality Assurance Specification and Requirements AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: ICR Number 0866.05, Quality Assurance Specification and Requirements, OMB Control Number 2080-- 0033, which expires June 30, 1997. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 27, 1997. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260- 2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 0866.05. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Quality Assurance Specification and Requirements (OMB Control No. 2080--0033; EPA ICR No. 0866, expiring 6/30/97. This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: This ICR covers the quality assurance (QA) paperwork burden that appears at 40 CFR 30.54 [which supercedes 40 CFR 30.503(d)] and 40 CFR 31.45. These are subsections from 40 CFR Part 30--Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations, and 40 CFR Part 31--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, respectively. The information collection activity involves the preparation of QA plans or narrative statements that provide supporting documentation sufficient to produce data that are of quality adequate to meet project objectives and (for 40 CFR 30.54) to minimize loss of data due to out-of-control conditions or malfunctions. The quality system of the 40 CFR 30.54 assistance recipient must comply with the requirements of ANSI/ASQC E4, ``Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs.'' All QA submissions are reviewed and approved by an EPA certified project officer or a designated quality assurance officer. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15. The Federal Register notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 2/10/97 (FRL-5686-9); no comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 37 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities applying for Federal financial assistance for proposed projects that include environmentally related measurements. Estimated Number of Respondents: 1497. Frequency of Response: Annually. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 55,635 hours. Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $1,498,038. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please refer to EPA ICR No. 0866 and OMB Control No. 2080-0033 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PPE Regulatory Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503. Dated: May 21, 1997. Joseph Retzer, Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 97-13924 Filed 5-27-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P