[Federal Register: June 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 123)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43110-43111]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26jn02-64]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7237-7]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Health Effects of Microbial Pathogens in 
Recreational Waters

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Health Effects of Microbial 
Pathogens in Recreational Waters, EPA ICR No. 2081.01. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual data 
collection instruments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 26, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 2081.01, to the 
following addresses: Susan Auby, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Collection Strategies Division (Mail Code 2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; and to Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Susan 
Auby at EPA by phone at (202) 566-1672, by E-mail at 
auby.susan@epa.gov, or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/
icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 2081.01. For technical questions about the 
ICR contact Elizabeth Sams in EPA's Office of Research and Development 
at (919) 843-3161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   
    Title: Health Effects of Microbial Pathogens in Recreational 
Waters, EPA ICR Number 2081.01. This is a new collection.
    Abstract: This study will be conducted, and the information 
collected, by the Epidemiology and

[[Page 43111]]

Biomarkers Branch, Human Studies Division, National Health and 
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and 
Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Participation 
of adults and children in this collection of information is strictly 
voluntary.
    This information is being collected as part of a research program 
consistent with the section 3(a) (v) (1) of the Beaches Environmental 
Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 and the strategic plan for 
EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Office of Water 
entitled ``Action Plan for Beaches and Recreational Water.'' The 
Beaches Act and ORD's strategic plan have identified research on 
effects of microbial pathogens in recreational waters as a high-
priority research area with particular emphasis on developing new water 
quality indicator guidelines for recreational waters. EPA has broad 
legislative authority to establish water quality criteria and to 
conduct research to support these criteria. This data collection is for 
a series of epidemiological studies to evaluate exposure to and effects 
of microbial pathogens in marine and fresh (Great Lakes) recreational 
waters as part of EPA's research program on exposure and health effects 
of microbial pathogens in recreational waters. The results of these 
health effects studies will be used to document human health effects 
associated with recreational water use and correlate these health 
effects with ongoing EPA studies to identify a new generation of 
indicators for detection of human pathogens in recreational water and 
appropriate, effective, and expeditious testing methods for these 
indicators (addressed separately under section 3(a) (v) (2 & 3) of the 
Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000). The 
results will be used to develop mathematical relationships that will be 
used for the generation of new national water quality guidelines and 
appropriate monitoring guidelines.
    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 document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on February 
15, 2002, (67 FR 7150); three comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average about 
a half hour 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.
    Interview & Telephone Follow-ups: Based on consultation with the 
individuals listed in section 3(c) of the ICR, and our experience with 
similar types of information collection, we estimate that each family 
will spend an average of 30 minutes completing the beach interview and 
will require no record keeping. This includes the time for reviewing 
the information pamphlet and answering the questions. We estimate that 
each family will spend an average of 30 minutes completing the first 
home telephone interview and 20 minutes completing the second home 
telephone interview. The telephone interviews will require no record 
keeping.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are families frequenting fresh and marine water beaches in 
the continental United States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4500.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,000
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $0.
    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. 2081.01 in any correspondence.

    Dated: June 10, 2002.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 02-16135 Filed 6-25-02; 8:45 am]
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