[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 7477]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02265]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Summary Notice No. PE-2012-56]

Petition for Exemption; Summary of Petition Received

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of petition for exemption received.

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SUMMARY: This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief
from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to
improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of
FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the
inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to
affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

DATES: Comments on this petition must identify the petition docket
number and must be received on or before February 21, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by Docket Number FAA-2012-
1256 using any of the following methods:
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to the Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: Fax comments to the Docket Management Facility at
202-493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Bring comments to the Docket Management
Facility in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Privacy: We will post all comments we receive, without change, to
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone can
find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, including
the name of the individual sending the comment (or signing the comment
for an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    Docket: To read background documents or comments received, go to
http://www.regulations.gov at any time or to the Docket Management
Facility in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Copeland, ARM-208, Office of
Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20591; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>(202) 267-
8081.
    This notice is published pursuant to 14 CFR 11.85.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2013.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.

Petition for Exemption

    Docket No.: FAA-2012-1256
    Petitioner: Aerolineas Ejecutives, S.A. de C.V. (ALE)
    Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 129.5(b)
    Description of Relief Sought: Petitioner seeks an exemption to Part
129.5(b) to operate its Mexican-registered aircraft in the U. S.
airspace as long as ALE's aircraft comply with the flight data recorder
requirement of Part 135.
[FR Doc. 2013-02265 Filed 1-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41031-41032]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17221]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

 [Docket No. ER15-1925-000]

Breckinridge Wind Project, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial
Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204
Authorization

    This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of
Breckinridge Wind Project, LLC's application for market-based rate
authority, with an accompanying rate tariff, noting that such
application includes a request for blanket authorization, under 18 CFR
part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of
liability.
    Any person desiring to intervene or to protest should file with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington,
DC 20426, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's
Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Anyone
filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that
document on the Applicant.
    Notice is hereby given that the deadline for filing protests with
regard to the applicant's request for blanket authorization, under 18
CFR part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of
liability, is July 28, 2015.
    The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at http://www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet
access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an
intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
    Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and
5 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    The filings in the above-referenced proceeding are accessible in
the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in
the above list. They are also available for electronic review in the
Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an
eSubscription link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive
email notification when a document is added to a subscribed

docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll free). For
TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Dated: July 8, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-17221 Filed 7-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28342-28343]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13003]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2018-0010]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 14 individuals from the
vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
(FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate
commerce. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for
various reasons. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate
CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in
one eye.

DATES: The exemptions were applicable on May 30, 2018. The exemptions
expire on May 30, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief,
Medical Programs Division,<PHONE_NUMBER>, [email protected], FMCSA,
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64-224,
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have
questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket,
contact Docket Services, telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document
Management System (FDMS) at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov and/or Room W12-140 on the
ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information
the commenter provides, to http://www.regulations.gov, as described in
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed
at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    On April 27, 2018, FMCSA published a notice announcing receipt of
applications from 14 individuals requesting an exemption from vision
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and requested comments from the
public (83 FR 18644). The public comment period ended on May 29, 2018,
and no comments were received.
    FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of these applicants and
determined that granting the exemptions to these individuals would
achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that
would be achieved by complying with the current regulation 49 CFR
391.41(b)(10).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding vision
found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) states that a person is physically
qualified to driver a CMV if that person has distant visual acuity of
at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or
visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with
corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of a least

20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field
of vision of at least 70[deg] in the horizontal meridian in each eye,
and the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices
showing red, green, and amber.

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding.

IV. Basis for Exemption Determination

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption
from the vision standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) if the exemption is
likely to achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety than would
be achieved without the exemption. The exemption allows applicants to
operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
    The Agency's decision regarding these exemption applications is
based on medical reports about the applicants' vision as well as their
driving records and experience driving with the vision deficiency. The
qualifications, experience, and medical condition of each applicant
were stated and discussed in detail in the April 27, 2018, Federal
Register notice (83 FR 18644) and will not be repeated in this notice.
    FMCSA recognizes that some drivers do not meet the vision
requirement but have adapted their driving to accommodate their
limitation and demonstrated their ability to drive safely. The 14
exemption applicants listed in this notice are in this category. They
are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various
reasons, including amblyopia, aphakia, complete loss of vision, corneal
scar, enucleation, keratoconus, macular scar, optic atrophy, and
prosthesis. In most cases, their eye conditions were not recently
developed. Eleven of the applicants were either born with their vision
impairments or have had them since childhood. The three individuals
that sustained their vision conditions as adults have had it for a
range of 14 to 30 years. Although each applicant has one eye which does
not meet the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), each has at
least 20/40 corrected vision in the other eye, and in a doctor's
opinion, has sufficient vision to perform all the tasks necessary to
operate a CMV.
    Doctors' opinions are supported by the applicants' possession of a
valid license to operate a CMV. By meeting State licensing
requirements, the applicants demonstrated their ability to operate a
CMV, with their limited vision in intrastate commerce, even though
their vision disqualified them from driving in interstate commerce. We
believe that the applicants' intrastate driving experience and history
provide an adequate basis for predicting their ability to drive safely
in interstate commerce. Intrastate driving, like interstate operations,
involves substantial driving on highways on the interstate system and
on other roads built to interstate standards. Moreover, driving in
congested urban areas exposes the driver to more pedestrian and
vehicular traffic than exists on interstate highways. Faster reaction
to traffic and traffic signals is generally required because distances
between them are more compact. These conditions tax visual capacity and
driver response just as intensely as interstate driving conditions.
    The applicants in this notice have driven CMVs with their limited
vision in careers ranging for 4 to 96 years. In the past three years,
no drivers were involved in crashes, and no drivers were convicted of
moving violations in CMVs. All the applicants achieved a record of
safety while driving with their vision impairment, demonstrating the
likelihood that they have adapted their driving skills to accommodate
their condition. As the applicants' ample driving histories with their
vision deficiencies are good predictors of future performance, FMCSA
concludes their ability to drive safely can be projected into the
future.
    Consequently, FMCSA finds that in each case exempting these
applicants from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) is
likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the
exemption.

V. Conditions and Requirements

    The terms and conditions of the exemption are provided to the
applicants in the exemption document and includes the following: (1)
Each driver must be physically examined every year (a) by an
ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the
better eye continues to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and
(b) by a certified Medical Examiner who attests that the individual is
otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) each driver
must provide a copy of the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's report to
the Medical Examiner at the time of the annual medical examination; and
(3) each driver must provide a copy of the annual medical certification
to the employer for retention in the driver's qualification file, or
keep a copy in his/her driver's qualification file if he/she is self-
employed. The driver must also have a copy of the exemption when
driving, for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local
enforcement official.

VI. Preemption

    During the period the exemption is in effect, no State shall
enforce any law or regulation that conflicts with this exemption with
respect to a person operating under the exemption.

VII. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 14 exemption applications, FMCSA
exempts the following drivers from the vision requirement, 49 CFR
391.41(b)(10), subject to the requirements cited above:

Zachary A. Abbotts (CT)
Joseph J. Amatulli (NY)
Clarton D. Avis (KY)
Jimmy L. Burgi (TX)
Gordon C. Canfield (MI)
David M. Clark, Jr. (MD)
Dorothy J. Crum (OH)
Tammy J. Duval (NH)
Brian K. LaJoie (MI)
James V. Latess, Jr. (PA)
Igor L. Litvak (MD)
John A. Thomas, Jr. (NC)
Jerry L. Womble (AR)
Kevin Young (NJ)

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each exemption
will be valid for two years from the effective date unless revoked
earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked if the following
occurs: (1) The person fails to comply with the terms and conditions of
the exemption; (2) the exemption has resulted in a lower level of
safety than was maintained prior to being granted; or (3) continuation
of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals and objectives
of 49 U.S.C. 31136 and 31315.

    Issued on: June 11, 2018.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-13003 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P


[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15041-15042]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06360]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-74512; File No. SR-FINRA-2015-005]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a
Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Expiration Date of the Refund
Program Under FINRA Rule 3110.15 (Temporary Program To Address
Underreported Form U4 Information)

March 16, 2015.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on March 3, 2015, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(``FINRA'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC''
or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I,
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has
designated the proposed rule change as constituting a ``non-
controversial'' rule change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under
the Act,\3\ which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this
filing by the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change

    FINRA is proposing to amend FINRA Rule 3110.15 (Temporary Program
to Address Underreported Form U4 Information) to extend the expiration
date of the refund program under that rule, which currently is July 31,
2015, until December 1, 2015.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web
site at http://www.finra.org, at the principal office of FINRA and at
the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, FINRA included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. FINRA has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A,
B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    On December 30, 2014, the SEC approved FINRA Rule 3110.15, which
establishes a temporary refund program whereby FINRA will issue a
refund to members of Late Disclosure Fees assessed for the late filing
of responses to Question 14M (relating to unsatisfied judgments or
liens) on the Form U4 (Uniform Application for Securities Industry
Registration or Transfer), subject to specified conditions.\4\ The
refund program under FINRA Rule 3110.15 is intended to incentivize
members to disclose underreported information and save FINRA the time
and regulatory resources expended in contacting firms and requesting
that such information be reported. The refund program has a retroactive
effective date of April 24, 2014,\5\ and it is currently scheduled to
expire on July 31, 2015. FINRA understands that, following SEC approval
of the rule, some firms have undertaken a wholesale review of their
registrants to identify judgments and liens that may have been
unreported, including those that meet the parameters of the refund
program. Based on FINRA's experience to date, FINRA believes that a
four-month extension of the program will more effectively achieve its
intended purpose. Therefore, FINRA is proposing to amend FINRA Rule
3110.15 to extend the sunset date of the refund program until December
1, 2015, which will give firms adequate time to identify and report
information to FINRA. FINRA is not proposing any changes to the other
parameters of the refund program.
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 73966 (December 30,
2014), 80 FR 546 (January 6, 2015) (Order Approving File No. SR-
FINRA-2014-038).
    \5\ See FINRA Board Approves Amendment to Supervision Rule
Requiring Firms to Conduct Background Checks on Registration
Applicants, FINRA News Release, April 24, 2014, available at http://www.finra.org/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2014/P493588.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As proposed, FINRA Rule 3110.15 will provide that FINRA will issue
a refund to firms of Late Disclosure Fees assessed for the late filing
of responses to Form U4 Question 14M (unsatisfied judgments or liens)
if the Form U4 amendment is filed between April 24, 2014, and December
1, 2015, and one of the following conditions is met:
    (1) The judgment or lien has been satisfied, and at the time it was
unsatisfied, it was under $5,000, and the date the judgment or lien was
filed with a court (as reported on Form U4 Judgment/Lien DRP, Question
4A) was on or before August 13, 2012; \6\ or
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    \6\ See Information Notice August 17, 2012 (Late Disclosure Fee
Related to Reporting of Judgment/Lien Events), available at http://www.finra.org/web/groups/industry/@ip/<EMAIL_ADDRESS>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) the unsatisfied judgment or lien was satisfied within 30 days
after the individual learned of the judgment or lien (as reported on
Form U4 Judgment/Lien DRP, Question 4.B.).
    The refund program will continue to have a retroactive effective
date of April 24, 2014, but it will automatically sunset on December 1,
2015, as proposed. Thus, firms will not be able to obtain a refund
pursuant to the parameters established under the program after December
1, 2015. While the program is in effect, FINRA will initially assess
firms a Late Disclosure Fee and subsequently refund the fee in the
firm's FINRA Flex-Funding Account if the firm can establish, or if
FINRA otherwise determines, that the conditions of the program have
been satisfied.
    FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate
effectiveness. The implementation date of the proposed

rule change will be July 31, 2015, which is the current expiration date
of FINRA Rule 3110.15. The proposed rule change extends the expiration
date of FINRA Rule 3110.15 until December 1, 2015. As proposed, FINRA
Rule 3110.15 will have a retroactive effective date of April 24, 2014,
and it will automatically expire on December 1, 2015.
2. Statutory Basis
    FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the
provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,\7\ which requires, among
other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent
and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest. FINRA believes that the temporary refund program under
FINRA Rule 3110.15 incentivizes members to disclose underreported
information relating to judgments and liens and saves FINRA the time
and regulatory resources expended in contacting firms and requesting
that such information be reported and that extending the expiration
date of the refund program will more effectively achieve that purpose.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
    The temporary refund program under FINRA Rule 3110.15 encourages
members to comply with their existing reporting obligations and allows
them to receive a refund of Late Disclosure Fees if the conditions
specified in FINRA Rule 3110.15 are satisfied. As such, FINRA does not
believe that extending the expiration date of the temporary refund
program will result in any burden on members.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i)
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii)
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \8\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please include
File Number SR-FINRA-2015-005 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2015-005. This
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA. All comments
received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit
personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2015-005 and should be
submitted on or before April 10, 2015.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-06360 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9715-9716]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04619]

========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 7, 2018 /
Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Part 73

[Docket No. FDA-2018-C-0617]

GW Cosmetics GmbH; Filing of Color Additive Petition

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of petition.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is
announcing that we have filed a petition, submitted by GW Cosmetics
GmbH, proposing that the color additive regulations be amended to
provide for the safe use of silver nitrate in professional-use only
cosmetics to color eyebrows and eyelashes.

DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on the petitioner's
environmental assessment by April 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be considered. Electronic comments
must be submitted on or before April 6, 2018. The https://www.regulations.gov electronic filing system will accept comments until
midnight Eastern Time at the end of April 6, 2018. Comments received by
mail/hand delivery/courier (for written/paper submissions) will be
considered timely if they are postmarked or the delivery service
acceptance receipt is on or before that date.

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted
electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov
will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be
made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment
does not include any confidential information that you or a third party
may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone
else's Social Security number, or confidential business information,
such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your
name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in
the body of your comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
     If you want to submit a comment with confidential
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public,
submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').

Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for written/paper
submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
     For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets
Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified,
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No.
FDA-2018-C-0617 for ``GW Cosmetics GmbH; Filing of Color Additive
Petition.'' Received comments, those filed in a timely manner (see
ADDRESSES), will be placed in the docket and, except for those
submitted as ``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
     Confidential Submissions--To submit a comment with
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly
available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You
should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information
you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states
``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The Agency will
review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in
its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the
claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be
available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish
your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you
can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of
your comments and you must identify this information as
``confidential.'' Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not
be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other
applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of
comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or
access the information at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in
the heading of this document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the
prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane,
Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura A. Dye, Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,
College Park, MD 20740,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (section 721(d)(1) (21 U.S.C. 379e(d)(1))), we are giving notice
that we have filed a color additive petition (CAP No. 8C0312),
submitted by GW Cosmetics GmbH, c/o EAS Consulting Group, LLC, 1700
Diagonal Rd., Suite 750, Alexandria, VA 22314. The petition proposes to
amend the color additive regulations in 21 CFR part 73 Listing of Color
Additives Exempt From Certification to provide for the safe use of
silver nitrate in professional-use only cosmetics to color eyebrows and
eyelashes.
    We are reviewing the potential environmental impact of this
petition. To encourage public participation consistent with regulations
issued under the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1501.4(b)),
we are placing the environmental assessment submitted

with the petition that is the subject of this notice on public display
at the Dockets Management Staff (see ADDRESSES) for public review and
comment.
    We will also place on public display, in the Dockets Management
Staff and at https://www.regulations.gov, any amendments to, or
comments on, the petitioner's environmental assessment without further
announcement in the Federal Register. If, based on our review, we find
that an environmental impact statement is not required, and this
petition results in a regulation, we will publish the notice of
availability of our finding of no significant impact and the evidence
supporting that finding with the regulation in the Federal Register in
accordance with 21 CFR 25.51(b).

    Dated: March 1, 2018.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-04619 Filed 3-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P


                 Information Collection Request (ICR) for the
      NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule  -  Phase 2 Extension (Final Rule)
                      (EPA No. 2617.02, OMB No. 2020-0037)
IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION
Title of the Information Collection
Title: NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule  -  Phase 2 Extension (Final Rule)
EPA ICR No.: 2617.02
OMB Control No.: 2020-0037

Short Characterization/ Abstract
EPA published the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule ("NPDES eRule") on 22 October 2015. The 2015 rule required EPA and states to modernize Clean Water Act (CWA) reporting for municipalities, industries and other facilities. The rule divided implementation into two "Phases." The deadline for Phase 1 implementation passed on December 21, 2016. Most states and permittees have successfully implemented Phase 1 of the NPDES eRule, which includes electronic submission of DMRs and the Federal Biosolids Annual Report where EPA is the Regulatory Authority (see cover for example photos). EPA originally set the Phase 2 deadline as December 21, 2020. Some state authorized NPDES programs provided feedback to EPA on how to improve Phase 2 implementation of the NPDES eRule and, in particular, recommended changes to the schedule for Phase 2 implementation to allow both EPA and states sufficient time to develop and implement the information technology solutions necessary for electronic reporting of the Phase 2 data.
EPA promulgated a final rule that postpones the compliance date for Phase 2 implementation and to provide states with additional flexibility to request even more time as needed. Further, the final rule accompanying this ICR also clarifies existing requirements and eliminates some duplicative or outdated reporting requirements. These changes will help ensure a smoother transition from paper to electronic reporting for the NPDES program. Taken together, the flexibility afforded by the final rule and the implementation of electronic reporting will help NPDES authorized programs save considerable resources, make reporting easier for NPDES-regulated entities, streamline permit renewals (as permit writers typically review previous noncompliance events during permit renewal), ensure full exchange of NPDES program data between states and EPA to the public, improve environmental decision-making, and protect human health and the environment.
This rule related ICR addresses the incremental burden to authorized NPDES programs under the changes to the 2015 NPDES eRule. The incremental burden is associated with the submittal of alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines requests to EPA and the sharing of information related to state-issued general permits and program reports. This ICR does not impose any new reporting requirements on NPDES-regulated entities.
The respondents to this ICR are the 48 authorized NPDES programs (47 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The total annual burden for the 48 authorized EPA programs is 416 hours. Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b). EPA estimates that this burden will reduce as more and more general permits and program reports are switched from paper to electronic reporting.
NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION
Need/Authority for the Collection
Need for the Collection
EPA published the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule ("NPDES eRule") on 22 October 2015. The 2015 rule required EPA and states to modernize Clean Water Act (CWA) reporting for municipalities, industries and other facilities. That rule replaced most paper based NPDES reporting requirements with electronic reporting.
Congress and the public expect environmental program managers at every level of government  -  local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal  -  to design and implement programs that deliver environmental results. To target the most important pollution problems and most serious noncompliance, better ensure environmental protection and public health, and enable more integrated program assessment and planning at the national level, data used by EPA and authorized NPDES programs should have the following characteristics:
    The data should be current;
    The data should generally be comparable in format, reporting units, frequency, etc;
    The data should be complete; and
    The data should be made available so that the basis for EPA program evaluation and subsequent planning is transparent and reproducible.

The final rule extends the NPDES eRule Phase 2 implementation period and provides for additional flexibility for authorized NPDES programs. The overall impact of these changes will allow states to more efficiently implement the NPDES eRule. EPA is postponing the compliance date for Phase 2 implementation and providing states with additional flexibility to request even more time as needed. Under the final rule, authorized NPDES programs can submit an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines request to EPA for review and approval or rejection. This ICR covers the burden associated with the process for authorized NPDES programs to request additional time from EPA as needed for Phase 2 implementation.
Finally, this ICR covers the burden associated with authorized NPDES programs sharing basic information with EPA about their Phase 2 implementation of the NPDES eRule. Under the NPDES eRule authorized NPDES programs must share basic information with EPA regarding their general permits and program reports so that EPA can assess the corresponding electronic reporting participation rates [see 40 CFR 127.26(j)]. This ICR covers the burden associated with creating a complete inventory of NPDES general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. This inventory will help ensure that EPA has nationally consistent, complete, accurate, and timely information on general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools so that it can accurately track Phase 2 implementation of the NPDES eRule. This information sharing will help EPA, authorized NPDES programs, and NPDES-regulated entities identify progress in implementing the NPDES eRule. With the implementation of this information collection activity, NPDES-regulated entities will be able to ensure that they are fully aware of the compliance dates and electronic reporting tools for their reporting obligations.

Authority for the Collection
The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes a comprehensive program for protecting and restoring our nation's waters. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program was established by the CWA to authorize and control the discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States (CWA Section 402(a)). This information collection activity flows from the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule (see October 22, 2015; 80 FR 64064), which is intended to reduce the burden associated with the existing paper-based reporting system. The inventory of NPDES general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools also builds on existing data sharing requirements in EPA's NPDES regulations [see 40 CFR 123.43(d)]. Echoing the goals of CWA section 101(f), the rule will increase the speed, quality and scope of information received by EPA, authorized NPDES programs, and the public.
EPA is taking this action pursuant to CWA sections 101(f), 304(i), 308, 402, and 501:
 Section 101(f) encourages, to the extent possible, the minimization of paperwork and interagency decision procedures and the best use of available manpower and funds, so as to prevent needless duplication and unnecessary delays at all levels of government.
 Section 304(i) authorizes EPA to establish minimum procedural and other elements of State programs under section 402, including reporting requirements and procedures to make information available to the public.
 Section 308 authorizes EPA to require the submittal of information needed to carry out the objectives of the Act, including sections 301, 305, 306, 307, 311, 402, 404, 405, and 504.
 Sections 402(b) and (c) establish the NPDES permit program for the control of the discharge of pollutants into the nation's waters, and require each authorized state, tribe, or territory to ensure that permits meet certain substantive requirements, and to provide EPA information from point sources, industrial users, and the authorized program in order to ensure proper oversight by EPA.
 Section 501 authorizes EPA to prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out provisions of the act.

Practical Utility/Users of the Data
EPA has primary responsibility for ensuring the CWA's NPDES program is effectively and consistently implemented nationwide, thus ensuring that public health and environmental protection goals of the CWA are met. EPA is taking this action pursuant to CWA sections 101(f), 304(i), 308, 402, and 501. The accurate, complete, and timely information collected under this ICR will help EPA and states more efficiently implement the 2015 NPDES eRule. The improved information sharing will increase transparency and accountability and help EPA and authorized NPDES programs collaborate and measure progress in implementing the 2015 NPDES eRule. This information collection will provide EPA with more timely, consistent, and accurate inventory of all general permits and program reports, the number of facilities that must electronically submit reports, and the online location of state electronic reporting tools.
Receiving current high-level data on general permits and program reports is critical to EPA's ability to oversee and manage authorized NPDES programs. Authorizing the burden under this ICR will allow EPA to provide timely assistance to authorized NPDES programs as they implement the NPDES eRule. The general permits and program reports inventory will help promote efficiencies in NPDES eRule implementation as states will be able to use this information to identify other states that have already developed electronic reporting tools to gain insights on implementation options.
NON-DUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA
Non-Duplication
This ICR covers a new provision in the NPDES eRule that allows authorized NPDES programs to request an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline for specific facilities, general permits, program reports, or data elements. This ICR covers the burden associated with the alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines requests and is not duplicated in any other ICR or NPDES regulation. This ICR also covers the information sharing between authorized NPDES programs and EPA to compile and maintain key information related to the general permits and program reports that must switch to electronic reporting. This data collection is non-duplicative as these data are not collected elsewhere.
Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB
This ICR was made available to the public for comment concurrent with the proposed rule published in the Federal Register (see February 28, 2020; 85 FR 11909). EPA received comments on the proposed rule from seven states, one state association, and one anonymous commenter. The final rule addresses these comments and postpones the Phase 2 implementation period for the NPDES eRule. This final regulation also provides states with additional flexibility to request additional time as needed. Further, this notice finalizes clarifying changes to the NPDES eRule and eliminates some duplicative or outdated reporting requirements. EPA did not receive any comments on this ICR.
Consultations
EPA has held many consultations with authorized NPDES program during the implementation of the 2015 final rule. The authorized NPDES programs recommended that EPA extend the Phase 2 compliance date and include more implementation flexibility. EPA has organized these consultations around the NPDES sectors [e.g., biosolids, stormwater, pretreatment) and other major topics (e.g., data exchange, development of general permits and program reports in EPA's NPDES Electronic Report Tool (or "NeT"), NPDES Noncompliance Report development]. These consultations were usually held on a bi-weekly schedule and involved most of the authorized NPDES programs. Additionally, EPA held two meetings with Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) and several authorized NPDES programs to review the major aspects of the final rule associated with this ICR.
Effects of Less Frequent Collection
EPA recognizes the importance of balancing the need for data collection efforts against burden and costs to the respondents. EPA has already seen cost saving benefits in implementing the 2015 NPDES eRule. This included savings for regulated entities, states, and EPA through the elimination of requirements associated with mailing and processing paper reports.
Less frequent reporting would make it more difficult for EPA to perform its oversight role on NPDES eRule Phase 2 implementation, hamper its ability to effectively provide guidance to state programs, severely limit its ability to provide meaningful review and comment on the alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines requests for general permits and program reports. Less frequent reporting would impair EPA's ability to have a nationally consistent, complete, accurate, and timely information on general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools.
Finally, this ICR does not alter the reporting frequencies associated with the NPDES program (see OMB Control No. 2040-0004). The effects of less frequent collection of NPDES data are discussed in this approved ICR.
General Guidelines
This information collection is consistent with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (5 CFR 1320.5).
Confidentiality
None of the information collected under this ICR is confidential business information (CBI), enforcement sensitive, or contain personally identifiable information.
Sensitive Questions
The requirements addressed in this ICR do not include sensitive questions.
THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED
Respondents/ North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes
The reporting requirements associated with this information collection activity will apply to EPA and state authorized NPDES programs.
EPA issues NPDES permits except where a state demonstrates that it has adequate legal, technical, and financial capabilities in place to administer the NPDES program. To date, 47 states and one U.S. territory are authorized by EPA to administer the NPDES program, or parts of it. EPA is the authorized NPDES program for the entire program in the other 3 states and all tribes and the remaining territories. EPA is also the authorized NPDES program for any subprogram for which authorized states have declined to assume responsibility, and for certain national subprograms such as biosolids or pretreatment. The authorized states and territories are considered respondents for evaluating paperwork burden in this ICR.
Information Requested
Data Items, Including Recordkeeping Requirements
EPA is postponing the compliance date for Phase 2 implementation and providing states with additional flexibility to request even more time as needed. The new regulatory provision [40 CFR 127.24(e)] will allow authorized NPDES programs to request even more time to implement Phase 2 of the NPDES eRule beyond the Phase 2 compliance deadlines (see Table 1 in 40 CFR 127.16). This ICR covers the burden associated with the submission of alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines requests from authorized NPDES programs and EPA's review and determination.
Under this provision, authorized NPDES programs will send a request for EPA's review and determination. This request will identify the facilities, general permits, program reports, or data elements for which the authorized NPDES program needs additional time beyond the Phase 2 compliance deadlines (see Table 1 in 40 CFR 127.16). A waiver request submission can cover one or more general permits and program reports. For example, under this option a state could seek approval from the EPA to postpone implementation of electronic reporting for a NPDES general permit until some agreed upon time after the Phase 2 compliance deadlines (see Table 1 in 40 CFR 127.16). This waiver might be helpful, for example, if a state has a permit or program report that is a lower priority for electronic reporting (e.g., a general permit that provides coverage for 10 or fewer NPDES-regulated entities).
The alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines request must:
 be submitted to EPA by the Director, as defined in 40 CFR 122.2;
 identify each general permit, program report, and related data elements covered by the request and the corresponding alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines;
 identify each facility covered by the request and the corresponding alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines (Note: This only applies if the request covers some but not all facilities with the general permit or program report requirement);
 be submitted at least 120 days prior to the compliance dates in Table 1 to 40 CFR 127.16 or a previously EPA approved alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline; and
 provide a rationale for the delay and enough details (e.g., tasks, milestones, roles and responsibilities, necessary resources) to clearly describe how the program will successfully implement electronic reporting for general permit, program report, and related data elements covered by the request.
EPA will review each alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request and approve or reject the request within 120 days. EPA will provide notice to the authorized NPDES program. The authorized NPDES program may re-apply if the initial request is rejected by EPA. EPA will update its website with each alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline and the corresponding Agency approval or rejection notice. EPA will provide updated information at: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/npdes-ereporting. EPA will update its website to clearly identify the approved alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline for each facility, general permit report, program report, and related data element by authorized NPDES program.
EPA and states also need to share information to create a common and complete inventory of general permits and program reports and related electronic reporting tools. This inventory will help promote efficiencies in NPDES eRule implementation. Under the NPDES eRule authorized NPDES programs must share basic information with EPA regarding their general permits and program reports so that EPA can assess the corresponding electronic reporting participation rates [see 40 CFR 127.26(j)]. This ICR covers the burden associated with the authorized NPDES program providing information to EPA to compile and maintain this inventory of general permits and program reports and related electronic reporting tools. The general permit data to be shared with EPA includes:

 NPDES General Permit ID
 State
 NPDES General Permit Name
 Link to NPDES General Permit (URL)
 Link to Electronic Reporting Tool (URL)
 Electronic Reporting Tool Initial Deployment Date
 General Permit Issued Date
 General Permit Effective Date
 General Permit Expired Date
 Estimate Number of General Permit Covered Facilities
 EPA Issued General Permit
 General Permit will use EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")
 General Permit Requires DMR Submissions
 General Permit Requires Program Report
 Industrial Category
 General Permit Requires NOI Submission
 Timing of General Permit NOI Submissions
 General Permit Will Be Renewed

The program report data to be shared with EPA includes:

 State
 Program Report Type
 Link to Electronic Reporting Tool (URL)
 Electronic Reporting Tool Initial Deployment Date
 Estimate Number of Program Report Filers
 EPA Issued Program Report
 Program Report will use EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")

Authorized NPDES programs will share these data with EPA as their general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools are updated or deployed. Authorized NPDES programs will also annually review and update EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. EPA will make these data available to authorized NPDES programs and NPDES-regulated entities for review through an easy to use online dashboard. The online "NPDES eRule Phase 2 Implementation Dashboard" provides an inventory of all general permits and program reports covered by the NPDES eRule. This dashboard also provides an updated view of EPA's progress in gathering information and deploying NPDES electronic reporting tools for Phase 2 general permits and program reports. EPA will also supplement these data with the "Electronic Reporting Deadline" for each general permit and program report. This will provide a single source of information on "who" needs to report, "what" reports must be submitted electronically, "when" these reports must be electronically submitted, and the location of the electronic reporting tool (i.e., the "where").

Respondent Activities
State authorized NPDES programs will need to complete the following activities:
 Authorized NPDES programs will need to email a waiver request to EPA when they are seeking an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline for general permits or program reports. This will involve completing a two- or three-page memorandum or form with information listed above so that EPA can make an informed decision on whether to approve or deny the request. This request should be submitted at least 120 days prior to the compliance dates in Table 1 to 40 CFR 127.16 or a previously EPA approved alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline. A waiver request submission can cover one or more general permits and program reports.
 Authorized NPDES programs will need to send an email to EPA with the information listed above as they update or deploy their general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. These updates should be timely in that the authorized NPDES program sends an email to EPA within 40 days of the completed activity. EPA may also create an online form for authorized NPDES programs to submit these data.
 Authorized NPDES programs will need to annually review EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. Authorized NPDES programs will summarize this review in an email to EPA. This email will confirm that EPA's inventory is complete and accurate as well as identify any necessary changes. EPA may also create an online form for authorized NPDES programs to submit these data.

THE INFORMATION COLLECTED - AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Agency Activities
EPA will review each alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request and approve or reject the request within 120 days. EPA will provide notice to the authorized NPDES program. The authorized NPDES program may re-apply if the initial request is rejected by EPA. EPA will update its website with each alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request and the corresponding Agency approval or rejection notice. EPA will provide updated information at: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/npdes-ereporting. EPA will update its website to clearly identify the approved alternative Phase 2 compliance deadlines for each facility, general permit report, program report, and related data element by authorized NPDES program.
EPA will also update its online inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools to make sure that it is nationally consistent, complete, accurate, and updated as new information is shared with EPA. EPA will update its website to provide the inventory through an easy to use online dashboard and make the dashboard available to authorized NPDES programs and NPDES-regulated entities.
Collection Methodology and Management
Authorized NPDES programs will need to submit a waiver request when they are seeking an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline for general permits or program reports. This will involve completing a two- or three-page memorandum or form with information listed above so that EPA can make an informed decision on whether to approve or deny the request. This memorandum or form will be emailed to EPA (NPDESeReporting@epa.gov).
Authorized NPDES programs will need to provide updates to EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools by sending an email to EPA (NPDESeReporting@epa.gov). Authorized NPDES programs will also need to annually confirm through a memorandum or form that the EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools are accurate and complete.
Small Entity Flexibility
Authorized NPDES programs will also incur costs during the period of this ICR, but by definition are not considered to be small entities.
Collection Schedule
This ICR covers only those activities that occur within the first three years after the effective date of the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule  -  Phase 2 Extension final rule. The analysis makes a conservative assumption regarding the number of authorized NPDES program that will need to submit an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request. Specifically, the analysis assumes that one third of the 47 authorized NPDES program that have elected to build one or more electronic reporting tools (approximately 15 programs) will need to complete an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request within the time period covered by this ICR. This estimate does not account for the state-electronic reporting tools that are already deployed (i.e., no alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline needed).
Additionally, all 48 programs will need to submit general permits and program report data to EPA on a regular basis (within 40 days of completed activity) and annually confirm its accuracy.
ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND COST OF THE COLLECTION
This section presents the burden and cost estimates associated with the final rule associated with this ICR. EPA estimates that approximately 48 respondents will annually incur paperwork-related burden following promulgation of the rule. This number is based on the number of NPDES authorized NPDES programs.
Estimating Total Respondent Burden
EPA estimates that state authorized NPDES programs will incur additional burden in carrying out the additional activities required by the rule. Specifically, they will incur burden to:
 Prepare and send a waiver request to EPA when they are seeking an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline for general permits or program reports. This will involve completing a two- or three-page memorandum or form with information listed above so that EPA can make an informed decision on whether to approve or deny the request. This request should be submitted at least 120 days prior to the compliance dates in Table 1 to 40 CFR 127.16 or a previously EPA approved alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline.
 Prepare and send basic information to EPA as they update or deploy their general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. These updates should be timely in that the authorized NPDES program sends an email to EPA within 40 days of the completed activity. EPA may also create an online form for authorized NPDES programs to submit these data.
 Annually review EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. Authorized NPDES programs will summarize this review in an email to EPA. This email will confirm that EPA's inventory is complete and accurate as well as identify any necessary changes. EPA may also create an online form for authorized NPDES programs to submit these data.

 The sections below identify the assumptions used to estimate the burden associated with those activities that occur during the ICR period. Under the NPDES eRule Authorized NPDES programs can elect to use EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT") or build their own electronic reporting tools. This ICR uses the following terms to estimate the burden associated with the final rule. In total there are 933 NPDES general permits and 409 program reports. EPA administers the entire NPDES program in three states (e.g., Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Mexico), all tribal lands and territories except for the US. Virgin Islands, and parts of the NPDES program in other states (e.g., pretreatment program for PA) as well as tribal lands and territories. The U.S. Virgin Islands has elected to use NeT for all of their general permits and program reports. The remaining 47 states authorized for the core NPDES program have elected to build electronic reporting tools for one or more of their general permits or program reports. The following are the counts of general permits and program reports by issuer and planned usage status for NeT.

                           NPDES General Permit Count

                                 Issuing Agency
        Usage of EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")
       No usage of EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")
                                     State
                                       81
                                      681
                                    U.S. EPA
                                      160
                                       11
                                   Subtotal:
                                      241
                                      692

                           NPDES Program Report Count

                                 Issuing Agency
        Usage of EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")
       No usage of EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")
                                     State
                                       49
                                      220
                                    U.S. EPA
                                      104
                                       36
                                   Subtotal:
                                      153
                                      256

Implementation costs for authorized NPDES programs will vary depending on whether the authorized NPDES program is planning on deploying an electronic reporting tool for a general permit or program report. Under the final rule accompanying this ICR the 47 states that have elected to build their own electronic reporting tools may re	quest additional time for implementation. These states will need to submit an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request to EPA for review and determination. EPA estimates that one third of the 47 authorized NPDES program that have elected to build one or more electronic reporting tools (approximately 15 programs) will need to complete an alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request within the three-year period covered by this ICR. EPA estimates that each waiver review will require 16 hours to prepare and send to EPA. This results in total burden of 240 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.
All 48 authorized NPDES programs (47 states and U.S. Virgin Islands) will need to email to EPA with the information listed above as they update or deploy their general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. These updates should be timely in that the authorized NPDES program sends an email to EPA within 40 days of the completed activity. EPA estimates that there are 726 state-issued general permits based on information previously submitted by EPA Regions and states. Under the Clean Water Act, EPA and states, territories, or tribes with authorized NPDES programs issue NPDES permits with terms no longer than five years. See 33 U.S.C. §1342(b)(1)(B). Authorized NPDES programs may have different schedules for permit applications, but their schedules may be no less stringent than the federal deadlines. Using a five-year renewal frequency, this means that on average states are re-issuing 145 general permits each year. Using a conservative costing methodology, this ICR assumes that twelve of the 48 authorized programs will each renew a general permit in any given month of the year and provide an update to EPA within 40 days. This is an overestimate of the burden as most states do not have more than 12 general permits. This means that EPA is expecting to receive 12 updates on general permits renewals each month. EPA estimates that updated information on general permit and program report electronic reporting tools can be submitted with these monthly updates as deployment of these tools are one-time events. EPA estimates that these will be monthly updates and each update will take 1 hour to prepare and send to EPA. This results in an annual burden of 144 hours and a total burden of 432 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.
All 48 authorized NPDES programs will also need to annually review EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools. Authorized NPDES programs will summarize this review in an email to EPA. This email will confirm that EPA's inventory is complete and accurate as well as identify any necessary changes. EPA estimates that these will be monthly updates and each update will take 4 hours to prepare and send to EPA. This results in an annual burden of 192 hours and a total burden of 576 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.
Because EPA does not have independent estimates of the comparable system costs for each state, tribe, and territory, EPA's estimate of the burden for those NPDES-authorized programs is 1,248 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR. This equates to an annual average total burden of approximately 9 hours per authorized NPDES program.
Total Respondent Costs
To estimate the total respondent costs, EPA multiplies the burden estimates derived in Section 6(a) by the labor rate costs. This analysis uses State and local government workers wages in the "Management, professional, and related" category from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (June 2019). The total compensation is $61.10 per hour.
        Table 1: Estimate of Burden Costs to Authorized NPDES Programs
                           Activity Covered This ICR
            Total Burden Over Three-Year Period Covered by this ICR
                             BLS Hourly Wage Rate
             Total Cost Over Three-Year Period Covered by this ICR
Alternate Compliance Date for General Permit and Program Report
                                      240
                                    $61.10
                                    $14,664
Monthly Updates of General Permit and Program Report Information
                                      432
                                    $61.10
                                    $26,395
Annual Review of General Permit and Program Report Information
                                      576
                                    $61.10
                                    $35,194
                                                                         TOTAL:
                                     1,248

                                    $76,253

The annual burden for all authorized EPA programs is 416 hours (= 1,248 / 3) with an associated annual cost of $25,418 (= $76,253 / 3). The Average Annual Incremental Burden per Authorized NPDES program is approximately 8.7 hours [= 1,248 / (48 * 3)] and the Average Annual Incremental Cost per Authorized NPDES program is approximately $530 [= $76,253 / (48 * 3)].

Estimating Agency Burden and Cost
EPA Headquarters and EPA Regions will incur burden and cost associated with the final rule associated with this ICR. When calculating the Agency cost, EPA uses the loaded hourly costs for government workers shown in Table 1.
EPA Headquarters
EPA Headquarters is responsible for the following activities:

Reviewing alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline requests and making determinations; and
Updating the inventory of EPA Regional and state-issued general permits and program reports and related electronic reporting tools.

The sections below discuss the burden associated with each of these activities.

EPA will review each alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request and approve or reject the request within 120 days. These requests will only come from state that have elected to build their own electronic reporting tools and will not come from NeT-States or EPA Regions. EPA will provide notice to the authorized NPDES program. The authorized NPDES program may re-apply if the initial request is rejected by EPA. EPA will update its website with each alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request and the corresponding Agency approval or rejection notice. EPA will provide updated information at: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/npdes-ereporting. EPA will update its website to clearly identify the approved alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline for each facility, general permit report, program report, and related data element by authorized NPDES program. EPA estimates that the review and approval or rejection of each alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline request is 16 hours per response. This results in total burden of 240 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.

EPA will also update its inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools to make sure that it is nationally consistent, complete, accurate, and updated as new information is shared with EPA. EPA will update its website to provide the inventory through an easy to use dashboard and make the dashboard available to authorized NPDES programs and NPDES-regulated entities. EPA estimates that this will take approximately 4 hours each month. This results in an overall total of 144 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.

EPA will update its inventory of general permits and program reports and the related electronic reporting tools to make sure that it is nationally consistent, complete, accurate, and updated through the annual state verifications. EPA estimates that this will take approximately 16 hours each year. This results in an overall total of 48 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.

             Table 2: Estimate of Burden Costs to EPA Headquarters
                           Activity Covered This ICR
            Total Burden Over Three-Year Period Covered by this ICR
                             BLS Hourly Wage Rate
             Total Cost Over Three-Year Period Covered by this ICR
Alternate Compliance Date for General Permit and Program Report
                                      240
                                    $61.10
                                    $14,664
Monthly Updates of General Permit and Program Report Information
                                      144
                                    $61.10
                                    $26,395
Annual Review of General Permit and Program Report Information
                                      48
                                    $61.10
                                    $35,194
                                                                         TOTAL:
                                      432

                                    $26,395

EPA Regions
Where EPA Regions are the permitting authority, they will incur costs similar to those incurred by authorized state programs (discussed in Section 6(a) above). Specifically, they will incur costs for the following activities:
 Prepare and send basic information to EPA as they update general permits. These updates should be timely in that the authorized NPDES program sends an email to EPA within 40 days of the completed activity.
 Annually review EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports. Authorized NPDES programs will summarize this review in an email to EPA Headquarters. This email will confirm that EPA's inventory is complete and accurate as well as identify any necessary changes.
The sections below discuss the burden associated with each of these activities.

EPA Regions need to modify permits for regulated entities in states where the EPA Region is the permitting authority to require electronic reporting (and, where applicable, remove language that explicitly requires paper reporting). EPA estimates that there are seven EPA Regions with 43 general permits (EPA Region 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10). This estimate is derived from the NPDES eRule Phase 2 Implementation Dashboard (see: https://echo.epa.gov/trends/data-viz?filters=erule). Using a five-year renewal frequency, this means that EPA Regions are re-issuing approximately 9 general permits each year. EPA estimates that these will be monthly updates and each update will take 1 hour to prepare and send to EPA Headquarters. This results in an annual burden of 9 hours and a total burden of 27 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.
The seven EPA Regions will need to annually verify EPA's inventory of general permits and program reports and sending this information to EPA. EPA estimates that this annual review will take 4 hours to prepare and send to EPA Headquarters. This results in an annual burden of 28 hours and a total burden of 84 hours during the three-year period covered by this ICR.

               Table 3: Estimate of Burden Costs to EPA Regions
                           Activity Covered This ICR
            Total Burden Over Three-Year Period Covered by this ICR
                             BLS Hourly Wage Rate
             Total Cost Over Three-Year Period Covered by this ICR
Alternate Compliance Date for General Permit and Program Report
                                      N/A
                                      N/A
                                      N/A
Monthly Updates of General Permit and Program Report Information
                                      27
                                    $61.10
                                    $1,650
Annual Review of General Permit and Program Report Information
                                      84
                                    $61.10
                                     5,132
                                                                         TOTAL:
                                      111

                                    $6,782

Estimating the Respondent Universe
The respondent universe is comprised of authorized state programs. As previously noted, 47 states and one U.S. territory are authorized by EPA to administer some or all the NPDES program. EPA estimates that there are seven EPA Regions with 43 general permits (EPA Region 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10).
Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables
The incremental burden and cost to authorized NPDES programs is presented in Table 1.

The Agency Tally
The incremental burden and cost to EPA is presented in Tables 1 and 2.

Reasons for Change in Burden
Receiving current high-level data on general permits and program reports is critical to EPA's ability to oversee and manage authorized NPDES programs. Authorizing the burden under this ICR will allow EPA to provide timely assistance to authorized NPDES programs as they implementation the NPDES eRule. The general permits and program reports inventory will help promote efficiencies in NPDES eRule implementation as states will be able to use this information to identify other states that have already developed electronic reporting tools.
Burden Statement
The calculations made for this ICR cover the burden and costs for authorized EPA programs, EPA Regions, and EPA Headquarters. Burden for authorized EPA programs is 416 hours annually for 48 state respondents at a cost of $25,418. The average annual burden per respondent is 8.7 hours per state. Agency burden is 181 hours annually at a net cost increase of $11,059.
Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, 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 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 information.
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.
To comment on the Agency's need for this information, you can send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408 and OMB Control Number 2020-0037 in any correspondence.
Attachment 1  -  State NPDES eRule Phase 2 Alternative Phase 2 Compliance Deadline Request

                          STATE NPDES ERULE PHASE 2
                ALTERNATIVE PHASE 2 COMPLIANCE DEADLINE REQUEST

                               EPA FORM 6100-056
                          FORM OMB APPROVED 2020-0037
                                 EXP. MM/YYYY
                               FOR EPA USE ONLY

                                [Date Received]

Director Information

Director Email Address
Director Telephone Number

ALTERNATIVE PHASE 2 COMPLIANCE DEADLINE REQUEST SUPPORTING INFORMATION
INSTRUCTIONS: Identify each general permit, program report, and/or related data elements covered by the request and the corresponding alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline(s).

Provide a rationale for the delay and enough details (e.g., tasks, milestones, roles and responsibilities, necessary resources) to clearly describe how the program will successfully implement electronic reporting for general permit, program report, and/or related data element covered by the request.

If the request covers some but not all facilities subject to the general permit or program report requirement use this form to identify each facility covered by the request and the corresponding alternative Phase 2 compliance deadline(s).

                      (Attach additional pages if needed)

SIGNATURE
SCAN TO PDF AND RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO:

<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Director Printed Name

Signature
Date

OMB Burden Statement: This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2020-NEW). Responses to this collection of information are mandatory (40 CFR 127). 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 public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to range from one to four hours per response. Send comments on the Agency's need this formation, 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 Director, Regulatory Support Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.

Attachment 2  -  NPDES General Permit and Program Report Inventory Update Form

                                     NPDES
           GENERAL PERMIT AND PROGRAM REPORT INVENTORY UPDATE FORM

                               EPA FORM 6100-057
                          FORM OMB APPROVED 2020-0037
                                 EXP. MM/YYYY
                               FOR EPA USE ONLY

                                [Date Received]

NPDES General Permit Inventory Update

NPDES General Permit ID
(Note: This is the unique identifier for the NPDES general permit, not the NPDES ID of the one or more general permit covered facilities.)
State
(Note: This is the state where the NPDES general permit provides permit coverage.)
NPDES General Permit Name

Link to NPDES General Permit (URL)
(if available)
Link to Electronic Reporting Tool (URL)
(if available)
Electronic Reporting Tool Initial Deployment Date
(if available)
General Permit Issued Date

General Permit Effective Date

General Permit Expired Date

Estimate Number of General Permit Covered Facilities

EPA Issued General Permit
(Yes/No)
General Permit will use EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")
(Yes/No)
General Permit Requires DMR Submissions
(Yes/No)
General Permit Requires Program Report
(Yes/No)

(Note: The list of program reports is found in Table 1, Appendix A to 40 CFR part 127.)
Industrial Category
(Note: Use the categories provided on the NPDES eRule Phase 2 Implementation Dashboard. See: https://edap.epa.gov/public/extensions/eRule_Phase2/eRule_Phase2.html)
General Permit Requires NOI Submission
(Yes/No)
Timing of General Permit NOI Submissions
(NOI Submissions Mostly Made Upon General Permit Renewal, NOI Submissions Made Throughout General Permit Term, Not Applicable)
General Permit Will Be Renewed
(Yes/No)
(Note: This is an indication from the authorized NPDES program regarding their plans to re-issue this general permit.)
                      (Attach additional pages if needed)

NPDES Program Report Inventory Update

State
(Note: This is the state of the NPDES program report filers.)
Program Report Type
(Note: The list of program reports is found in Table 1, Appendix A to 40 CFR part 127.)
Link to Electronic Reporting Tool (URL)
(if available)
Electronic Reporting Tool Initial Deployment Date
(if available)
Estimate Number of Program Report Filers

EPA Issued Program Report
(Yes/No)
Program Report will use EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool (or "NeT")
(Yes/No)
                      (Attach additional pages if needed)

HOW TO SUBMIT: Please report this information electronically using the instructions at: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/npdes-ereporting
OMB Burden Statement: This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2020-NEW). Responses to this collection of information are mandatory (40 CFR 127). 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 public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to range from one to four hours per response. Send comments on the Agency's need this formation, 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 Director, Regulatory Support Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.


[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 26747]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11287]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-1971-DR; Docket ID FEMA-2011-0001]

Alabama; Amendment No. 4 to Notice of a Major Disaster
Declaration

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration
for the State of Alabama (FEMA-1971-DR), DATED April 28, 2011, and
related determinations.

DATED: Effective Date: May 1, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Miller, Office of Response and
Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice of a major disaster declaration
for the State of Alabama is hereby amended to include the following
areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by
the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration
of April 28, 2011.

    Bibb, Blount, Cherokee, Choctaw, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jackson,
Limestone, Madison, and Washington Counties for Individual
Assistance (already designated for debris removal and emergency
protective measures [Categories A and B], including direct Federal
assistance, under the Public Assistance program).

The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA)
are to be used for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030, Community
Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis Counseling;
97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management Assistance Grant; 97.048,
Disaster Housing Assistance to Individuals and Households In
Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049, Presidentially
Declared Disaster Assistance--Disaster Housing Operations for
Individuals and Households; 97.050, Presidentially Declared Disaster
Assistance to Individuals and Households--Other Needs; 97.036,
Disaster Grants--Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared
Disasters); 97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant.

W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-11287 Filed 5-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-23-P