[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 5548]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01965]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-94067; File No. SR-DTC-2021-017]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company;
Notice of Designation of Longer Period for Commission Action on a
Proposed Rule Change To Enhance Capital Requirements and Make Other
Changes

January 26, 2022.
    On December 13, 2021, The Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') proposed
rule change SR-DTC-2021-017 (the ``Proposed Rule Change'') pursuant to
Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\
and Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\2\ The Proposed Rule Change was published
for comment in the Federal Register on December 29, 2021,\3\ and the
Commission received no comment letters regarding the changes proposed
in the Proposed Rule Change.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 93854 (December 22,
2021), 86 FR 74122 (December 29, 2021) (File No. SR-DTC-2021-017).
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    Section 19(b)(2) of the Act \4\ provides that, within 45 days of
the publication of notice of the filing of a proposed rule change, or
within such longer period up to 90 days as the Commission may designate
if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its
reasons for so finding or as to which the self-regulatory organization
consents, the Commission shall either approve the proposed rule change,
disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. The
45th day after publication of the notice for the Proposed Rule Change
is February 12, 2022.
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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    The Commission is extending the 45-day period for Commission action
on the Proposed Rule Change. The Commission finds that it is
appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on
the Proposed Rule Change so that it has sufficient time to consider and
take action on the Proposed Rule Change.
    Accordingly, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act \5\ and for
the reasons stated above, the Commission designates March 29, 2022 as
the date by which the Commission shall either approve, disapprove, or
institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove proposed rule
change SR-DTC-2021-017.
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    \5\ Id.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\6\
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    \6\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(31).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-01965 Filed 1-31-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9600-9602]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02946]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

44 CFR Part 67

[Docket ID FEMA-2013-0002]

Final Flood Elevation Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and modified
BFEs are made final for the communities listed below. The BFEs and
modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that
each community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being
already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

DATES: The date of issuance of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
showing BFEs and modified BFEs for each community. This date may be
obtained by contacting the office where the maps are available for
inspection as indicated in the table below.

ADDRESSES: The final BFEs for each community are available for
inspection at the office of the Chief Executive Officer of each
community. The respective addresses are listed in the table below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luis Rodriguez, Chief, Engineering
Management Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration,
Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC
20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>, or (email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) makes the final determinations listed below for the modified
BFEs for each community listed. These modified elevations have been
published in newspapers of local circulation and ninety (90) days have
elapsed since that publication. The Deputy Associate Administrator for
Mitigation has resolved any appeals resulting from this notification.
    This final rule is issued in accordance with section 110 of the
Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR part
67. FEMA has developed criteria for floodplain management in floodprone
areas in accordance with 44 CFR part 60.
    Interested lessees and owners of real property are encouraged to
review the proof Flood Insurance Study and FIRM available at the
address cited below for each community. The BFEs and modified BFEs are
made final in the communities listed below. Elevations at selected
locations in each community are shown.
    National Environmental Policy Act. This final rule is categorically
excluded from the requirements of 44 CFR part 10, Environmental
Consideration. An environmental impact assessment has not been
prepared.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. As flood elevation determinations are
not within the scope of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-
612, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
    Regulatory Classification. This final rule is not a significant
regulatory action under the criteria of section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866 of September 30, 1993, Regulatory Planning and Review, 58 FR
51735.
    Executive Order 13132, Federalism. This final rule involves no
policies that have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This final rule meets
the applicable standards of Executive Order 12988.

List of Subjects in 44 CFR Part 67

    Administrative practice and procedure, Flood insurance, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, 44 CFR part 67 is amended as follows:

PART 67--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 67 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of
1978, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 329; E.O. 12127, 44 FR 19367, 3 CFR,
1979 Comp., p. 376.

Sec.  67.11  [Amended]

0
2. The tables published under the authority of Sec.  67.11 are amended
as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      * Elevation in
                                                                      feet (NGVD) +
                                                                    Elevation in feet
                                                                     (NAVD)
           Flooding source(s)              Location of referenced     Depth in feet       Communities affected
                                                 elevation             above ground
                                                                    [caret] Elevation
                                                                     in meters (MSL)
                                                                         modified
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, and Incorporated Areas
                                       Docket No.: FEMA-B-1204 and B-1221
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Branch..........................  Approximately 0.70 mile                 +189  Unincorporated Areas of
                                          upstream of Kendrick                          St. Helena Parish.
                                          Road.
                                         Approximately 0.90 mile                 +189
                                          upstream of Kendrick
                                          Road.
Tickfaw River..........................  Approximately 1.48 miles                +110  Village of Montpelier.
                                          downstream of State
                                          Route 16.
                                         At the Twelvemile Creek                 +111
                                          confluence.
Tributary of Tickfaw River.............  Approximately 1.14 miles                +115  Unincorporated Areas of
                                          upstream of the Tickfaw                       St. Helena Parish.
                                          River confluence.
                                         Approximately 1.68 miles                +119
                                          upstream of the Tickfaw
                                          River confluence.
Twelvemile Creek.......................  At the Tickfaw River                    +111  Village of Montpelier.
                                          confluence.
                                         At the upstream side of                 +112
                                          State Route 43.
Ward Line Canal........................  Approximately 790 feet                  +185  Town of Greensburg.
                                          upstream of Sitman Road.
                                         Approximately 1,480 feet                +187
                                          upstream of Sitman Road.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* National Geodetic Vertical Datum.
+ North American Vertical Datum.
 Depth in feet above ground.
[caret] Mean Sea Level, rounded to the nearest 0.1 meter.
                                                    ADDRESSES

Town of Greensburg
Maps are available for inspection at the Town Hall, 14560 Louisiana Highway 37, Greensburg, LA 70441.

                                    Unincorporated Areas of St. Helena Parish
Maps are available for inspection at the St. Helena Parish Police Jury Administration Building, 17911 Louisiana
 Highway 43, Greensburg, LA 70441.

Village of Montpelier
Maps are available for inspection at the Town Hall, 36400 Louisiana Highway 16, Montpelier, LA 70422.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania (All Jurisdictions)
                                             Docket No.: FEMA-B-1232
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choconut Creek.........................  Approximately 0.9 mile                 +1038  Township of Choconut.
                                          downstream of Kellum
                                          Road.
                                         Approximately 1,430 feet               +1275
                                          upstream of State Route
                                          267.
DuBois Creek...........................  At the Susquehanna River                +875  Borough of Hallstead,
                                          confluence.                                   Township of Great Bend.
                                         Approximately 1.2 miles                +1036
                                          upstream of Steam Hollow
                                          Road.
Dundaff Creek..........................  At the East Branch                     +1047  Township of Clifford.
                                          Tunkhannock Creek
                                          confluence.
                                         Approximately 0.6 mile                 +1093
                                          upstream of State Route
                                          106.
East Branch Tunkhannock Creek..........  Approximately 0.8 mile                  +963  Township of Clifford,
                                          downstream of LR 57037.                       Township of Lenox.
                                         Approximately 1.7 miles                +1083
                                          upstream of State Route
                                          106.
Salt Lick Creek........................  At the Susquehanna River                +877  Borough of Hallstead,
                                          confluence.                                   Borough of New Milford,
                                                                                Township of Great Bend,
                                                                                Township of New Milford.
                                         Approximately 0.4 mile                 +1273
                                          upstream of State Route
                                          1012.
Starrucca Creek........................  At the Susquehanna River                +911  Borough of Lanesboro.
                                          confluence.
                                         At North Main Street.....               +911
Susquehanna River......................  At the downstream New                   +872  Borough of Great Bend,
                                          York state boundary.                          Borough of Hallstead,
                                                                                Borough of Lanesboro,
                                                                                Borough of Oakland,
                                                                                Borough of Susquehanna
                                                                                Depot, Township of Great
                                                                                Bend, Township of
                                                                                Harmony, Township of
                                                                                Oakland.
                                         At the upstream New York                +918
                                          state boundary.
Trowbridge Creek.......................  At the Susquehanna River                +874  Township of Great Bend.
                                          confluence.

                                         At the New York state                   +982
                                          boundary.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* National Geodetic Vertical Datum.
+ North American Vertical Datum.
 Depth in feet above ground.
[caret] Mean Sea Level, rounded to the nearest 0.1 meter.

                                                    ADDRESSES
Borough of Great Bend
Maps are available for inspection at the Borough Building, 81 Elizabeth Street, Great Bend, PA 18821.

Borough of Hallstead
Maps are available for inspection at the Municipal Building, 101 Franklin Avenue, Hallstead, PA 18822.

Borough of Lanesboro
Maps are available for inspection at the Borough Hall, 418 Main Street, Lanesboro, PA 18827.

Borough of New Milford
Maps are available for inspection at the Borough Office, 948 Main Street, Suite 1, New Milford, PA 18834.

Borough of Oakland
Maps are available for inspection at the Oakland Borough Building, 15 Wilson Avenue, Susquehanna, PA 18847.

Borough of Susquehanna Depot
Maps are available for inspection at the Susquehanna Depot Borough Hall, 83 Erie Boulevard, Suite A,
 Susquehanna, PA 18847.

Township of Choconut
Maps are available for inspection at the Choconut Township Hall, 26499 State Route 267, Friendsville, PA 18818.

Township of Clifford
Maps are available for inspection at the Township Building, 119 Cemetery Street, Clifford, PA 18441.

Township of Great Bend
Maps are available for inspection at the Great Bend Township Building, 33253 State Route 151, Susquehanna, PA
 18847.
Township of Harmony
Maps are available for inspection at the Harmony Township Office, 4197 Starrucca Creek Road, Susquehanna, PA
 18847.
Township of Lenox
Maps are available for inspection at the Lenox Township Municipal Building, 2811 State Route 92, Kingsley, PA
 18826.

Township of New Milford
Maps are available for inspection at the Township Building, 19730 State Route 11, New Milford, PA 18834.
Township of Oakland
Maps are available for inspection at the Oakland Township Building, 36 Riverside Drive, Susquehanna, PA 18847.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 97.022, ``Flood
Insurance.'')

James A. Walke,
Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation, Department of
Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2013-02946 Filed 2-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P


FOCUS GROUPS AS USED BY EPA FOR ECONOMICS PROJECTS

EPA ICR No. 2205.02

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Part A

Section 1.  Identification of the Information Collection

1(a)  Title of the Information Collection:

Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects

1(b)  Short Characterization/Abstract:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking approval for a
generic information collection request (ICR) for the conduct of focus
groups and one-on-one interviews related to survey development for
economics projects.   Focus groups are groups of individuals brought
together for moderated discussions on a specific topic or issue.  These
groups are typically formed to gain insight and understanding of
attitudes and perceptions held by the public surrounding a particular
issue.  One-on-one interviews, as the term implies, are individual
interviews in which a respondent is generally asked to review materials
and provide feedback on their content and design as well as the thought
processes that the materials invoke.

Focus groups and one-on-one interviews (hereafter referred to
collectively as “focus groups”) used as a qualitative research tool
have three major purposes:

To better understand respondents’ attitudes, perceptions and emotions
in response to specific topics and concepts;

To obtain respondent information useful for better defining variables
and measures in later quantitative studies; and

To further explore findings obtained from quantitative studies.

Through these focus groups, the Agency will be able to gain a more
in-depth understanding of the public’s attitudes, beliefs, motivations
and feelings regarding specific issues and will provide invaluable
information regarding the quality of draft survey instruments.  Focus
group discussions are necessary and important steps in the design of a
quality survey.

Section 2.  Need for and use of the Collection

2(a)	Need/Authority for the Collection

Over the next three years, the Agency anticipates embarking on a number
of survey development efforts associated with a variety of economics
projects including those related to valuation of ecosystems,
children’s health risks, improvements to coastal waters, and invasive
species to name a few.  Focus groups are an important part of any survey
development process, allowing researchers to directly gauge what
specific issues are important to the public and providing a means for
explicitly testing draft survey materials.

If this information is not collected, a vital link in developing methods
to better understand the economic benefits and costs associated with
Agency actions will be lost.   This loss will cause further delays in
the development of improved estimates of benefits and costs.

This data collection is conducted for research purposes; there are no
legal requirements.  The materials prepared for these discussions will
fully conform to federal regulations – specifically the Privacy Act of
1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Hawkins-Stafford Amendments of 1988 (P.L
100-297), and the Computer Security Act of 1987.

2(b)	Practical Utility/Users of the Data

The information collected in the focus groups will be used to develop
and improve economics-related surveys.  To the extent that these surveys
are ultimately successfully administered, they will serve to expand the
Agency’s understanding of benefits and costs of a variety of actions
and could provide the means to quantitatively assess the effects of
others.  Participation in the focus groups will be voluntary and the
identity of the participants will be kept confidential.

Focus groups generally do not yield meaningful quantitative findings and
do not yield data about public opinion that can be generalized.  As
such, they cannot be used directly to estimate benefits and costs
associated with a specific environmental action.  However, program
offices engaged in survey research use focus groups as an important tool
in the survey development process to test and refine their ideas.  The
conduct of quantitative research would need to be completed to develop
new estimates of benefits or costs.

Section 3.  Non duplication, Consultations, and Other Collection
Criteria

3(a)	Non duplication

It is not expected that any of the information to be submitted to the
EPA during these focus group studies is duplicative or is already in the
possession of the Federal Government.  The proposed focus groups will
address the needs of the Agency and significantly improve our ability to
test and redefine ideas that will allow EPA to conduct further
quantitative research on various environmental economics issues.

3(b)	Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB

In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d) on November 4, 2005, EPA published a
60-day Federal Register notice (68 FR 65938).  See Appendix 1 for a copy
of this Federal Register notice.

3(c) 	Consultations

EPA will use in-house staff and/or outside contractors (including
possible contacts with the academic community) to develop focus group
plans for areas of interest.  According to OMB guidelines for generic
clearances for focus groups, EPA will establish an independent review
process to assure the development and implementation of high quality
focus groups by EPA.  EPA will provide OMB a copy of the survey
instrument for inclusion in the public docket.

3(d)	Effects of Less Frequent Collection

	Each focus group will be a one-time collection exercise for the
enrolled participants.

3(e)	General Guidelines

This collection does not violate any of OMB’s general guidelines for
information collections.

Information will be collected according to the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.
 Respondents will be asked to participate in one focus group and their
participation will be voluntary. There will be no need for participants
to maintain records or submit documents or proprietary trade secrets.
There will be complete protection of any demographic information
collection from participant—full names, phone numbers and addresses
will not be associated with responses.

EPA has developed EPA Information Quality Guidelines (2002) to ensure
the utility, objectivity and integrity of information that is
disseminated by the Agency.  It is EPA’s intention that collection of
information under this ICR will result in information that will be
collected, maintained, and used in ways consistent with both the EPA
Information Quality Guidelines (2002) and the OMB Information Quality
Guidelines (2002).   EPA intends to conduct a pre-dissemination review
when the Agency prepares to disseminate information collected under this
ICR.

3(f)	Confidentiality

Each focus group will fully conform to federal regulations –
specifically the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the
Hawkins-Stafford Amendments of 1988 (P.L 100-297), and the Computer
Security Act of 1987.

3(g) 	Sensitive Questions

No questions will be asked that are of a personal or sensitive nature.

Section 4.  The Respondents and the Information Requested

4(a)	Respondents/SIC Codes

The target population for the focus group discussions will vary by
project, but will generally include members of the general public.

4(b)	Information Requested

Data items, including record keeping requirements

Respondent Activities

Respondents will be asked to participate in a moderated discussion on a
particular topic or issue, during which they will be asked their
thoughts, perceptions and beliefs regarding the issue.  The collection
will be a one time event and there will be no need for participants to
maintain records or submit documents or proprietary trade secrets.
There will be complete protection of any demographic information
collection from participants -- names, phone numbers and addresses will
not be associated with responses.

Section 5.  The Information Collected – Agency Activities, Collection
Methodology, and Information Management

5(a) Agency Activities

Agency activities associated with this information collection will
include:

-- Drafting focus groups scripts and accompanying materials

-- Observing and in some cases moderating the focus group discussions

-- Summarizing focus group results and making changes to draft survey
materials as appropriate

In addition, the Agency will establish a three-member cross-office panel
to review focus group projects proposed under this ICR.  Membership on
the panel will be on a rotational basis and will consist of one
economist from the Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation’s
National Center for Environmental Economics and two other economists
from elsewhere in the Agency.  Each of the panel members will have
experience with surveys.  Only projects that have as their primary goal
the estimation of benefits, the estimation of costs, or the elicitation
of preferences for health outcomes, safety and/or environmental goods
will be considered.  Additional details about the panel review process
can be found in the Appendix 2.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

Focus group studies are directed group discussions that do not produce
quantitative data, but which enable skilled observers to infer the
underlying views and assumptions of the group that are expressed in the
discussion.  To facilitate interpretation, discussions are generally
recorded and videotaped so that both a visual record and written
transcript of the discussion are available for review.  Participants are
informed in advance that the sessions will be recorded.  Transcripts and
video tapes will be maintained in the individual project files.

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

No information will be collected from small businesses or small
organizations or small governmental jurisdictions as a result of this
information collection.

5(d) Collection Schedule

Focus groups will be scheduled according to the needs of individual
projects.  No firm schedule for this collection has been established
otherwise.

Section 6.  Estimating the Burden and Cost of Collection

6(a)	Estimating Respondent Burden

6(b)	Estimating Respondent Costs

Estimates of respondent burden were derived from projected focus group
usage over the next three years.  Each program office was asked for the
number and size of the focus groups that they anticipate conducting for
economics projects over the next three years.  The total estimated
hourly burden imposed by this collection of information over the next
three years is approximately 3,418 hours or approximately 1,139 hours
annually. The total burden per year is valued at approximately $30,147.
There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated
with this collection.

TABLE 1. – Average Annual Respondent Burden and Costs1

Center

Subject

Approximate Number of Studies

Average Number  of Focus Groups per Study

Average Number of Participants per Group

Average Hours of Duration for Each Group (includes screening)

Total Estimated “Respondent” Hours

Over next 3 years

Total Estimated

Burden per Year ($)

Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation

Various (e.g, coastal water valuation, children’s health valuation,
ecosystem valuation)

7

8

9

2.0

1008

$8,891

Office of Research and Development

Various (e.g., health valuation, ecosystem services)

4

9

9

2.1

680

$5,997

Office of Water

Various (e.g., invasive species)

2

20

9

3

1080

$9,526

Office of Air and Radiation

Various (e.g., averting behavior, Smartway)

5

3

16

2.7

650

$5,733

TOTAL

3,418

$30,147

1  There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs
associated with this collection of

  information.

2  Hourly rate ($26.46) from “Total compensation, all workers, all
civilian, 2005 – Qtr 4", U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.

6(c)	Estimating Agency Burden and Costs

The Agency incurs costs to develop the focus group materials, organize
and conduct focus group discussions, and observe focus group
discussions.  These expenses will vary by specific project.  The table
below provides a hypothetical assessment of what the costs might be per
year based on a number of assumptions regarding the level of effort
required.  EPA person-costs are estimated using an hourly rate for a
GS-14 (step 1) based in Washington, DC.  Time spent on each step may
vary as well as the GS-level of the employees involved.  Contractor
costs will also depend on the location of focus groups, degree of
involvement in materials preparation and whether written transcripts of
each focus group are required.  The estimates presented below assume
that the Agency prepares all of the materials and that approximately 3
individuals observe each focus group.

Estimated Average Annual Agency Burden and Costs

Task	Costs (and Person-hours) Per Focus Group Hour	Total Hours and Cost

	EPA

($43.80/

Hour)	Estimated Contractor Costs1	O&M Cost	Number of focus group
hours/year.	Total Cost/Year

Prepare Materials for Focus Group Discussion	$876

(20 hrs)

--

--

348

$304,848

Organize and conduct focus group discussion

(contractor)	--

$4,000

--

348

$1,392,000

Observe focus group discussion	$131.40

(3 hrs)

	--	--

348

$45,727

Total

$1,007.40

$4,000	--

348

$1,742,575

Notes:  1includes recruiting respondents, meeting space, respondent
reimbursement for approximately 9 participants, and recording of
discussion.

6(d)	Estimating the Respondent Universe and Total Burden and Costs

6(e)	Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables

We expect focus group hours to total 3,418 over the next 3 years or
1,139 each year.  These hours will be spread over approximately 147
focus groups over the course of the 3-year time frame.

Respondent Tally

Action	Approximate Number of Focus Groups per year	 Estimated Respondent
Hours per Year	Total labor Cost per Year	Total Annual Capital Costs
Total Annual O&M costs

Focus Group Discussion	49	1139	$30,147	$0	$0

Agency Tally

	Approximate Number of Focus Groups per year	Estimated Focus Group Hours
per year	Total Capital/Startup Cost Per Year	Total Labor Cost per Year
Total Annual Cost

Focus Group Discussion	49	348	$1,392,000	$350,575	$1,742,575

6(f)	Reasons for Change in Burden

Not Applicable

6(g) 	Burden Statement

As noted previously, we expect focus group hours to total about 3,418
over the next 3 years or 1,139 hours each year.  These hours will be
spread over approximately 147 focus groups over the course of the 3-year
time frame.  The approximate respondent burden for this collection comes
to $30,147 per year whereas the annual Agency burden is approximately
$1.7 million.

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.  An Agency may not
conduct of 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 number for EPA’s regulations are
listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.

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 Director, Collection Strategies Division,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,
Washington, D.C. 20460; and 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.  Include the
EPA ICR number and OMB control number in any correspondence.

Part B.

There are no tabulated results for this information collection.

Information gathered from focus groups is qualitative in nature.  They
allow for a more in-depth understanding of respondents’ attitudes,
beliefs, motivations, and feelings than do quantitative studies. It
serves the narrowly defined need for direct and informal opinion on a
specific topic.

Appendix 1

[Federal Register: November 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 213)]

[Notices]

[Page 67163-67165]

[DOCID:fr04no05-42]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OA-2005-0004, FRL-7993-8]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects,

EPA ICR Number 2205.01

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 EPA is planning to submit a

proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request for a new collection.

Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is

soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information

collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OA-2005-

0004, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail
HYPERLINK<EMAIL_ADDRESS>

<EMAIL_ADDRESS>, or by mail to: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA

Docket Center (EPA/DC), Office of Environmental Information, Mail Code

2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathalie Simon, Office of Policy,

Economics and Innovation, Mail Code 1809T, Environmental Protection

Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone

number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>; e-mail address:   HYPERLINK
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>

<EMAIL_ADDRESS>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this

ICR under Docket ID number OA-2005-0004, which is available for public

viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the

EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room

is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding

legal holidays. The telephone number for the

Reading Room is<PHONE_NUMBER>, and the telephone number for the Office

of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket is<PHONE_NUMBER>. An

electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA

Dockets (EDOCKET) at   HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/edocket"
http://www.epa.gov/edocket . Use EDOCKET to obtain

a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view public

comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public

docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are

available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then

key in the docket ID number identified above.

    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within

60 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether

submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public

viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the

comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business

information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is

restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment containing

copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in

the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The entire

printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available

in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the official

docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is otherwise

restricted by statute, is not included in the official public docket,

and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For further

information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal Register

notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 31, 2002),

or go to   HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/edocket"
http://www.epa.gov/edocket .

    Title: Focus Groups as used by EPA for Economics Projects.

    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking

approval for a generic information collection request (ICR) for the

conduct of focus groups and protocol interview (hereafter jointly

referred to as focus groups) related to economics projects. Over the

next three years, the Agency anticipates embarking on a number of

survey development efforts associated with a variety of economics

projects including those related to valuation of ecosystems, children's

health risks, improvements to coastal waters, and invasive species to

name a few. Focus groups are an important part of any survey

development process, allowing for researchers to directly gauge what

specific issues are important to the public and providing a means for

explicitly testing draft survey materials. Through these focus groups,

the Agency will be able to gain a more in-depth understanding of the

public's attitudes, beliefs, motivations and feelings regarding

specific issues and will provide valuable information regarding the

quality of draft survey instruments.

    The information collected in the focus groups will be used to

develop and improve economics-related surveys. To the extent that these

surveys are ultimately successfully administered, they will serve to

expand the Agencies understanding of benefits and costs of a variety of

actions and could provide the means to quantitatively assess the

effects of others. Participation in the focus groups will be voluntary

and the identity of the participants will be kept confidential.

    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 in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.

    The EPA would like to solicit comments to:

    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,

including whether the information will have practical utility;

    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden

of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of

the methodology and assumptions used;

    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information

to be collected; and

    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those

who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated

electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic

submission of responses.

    Burden Statement: The only burden imposed by the focus group

interviews on respondents will be the time required to participate in

the focus groups and answer the associated questions. The Agency

estimates that for economics projects anticipated over the next three

years, 1758 participants will be needed to participate in 188 focus

groups. In most cases, the anticipated length of the focus groups is

2.0 hours per participant, with the average length per focus group

equal to 2.4 hours. Based on an average hourly rate of $25.87 \a\

(including employer costs of all employee benefits), the Agency expects

that the average per-respondent cost for the focus groups will be

$62.09 and the corresponding one-time total cost to all respondents

will be $109,151 (see table below). Since this information collection

is voluntary and does not involve any special equipment, respondents

will not incur any capital or operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.

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

    \a\ Employer costs per hour worked for employee compensation and

costs as a percent of total compensation: Civilian workers, total

compensation, March 2005 (  HYPERLINK
"http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t02.htm"
http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t02.htm ).

                                    Table.--Estimated Burden to
Participants

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

           Number of

Number of     participants    Average length

                Office                     Topics to include      focus
groups      per focus     of focus group

             group

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

(1)                                    (2).....................
   (3)             (4)            (5)

Office of Policy Economics and         Valuation of
    48               9              2

 Innovation.                            Improvements to Coastal

                                        Water; Valuation of

                                        Children's Health Risk,

                                        Ecological Valuation,

                                        etc.

Office of Research and Development...  Valuation of
    70               9              2.1

                                        environmental

                                        improvements; ecosystem

                                        services, etc.

Office of Air and Radiation..........

Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...  Environmental management
     6              20              4

                                        of asthma; Indoor air

                                        quality management in

                                        schools and large

                                        buildings, etc.

Office of Transportation and Air       Encouraging fuel
     4               9              2

 Quality.                               efficiency through

                                        labeling (Smartway

                                        brand), etc.

Office of Water......................  Invasive species
    60               9              3

                                        prevention; Great

                                        Lakes, etc.

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

    Total............................  ........................
   188           *1758            **2.4

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

*Total needed for all focus groups [sum[col (3)*(4)]].

**Average time for all focus groups [cols. (3)*(5)/188].

    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.

    Dated: September 26, 2005.

Al McGartland,

Office Director, National Center for Environmental Economics, Office of

Policy, Economics and Innovation.

[FR Doc. 05-22035 Filed 11-3-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Appendix 2

Proposed Process for Review of Focus Group Submissions

Under Generic ICR “Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics
Projects”

A cross-office, standing panel will be created, consisting of three
economists with survey experience, to review requests from individuals
or teams wishing to conduct focus groups under the generic ICR.   One
member of the panel will be from NCEE.  Nominations for the other two
seats will be solicited from the Program offices through the Econ Forum
and will be decided by the Econ Forum Steering Committee.  Membership on
the panel will be on a rotational basis with each member appointed to a
1-year term.  Members will be permitted to serve up to five, consecutive
terms, but must then step down for a 12-month period before serving in
this capacity again.  In order to prevent wholesale turn-over of the
panel at one time, the following maximum term limits may be applied to
members of the first panel (if needed):

NCEE – no more than 3 consecutive terms

Program Office #1 – no more than 4 consecutive terms

Program Office #2 – no more than 5 consecutive terms.

Only relevant projects will be considered.  Relevant projects are
defined as those with an economics component.  That is, they must have
as their primary goal the estimation of benefits, the estimation of
costs, or the elicitation of preferences for health outcomes, safety
and/or environmental goods.

Projects submitted for consideration must be entered into the Science
Inventory Database.  The Science Inventory Database is a publicly
searchable database designed to track and report peer review and other
science activities across the Agency.  Peer review work products are
divided into three categories: highly influential scientific
assessments, influential scientific information and other products.
Creating an entry in the database will allow more public scrutiny of the
proposed research and will allow the project to be reflected in the
Agency’s Annual report to OMB summarizing peer review activities.

Entries should clearly indicate whether or not the survey under
development will yield data that is expected to be "highly influential."
 According to EPA’s Science Policy Council Peer Review Handbook,
influential scientific or technical work products are those expected to
have “a major impact, [involve] precedential, novel, and/or
controversial issues, or the Agency has a legal and/or statutory
obligation to conduct a peer review.”  Highly influential scientific
assessments are those that “could have a potential impact of more than
$500 million in any year,” or that are considered “novel,
controversial, or precedent-setting or has significant interagency
interest.”  Our reading of these definitions would place all surveys
in the “influential scientific assessments” category. The
classification of a specific survey as “highly influential” will
need to be determined on a case by case basis.  Most surveys developed
specifically for direct input into an economic analysis for a rule or
regulation will be considered “highly influential.” However, other
survey activities could also be considered “highly influential”
depending on the subject matter.

Supporting statements, clearly indicating peer review plans, must
accompany each request.  Individuals or teams wishing to submit a
project for consideration under this generic ICR must submit a draft
supporting statement for review by the standing panel.  Since focus
group results are not expected to yield data that can be analyzed
statistically, only Part A of the supporting statement will be expected.

In addition to the other standard requirements of the supporting
statement, the document should clearly describe the need for and purpose
of the project as well as the projected peer-review plan to assess the
quality of any resulting survey instruments.  For highly influential
projects, an external peer review panel process, as recommended by the
EPA Peer Review Handbook, will be expected under this generic ICR.  This
panel review could take one of two forms: periodic consultations with
experts in the field throughout the survey development process or a
panel review of the survey development process in advance of submitting
an ICR to OMB should the project advance to that stage.

Time-lines for project completion should accompany the supporting
statement, highlighting hard deadlines where they exist. In assessing
the project, the review panel will consider whether in their view there
is sufficient and reasonable time to complete the survey development
given these timing constraints.  As separate ICR approval will be
required for administration of the survey once developed, the submitted
timeline should reflect the date by which the project team expects to
file the ICR for anticipated survey administration.

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