EPA keeps tabs on water rules, comments welcome
Published Date: 2/28/2025
Notice
Summary
The EPA is asking to keep collecting info about water quality rules for a few more years, helping protect our lakes and rivers. This affects states and businesses that track water pollution, with no new costs but a chance to share thoughts by March 31, 2025. It’s all about making sure water stays clean and safe without extra paperwork hassle.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
ICR Renewal Keeps WQS Data Collection
The EPA is renewing the Water Quality Standards information collection so the agency can continue collecting WQS-related data from states, the District of Columbia, five territories, and authorized Tribes (125 potential respondents total). The renewal reports an estimated annual respondent burden of 493,362 hours and estimated annual labor costs of $25,235,466 plus $345,180 in operational and maintenance costs.
Some Responses Mandatory or To Retain Benefits
The notice states that some collections in this ICR are mandatory, some are required to obtain or retain benefits under the Water Quality Standards regulation (for example, relaxed regulatory requirements), and some collections are voluntary. Frequency of response is variable (once every three years, on occasion, as necessary, or only once).
Added Tribal Respondents Increase Burden
The ICR renewal reports an increase of 22,600 hours in total estimated respondent burden compared with the currently approved ICR; EPA says this increase reflects adding four Tribal respondents for certain WQS information collections.
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