Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; General Performance Reporting for Assistance Programs
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The EPA wants to collect reports from people they give money to, which is like checking if the people are using the money for good things. They're asking people what they think about this new plan until early next year.
Summary AI
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. This request, titled General Performance Reporting for Assistance Programs, aims to gather information from entities receiving financial assistance from the EPA to better manage and evaluate its programs. Public comments on this collection request are encouraged and may be submitted until January 9, 2025. The request involves collecting performance reports, including work plans and interim and final reports, from approximately 2,662 respondents annually, with an estimated total burden of 87,088 hours each year.
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), General Performance Reporting for Assistance Programs (EPA ICR Number 2802.01, OMB Control Number 2090- NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a request for approval of a new collection. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on March 7, 2024 during a 60-day comment period; and on September 19, 2024 during a 30-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
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AnalysisAI
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), aiming to enhance its management and evaluation of financial assistance programs. This initiative, titled General Performance Reporting for Assistance Programs, seeks approval to gather information from diverse entities receiving EPA grants and funding. The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding this request until January 9, 2025.
General Summary
This new ICR is intended to collect data through performance report forms such as work plans, interim reports, and final reports. Approximately 2,662 respondents, who benefit from EPA's financial assistance awards, are expected to contribute annually. The collected data will purportedly aid EPA in improving its programs by promoting responsible stewardship of public resources, evidence-based decision making, and accountability. The project anticipates a collective annual burden of nearly 87,088 hours.
Significant Issues and Concerns
The document introduces a hefty annual cost estimate of $7,071,495.82 for reporting requirements. However, it does not clearly elucidate how this estimate was derived or justified. Understanding these figures would be instrumental for stakeholders to assess the financial implications accurately.
Furthermore, while the document estimates the number of respondents as 2,662 annually, it falls short of identifying the specific categories or types of entities involved. This lack of detail makes it challenging to gauge whether this number is appropriately justified or presents an excessive demand on particular kinds of organizations. Feedback from previous public comment periods remains unaddressed, offering no insight into potential concerns or the public perception of the request.
Additionally, the bureaucratic language in the abstract and supplementary sections may present comprehension challenges to a lay audience. Simplifying the language could broaden understanding and foster greater public engagement. Moreover, no examples were provided to illustrate how the gathered information might lead to improved management practices or enhanced accountability in fund usage, which could contribute to substantiating the need for data collection.
Public and Stakeholder Impact
For the general public, this information collection effort reflects a broader intent to hold government agencies accountable for their distribution of public funds and promises improvements in efficiency and transparency. These aspects can enhance public confidence in EPA's operations and its commitment to using taxpayer dollars effectively.
However, the stakeholders directly involved, including nonprofits, state governments, and other entities receiving financial support, may experience varying impacts. On one hand, the requirement poses additional administrative burdens, potentially straining resources for organizations with limited operational capacity. On the other hand, their participation ensures equitable distribution of funds and adherence to predetermined outcomes, promoting better program delivery and results.
It remains uncertain whether the mechanism allows for appealing or renegotiating burdensome reporting requirements. Clarification on available feedback channels would be beneficial for stakeholders seeking to express concerns or suggest adjustments to the reporting obligations.
In summary, while the EPA's collection request aims to improve management outcomes, clarity on cost justifications, stakeholder involvement details, and feedback accommodation will be crucial in determining the efficacy and fairness of the proposed data collection process.
Financial Assessment
The document outlines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) initiative to collect information from recipients of financial assistance awards. This effort is part of the General Performance Reporting for Assistance Programs. The primary financial reference in the document indicates that the EPA allocates billions of dollars annually in funding for grants and assistance agreements. This funding reaches a diverse range of entities, from small non-profit organizations to large state governments.
The document also specifies that the total estimated cost for complying with the reporting requirements is $7,071,495.82 per year. This cost estimate covers the burden associated with fulfilling mandatory reporting obligations as stipulated by EPA regulations. Interestingly, the document notes that there are no additional annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs associated with this initiative.
The issues identified in relation to the financial references reveal several concerns. Firstly, while the document mentions an estimated cost of $7,071,495.82, it does not provide a clear justification or breakdown of how this figure was calculated. A further explanation of the methodology or the specific factors considered in estimating this cost would enhance transparency and understanding.
Additionally, the document anticipates 2,662 respondents per year but fails to delineate the types of entities involved. This lack of detail makes it challenging to assess whether this figure seems reasonable or potentially excessive. For stakeholders, particularly those affected by these reporting requirements, understanding the composition of respondents could provide insights into the distribution of the reporting burden and the rationale behind the cost estimate.
The absence of feedback or insights from prior public comment periods is another issue. Understanding the concerns or suggestions raised in these periods could shed light on whether the estimated costs were a point of contention and if adjustments were considered necessary.
In summary, the document highlights significant financial allocations by the EPA for assistance programs, with clear cost estimates for compliance. However, greater transparency in the justification of these costs and a better understanding of respondent demographics could improve stakeholder comprehension and acceptance of the reporting requirements.
Issues
• The document mentions a total estimated cost of $7,071,495.82 per year for the reporting requirements, but it does not clearly explain the justification for this cost or how it was estimated.
• The estimated number of respondents is 2,662 per year, but there is no breakdown of the types of entities involved, making it difficult to assess if this number seems reasonable or overly burdensome.
• The document states that public comments were previously requested and allows an additional 30 days for comments. However, it does not summarize feedback received during prior comment periods, which would help understand any identified concerns or needed changes.
• The language used in the abstract and supplementary information sections could be seen as bureaucratic and might benefit from simplification to ensure understanding by a broader audience.
• The document does not provide specific examples or scenarios illustrating how the collected information will lead to improved program management or funding accountability, which could help justify the data collection effort.
• It is not clear whether there are any appeals or feedback mechanisms for respondents who believe the reporting requirements are excessive or unreasonable.