EPA Solicits Comments on ICR Extension for its Laboratory Certification Program for Cryptosporidium

EPA is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), “Laboratory Quality Assurance Evaluation Program for Analysis of Cryptosporidium Under the Safe Drinking Water Act” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.  This is a proposed extension of the ICR for Cryptosporidium lab approval, which is currently approved through January 31, 2014. Any collection of information, including data that would be requested or submitted for certification of a laboratory, is not allowed unless it has been approved by OMB.  Before submitting this request to OMB, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection.

There are significant changes in the ICR due to EPA’s planned transition of the Cryptosporidium certification program from EPA to the states.  State oversight of these laboratories is not included in the existing ICR.  EPA’s burden estimates for the renewed ICR include 45 laboratories and 20 states as participants in the laboratory approval process.  The ICR announcement notes that participation by laboratories and states in this certification program is voluntary.  Laboratories in states that do not have a certification program for Cryptosporidium may still be approved for analysis under LT2ESWTR if they are certified by another state with an approved certification process.  EPA indicates that it will provide training and support for Cryptosporidium certification as it does for other state laboratory certification.

Comments will be collected by EPA until November 4, 2013. OMB will also offer an opportunity for comments before they make a final determination on the ICR.  For additional information about the ICR, including directions for providing comment, see the Federal Register notice.