Eliminating form 5700-53

Justification for dropping EPA Form 5700-53

From the "TERMS OF CLEARANCE" section of our last OMB ICR renewal approval -- "EPA Form 5700-53 'Lobbying and Litigation Certification for Grants and Cooperative Agreements' is approved only until this data collection is no longer required under statute or applicable appropriations requirements. If EPA determines that this data collection is no longer required by applicants, the Agency should submit a change worksheet (83-C) consistent with OMB guidelines."

The Appropriations Acts provision requiring the use of this form was not carried forward when EPA's appropriation was transferred to the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Further, it will not be carried forward in the FY08 Act. After meeting with Lois Luna yesterday, all agreed to discontinue use of the form.

The form currently requires completion by approximately 3,417 applicants in a given year. Completing and returning the form requires approximately .08 burden hours for each applicant. Therefore, discontinuing use of the form would reduce applicant burden by 273 hours (.08 X 3,417 = 273.36).