(a) Program plan approval process. (1) A program plan that complies with the requirements in § 1090.1415 or § 1090.1450 must be submitted to EPA no later than October 15 of the year preceding the calendar year in which the program will be conducted.

(2) The program plan must be signed by an RCO of the independent surveyor conducting the program.

(3) The program plan must be submitted as specified in § 1090.10.

(4) EPA will send a letter to the party submitting the program plan that indicates whether EPA approves or disapproves the plan.

(b) Independent surveyor contract. (1) No later than December 15 of the year preceding the year in which the survey will be conducted, the contract with the independent surveyor must be in effect, and the amount of compensation necessary to carry out the entire survey plan must either be paid to the independent surveyor or placed into an escrow account with instructions to the escrow agent to remit the compensation to the independent surveyor during the course of the survey plan.

(2) No later than December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the survey will be conducted, EPA must receive a copy of the contract with the independent surveyor and proof that the compensation necessary to carry out the survey plan has either been paid to the independent surveyor or placed into an escrow account. If placed into an escrow account, a copy of the escrow agreement must be sent to EPA.