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Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collections; Request for Comment on Three Proposed Information Collection Requests (ICRs)

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 
[Federal Register: January 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 10)]
[Notices]
[Page 2487-2490]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja08-60]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[PA-HQ-OAR-2007-1182, 1183, and 1184; FRL-8516-8]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collections; Request
for Comment on Three Proposed Information Collection Requests (ICRs)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew three existing approved Information
Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of

[[Page 2488]]

Management and Budget (OMB). Two of these ICRs, 1684.08 and 1695.08,
are scheduled to expire March 31, 2008. ICR 1800.03 is scheduled to
expire May 31, 2008. Before submitting these ICRs to OMB for review and
approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the
proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 17, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the Docket ID numbers
provided for each item in the text, by one of the following methods:
    • http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
    • E-mail: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov.
    • Fax: (202) 566-9744.
    • Mail: Air Docket, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    • Hand Delivery: Docket Center, (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Such
deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to the Docket ID Numbers
identified for each item in the text. EPA's policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public docket without change and may
be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit
information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov
Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not
know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the
body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA
without going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address
will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at 
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nydia Yanira Reyes-Morales,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Mail Code
6403J NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9264; fax
number: 202-343-2804; e-mail address: reyes-morales.nydia@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for each of the ICRs identified
in this document (see the Docket ID numbers for each ICR that are
provided in the text), which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air Docket in
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the
telephone number for the Air Docket is 202-566-1742.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the Docket ID number
identified in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
    (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activities or ICRs Does This Apply to?

Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1182

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by these actions
are manufacturers of nonroad compression ignition engines, equipment
and components.
    Title: Emissions Certification and Compliance Requirements for
Nonroad Compression-ignition Engines and On-highway Heavy Duty Engines.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1684.09, OMB Control No. 2060-0287.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on March 31,
2008. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR

[[Page 2489]]

part 9, are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or
by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection
instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers
in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: This information collection is requested under the
authority of Title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.).
Under this Title, EPA is charged with issuing certificates of
conformity for those engines which comply with applicable emission
standards. Such a certificate must be issued before engines may be
legally introduced into commerce. Certification requirements for
nonroad compression-ignition engines and on-highway heavy duty engines
are set forth at 40 CFR Parts 86, 89, 94, 1039 and 1065. To apply for a
certificate of conformity, manufacturers are required to submit
descriptions of their planned production line, including detailed
descriptions of the emission control system and test data. This
information is organized by ``engine family'' groups expected to have
similar emission characteristics. Manufacturers must also comply with
requirements related to audits and other compliance assurance programs.
There are also recordkeeping and labeling requirements. Manufacturers
electing to participate in the Averaging, Banking and Trading (ABT)
Program are also required to submit information regarding the
calculation of projected and actual generation and usage of credits in
an initial report, end-of-year report and final report. These reports
are used for certification and enforcement purposes. Manufacturers need
to maintain records for eight years on the engine families
participating in the program.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden is estimated to average 2,112 hours. Burden means the total
time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate,
maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions;
develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the
purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information,
processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing
information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously
applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently
changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
    • Estimated total number of potential respondents: 68.
    • Frequency of response: Annual and quarterly and on occasion.
    • Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 15.
    • Estimated total annual burden hours: 143,604.
    • Estimated total annual costs: $13,978,203. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $5,484,884 for operation and maintenance costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    To date, there are no changes in the number of hours in the total
estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR
currently approved by OMB. However, EPA is still evaluating information
that may lead to a change in the estimates.

Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1183

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by these actions
are manufacturers of nonroad spark-ignition engines, equipment and
components.
    Title: Emissions Certification and Compliance Requirements for
Nonroad spark-ignition (SI) Engines.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1695.09, OMB Control No. 2060-0338.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on March 31,
2008. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: This information collection is requested under the
authority of Title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.).
Under this Title, EPA is charged with issuing certificates of
conformity for those engines which comply with applicable emission
standards. Such a certificate must be issued before engines may be
legally introduced into commerce. Certification requirements for spark-
ignition engines are set forth at 40 CFR Parts 90, 1048, 1051 and 1065.
To apply for a certificate of conformity, manufacturers are required to
submit descriptions of their planned production line, including
detailed descriptions of the emission control system, and test data.
This information is organized by ``engine family'' groups expected to
have similar emission characteristics. The emission values achieved
during certification testing are used in the ABT Program. The program
allows manufacturers to bank credits for engine families that emit
below the standard and use the credits for families that are above the
standard, or trade banked credits with other manufacturers.
Participation in the ABT program is voluntary. Manufacturers must also
comply with requirements related to audits and other compliance assurance
programs. There are also recordkeeping and labeling requirements.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden is estimated to average 1,379 hours. Burden means the total
time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate,
maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions;
develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the
purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information,
processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing
information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously
applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently
changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
    • Estimated total number of potential respondents: 106.
    • Frequency of response: Annual and quarterly and on occasion.
    • Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 11.
    • Estimated total annual burden hours: 81,331.
    • Estimated total annual costs: $9,925,673. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $1,642,476 for operation and maintenance costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    To date, there are no changes in the number of hours in the total
estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR
currently approved

[[Page 2490]]

by OMB. However, EPA is still evaluating information that may lead to a
change in the estimates.

Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1184

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by these actions are
manufacturers and remanufacturers of locomotives and locomotive engines.
    Title: Information Requirements for Locomotive and Locomotive Engines.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 1800.04, OMB Control Number 2060-0392.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31,
2008. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: The Clean Air Act requires manufacturers and
remanufacturers of locomotives and locomotive engines to obtain a
certificate of conformity with applicable emission standards before
they may legally introduce their products into commerce. To apply for a
certificate of conformity, respondents are required to submit
descriptions of their planned production, including detailed
descriptions of emission control systems and test data. This
information is organized by ``engine family'' groups expected to have
similar emission characteristics and is submitted every year, at the
beginning of the model year. Respondents electing to participate in the
ABT Program are also required to submit information regarding the
calculation, actual generation, and usage of credits in quarterly
reports, and an end-of-the-year report. Under the Production-line
Testing (PLT) Program, manufacturers are required to test a sample of
engines as they leave the assembly line. The Installation Audit Program
requires remanufacturers to audit the installation of a sample of
remanufactured engines. These self-audit programs (collectively
referred to as the ``PLT Program'') allow manufacturers and
remanufacturers to monitor compliance with statistical certainty and
minimize the cost of correcting errors through early detection. Under
the In-use Testing Program, manufacturers and remanufacturers are
required to test locomotives after a number of years of use to verify
that they comply with emission standards throughout their useful lives.
There are recordkeeping requirements in all programs.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden associated with the certification program is estimated to
average 17,074 hours. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This
includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire,
install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train
personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search
data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and
transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
    • Estimated total number of potential respondents: 7.
    • Frequency of response: Annual and quarterly and on occasion.
    • Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 10.
    • Estimated total annual burden hours: 17,074.
    • Estimated total annual costs: $2,326,156. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $1,384,025 for operation and maintenance costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    To date, there are no changes in the number of hours in the total
estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR
currently approved by OMB. However, EPA is still evaluating information
that may lead to a change in the estimates.

What Is the Next Step in the Process for These ICRs?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: January 9, 2008.
Karl Simon,
Director, Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. E8-570 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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