[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8272-8275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4961]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[AMS-FRL-5432-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal; Emission 
Defect Information Report; Emission Recall Audit Program; and Emission 
Control Defect Survey

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting 
the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on 
specific aspects of the proposed information collections as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Vehicle Programs & Compliance Division (6405J), 401 M 
Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Interested persons may request a 
copy of the ICRs, without charge, by writing, faxing, or phoning the 
contact persons below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ICR-1: Steve Albrink, Office of Mobile 
Sources, Vehicle Programs & Compliance Division, (202) 233-9003, (202) 
233-9596 fax).
    ICR-2: Kerrin Bressant, Office of Mobile Sources, Vehicle Programs 
& Compliance Division, (202) 233-9291, (202) 233-9596 (fax).
    ICR-3: Sonny Kakar, Office of Mobile Sources, Vehicle Programs & 
Compliance Division, (202) 233-9467, (202) 233-9596 (fax), E-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Comments: This notice requests 
comments on three different Information Collection Activities (ICRs) 
related to highway and nonroad motor vehicles and other engines for 
which the Agency plans to request renewal of their authorizations under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. The different ICRs will be referred to as 
ICR-1, ICR-2 and ICR-3 in the succeeding sections below.
    ICR-1: Emission defect information and voluntary emissions recall 
reporting and record keeping requirements for manufacturers of on-
highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty 
engines; and large nonroad compression ignition engines; and nonroad 
spark-ignition engines at and below 19 kilowatts.
    ICR-2: Emission recall audit program voluntary request for 
information to determine whether manufacturers are in compliance with 
recall procedural regulations, and to determine the cause of 
ineffectual recall campaigns.
    ICR-3: Vehicle emission control defect survey questionnaire 
reporting and record keeping requirements for owners and repair 
facilities of on-highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks, 
heavy-duty engines; and large non-road compression ignition engines.
    Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal: ICR-1: OMB No. 
2060-0048.
    ICR-2: OMB No. 2060-0046.
    ICR-3: OMB No. 2060-0047.
    Affected Entities: ICR-1: Entities potentially affected by this 
action are manufacturers of on-highway light-duty vehicles, light-duty 
trucks, and heavy-duty engines; manufacturers of large nonroad 
compression ignition engines; and manufacturers of small nonroad spark-
ignition engines.
    ICR-2: Entities potentially affected by this action are individual 
vehicle owners of on-highway light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks.
    ICR-3: Entities potentially affected by this action are owners and 
repair facilities of on-highway light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks, 
heavy-duty engines, and large non-road compression ignition engines.
    Titles: ICR-1: Emission Defect Information Reports and Voluntary 
Emissions Recall Reports (OMB # 2060-0048, approved through 5/31/96.)
    ICR-2: Emission Recall Audit Program Owner Questionnaire (OMB # 
2060-0046, approved through 5/31/96.)
    ICR-3: Vehicle Emission Control Defect Survey Questionnaire for on-
highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks, heavy-duty 
engines, and large non-road compression ignition engines. (OMB # 2060-
0047, approved through 5/31/96.)
    Abstracts: 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 are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 
15.
    EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are 
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 collections of information, including the validity of 
the methodologies and assumptions used;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of the appropriate 
automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    ICR-1: Some manufacturers of motor vehicles and certain engines are 
required to submit two different reports under 40 CFR Part 85, Subpart 
T, Part 89, Subpart I and Part 90, Subpart I. These reports are only 
required where certain conditions involving emission defects or 
voluntary recalls occur. The ``defect information report'' (DIR) 
contains data regarding the class or engine family and number of 
vehicles or engines on which a defect has been found, and a description 
of the defect and its effects on vehicle or engine performance and 
emissions. The Agency uses the DIR to help identify emission-related 
defects or classes of vehicles or engines which may not comply with 
federal emissions standards.
    The ``voluntary emission recall'' (VER) report contains data on 
voluntary recall campaigns conducted by manufacturers, including the 
procedures used by the manufacturers to conduct voluntary recall 
campaigns, the identification of vehicles or engines affected by the 
campaign, and the repair to be completed on recalled vehicles or 
engines; progress or quarterly updates of the VER reports track the 
number of vehicles or engines repaired. The Agency uses the VER report 
and progress reports to ensure that manufacturers are following 
acceptable procedures when conducting recalls and to track the progress 
and effectiveness of voluntary recall campaigns.
    ICR-2: The Vehicle Compliance Programs Group (VCPG), Vehicle 
Programs and Compliance Division (VPCD), Office of Mobile Sources 
(OMS), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), uses this information 
collection to enforce the Recall and Defect Reporting Regulations of 40 
CFR Part 85, Subparts S and T. Individual owners of on-road light-duty 
motor vehicles and light-duty trucks may be asked to provide 
information on vehicles that have been recalled. The Vehicles 
Compliance Programs Group (VCPG) uses such information to evaluate the 
effectiveness of various aspects of a recall campaign, to determine 
whether manufacturers are in compliance with 

[[Page 8274]]
recall procedural regulations, and to determine the cause of 
ineffective recall campaigns. The information is obtained from 
individuals through a questionnaire administered by telephone 
interviews or in written format. The information collection effort will 
involve approximately 300 respondents at a cost of $900.00 over a one-
year period.
    The projected annual cost burden per respondent is as follows: 
reading or listening to questions, burden cost is $1.60. Responding to 
questions (verbally or in writing), burden cost is $1.40.
    The total annual hour burden for respondents is 75 hours at a total 
annual cost of $900.
    ICR-3: The Vehicle Compliance Programs Group (VCPG) of the Vehicle 
Programs and Compliance Division (VPCD) and the Engine Compliance 
Programs Group (ECPG) of the Engine Programs and Compliance Division 
(EPCD), Office of Mobile Sources (OMS), Office of Air and Radiation 
(OAR), uses this information collection to gather additional data to 
supplement in-use testing programs as well as provide possible evidence 
in support of EPA's position during an administrative hearing. When EPA 
orders a manufacturer to recall a certain class of motor vehicles (in 
accordance with Clean Air Act Sec. 207(c)) but the manufacturer 
disagrees with EPA's findings, the manufacturer may request an 
administrative hearing. During such a hearing, EPA must make a detailed 
presentation of facts showing that the class of vehicles in question 
should indeed be recalled. Facts to be included in such a presentation 
consist of information on the maintenance and performance history of 
vehicles belonging to the class. Dealerships, fleets, or individual 
owners of motor vehicles or engines may be asked to provide information 
on the vehicles or engines at issue. The information is obtained 
through a questionnaire administered by telephone interviews with 
individual vehicle owners, and by telephone or in-person interviews 
with dealerships or fleets.
    Burden Statement: 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; 
adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable 
instructions and requirements; training personnel to be able to respond 
to a collection of information; searching data sources; completing and 
reviewing the collection of information; and transmitting or otherwise 
disclosing the information.
    ICR-1: Tables 1, 2 and 3 below represent the estimated annual 
burden for this ICR.

Table 1.--On-Highway Light-Duty Motor Vehicle, Light-Duty Truck, and Heavy-Duty Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours
                                                    and Costs                                                   
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                                                                                     Voluntary                  
                                                                      Defect         emission      VER quarterly
                       Collection activity                          information    recall (VER)     (progress)  
                                                                      reports        reports/         reports   
                                                                                      records                   
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Ave. Burden Hours/Response......................................              14            11.5             1.5
Estimated Frequency of Response.................................             2.8             2.9            17.4
Total Burden Hours Per Respondent...............................            39.2            33.4            26.1
Estimated No. of Respondents....................................              15              13              13
Total Burden Hours..............................................             588           434.2           339.3
Total Cost Per Respondent ($)...................................           2,290           1,427           1,375
Total Cost ($)..................................................          34,350          18,551          17,875
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            Table 2.--Large Non-Road Compression Ignition Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours and Costs            
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                                                                                     Voluntary                  
                                                                      Defect         emission      VER quarterly
                       Collection activity                          information    recall (VER)     (progress)  
                                                                      reports        reports/         reports   
                                                                                      records                   
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Ave. Burden Hours/Response......................................              14            11.5             1.5
Estimated Frequency of Response.................................               1               1               6
Total Burden Hours Per Respondent...............................              14            11.5               9
Estimated No. of Respondents....................................               5               5               5
Total Burden Hours..............................................              70            57.5              45
Total Cost Per Respondent ($)...................................             818             492             474
Total Cost ($)..................................................           4,090           2,460           2,370
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                Table 3.--Small Nonroad Spark Ignition Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours and Costs               
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                                                                                     Voluntary                  
                                                                      Defect         emission                   
                       Collection activity                          information    recall (VER)    VER progress 
                                                                      reports        reports/         reports   
                                                                                      records                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ave. Burden Hours/Response......................................              14            11.5             1.5
Estimated Frequency of Response.................................               1               1               1
Total Burden Hours Per Respondent...............................              14            11.5             1.5
Estimated No. of Respondents....................................               5               5               5
Total Burden Hours..............................................              70            57.5             7.5

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Total Cost Per Respondent ($)...................................             818             492              79
Total Cost ($)..................................................           4,090           2,460             395
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    ICR-2: The projected hour burden is as follows: reading or 
listening to questions, burden hours = 8 minutes. Responding to 
questions (verbally or in writing), burden hours = 7 minutes. The 
frequency of response is once per respondent per year. The estimated 
number of likely respondents is 300. The total burden for all 
respondents is 75 hours.
    The projected cost burden is as follows: reading or listening to 
questions, burden cost = $1.60. Responding to questions (verbally or in 
writing), burden cost = $1.40. The total cost for all respondents is 
$900.
    ICR-3: EPA's burden estimates for this collection are broken down 
according to the respondent burden and cost. EPA may perform two 
surveys annually, one of manufacturers of on-highway light-duty motor 
vehicles or light-duty trucks, and the other of heavy-duty engines or 
large non-road compression ignition engines, which will require either 
telephone or in-person interviews with one hundred (100) individual 
vehicle owners or dealerships or fleets per survey. A burden estimate 
of twenty (20) minutes per individual vehicle owner is based on agency 
experience with similar questions asked of individuals as part of the 
in-use recall testing program. A burden estimate of thirty (30) minutes 
per dealership or fleet is based on contact with dealership and fleets 
made as part of the in-use recall testing program. The burden estimate 
is calculated from an average of the two different burdens assuming 
that one half of the respondents are individual vehicle owners and the 
other half are dealerships or fleets. Therefore, the total respondent 
burden will be 2,500 minutes for each survey. Individuals, dealerships, 
or fleets will be asked to respond to only one survey in any given 
year. Costs to respondents associated with this ICR are attributed to 
individual or staff time involved in responding to the information 
requests. The costs for respondents for reading or listening to and 
responding to questions (verbally or in writing) are $8.50 per 
respondent. Therefore, the total respondent cost for each survey will 
be $850.

    Dated: February 23, 1996.
Robin Miles-McLean,


Acting Director, Office of Mobile Sources.

[FR Doc. 96-4961 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P