[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64828-64829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32187]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5933-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Retrofit /Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier 
Model Year Urban Buses

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Retrofit /Rebuild Requirements for 1993 
and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses, EPA ICR Number 1702, OMB Control 
Number 2060-0302, expiration date: 01-31-98. Before submitting the ICR 
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 February 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW, 
Washington, D.C. 20460. Attn: Engine Programs & Compliance Division, 
Retrofit/Rebuild Program 6403J. Interested persons may obtain a copy of 
the ICR without charge upon request in writing or by telephone or E-
mail at the appropriate number below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Erb, Telephone Number: (202) 
564-9259, Facsimile Number: (202) 565-2057, E-MAIL Number: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which operate urban bus fleets in regulated areas and equipment 
manufacturers who manufacture retrofit/rebuild components for 
certification.
    Title: Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model 
Year Urban Buses (OMB Control No. 2060-0302;

[[Page 64829]]

EPA ICR No. 1702.) expiring 01/31/98. Abstract: Section 219(d) of the 
Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, requires that the EPA promulgate 
regulations for urban buses that: (a) Operate in Metropolitan 
Statistical Areas (MSA) or consolidated MSA's with a 1980 population of 
750,000 or more (the program could be expanded in the future to MSA's 
of less than 750,000, under section 219(c) of the CAA); (b) are not 
subject to the 1994 or later urban bus standards; and (c) have their 
engines replaced or rebuilt after January 1, 1995.
    The CAA Amendments require the subject urban buses be retrofitted 
to comply with an emission standard that reflects the best retrofit 
technology and maintenance practices reasonably achievable. Under these 
provisions, EPA set new requirements for pre-1994 model year urban 
buses effective January 1, 1995, when urban bus engines are rebuilt or 
replaced. The program requires that the particulate emissions level of 
the urban bus engines be reduced to a level below the engines' original 
particulate level through the use of retrofit/rebuild equipment that is 
certified by EPA. The program will phase itself out as pre-1994 urban 
buses are retired from fleets.
    The original ICR for the urban bus retrofit/rebuild program was 
approved by OMB on 07/22/94 for use through 07/31/97 and later approved 
for extension until 01/31/97. Candidate equipment is approved under an 
EPA certification program and if it meets cost guidelines is required 
to be used. If no equipment is certified for a particular engine the 
operator is required to restore the equipment to its original or 
updated configuration based on the currently available rebuild kits on 
the market. As of July 1997, seven parties have certified ten separate 
equipment kits under the program over a two year period. It is 
estimated that 5 equipment certifiers will certify equipment during a 
given year at an hourly expenditure of an average of 170 hours per 
certification application including testing, application reporting and 
follow-up on issues. In addition, each certifier is expected to spend 
approximately 40 hours per year on record keeping. EPA will conduct 1 
audit each year of a certifier of equipment to review production 
records and manufacturing operations to ensure kits are built and 
shipped as specified in the certification notification. The burden 
associated with each certifier audit is estimated to be 24 hours for 
the certifier to accompany EPA staff, pull records and review 
associated paperwork.
    This regulation effects approximately 150 bus operators who operate 
fleets of urban buses in areas that are affected. It is estimated that 
each operator will spend 10 hours per year reviewing regulatory 
requirements. EPA will request that up to 50 of these operators submit 
information on their fleet each year to demonstrate compliance with 
program requirements. It is estimated that each operator will require 8 
hours to summarize the requested information for submittal. No burden 
hours are associated with the record keeping of this information as it 
is expected that the required records will be kept by operators during 
the normal course of business. EPA will also conduct up to 12 audits of 
urban bus operator fleets to ensure compliance with the regulations. 
These on-site audits involve travel by EPA staff to the site, a review 
of fleet records and physical inspection of the buses. The burden 
associated with the audits is expected to be 40 hours for each operator 
audited. This includes 12 hours preparing records, 20 hours 
accompanying EPA auditors during the audit and 8 hours to follow-up on 
issues. The hourly cost associated with the above requirements is 
estimated to average $64.13 for each of the above burden areas.
    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.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments 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.
    Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual reporting burden 
for this request will amount to 6,173 hours. It is estimated that 
average annual reporting burden for affected parties will amount to 29 
hours per response, the proposed frequency of response is annual, and 
it is estimated that there will be 163 respondents with an average of 
1.3 responses each per year . The cost burden to respondents or record 
keepers resulting from collection of this information is estimated to 
be $366,000 per year.
    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; 
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.

    Dated: November 28, 1997.
Richard D. Wilson,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 97-32187 Filed 12-8-97; 8:45 am]
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