[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67861-67862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33957]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5942-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities

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 proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting 
the ICR 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 March 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Mobile 
Sources, Office of Air and Radiation, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20460. Interested persons can obtain copies of the ICR at no 
charge by accessing ``What's New'' on the OMS Website, ``http://
www.epa.gov/omswww''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Bullard, Telephone No. (202) 
260-2614; Facsimile No. ( 202) 260-6011; or e-mail at 
``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those who have an interest in the reduction of air emissions from 
mobile sources.
    Title: ``ICR for gathering information about: the public's 
understanding of air quality, the impact of mobile sources, and actions 
individuals can take to improve air quality; and programs to increase 
the public's awareness.''
    Abstract: EPA's Office of Mobile Sources (OMS) is charged with 
reducing air pollution from mobile sources. Although there's been 
significant and measurable progress in reducing air pollution in the 
past 20 years, it is clearly not enough to solve the problem. Ultimate 
solutions will require action by individuals as well as industry.
    OMS and its partners in state, local and regional air and 
transportation agencies, other federal/state/local agencies, public 
health and other organizations are working to increase public awareness 
of air quality, the impact of mobile sources and choices individuals 
can make to help solve the problem of air pollution. To accomplish this 
mission in the public interest, air and transportation managers must 
better understand the public's knowledge of the problem as well as 
possible solutions. In order for individual consumers and drivers to 
make responsible choices, it is incumbent upon EPA and other air and 
transportation organizations to provide education and information as to 
choices available and impacts of those choices on the environment and 
quality of life.
    Before we expend limited federal resources, we must conduct 
research to answer a number of questions vital to the mission. For 
example--how much does the public understand about air pollution, the 
impact of mobile sources,

[[Page 67862]]

and the benefits of informed choices? How much do they care? Who are 
credible sources of information for the air quality and public health 
message? How far is the public willing to go in commitment of time and 
money to ensure air quality? What are possible incentives to encourage 
people to make environmentally responsible choices? Have we been 
successful in our efforts to encourage informed choices?
    Prior to materials production, we will conduct focus groups to test 
draft public education concepts and materials with proposed audiences 
to ensure appropriateness and effectiveness. Our goal will be to ensure 
that products produced will meet the needs of the public for which 
they're intended.
    Finally, we intend to gather information about existing mobile 
source-related public education efforts from state and local air and 
transportation management agencies, industry, public health and other 
partners in order to maximize public benefit and minimize possibilities 
for duplication of effort. This will allow us to utilize limited 
federal resources responsibly.
    Information will be gathered through telephone and in-person 
surveys, focus groups, questionnaires and evaluation forms and targeted 
meetings. Information will be gathered on both the state and local 
levels to support community-based projects and the national level to 
support long-term national outreach efforts. Participation in 
information-gathering is strictly voluntary.
    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 number for EPA's 
regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    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;
    (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: Respondents/Affected Entities: Those who have an 
interest in the reduction of air emissions from mobile sources
    Estimated number of Respondents: 1700 per year.
    Frequency of Response: One per year per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2310 hours.
    Estimated Burden per Respondent: 1 hour 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: none to respondents; no 
additional cost to agency staff.
    This estimate includes the time needed to review instructions; 
develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the 
purpose 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: December 17, 1997.
Robert Brenner,
Program Official.
[FR Doc. 97-33957 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P