[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51428-51429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25262]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7076-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Emission Compliance and Fuel Economy Information; 
Motorcycles and Light Duty

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 document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Emission Compliance and Fuel Economy 
Information; Motorcycles and Light Duty. This ICR was formerly titled 
``Emission Certification and Fuel Economy Compliance; Motorcycles, 
Light Duty Vehicles and Light Duty Trucks''; EPA ICR 0783.37, OMB 2060-
0104, it expires December 31, 2001. EPA is also planning on including 
provisions currently contained in other ICR's dealing with assembly 
line testing, recalls and NLEV standards, OMB numbers 2060-0064, 2060-
0094, 2060-0124, 2060-0345 and 2060-0425. 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 December 10, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may obtain a copy of the various ICRs 
without charge from: United States Environmental Protection Agency, 
Certification and Compliance Division, ATTN: Richard W. Nash, 2000 
Traverwood Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard W Nash, 2000 Traverwood Dr., 
Ann Arbor, MI 48105, (734) 214-4412, E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
passenger car, light truck and motorcycle manufacturers and importers.
    Title: Emission Compliance and Fuel Economy Information; 
Motorcycles and Light Duty. This collection was formerly titled 
``Emission Certification and Fuel Economy Compliance; Motorcycles, 
Light Duty Vehicles and Light Duty Trucks''; EPA ICR 0783.37, OMB 2060-
0104, expiring December 31, 2001.
    Abstract: Under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7525), manufacturers 
and importers of passenger cars, light trucks and motorcycles must have 
a certificate of conformity issued by EPA covering any vehicle they 
intend to offer for sale. In addition, car and truck manufacturers (and 
importers) must also submit information and reports required by the 
Energy Conservation and Policy Act (15 U.S.C. 2000 et seq.). EPA 
reviews vehicle information and test data to verify that the vehicle 
conforms to appropriate requirements and to verify that the proper 
testing has been performed. Subsequent audit and enforcement actions 
may be taken based, in part, on the initial information submitted. 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.
    ICR Consolidation: In addition to renewing the emission 
certification portion of the ICR, EPA is proposing to consolidate 
several related and similar ICRs dealing with specific aspects of the 
emission compliance process. Although EPA's various compliance 
activities have always relied heavily on information collected during 
emission certification; a limited amount of additional information is 
sometimes also required. Consequently, it is logical to consolidate 
these other collections. Further, other information collections are 
inherently related to the emission certification process. The ICRs 
proposed to be consolidated are discussed in more detail in the 
paragraph below.
    Of necessity, test vehicles used to substantiate compliance with 
emission standards cannot be covered by a certificate until one has 
been issued. EPA has established procedures for ``exclusions and 
exemptions'' in 40 CFR part 85, subpart R; the information collection 
is approved under OMB 2060-0124, Motor Vehicle Exclusion Determination, 
EPA ICR 0012.11. EPA proposes to consolidate this collection with the 
certification ICR which it supports. EPA adopted voluntary emission 
standards providing a compatible system to those standards established 
by California and certain northeastern states; National Low Emitting 
Vehicle Program, NLEV. The NLEV information requirements were approved 
by OMB 2060-0345, EPA ICR 1761.02. However, these voluntary standards 
have, in effect, supplanted the regular standards and associated 
information collection previously approved by OMB. Incorporating these 
NLEV reporting burdens with the other certification provisions they 
have supplanted is both logical and will eliminate the very slight 
overstatement of burden resulting from having two duplicate approved 
processes when only one is used. EPA's emission certification program 
is the starting point for all subsequent compliance activities. 
Information collected during certification is used in planning those 
subsequent activities and answering questions that may arise. The 
formal title has been Motor Vehicle Emission Certification and Fuel 
Economy Compliance; it was approved by OMB under 2060-0104, EPA ICR 
783.39. Information describing the vehicles which will be produced and 
test results substantiating that they will comply with applicable 
standards is reviewed by EPA before issuing a ``Certificate of 
Conformity.'' Assembly line testing, known as Selective Enforcement 
Audit, is chronologically the next compliance mechanism; it assures 
that the vehicles actually produced do in fact comply with applicable 
standards and regulations. Selective Enforcement Audit was formally 
approved by OMB under 2060-0064, that authority has since expired. 
Although EPA has not conducted an assembly line test recently, the 
Agency wishes to retain authority to do so; albeit at a very low rate, 
a fraction of one audit per year. The Agency believes that assembly 
line testing may be useful in some limited circumstances in the future 
and, therefore, proposes to include it in the consolidated ICR. EPA's 
other major compliance technique is vehicle recall which is comprised 
of two components. Vehicle manufacturers are required to submit certain 
reports; Emission Defect Information and Voluntary Emission Recall 
Reports for On-Highway, Light-duty Vehicles, OMB approval 2060-0425, 
EPA ICR 1916.01. In addition, when EPA conducts testing on in-use 
vehicles, manufacturers are asked to verify the construction and 
testing conditions; Verification of Test Parameters and Parts Lists for 
Light-Duty Vehicles and Light-Duty Trucks. This information collection 
is

[[Page 51429]]

authorized under OMB number 2060-0094, EPA ICR 0167.06. Both recall 
activities impose relatively minor burdens and are an extension of the 
information originally collected to support certification. As such, EPA 
proposes to include them in the consolidated ICR. Upon OMB approval of 
the consolidated ICR, the previously approved separate ICRs will no 
longer be needed.
    Concurrent Rulemaking: EPA is concurrently proposing to amend 
certain aspects of the ICR regarding On Board Diagnostic (OBD) service 
information. The ICR was submitted to OMB on 01 April 2001 under EPA 
number 0783.41; the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published on June 
8, 2001, 66 FR 30830. Comments on this proposal should be submitted as 
directed in those documents. The ICR renewal will be amended to reflect 
any changes in information burden that are ultimately approved by OMB.
    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.
    (v) Evaluate the effect of combining the ICRs discussed above.
    Burden Statement: The total labor burden imposed by the Motor 
Vehicle Emission Certification and Fuel Economy Compliance program is 
approximately 538,192.5 hours/year. Approximately 70 respondents are 
regulated by this program, yielding an average burden of 7,688.5 hours/
year/respondent. The annual operating and capitalized costs are $3 
million and $9.7 million respectively. 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: October 1, 2001.
Jeffrey R. Holmstead,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 01-25262 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
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