[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49687-49688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19326]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[AD-FRL-7253-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

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 has forwarded the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Regional Haze 
Regulations, ICR number 1813.02., and OMB Control Number 2060-0421, 
expiration date: September 30, 2002. The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 30, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1813.02, and OMB 
Control No. 2060-0421, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; 
and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR, contact Sandy 
Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by e-mail at 
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1813.02. For technical 
questions about the ICR, contact Thomas Driscoll by phone at (919) 541-
5135, by e-mail at [email protected], or by mail at Integrated 
Policy and Standards Group (C504-02), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Regional Haze Regulations, ICR number 
1813.02., and OMB Control Number 2060-0421, expiration date: September 
30, 2002. This is a request for reinstatement, with change, of a 
previously approved collection for which approval is expiring.
    Abstract: Section 169A of the Clean Air Act (CAA) establishes a 
national goal for protecting visibility in 156 scenic areas. These 156 
``Class I'' areas are federally protected areas. The national 
visibility goal is to remedy existing impairment in these Class I 
areas, consistent with the requirements of section 169A and 169B of the 
CAA. Entities that are affected by these rulemakings (subject to best 
available retrofit technology (BART) Guidelines) would be those 
facilities built between 1962 and 1977, are major sources (emit greater 
than 250 tons per year) of any of the visibility impairing pollutants, 
and are one of 26 source categories which include electricity 
generating utilities, facilities with industrial boilers, and 
petrochemical facilities. The regional haze rule sets forth 
requirements for State Implementation Plans (SIPs) under this program. 
The rule requires SIPs to include visibility progress goals for each 
Class I area, as well as emissions reductions strategies and other 
measures needed to meet these goals. The rule also provides an optional 
approach, the proposed Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) Annex 
rule, that may be followed by nine Western States and eligible Indian 
Tribes and contains a number of recommended strategies designed to 
improve visibility at the 16 Class I areas on the Colorado Plateau.
    All information submitted to EPA for which a claim of 
confidentiality is made will be safeguarded according to the Agency 
policies set forth in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B--Confidentiality of 
Business Information. 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 EPA, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) evaluate the accuracy of EPA'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. 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 previous 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.
    The total burden is computed from the time and effort needed to 
complete the primary activities in the Regional Haze Rule. These 
activities include the committal Federal Implementation Plan as 
required in 40 CFR 51.308; the requirement to begin the analysis 
process for BART determinations, progress goals, and control strategies 
in 40 CFR 51.308; and the initial implementation plan submission 
required in 40 CFR 51.309.
    These burden hour and costs estimates are incremental to the 
activities and accomplishments of the States, Tribes, and potentially 
regulated facilities associated with the grants to the Regional 
Planning Organizations.
    The estimated incremental burden hours for States, Tribes, and 
potentially regulated entities are 78,000, 29,000, and 28,000 
respectively for the 3-year ICR renewal period (October 1, 2002 through 
September 30, 2005). The estimated corresponding incremental cost is 
$3.1 million, $1.2 million, and

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$1.3 million respectively in present value terms using 2001 year 
dollars.
    The estimated incremental burden for the Federal government is 
10,500 hours with 4,000 of these hours for Federal Land Manager 
activities and the remainder for EPA activities. The estimated 
incremental cost in present value (2001 year dollars) is $363,000 with 
$121,000 of that for Federal Land Manager activities and the rest for 
EPA activities.
    The burden estimates for the first ICR renewal period cover 
different task elements than those for the original ICR. These 
differences reflect the requirements of the 1999 Regional Haze Rule 
with respect to the scheduled events and activities in the 
implementation process.

    Dated: July 12, 2002.
Henry C. Thomas,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 02-19326 Filed 7-30-02; 8:45 am]
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