[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13909-13911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6813]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OAR-2003-0011, FRL-7470-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Investigations Into Possible Noncompliance of Motor 
Vehicles

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3051 
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): Investigations into Possible 
Noncompliance of Motor Vehicles, EPA ICR Number 0222.06, OMB 2060-0086, 
expires 31 August 2003. 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 May 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions in SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard W. Nash, Certification and 
Compliance Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 
Traverwood Dr, Ann Arbor MI 48105, (734) 214-4412, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR

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under Docket ID number OAR-2003-0011, which is available for public 
viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the 
telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742. An 
electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA 
Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to obtain 
a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public 
docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are 
available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then 
key in the docket ID number identified above.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB 
within 60 days of this notice, and according to the following detailed 
instructions: (1) Submit your comments to EPA online using EDOCKET (our 
preferred method), by email to a-and-r- [email protected], or by 
mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Air and 
Radiation Docket, Mailcode 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted 
electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing 
in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The 
entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be 
available in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the 
official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is 
otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the official public 
docket, and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For 
further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal 
Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 
31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov./edocket.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
owners of motor vehicles.
    Title: Investigations into Possible Noncompliance of Motor 
Vehicles. (OMB Control Number 2060-0086; EPA ICR Number 0222.06, 
expiring 31 August 2003.)
    Abstract: As part of an integrated compliance program, EPA 
occasionally needs to evaluate the emission performance of in-use motor 
vehicles. In order to perform this function, EPA must solicit certain 
information from the vehicles owner/lessee. Participation in the 
information survey, as well as the vehicle evaluation, is strictly 
voluntary. Typically, a group of 25 potential participants is 
identified. They are asked to return a postcard indicating their 
willingness to participate and if so, to verify some limited vehicle 
information. They are also asked when it would be suitable to contact 
them. Those willing to participate are called and asked about a half 
dozen questions concerning vehicle condition, operation and 
maintenance. Depending on owner/lessee response, additional groups of 
potential participants may be contacted until a sufficient number of 
vehicles has been obtained.
    Information collected is used to assure that vehicles procured meet 
certain criteria. For example, since a manufacturer's responsibility to 
recall passenger cars is limited to 10 years of age or 100,000 miles of 
use, vehicles tested to establish potential recall liability must also 
meet those criteria. Other testing programs and vehicle types have 
different criteria. All information is publicly available.
    The previous description generally describes how EPA obtains 
information on in-use passenger cars and light trucks from individual 
owners and lessees. Heavy duty trucks, those commonly referred to as 
over ``\3/4\ ton'' capacity, are usually employed commercially; 
typically they are part of a ``fleet'' of identical (or very similar) 
vehicles. Consequently, EPA employs a slightly different method to 
obtain them. Potential owners/lessees can be found in registrations 
lists; engine manufacturers will also supply identities of their 
customers. Occasionally, a fleet operator will contact EPA and 
volunteer to participate. Once potential sources are identified, EPA 
will make brief telephone calls to the fleet managers to ascertain if 
they wish to participate. If the response is positive, EPA will visit 
the fleet to inspect vehicles and review maintenance records. (Fleets 
typically keep very good records on each vehicle; EPA can quickly 
determine if a particular unit is acceptable.) A single fleet can 
supply multiple vehicles and, typically, is quite willing to 
participate. Therefore, EPA makes far fewer inquiries than with 
individual owners of light vehicles. Based on comments, EPA may decide 
to address light and heavy duty vehicles separately.
    EPA uses several techniques in selecting the class or category of 
motor vehicles to be evaluated. First, if based on other information 
(e.g., defect reports, service bulletins) there is a suspicion that a 
problem exists; EPA may target a particular group. Second, groups with 
a large number of vehicles have potential for significant air quality 
effects; they may be selected for that reason. New emission control 
technology without a proven history is another factor in making 
selections. Finally, some vehicle classes are selected on a random 
basis.
    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: EPA estimates that approximately 1800 vehicle 
owners will be contacted, on average they will spend approximately 20 
minutes each responding for a total burden of approximately 600 hours. 
The average reflects those who decline to participate (who will spend a 
short time reading the solicitation letter and discard it) as well as 
those who participate and will be asked a few additional questions 
about vehicle condition, operation and maintenance. This collection is 
entirely voluntary, there are no recordkeeping requirements. Burden 
means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide

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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: March 14, 2003.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 03-6813 Filed 3-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M