[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42719-42720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16209]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OAR-2004-0071; FRL-7787-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities 
Associated With the Best Workplaces for Commuters Program, EPA ICR 
Number 2053.01

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 an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request a new collection. This 
ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its 
estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 16, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2004-
0071 to (1) EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by email 
to Group [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency,Office of Air and Radiation Docket 
(Mail Code 6102T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Lonoff, Transportation and 
Regional Programs Division (Mail Code 6406J), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202-343-9147; fax number: 202-343-2800; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On April 9, 2002 (67 FR 17069), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. OAR-2004-0071, which is available for public viewing at the Office 
of 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 Office of 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 submit or view 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 30 days of this notice. 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 www.epa.gov/edocket.
    Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with the Best 
Workplaces for Commuters.
    Abstract: Best Workplaces for Commuters SM (BWC; 
originally known

[[Page 42720]]

as the Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative) is a unique designation 
granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT) to employers that offer superior 
commuter benefits to their employees. EPA is partnering with a variety 
of national, state, regional, and local organizations to challenge U.S. 
employers to meet a National Standard of Excellence in commuter 
benefits and to recognize those that do as ``Best Workplaces for 
Commuters.'' The program highlights the environmental and congestion 
relief benefits along with the potential financial benefits of offering 
employee commuter benefits, such as improved recruiting and retention, 
tax savings, and other cost savings. EPA works to gain public 
recognition for companies recognized as Best Workplaces for Commuters 
and provides networking, opportunities training, web-based tools, and 
one-on-one assistance for its partners. Employers wishing to join BWC 
are asked to submit the BWC Application documenting their intent to 
provide such benefits, to submit an Annual Check-in Form confirming 
their continued participation and updating contact information, and to 
disseminate a Employee Survey when they are randomly selected by EPA. 
This data will enable EPA to better understand commuting habits, to 
provide support for and recognize BWC Employers, and to monitor and 
measure the success of BWC. All data collection is voluntary and will 
be done electronically or by fax except where a participant doesn't 
have access. No personal information will be collected, and all data 
will be aggregated for analysis.
    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 in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and are identified on 
the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.5 
hours per response. 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Work Site contacts of voluntarily 
participating BWC Employers, BWC employees at Work Sites randomly 
selected for annual survey, and members of the year's control group.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52,566.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 24,052.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,284,142, includes $1,064 annualized 
O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: This is a new information collection, 
and, as such, this section does not apply.

    Dated: July 9, 2004.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 04-16209 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
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