[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13122-13123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5254]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0707; Notice-3; FRL-9643-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Data Reporting Requirements for State and Local 
Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Programs

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection 
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is 
scheduled to expire on August 31, 2012. 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 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2008-0707: Notice-3, by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (734)-214-4052.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West (Air 
Docket), Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW., Room: B108, 
Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center (Air Docket), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Room: 
B108; Mail Code: 6102T, Washington, DC 20004. Such deliveries are only 
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2008-0707: Notice-3. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be 
included in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov 
or email. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' 
system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you 
send an email comment directly to EPA without going through 
www.regulations.gov your email address will be automatically captured 
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket 
and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic 
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact 
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you 
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special 
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or 
viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the 
EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Sosnowski, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, 
Transportation and Climate Division, 2000 Traverwood, Ann Arbor, 
Michigan 48105; telephone number: (734) 214-4823; fax number: (734) 
214-4052; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How can I access the docket and/or submit comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0707: Notice-3, which is available for online 
viewing at www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air Docket 
in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Ave NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC 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 Docket is (202) 566-1742.
    Use www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of 
information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing 
of the contents of the 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 in this 
document.

What information is EPA particularly interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What should I consider when I prepare my comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:

[[Page 13123]]

    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

What information collection activity or ICR does this apply to?

    Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0707: Notice-3.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
the state government agencies or departments responsible for oversight 
and operation of the I/M programs (SIC91). Thirty-three states 
plus the District of Columbia will be affected by I/M program 
requirements.
    Title: Data Reporting Requirements for State and Local Vehicle 
Emission Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Programs.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1613.03, OMB Control No. 2060-0252.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 
2012. 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 title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal 
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed 
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate 
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if 
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: To provide general oversight and support to state and 
local I/M programs, the Transportation and Regional Programs Division 
(TRPD), Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and 
Radiation, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, requires that state 
or local program management for both basic and enhanced I/M programs 
collect two varieties of reports to EPA. The first reporting 
requirement is the submittal of an annual report providing general 
program operating data and summary statistics, addressing the program's 
current design and coverage, a summary of testing data, enforcement 
program efforts, quality assurance and quality control efforts, and 
other miscellaneous information allowing for an assessment of the 
program's relative effectiveness; the second is a biennial report on 
any changes to the program over the two-year period and the impact of 
such changes, including any weaknesses discovered and corrections made 
or planned.
    General program effectiveness is determined by the degree to which 
a program misses, meets, or exceeds the emission reductions committed 
to in the state's approved SIP, which, in turn, must meet or exceed the 
minimum emission reductions expected from the relevant performance 
standard, as promulgated under EPA's revisions to 40 CFR, Part 51, in 
response to requirements established in section 182 of the Clean Air 
Act Amendments of 1990 (Act). This information will be used by EPA to 
determine a program's progress toward meeting requirements under 40 
CFR, Part 51, as well as to assess national trends in the area of basic 
and enhanced I/M programs and to provide background information in 
support of periodic site visits and evaluations.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 85 
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 which have subsequently changed; 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 ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 28.
    Frequency of response: Annual and Biennial.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,380 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $144,564. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $144,564 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    There is a change in the total estimated respondent burden compared 
with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB due to 
increased Office of Personnel Management estimates for labor costs for 
clerical, technical, and management personnel. The total cost and 
burden associated with this ICR has gone down, however, due to a 
reduction in the number of respondents covered by the collection.

What is the next step in the process for this ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: February 28, 2012.
Karl Simon,
Director, Transportation and Climate Division, Office of Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2012-5254 Filed 3-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P