[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18802-18804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7478]



[[Page 18802]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0120, EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0121, and EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0060; 
FRL-9652-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collections; 
Request for Comment on Three Proposed Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs)

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 three existing approved Information 
Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). These ICRs are scheduled to expire between July 31, 2012 and 
August 31, 2012. Before submitting the ICRs to OMB for review and 
approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of these 
proposed information collection requests as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the Docket ID numbers 
provided for each item in the text, by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (202) 566-9744.
     Mail: Air Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: Docket Center, (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. 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 the Docket ID Numbers 
identified for each item in the text. 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: Nydia Yanira Reyes-Morales, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail 
Code 6403J, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9264; fax 
number: 202-343-2804; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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

    EPA has established a public docket for each of the ICRs identified 
in this document (see the Docket ID numbers for each ICR that are 
provided in the text), 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 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:
    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.

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What information collection activity or ICR does this apply to?

Docket ID No.: EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0120

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
large on-highway heavy-duty engine and vehicle manufacturers.
    Title: Nonconformance Penalties for Heavy-Duty Engines and Heavy-
Duty Vehicles, Including Light-Duty Trucks; Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1285.08, OMB Control No. 2060-0132.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on July 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, and 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: Nonconformance penalties (NCP) provisions allow a 
manufacturer to introduce into commerce heavy-duty engines (HDEs) or 
heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), including light-duty trucks (LDTs), which 
fail to conform to certain emission standards, upon payment of a 
monetary penalty. The information collection activities for the NCP 
program include the collection of periodic reports and other 
information which the manufacturer creates and submits to the Diesel 
Engine Compliance Center (DECC), Compliance Division (CD), Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ), Office of Air and Radiation 
(OAR), of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DECC uses 
this information to ensure that manufacturers are in compliance with 
applicable regulations and the Clean Air Act (CAA) and have paid the 
appropriate penalties. The information submitted in the manufacturers' 
NCP reports is stored in DECC's computer tracking system to ensure 
accurate accounting of NCP payments. Since nonconformance penalties and 
associated Production Compliance Audits (PCA) are an option selected by 
manufacturers, EPA cannot be certain how many engine families 
manufacturers will request to be included in the NCP program each year. 
Likewise, we cannot be certain of the number of PCAs that will be 
conducted each model year. However, EPA estimates for ICR purposes, 
that six engine families will be included in the NCP program each model 
year.
    Besides DECC, this information could be used by the Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and the Department of 
Justice for enforcement purposes. Non-Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) information may be disclosed upon request under the Freedom of 
Information Act to trade associations, environmental groups, and the 
public.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 589 
hours per year. 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 under review and briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 2.
    Frequency of response: Quarterly, Annually, On Occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
26.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 1,178 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $94,999. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $76,819.28 and an estimated cost of $18,180.00 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Docket ID No.: EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0121

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
manufacturers, importers or vendors of on-road heavy duty vehicles, and 
all categories of nonroad engines and nonroad equipment.
    Title: Exclusion Determinations for New Nonroad Spark-ignited, New 
Nonroad Compression-ignited Engines, and New On-road Heavy Duty Engines 
(Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1852.05, OMB Control No. 2060-0395.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on July 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, and 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: Under the provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA), the 
Administrator is required to promulgate regulations to control air 
pollutant emissions from motor vehicles and nonroad engines, as defined 
in the CAA. Motor vehicles and non-road engines not meeting the 
applicable definitions are excluded from compliance with current 
regulations. A manufacturer may make an exclusion determination by 
itself; however, manufacturers and importers may routinely request EPA 
to make such determination to ensure that their determination does not 
differ from the Agency's. To request an exclusion determination, 
manufacturers submit a letter with a description of the engine and/or 
vehicle (engine type, horsepower rating, intended usage, etc.) and 
sales brochures or pictures, to either the Gasoline Engine Compliance 
Center (GECC) or the Diesel Engine Compliance Center (DECC). Both 
Centers are part of Compliance Division (CD), Office of Transportation 
and Air Quality (OTAQ). GECC and DECC use this information to determine 
whether the engine or vehicle is excluded from compliance with one or 
more emission regulations. GECC and DECC then store the data in its 
internal files, and make it available to the public upon request under 
the Freedom of Information Act.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average seven 
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

[[Page 18804]]

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: 12.
    Frequency of response: Annual or On Occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 3.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 69.
    Estimated total annual costs: $5,654. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $5,538 and an estimated cost of $116 for capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Docket Number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0060

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by these actions 
are manufacturers of nonroad spark-ignition engines, including marine 
spark ignition engines.
    Title: Emissions Certification and Compliance Requirements for 
Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines.
    EPA ICR Number: 1695.10, OMB Control Number 2060-0338.
    Abstract: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 
2012. This information collection is requested under the authority of 
Title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.). Under this 
Title, EPA is charged with issuing certificates of conformity for those 
engines which comply with applicable emission standards. Such a 
certificate must be issued before engines may be legally introduced 
into commerce. To apply for a certificate of conformity, manufacturers 
are required to submit descriptions of their planned production line, 
including detailed descriptions of the emission control system, and 
test data. This information is organized by ``engine family'' groups 
expected to have similar emission characteristics. The emission values 
achieved during certification testing may also be used in the 
Averaging, Banking, and Trading (ABT) Program. The program allows 
manufacturers to bank credits for engine families that emit below the 
standard and use the credits for families that emit above the standard. 
They may also trade banked credits with other manufacturers. 
Participation in the ABT program is voluntary. Different categories of 
spark-ignition engines may also be required to comply with production-
line testing and in-use testing. There are also recordkeeping and 
labeling requirements. In this notice, former ICR 1722.06 (``Emission 
Certification and Compliance Requirements for Spark-Ignition Marine 
Engine, OMB Control Number 2060-0321) and portions of former ICR 
2251.03 (Control of Emissions from Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines and 
Equipment, OMB Control Number 2060-0603) are being incorporated into 
ICR 1695.10. This action is undertaken to consolidate certification and 
compliance information requirements for spark-ignition engines into one 
ICR for simplification. With this consolidation, we combine all the 
certification and compliance burden associated with the spark-ignition 
engine industry.
    This information is collected electronically by the Gas Engine 
Compliance Center (GECC), Compliance Division, Office of Transportation 
and Air Quality (OTAQ), Office of Air and Radiation of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency. GECC uses this information to ensure 
that manufacturers are in compliance with applicable regulations and 
the Clean Air Act (CAA). It may also be used by the Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and the Department of 
Justice for enforcement purposes. Non-Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) may be disclosed on OTAQ's Web site or upon request under the 
Freedom of Information Act to trade associations, environmental groups, 
and the public.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 127 
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 under review and briefly summarized here (the following 
numbers represent consolidated burden for the three combined ICRs):
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 864.
    Frequency of response: Annual or On Occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
3.14.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 345,159.
    Estimated total annual costs: $41,396,380. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $22,146,947 and an estimated cost of 
$19,249,433 for capital investment or maintenance and operational 
costs.

Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    To date, there are no changes in the number of hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR 
currently approved by OMB. However, EPA is still evaluating information 
that may lead to a change in the estimates.

What is the next step in the process for these ICRs?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as 
appropriate. The final ICR packages 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: March 16, 2012.
Byron J. Bunker,
Acting Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air 
Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2012-7478 Filed 3-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P