[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34386-34387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15265]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0269; FRL 9993-47-OMS]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Transportation Conformity Determinations for 
Federally Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, Programs and 
Projects (Reinstatement)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), Transportation 
Conformity Determinations for Federally Funded and Approved 
Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects (EPA ICR Number 2130.06, 
OMB Control Number 2060-0561), to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. This is a proposed reinstatement of the ICR, which was 
approved through March 31, 2019. Public comments were previously 
requested via the Federal Register on November 19, 2018 during a 60-day 
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public 
comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its 
estimated burden and cost to the public.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 19, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0269, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method) or by mail to: EPA

[[Page 34387]]

Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email to 
[email protected]. Address comments to ``OMB Desk Officer for 
EPA''.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Astrid Terry, Office of Transportation 
and Air Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood 
Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone number: 734-214-4812; email 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents, which explain in 
detail the information that EPA will be collecting, are available in 
the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: Transportation conformity is required under Clean Air Act 
section 176(c) (42 U.S.C. 7506(c)) to ensure that federally supported 
transportation activities are consistent with (conform to) the purpose 
of the State Air Quality Implementation Plan (SIP). Transportation 
activities include transportation plans, transportation improvement 
programs (TIPs), and federally funded or approved highway or transit 
projects. Conformity to the purpose of the SIP means that 
transportation activities will not cause or contribute to new air 
quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely 
attainment of the relevant National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
(NAAQS)) or interim milestones.
    Transportation conformity applies under EPA's conformity 
regulations at 40 CFR part 93, subpart A, to areas that are designated 
nonattainment and maintenance areas for the following transportation-
related criteria pollutants: Ozone, particulate matter 
(PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and 
nitrogen dioxide (NO2). EPA published the original 
transportation conformity rule on November 24, 1993 (58 FR 62188), and 
subsequently published several revisions. EPA develops the conformity 
regulations in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The federal government 
needs information collected under these regulations to ensure that 
metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and federal transportation 
actions are consistent with state air quality goals.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: MPOs, local transit agencies, state 
departments of transportation, and state and local air quality 
agencies.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory pursuant to Clean Air 
Act section 176(c) (42 U.S.C. 7506(c)) and 40 CFR part 93.
    Estimated number of respondents: 155.
    Frequency of response: Typically, once every 4 years for 
transportation plans and TIPs, and for the largest MPOs with 3 or more 
NAAQS, once every 3 years for transportation plans and TIPs. As needed 
for projects.
    Total estimated burden: 48,671 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $3,094,989 (per year), includes zero 
annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: There is a decrease of 11,877 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. A decrease in burden was projected due to the 
requirement for transportation conformity ending in PM10, 
NO2, and CO maintenance areas that have reached the end of 
the 20-year maintenance period. A decrease in burden was projected due 
to fewer transportation conformity determinations for areas previously 
designated nonattainment or maintenance for the 1997 PM2.5 
NAAQS. Burden was increased for the 1997 ozone NAAQS due to the South 
Coast II court decision, which occurred during the development of this 
ICR. The number of training hours was reduced for this ICR as no new 
emissions model has been released and additional hours for such a model 
transition and training are not anticipated. Based on the comments and 
supporting example documentation received during the first public 
comment period, EPA increased the estimated burden hours by 40% 
associated with an individual transportation plan and TIP conformity 
determination in the largest MPOs as well as increased TIP frequency 
for the largest MPOs where conformity applies for 3 or more NAAQS.

Courtney Kerwin,
 Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-15265 Filed 7-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P