

[Federal Register: April 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 79)]
[Notices]               
[Page 20668-20669]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap07-136]                         



[[Page 20668]]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0265; FRL-8295-4]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; PM2.5 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard 
Implementation Rule; EPA ICR No. 2258.01

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 for a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR covers the 3 year time 
period from April 5, 2008 through April 4, 2011. 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 June 25, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0265, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 

instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: a-and-r-docket@epamail.epa.gov.
     Fax: 202-566-1741
     Mail: Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0265, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West (Air Docket), 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, Mailcode: 6102T, Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 
West (Air Docket), 1301 Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Room 3334, 
Washington, DC 20004, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0265. 
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-
2007-0265. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be 
included in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at http://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 
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. 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 e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail 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: Butch Stackhouse, Air Quality Policy 
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Mail Code C539-
01, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number 
(919) 541-5208, facsimile number (919) 541-0824, electronic mail e-mail 
address: stackhouse.butch@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    The EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket 
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0265 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 http://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 Docket is 202-566-1752.
    Use http://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.

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.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0265]

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
States and Regional offices. There are other entities

[[Page 20669]]

that may be indirectly affected, as they may comment on the draft 
submissions before they are forwarded to EPA's Regional Offices. These 
include potentially regulated entities, representatives of special 
interest groups, and individuals.
    Title: PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard 
Implementation Rule.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2258.01.
    ICR status: This ICR covers the 3-year time period from April 5, 
2008 through April 4, 2011. 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: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires the information 
found in this Information Collection Request (ICR) number 2258.01, to 
assess the burden (in hours and dollars) of the PM2.5 
National Ambient Air Quality Standard Implementation (NAAQS) Rule as 
well as the periodic reporting and record keeping necessary to maintain 
the rule. The rule was proposed November 1, 2005 (70 FR 65983) and 
promulgated April 25, 2007 elsewhere in the Rules section of part II of 
this Federal Register. The preamble to the proposed and final 
regulation addressed the administrative burden in general terms. The 
preamble to the final rule stated that an ICR would be prepared. The 
rule includes requirements that involve collecting information from 
States with areas that have been designated nonattainment for the 
PM2.5 NAAQS.
    The time period covered in this ICR is a 3-year period from April 
5, 2008 through April 4, 2011. The milestones for the State or local 
air agency respondents will include the required SIP elements 
prescribed in the Clean Air Act (CAA) sections 110 and part D, subpart 
1 of title I for Implementation plans and the requirements in the 
PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation Rule (40 CFR 51.1000-51.1012). 
The PM2.5 SIP will contains rules and other requirements 
designed to achieve the NAAQS by the deadlines established under the 
CAA, and it also contains a demonstration that the State's requirements 
will in fact result in attainment. The SIP must meet the requirements 
in subpart 1 to adopt Reasonable Available Control Measures, Reasonable 
Available Control Technology, and provide for Reasonable Further 
Progress toward attainment for the period prior to the area's 
attainment date. However, not all of the milestones and associated 
burden and administrative cost estimates apply to every designated 
PM2.5 nonattainment area. Areas with cleaner air quality 
have fewer requirements.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 
10,000 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: 21.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 210,000 hours.
    Estimated total average annual costs per respondent: $604,762. This 
includes an estimated burden cost of $604,762 and an estimated cost of 
$0 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Additional Background on Burden Estimation Method

    The methodology and draft estimates of incremental administrative 
burden for this ICR are documented in a separate supporting statement 
in the docket. The methodology and draft estimates in the 
PM2.5 Implementation Rule ICR are based on the ICR developed 
for the 8-hour ozone Implementation Rule ICR (EPA ICR No. 2236.02, OMB 
Control No. 2060-0594). The 8-hour ozone Implementation Rule ICR 
methodology and draft estimates were submitted to EPA's Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards Implementation Workgroup for their review 
and comment. This workgroup is comprised of representatives from EPA 
Regional Offices I through IX as well as EPA's Offices of General 
Counsel, Policy-Economics-and Innovation, and Air and Radiation 
(including the Offices of Transportation and Air Quality, Air Quality 
Planning and Standards, and Policy Analysis and Review).
    The workgroup provided constructive criticism on earlier drafts 
which resulted in clarifications to the methodology section, revisions 
to the categorization of non-attainment areas by regional office, and 
changes to the temporal allocation of regional office administrative 
burden. The workgroup reviewed the June 2006 ICR supporting statement 
which was forwarded to OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs. The workgroup believed there would be differences between the 
realized incremental administrative burden of the states and regional 
offices versus what was in the supporting statement. However, the 
estimates in the ICR supporting statement were judged to be appropriate 
(e.g. in the right ballpark).

What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

    The 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: March 29, 2007.
Mary Henigin,
Acting Director, Air Quality Policy Division, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. E7-6348 Filed 4-24-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
