                              Action Information 

 Action Title:  Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Regional Haze Regulations (Renewal) 

 Purpose: This notice solicits public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection which is the first step in the renewal process of an information collection request (ICR). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through August 31, 2020. 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. We are planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Regional Haze Regulations (Renewal)" (EPA ICR No. 2540.03, OMB Control No. 2060-0704) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) after we have addressed any comments received during this comment period. 

Background: Subpart P of 40 CFR 51, Protection of Visibility, also known as the regional haze rule, is the subject of this clearance request. 40 CFR 51.308(f) requires states to develop regional haze implementation plan revisions evaluating and reassessing reasonable progress goals, calculations of baseline and natural visibility conditions, the long-term strategy, the monitoring strategy and other implementation plan requirements. There are similar reporting requirements under 40 CFR 51.309, a section of the regional haze rule in which three states (Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico) elected to submit their SIPs. Under section 309, these states adopted regional haze strategies for the period from 2003 to 2018 for sulfur dioxide emissions. These strategies are based on recommendations from the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC) for protecting the 16 Class I areas in the Colorado Plateau area. 40 CFR 51.308(g) requires states to develop periodic reports evaluating progress towards the reasonable progress goals for improving visibility in Class I areas inside the state and in neighboring states, and 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10) requires similar actions on the part of the 3 states that submitted regional haze SIPs under 40 CFR 51.309. Each regional haze implementation plan revision will also include a section that serves as a progress report. In between each SIP revision, periodic reports are required every five years. The next periodic report is due in January 2025. Under the 1999 regional haze rule, states are required to set periodic goals for improving visibility in the 156 Mandatory Class I Federal Areas. States working to reach these goals must develop regional haze implementation plans that contain enforceable measures and strategies for reducing visibility-impairing pollution. Initial implementation plans were due in December 2007. Periodic comprehensive revisions to implementation plans are due July 31, 2021, July 31, 2028, and every 10 years thereafter. The primary focus for estimating burden for this 3-year period (2020  -  2023) will apply to the next program milestone which are the periodic comprehensive SIP revisions due in July 2021 (see 40 CFR 51.308(f)) for all states, including those covered under 40 CFR 51.309. The current ICR was approved in 2016 and expires on August 31, 2020.  

Stakeholder Involvement: None

Key Issues/Internal Review: None

Legal Deadlines: None

Timing: This notice needs to publish as quickly as possible so that we may have time to prepare the second notice and take comment for an additional 30 days before the ICR expires on August 31, 2020.
