[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19221-19223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9652]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0482; FRL-8898-3]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With
SmartWay Transport Partnership; EPA ICR No. 2265.01, OMB Control No.
2060--NEW
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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). 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 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0482 by one of the following methods:
www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
E-mail: smartway_transport@epa.gov.
Fax: 202-343-2803
Mail: SmartWay Transport Partnership, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6406J, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: Air Docket, EPA, Mailcode: 6102T, 1200
Pennsylvania 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 Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-
0482. 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 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 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: Denise Kearns, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105;
telephone: 734-214-4240; Fax: 734-214-4906; e-mail: kearns.denise
@epa.gov.
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-
[[Page 19222]]
HQ-OAR-2007-0482, 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.
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0482
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action
include private and public organizations that join the SmartWay
Transport Partnership; freight industry representatives who engage in
activities related to the SmartWay Partnership; and representative
samplings of consumers in the general public. These entities may be
affected by EPA efforts to assess the effectiveness and value of the
SmartWay program, awareness of the SmartWay brand, and ideas for
improving and developing SmartWay.
Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with SmartWay
Transport Partnership.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2265.01, OMB Control No. 2060-NEW.
ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity.
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: The EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) supports the
SmartWay Transport Partnership, an energy conservation deployment
program that aims to improve fuel efficiency and curb greenhouse gas
emissions generated by the freight industry (air, rail, water, truck,
transit, pipeline). OAR developed the SmartWay Transport Partnership
under directives outlined in Subtitle D of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 which calls on EPA to assess the energy and air quality impacts of
activities within the freight industry. These activities include long-
duration truck idling, the development and promotion of strategies for
reducing idling, fuel consumption, and negative air quality effects.
SmartWay's objectives also are consistent with the Federal Technology
Transfer Act and other laws that support collaborative partnerships
between government and industry.
The partnership is open to organizations that own, operate, and
contract fleet operations, including both truck carriers and shippers.
``Affiliate'' organizations that do not operate fleets, but that are
working to strengthen the freight industry, such as industry trade
associations, state and local transportation agencies and environmental
groups, also may sign on as SmartWay partners.
All organizations that join SmartWay, including carriers, shippers
and affiliates are asked to provide EPA with information.
Specifically, as a first step toward partnering with EPA,
organizations that operate fleets, such as freight carriers, shippers
and logistics management companies, commit to assessing and improving
the environmental performance of their freight activities. A company
joins SmartWay when it completes the Freight Logistics Environmental
and Energy Transportation (FLEET) Performance Model and submits the
model's results, along with a signed partnership agreement to EPA. The
data outputs from the FLEET Model are used by companies to establish a
baseline and set goals for reducing fuel and emissions over the next 3
years. Under their partnership agreement, companies also agree to
annually update their FLEET model and to provide those updated results
to EPA.
Data outputs from the FLEET Model are vital to the SmartWay
Partnership for several reasons. First, the data provides confirmation
that EPA's SmartWay Partners have set a baseline, established
objectives and are meeting those objectives as outlined in their
Partnership Agreement. The FLEET Model outputs also make it possible
for EPA to assist our Partners in adjusting their commitments, as
appropriate, and to update them with environmental performance and
technology information that will empower them to improve their
efficiency and achieve their environmental goals. This
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information also improves EPA's knowledge and understanding of the
environmental and energy impacts associated with goods movement, and
the effectiveness of both proven and emerging strategies to lessen
those impacts.
In addition to requesting FLEET Model data and annual updates on
fuel consumption and environmental performance, EPA may ask its
SmartWay Partners for other kinds of information. These requests for
information may be made of all our SmartWay Partners, including our
affiliates. Some examples of this kind of information could include
opinions and test data on the effectiveness of new and emerging
technology applications; numeric data on sales volumes associated with
SmartWay recommended vehicle equipment and technologies; the reach and
value of partnering with EPA through the SmartWay program; and
awareness of the SmartWay brand. In some instances, EPA might also
query other freight industry representatives (not just SmartWay
Partners), including trade and professional associations, nonprofit
environmental groups, energy, and community organizations, and schools
and universities, and a small sampling of the general public.
Burden Statement: Total annual burden is estimated at 10,081 hours.
The estimated number of Respondent Partners is 1,462 the first year,
with a growth of 255 Partners per year projected into the future. The
estimated average burden time per Respondent is 4.6 hours annually. EPA
notes that this is a weighted average across all SmartWay Partners,
regardless of whether they are affiliates, shippers, carriers, or
logistics companies. The weighted average also includes 300 consumer
and industry respondents who spend far less time, providing the
SmartWay program with basic information on their awareness of the
program.
Among Respondent Partners, the burden hours are typically higher
for larger companies with more complex fleets, than for smaller
companies. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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;
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.
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: April 9, 2009.
Sarah Dunham,
Acting Director, Transportation and Regional Programs Division, Office
of Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. E9-9652 Filed 4-27-09; 8:45 am]
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