[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7560-7562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3002]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0269; FRL-9265-5]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Transportation Conformity Determinations for Federally
Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, Programs and Projects
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 to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is
scheduled to expire on May 31, 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 April 11, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0269, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected].
Fax: (202) 566-9744.
Mail: Air Docket, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: Air Docket, Environmental Protection
Agency: EPA West Building, EPA Docket Center (Room 3334), 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0269. 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-
2007-0269. 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 www.regulations.gov
or e-mail. The http://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: Astrid Larsen, State Measures and
Conformity Group, Transportation and Regional Programs Division,
Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI
48105; telephone number: (734) 214-4812; fax number: (734) 214-4052; e-
mail address: [email protected].
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-HQ-OAR-2007-0269, 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
8:30 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
[[Page 7561]]
number for the Air Docket is 202-566-1742.
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. 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?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
metropolitan planning organizations, local transit agencies, state
departments of transportation, and State and local air quality
agencies. Federal agencies potentially affected by this action include
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit
Administration (FTA), and EPA.
Title: Transportation Conformity Determinations for Federally
Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, Programs and Projects
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2130.04, OMB Control No. 2060-051.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31,
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: 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 ``standards'') 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 those redesignated to attainment after 1990
(``maintenance areas'' with plans developed under Clean Air Act section
175A) for the following transportation related criteria pollutants:
Ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The 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 FHWA and FTA.
Transportation conformity determinations are required before
Federal approval or funding is given to certain types of transportation
planning documents as well as non-exempt highway and transit
projects.\1\
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\1\ Some projects are exempt from all or certain conformity
requirements see 40 CFR 93.126, 93.127, and 93.128.
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EPA considered the following in renewing the existing ICR:
Burden estimates for transportation conformity
determinations in current nonattainment and maintenance areas for the
ozone, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO2 NAAQS,
which made up EPA's previous ICR (ICR 2130.03);
Federal burden associated with EPA's adequacy review
process for submitted SIP budgets that are to be used in conformity
determinations;
New start-up burden associated with learning to perform
quantitative hot-spot analyses;
New burden associated with using the MOVES model for
conformity analyses;
Efficiencies in areas doing conformity for multiple NAAQS;
and,
Differences in conformity resource needs in large and
small metropolitan areas and isolated rural areas.
This ICR does not include burden associated with the general
development of transportation planning and air quality planning
documents for meeting other Federal requirements.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 7
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
[[Page 7562]]
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: This ICR estimates
that approximately 174 Metropolitan Planning Organizations will incur
burden associated with transportation conformity requirements.
Frequency of response: The information collections described in
this ICR must be completed before a transportation plan, TIP, or
project conformity determination is made. Per SAFETEA-LU and DOT's
planning regulations, transportation plans and TIPs must be updated at
least every 4 years. Conformity determinations on projects in
metropolitan and isolated rural areas are required on an as-needed
basis.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:
392.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 68,282 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $4,014,663. This includes an
estimated burden cost of $4,014,663 and an estimated cost of $0 for
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
There is an increase of 19,043 hours in the total estimated
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's adjustments associated
with the actual number of 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS nonattainment
areas versus the estimated number in the previous ICR, adjustment for
increased burden associated with quantitative hot-spot analyses and an
adjustment for increased burden associated with the transition from the
MOBILE6.2 to MOVES model.
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: February 7, 2011.
Sarah Dunham,
Director, Transportation and Regional Programs Division, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2011-3002 Filed 2-9-11; 8:45 am]
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