Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Investigations Into Possible Noncompliance of Motor
Vehicles
[Federal Register: March 21, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 55)]
[Notices]
[Page 13909-13911]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21mr03-56]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OAR-2003-0011, FRL-7470-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Investigations Into Possible Noncompliance of Motor
Vehicles
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3051
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): Investigations into Possible
Noncompliance of Motor Vehicles, EPA ICR Number 0222.06, OMB 2060-0086,
expires 31 August 2003. 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 May 20, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions in SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard W. Nash, Certification and
Compliance Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000
Traverwood Dr, Ann Arbor MI 48105, (734) 214-4412, nash.dick@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this
ICR
[[Page 13910]]
under Docket ID number OAR-2003-0011, which is available for public
viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC.
The EPA Docket Center 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 number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742. An
electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA
Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to obtain
a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or public
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public
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 above.
Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB
within 60 days of this notice, and according to the following detailed
instructions: (1) Submit your comments to EPA online using EDOCKET (our
preferred method), by email to a-and-r-docket@epamail.epa.gov, or by
mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Air and
Radiation Docket, Mailcode 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted
electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing
in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The
entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be
available in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the
official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is
otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the official public
docket, and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For
further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal
Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May
31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
owners of motor vehicles.
Title: Investigations into Possible Noncompliance of Motor
Vehicles. (OMB Control Number 2060-0086; EPA ICR Number 0222.06,
expiring 31 August 2003.)
Abstract: As part of an integrated compliance program, EPA
occasionally needs to evaluate the emission performance of in-use motor
vehicles. In order to perform this function, EPA must solicit certain
information from the vehicles owner/lessee. Participation in the
information survey, as well as the vehicle evaluation, is strictly
voluntary. Typically, a group of 25 potential participants is
identified. They are asked to return a postcard indicating their
willingness to participate and if so, to verify some limited vehicle
information. They are also asked when it would be suitable to contact
them. Those willing to participate are called and asked about a half
dozen questions concerning vehicle condition, operation and
maintenance. Depending on owner/lessee response, additional groups of
potential participants may be contacted until a sufficient number of
vehicles has been obtained.
Information collected is used to assure that vehicles procured meet
certain criteria. For example, since a manufacturer's responsibility to
recall passenger cars is limited to 10 years of age or 100,000 miles of
use, vehicles tested to establish potential recall liability must also
meet those criteria. Other testing programs and vehicle types have
different criteria. All information is publicly available.
The previous description generally describes how EPA obtains
information on in-use passenger cars and light trucks from individual
owners and lessees. Heavy duty trucks, those commonly referred to as
over ``\3/4\ ton'' capacity, are usually employed commercially;
typically they are part of a ``fleet'' of identical (or very similar)
vehicles. Consequently, EPA employs a slightly different method to
obtain them. Potential owners/lessees can be found in registrations
lists; engine manufacturers will also supply identities of their
customers. Occasionally, a fleet operator will contact EPA and
volunteer to participate. Once potential sources are identified, EPA
will make brief telephone calls to the fleet managers to ascertain if
they wish to participate. If the response is positive, EPA will visit
the fleet to inspect vehicles and review maintenance records. (Fleets
typically keep very good records on each vehicle; EPA can quickly
determine if a particular unit is acceptable.) A single fleet can
supply multiple vehicles and, typically, is quite willing to
participate. Therefore, EPA makes far fewer inquiries than with
individual owners of light vehicles. Based on comments, EPA may decide
to address light and heavy duty vehicles separately.
EPA uses several techniques in selecting the class or category of
motor vehicles to be evaluated. First, if based on other information
(e.g., defect reports, service bulletins) there is a suspicion that a
problem exists; EPA may target a particular group. Second, groups with
a large number of vehicles have potential for significant air quality
effects; they may be selected for that reason. New emission control
technology without a proven history is another factor in making
selections. Finally, some vehicle classes are selected on a random
basis.
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 are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.
The EPA would like to solicit comments 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.
Burden Statement: EPA estimates that approximately 1800 vehicle
owners will be contacted, on average they will spend approximately 20
minutes each responding for a total burden of approximately 600 hours.
The average reflects those who decline to participate (who will spend a
short time reading the solicitation letter and discard it) as well as
those who participate and will be asked a few additional questions
about vehicle condition, operation and maintenance. This collection is
entirely voluntary, there are no recordkeeping requirements. Burden
means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by
persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide
[[Page 13911]]
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.
Dated: March 14, 2003.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 03-6813 Filed 3-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M