[Federal Register: July 31, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 147)]
[Notices]
[Page 49687-49688]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31jy02-55]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[AD-FRL-7253-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
3501, et seq.), this document announces that EPA has forwarded the
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Regional Haze
Regulations, ICR number 1813.02., and OMB Control Number 2060-0421,
expiration date: September 30, 2002. The ICR describes the nature of
the information collection and its expected burden and cost.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 30, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1813.02, and OMB
Control No. 2060-0421, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail
Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001;
and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR, contact Sandy
Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by e-mail at
farmer.sandy@epa.gov, or download off the Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1813.02. For technical
questions about the ICR, contact Thomas Driscoll by phone at (919) 541-
5135, by e-mail at driscoll.tom@epa.gov, or by mail at Integrated
Policy and Standards Group (C504-02), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Regional Haze Regulations, ICR number
1813.02., and OMB Control Number 2060-0421, expiration date: September
30, 2002. This is a request for reinstatement, with change, of a
previously approved collection for which approval is expiring.
Abstract: Section 169A of the Clean Air Act (CAA) establishes a
national goal for protecting visibility in 156 scenic areas. These 156
``Class I'' areas are federally protected areas. The national
visibility goal is to remedy existing impairment in these Class I
areas, consistent with the requirements of section 169A and 169B of the
CAA. Entities that are affected by these rulemakings (subject to best
available retrofit technology (BART) Guidelines) would be those
facilities built between 1962 and 1977, are major sources (emit greater
than 250 tons per year) of any of the visibility impairing pollutants,
and are one of 26 source categories which include electricity
generating utilities, facilities with industrial boilers, and
petrochemical facilities. The regional haze rule sets forth
requirements for State Implementation Plans (SIPs) under this program.
The rule requires SIPs to include visibility progress goals for each
Class I area, as well as emissions reductions strategies and other
measures needed to meet these goals. The rule also provides an optional
approach, the proposed Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) Annex
rule, that may be followed by nine Western States and eligible Indian
Tribes and contains a number of recommended strategies designed to
improve visibility at the 16 Class I areas on the Colorado Plateau.
All information submitted to EPA for which a claim of
confidentiality is made will be safeguarded according to the Agency
policies set forth in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B--Confidentiality of
Business Information. 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 EPA, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(ii) evaluate the accuracy of EPA'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. 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 previous 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.
The total burden is computed from the time and effort needed to
complete the primary activities in the Regional Haze Rule. These
activities include the committal Federal Implementation Plan as
required in 40 CFR 51.308; the requirement to begin the analysis
process for BART determinations, progress goals, and control strategies
in 40 CFR 51.308; and the initial implementation plan submission
required in 40 CFR 51.309.
These burden hour and costs estimates are incremental to the
activities and accomplishments of the States, Tribes, and potentially
regulated facilities associated with the grants to the Regional
Planning Organizations.
The estimated incremental burden hours for States, Tribes, and
potentially regulated entities are 78,000, 29,000, and 28,000
respectively for the 3-year ICR renewal period (October 1, 2002 through
September 30, 2005). The estimated corresponding incremental cost is
$3.1 million, $1.2 million, and
[[Page 49688]]
$1.3 million respectively in present value terms using 2001 year
dollars.
The estimated incremental burden for the Federal government is
10,500 hours with 4,000 of these hours for Federal Land Manager
activities and the remainder for EPA activities. The estimated
incremental cost in present value (2001 year dollars) is $363,000 with
$121,000 of that for Federal Land Manager activities and the rest for
EPA activities.
The burden estimates for the first ICR renewal period cover
different task elements than those for the original ICR. These
differences reflect the requirements of the 1999 Regional Haze Rule
with respect to the scheduled events and activities in the
implementation process.
Dated: July 12, 2002.
Henry C. Thomas,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 02-19326 Filed 7-30-02; 8:45 am]
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