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Agency Information Collection: Activities Up for Renewal; Regulations for A Voluntary Emissions Standards Program Applicable to Manufacturers of Light-Duty Vehicles and Trucks Beginning in Model Year 1997 




[Federal Register: February 21, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 35)]
[Notices]
[Page 11020-11021]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21fe01-68]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6946-9]


Agency Information Collection: Activities Up for Renewal;
Regulations for A Voluntary Emissions Standards Program Applicable to
Manufacturers of Light-Duty Vehicles and Trucks Beginning in Model Year
1997

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 notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following continuing Information Collection request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): Regulations for a Voluntary: Emissions
Standards Program Applicable to Manufacturers of Light-Duty Vehicles
and Trucks Beginning in Model Year 1997 (OMB #2060-0345, approved

[[Page 11021]]

through 04/30/01). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and
approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the
collections as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality, Certification and Compliance Division,
Outreach and Planning Group, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Mail Code 6405J, Washington, D.C. 20460. Interested
persons may request a copy of the ICR without charge from the contact
person below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chestine Payton, tel.: (202) 564-9328,
fax (202) 565-2057. E-mail address: payton.chestine@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected Entities: Parties potentially affected by this action are
manufacturers of light duty vehicles and light duty trucks.
    Title: Regulations for A Voluntary Emissions Standards Program
Applicable to Manufacturers of Light-Duty Vehicles and Trucks Beginning
in Model Year 1997, OMB 2060-0345, Expiration date 01/31/01.
    Abstract: The information collection will be conducted to support
averaging, banking, and trading provisions included in the National Low
Emission Vehicle (NLEV) program. These averaging, banking, and trading
provisions will give the automobile manufacturers a measure of
flexibility in meeting the fleet average non-methane organic gas (NMOG)
standards and the five-percent cap on Tier 1 vehicles and transitional
low emission vehicles (TLEVs) in the ozone transport region (OTR). EPA
will use the reported data to calculate credits and debits and
otherwise ensure compliance with the applicable production levels and
emissions standards. When a manufacturer has opted into the Voluntary
National LEV program, reporting will be mandatory.
    Manufacturers would submit information regarding the annual sales,
calculation, generation, and usage of emission credits in an annual
report. In addition, upon transferring credits to another manufacturer,
the manufacturer would submit this information along with their annual
report. This information will be submitted to EPA in annual reports and
will involve approximately 25 respondents at a total annual cost of
about $318,995.
    EPA currently has in place an ICR and clearance for annual sales/
production reporting for light-duty vehicles and trucks. This ICR
reflects additional requirements (beyond the annual sales/production
reporting requirement) to collate the annual sales/production data, and
implement the credit calculation program. In the future, this ICR will
be integrated with ICR 783.39, (Reporting and Recordingkeeping
Requirements for Motor Vehicle Certification under the Proposed Tier 2
Rule), as part of the consolidation under the certification and fuel
program reporting requirements.
    The information collection activity complies with the guidelines in
5 CFR 1320.6 except for the following:
    First, to provide EPA with a mechanism for auditing the accuracy of
these required reports, EPA will require pertinent production
information to be maintained and kept for eight model years. The eight-
year requirement arises from the phase-in periods and the fact that
credits have a four-model year lifetime. EPA enforcement action
regarding the credit program could require documentation justifying
credit or debit generation from the beginning of the phase-in and/or
four-year credit lifetime period. Pertinent production information
includes, but is not limited to, the number of vehicles or trucks sold
in each averaging set, the EPA engine family, assembly plant, VIN
number, and the NMOG standard to which the vehicle or truck is
certified. Pertinent information, whether kept by the manufacturer or
by a contractor, is subject to auditing by EPA. Consequently, EPA
officials will require voluntary entry and access to facilities.
    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;
    (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
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The estimated annual burden attributed to the
collection in this ICR is 241.3 hours for each of the 25 potential
respondents. 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 purpose 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Parties potentially affected by this
action are manufacturers of light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden Per Respondent: 241.3.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden Per Respondent: $12,759.80.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of
automated collection techniques to the addresses listed above. Please
refer to EPA ICR No. 1761.02 and OMB Control No. 2060-0345 in any
correspondence.

    Dated: February 14, 2001.
Robert D. Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-4270 Filed 2-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U

 
 

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