Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; EPA's Light-Duty In-Use Vehicle Testing Program (Renewal)

Byron J. Bunker
Environmental Protection Agency
September 26, 2014

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57928-57929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22745]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0690; FRL-9917-09-OAR]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; EPA's Light-Duty In-Use Vehicle Testing Program 
(Renewal)

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) (EPA ICR No. 
0222.10, OMB Control No. 2060-0086). This ICR is scheduled to expire on 
September 30, 2014. 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 November 25, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2010-0690 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to pugliese.holly@epa.gov or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Sohacki, Compliance Division, 
Office of Transportation and Air Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 2000 Traverwood, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105; telephone number: 
734-214-4851; fax number: 734-214-4869; email address: 
sohacki.lynn@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
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

[[Page 57929]]

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. 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. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: EPA has an ongoing program to evaluate the emission 
performance of in-use light-duty (passenger car and light truck) motor 
vehicles. This program operates in conjunction with testing of 
prototype vehicles prior to use (manufacturer and EPA confirmatory 
testing for certification) and the mandatory manufacturer's in-use 
testing program (IUVP) for light-duty vehicles. They derive from the 
Clean Air Act's charge that EPA ensures that motor vehicles comply with 
emissions requirements throughout their useful lives. The primary 
purpose of the program is information gathering. Nevertheless, EPA can 
require a recall if it receives information, from whatever source, 
including in-use testing, that a ``substantial number'' of any class or 
category of vehicles or engines, although properly maintained and used, 
do not conform to the emission standards, when in actual use throughout 
their useful life.
    The program can be broken down into three closely-related headings. 
The first is a surveillance program that selects approximately 40 
classes of passenger cars and light trucks for in-use testing, at EPA's 
testing facility, totaling approximately 120 vehicles (three in each 
class on average). In some cases surveillance testing may be followed 
by compliance testing. The purpose of a compliance phase is to develop 
additional information related to test failures observed in a class 
during surveillance testing. This program that selects approximately 3 
classes of 10 passenger cars and light trucks for in-use testing, at 
EPA's testing facility, totaling approximately 30 vehicles. The second 
heading is testing of a subset of vehicles from the surveillance 
recruitment for operation of on-board diagnostics (OBD) systems. EPA 
does not currently recruit vehicles for OBD testing but includes the 
testing in this ICR in the event that OBD testing is resumed. The third 
category is special investigations involving testing of vehicles to 
address specific issues. The number of vehicles procured under this 
category varies widely from year to year, but this request asks for 
approval of the information burden corresponding to 10 such vehicles 
per year for the next three years.
    Participation in the light-duty surveys, as well as the vehicle 
testing, is strictly voluntary. A group of 25 to 50 potential 
participants is identified from state vehicle registration records. 
They are asked to return a form indicating their willingness to 
participate and if so, to verify some limited vehicle information. 
Three of those who return the card are called and asked several survey 
questions concerning vehicle condition, and operation and maintenance. 
Additional groups of potential participants may be contacted until a 
sufficient number of vehicles have been obtained. Owners verify the 
survey information when they deliver their vehicles to EPA, release the 
vehicle to EPA, voluntarily provide maintenance records for copying, 
receive a cash incentive and, if requested, a loaner car, then receive 
the vehicle from EPA at the conclusion of the testing.
    Form Numbers: 5900-304, 5900-305, 5900-306, 5900-307, 5900-308, 
5900-309
    Frequency of response: On Occasion.
    Respondents/affected entities: A group of 25 to 50 potential 
participants is identified from state vehicle registration records. 
They are asked to return a form indicating their willingness to 
participate and if so, to verify some limited vehicle information. 
Three of those who return the card are called and asked several 
questions concerning vehicle condition, and operation and maintenance. 
Additional groups of potential participants may be contacted until a 
sufficient number of vehicles have been obtained.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: Approximately 3917 owners/lessees 
receive EPA's solicitations to participate and approximately 160 do 
participate.
    Total estimated burden: 505 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $11,277. This includes an estimated burden 
cost of $11,277 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital investment or 
maintenance and operational costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 368 responses and 16 
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that 
identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due 
to an adjustment of testing estimates based on the number and type of 
testing that has been conducted in this program over the past few 
years.

    Dated: September 18, 2014.
Byron J. Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air 
Quality.
[FR Doc. 2014-22745 Filed 9-25-14; 8:45 am]
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