Intent To Disclose Confidential Business Information Contained in Vehicle Sales Data for Model Years 2009-2014 to the U.S. Energy Information Administration for Use in Modeling and Projecting Energy Demand in the Light-Duty Vehicle Sector |
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Byron J. Bunker
Environmental Protection Agency
31 May 2016
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34334-34335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12802]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9947-14-OAR]
Intent To Disclose Confidential Business Information Contained in
Vehicle Sales Data for Model Years 2009-2014 to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration for Use in Modeling and Projecting Energy
Demand in the Light-Duty Vehicle Sector
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On May 12, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency received
a written request from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
for historical model year sales data
[[Page 34335]]
for years 2009 through 2014 by manufacturer and nameplate. This
requested data may contain confidential business information (CBI).
Pursuant to 40 CFR 2.209(c), the EPA may disclose business information
to other Federal agencies that otherwise is not available to the public
if certain requirements are met. The EPA intends to share certain
information, detailed below, with EIA ten (10) days after publication
of this notice. The information requested has been used to model and
project energy demand in the light-duty vehicle sector and is critical
to EIA's efforts to project energy demand, fuel efficiency, fuel
consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions for the transportation
sector. EIA has agreed to keep the data confidential and not disclose
it further.
DATES: The sales data will be disclosed to EIA on or after June 10,
2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Zaremski, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality, Compliance Division, Environmental
Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105;
telephone number: 734-214-4362; fax number: 734-214- 4053; email
address: zaremski.sara@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
Entities potentially affected by this action are those involved
with the production and sale of motor vehicles. Regulated categories
include:
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Examples of potentially
Category NAICS \1\ codes SIC \2\ codes regulated entities
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Industry............................... 336111, 336112............ 3711 Light-duty vehicle and
light-duty truck
manufacturers.
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\1\ North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
\2\ Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system code.
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by the
disclosure.
II. EIA's Request for Model Year Sales Data for Years 2009-2014
In their May 12, 2016 request letter to EPA, EIA requested that EPA
provide to EIA historical model year sales data for years 2009 through
2014 by manufacturer and nameplate. As noted above, EIA uses this
information to model and project energy demand in the light-duty
vehicle sector. Additionally, EIA noted that these data are critical to
EIA's continued efforts to project energy demand, fuel efficiency, fuel
consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions for the transportation
sector. Previously, EIA had been unable to obtain official model year
sales data for 2009 through 2014 due to the fact that it contained CBI.
The specific data they requested includes all the data fields currently
available in the Excel files provided on the fueleconomy.gov Web site
(see the Download Fuel Economy Data page at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml). Additionally, EIA requested the following data
fields: model year sales, tank size, track width, wheelbase, curb
weight, horsepower, interior volume, fleet (DP, IP, LT), and test
weight.
EIA indicated that they are aware that this information is subject
to claims of confidential business information. EIA's letter states
``We will take the necessary steps to ensure the data are secure and
kept confidential. EIA routinely works with sensitive data and has
strong data handling safeguards in place.''
Pursuant to 40 CFR 2.209(c), EPA may disclose business information
to another Federal agency if: (1) EPA receives a written request for
disclosure of the information from a duly authorized officer or
employee of the other agency; (2) the request sets forth the official
purpose for which the information is needed; (3) when the information
has been claimed as confidential or has been determined to be
confidential, the responsible EPA office provides notice to each
affected business of the type of information to be disclosed and to
whom it is to be disclosed, and such notice may be given by notice
published in the Federal Register at least 10 days prior to disclosure;
(4) EPA notifies the other agency of any unresolved business
confidentiality claim covering the information and of any determination
under this subpart that the information is entitled to confidential
treatment, and that further disclosure of the information may be a
violation of the Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. 1905; and (5) the other
agency agrees in writing that in accordance with the law, it will not
disclose further any information designated as confidential.
In the case at hand, all of the required elements of 40 CFR
2.209(c) have been met upon publication of this notice.
III. Impact on Vehicle Manufacturers
Given that EIA is aware that the shared information is CBI or has
been claimed as CBI, and intends to take the necessary steps to ensure
that the data provided is kept secure and confidential, there is no
impact on vehicle manufacturers to the release of this data.
Dated: May 24, 2016.
Byron J. Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air
Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2016-12802 Filed 5-27-16; 8:45 am]
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