EPA's Intent To Disclose Confidential Business Information (CBI) Contained in Vehicle Sales Data for Model Years 2015 to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) for Use in Modeling and Projecting Energy Demand in the Light-Duty Vehicle Sector |
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Byron Bunker
Environmental Protection Agency
21 July 2017
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33904-33905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15377]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9964-82-OAR]
EPA's Intent To Disclose Confidential Business Information (CBI)
Contained in Vehicle Sales Data for Model Years 2015 to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA) 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 June 23, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
received a written request from the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA) for historical model year sales data for year 2015
by manufacturer and nameplate. This requested data may contain
confidential business information (CBI). 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 July 31,
2017.
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 Year 2015
In their June 23, 2017 request letter to EPA, EIA requested that
EPA provide to EIA historical model year sales data for year 2015 by
manufacturer and nameplate. As noted earlier in this document, 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 2015 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
[[Page 33905]]
(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: July 5, 2017.
Byron Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation & Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2017-15377 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P