Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Programs; EPA ICR No. 2461.04, OMB Control No. 2060-0686 Renewal Publication: Federal Register Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Byline: Michael Moltzen Date: 2 February 2022 Subjects: American Government , Buses, The Environment |
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)] [Notices] [Pages 5818-5819] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2022-02148] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OAR-2012-0103; FRL 9478-01-OAR] Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Programs; EPA ICR No. 2461.04, OMB Control No. 2060-0686 Renewal AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Programs'' (EPA ICR No. 2461.04, OMB Control No. 2060-0686) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through April 30, 2022. 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. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 4, 2022. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR- 2012-0103, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 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: Jason Wilcox, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, (6406A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343- 9571; fax number: 202-343-2803; email address: wilcox.jason@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 [[Page 5819]] 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 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: This is an extension of the Information Collection Request (ICR) for the Diesel Emission Reduction Act program (DERA) authorized by title VII, subtitle G (sections 791 to 797) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58), as amended by the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-364) and Division S (section 101) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260), codified at 42 U.S.C. 16131 et seq. DERA provides the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authority to award grants, rebates or low-cost revolving loans on a competitive basis to eligible entities to fund the costs of a retrofit technology that significantly reduces diesel emissions from mobile sources through implementation of a certified engine configuration, verified technology, or emerging technology. Eligible mobile sources include buses (including school buses), medium heavy-duty or heavy heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines, locomotives, or nonroad engines or diesel vehicles or equipment used in construction, handling of cargo (including at port or airport), agriculture, mining, or energy production. In addition, eligible entities may also use funds awarded for programs or projects to reduce long-duration idling using verified technology involving a vehicle or equipment described above. The objective of the assistance under this program is to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and reductions in diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas. EPA uses approved procedures and forms to collect necessary information to operate a grant program, and has been providing grants under DERA since Fiscal Year 2008 and rebates since Fiscal Year 2012. EPA is requesting an extension to the existing approved ICR for forms needed to collect necessary information to operate a rebate program as authorized by Congress under the DERA program. As part of this extension, EPA is revising the ICR to address the needs of the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program. This program is authorized by title XI, section 71101 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58). The new program, like DERA, allows for rebates and grants for school bus replacement projects that reduce emissions. EPA will collect information from applicants who wish to apply for a rebate under DERA or CSB. Information collected from applicants will ensure that they are eligible to receive funds, that funds are provided for eligible activities, and to satisfy the reporting requirements of DERA and CSB. Form Numbers: 2060-0686. Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are those interested in applying for a rebate under EPA's Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) or Clean School Bus (CSB) Program and include but are not limited to the following NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes: 23 Construction; 482 Rail Transportation; 483 Water Transportation; 484 Truck Transportation; 485 Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation; 4854 School and Employee Bus Transportation; 48831 Port and Harbor Operations; 61111 Elementary and Secondary Schools; 61131 Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; 9211 Executive, Legislative, and Other Government Support; and 9221 Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities. Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary. Estimated number of respondents: 3000 (total). Frequency of response: Voluntary as needed. Total estimated burden: 17,287 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b). Total estimated cost: $732,996.58 (per year), includes $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 14,342 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase is the result of a significant increase in the expected number of annual responses in the new Clean School Bus Program. Michael Moltzen, Deputy Director, Transportation and Climate Division, Office of Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. 2022-02148 Filed 2-1-22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P