Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review and Approval; Comment Request; Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (Renewal); EPA ICR Number 1826.03, OMB Control Number 2060-0369

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on 9/30/2004. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before October 27, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2004-0058, to (1) EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to a-and-r-docket@epamail.epa.gov, or by mail to: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Mail Code 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Nydia Y. Reyes-Morales, Mail Code 6403J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9264; fax number: 202-343-2804; e-mail address: reyes-morales.nydia@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On June 18, 2004 (69 FR 34158), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received only one comment. The commenter suggested that EPA establish zero-emission requirements for nonroad engines.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID number OAR-2004-0058, which is available for public viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center is (202) 566-1742. An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “search,” then key in the docket ID number identified above.

Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the official public docket, and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov/edocket.

Title: Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (Renewal).

Abstract: In August 1998, EPA established emission standards (Tier I standards) for engines under 37 kW, and tightened existing standards (Tier II standards) for engines above 37 kW. These regulations are likely to cause some engine design changes. During the rulemaking process, some equipment manufacturers expressed concerns about delays in notification from engine manufacturers about engine design changes. These design changes can create problems in fitting the engine to the equipment. Consequently, equipment manufacturers would be unable to sell the volume of equipment they planned for, since they would need to redesign their equipment before any products could be sold. In an effort to provide original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with some flexibility in complying with the regulations, EPA created the Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (TPEM). Under the program, OEMs are allowed to use a number of noncompliant engines (uncertified engines rated below 37 kW or Tier I engines rated at or above 37 kW) in their equipment for up to seven years after the effective date of the standards. Participation in the program is voluntary. Participating OEMs and engine manufacturers who provide the noncompliant engines to the OEMs are required to keep records and submit reports of their activities under the program.

The information is collected for compliance purposes by the Engine Programs Group, Certification and Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation. Confidentiality of proprietary information is granted in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, EPA regulations at 40 CFR part 2, and class determinations issued by EPA's Office of General Counsel.

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. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and are identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 80.5 hours per equipment manufacturer or post-manufacture marinizer, and 74.5 hours per engine manufacturer. 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 purposes 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: Manufacturers of nonroad compression-ignition engines and equipment.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 213.

Frequency of Response: Annually and on occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 17,069.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $848,582, which includes $0 annualized capital/startup costs, $5,829 annual O&M costs, and $842,753 annual labor costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 49,578 hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is due to changes in the estimated number of respondents. The decrease in burden is, therefore, due to an adjustment to the estimates.