2024-29020. Information Collection Request Number 2265.04; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With the SmartWay Transport Partnership

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Environmental Protection Agency

1. [EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0423; FRL-12291-01-OAR]

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), “Information Collection Activities Associated with the SmartWay Transport Partnership” (EPA ICR No. 2265.04, OMB Control No. 2060-0663) 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 March 25, 2025. 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 February 10, 2025.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0423 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to [e-mail], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221 T, 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:

Erik Herzog, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, S-72, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone number: 734-214-4487; Fax: [phone]; email address: [e-mail].

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 https://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 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 document to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.

Abstract: The EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) developed the SmartWay Transport Partnership (“SmartWay”) under directives outlined ( print page 99857) in Subtitle D of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which calls on EPA to assess the energy and air quality impacts of activities within the freight industry. These activities include long-duration truck idling, the development and promotion of strategies for reducing idling, fuel consumption, and negative air quality effects. SmartWay's objectives also are consistent with the Clean Air Act, the Federal Technology Transfer Act and other laws that authorize and support research, training and air pollutant control activities.

SmartWay is open to organizations that own, operate, or contract with fleet operations, including truck, rail, barge, air and multi-modal carriers, logistics companies, and shippers. Organizations that do not operate fleets, but that are working to strengthen the freight industry, such as industry trade associations, state and local transportation agencies and environmental groups, also may join as SmartWay affiliates. All organizations that join SmartWay are asked to provide EPA with information as part of their SmartWay registration to annually benchmark their transportation-related operations and improve the environmental performance of their freight activities.

A company joins SmartWay when it completes and submits a SmartWay Annual Reporting tool to EPA. The company submits an updated reporting tool annually thereafter. Truck carriers with fewer than 20 trucks may submit their annual updates through the On-Line Truck Tool Short Form, rather than the full On-Line Truck Tool version. The data outputs from the submitted tool are used by partners and SmartWay in several ways. First, the data provides confirmation that SmartWay partners are meeting established objectives in their Partnership Agreement. The reporting tool outputs enable EPA to provide partners with environmental performance information to assist them in incorporating freight efficiency in their goods movement decisions. Additionally, the data allows EPA to empower SmartWay partners, as appropriate, by providing them with environmental strategies and technology information that improve their efficiency. This information also improves EPA's knowledge and understanding of the environmental and energy impacts associated with goods movement, and the effectiveness of both proven and emerging strategies to lessen those impacts.

In addition to requesting annual freight transportation-related data, EPA may ask its SmartWay partners for other kinds of information which could include opinions and test data on the effectiveness of new and emerging technology applications, sales volumes associated with SmartWay-recommended vehicle equipment and technologies, the reach and value of partnering with EPA through the SmartWay Partnership, and awareness of the SmartWay brand. In some instances, EPA might query other freight industry representatives (not just SmartWay partners), including trade and professional associations, nonprofit environmental groups, energy and community organizations, and universities, and a small sampling of the general public.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action include private and public organizations that join the SmartWay Transport Partnership; freight industry representatives who engage in activities related to the SmartWay Partnership; and representative samplings of consumers in the general public. These entities may be affected by EPA efforts to assess the effectiveness and value of the SmartWay program, awareness of the SmartWay brand, and ideas for developing and improving SmartWay.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.

Estimated number of respondents: 4,770.

Frequency of response: The information collections described in the ICR must be completed in order for an organization to register as or continue its status as a SmartWay partner, to become a SmartWay affiliate, to use the SmartWay logo on an EPA-designated tractor or trailer, or to be considered for a SmartWay Excellence Award.

Total estimated burden: The annual burden for this collection of information that all respondent partners and affiliates incur is estimated to average 8,879 hours with a projected annual aggregate cost of $732,210. The annual burden for this collection of information that federal agency respondents incur is estimated to average 4,578 hours with a projected annual aggregate cost of $122,602.

This ICR estimates that approximately 5,844 respondent partners will incur burden associated with SmartWay in the first year, with a growth of 330 partners per year projected into the future. The estimated average burden time per respondent is 1.52 hours annually. This is an average across all Smart Way partners, regardless of whether they are affiliates, shippers, carriers or logistics companies. The average also includes 150 consumer and industry respondents, who spend far less time, providing the SmartWay program with basic information on their awareness of the program. Among respondent partners the burden hours are typically higher for larger companies with complex fleets, than for smaller companies.

Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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.

Total estimated cost: The total annual cost to all respondent partners is $732,210. The total annual cost to federal agency respondents is $122,602.

Changes in estimates: There is a decrease of 3,678 hours and $129,672 in the total estimated respondent partner burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease reflects the following adjustments and program changes:

(1) Implementation of a new On-Line Truck Tools for the majority of partners.

(2) The reduction of the number of annual Affiliate Applications.

There is also a decrease of 110 hours and $48,228 in the total estimated agency burden currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to the following:

(1) Implementation of a new On-Line Truck Tools for the majority of partners.

(2) The reduction of the number of annual Affiliate Applications.

Karl Simon,

Director, Transportation and Climate Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality.