[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8272-8275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4961]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[AMS-FRL-5432-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal; Emission
Defect Information Report; Emission Recall Audit Program; and Emission
Control Defect Survey
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting
the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on
specific aspects of the proposed information collections as described
below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 3, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Vehicle Programs & Compliance Division (6405J), 401 M
Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Interested persons may request a
copy of the ICRs, without charge, by writing, faxing, or phoning the
contact persons below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ICR-1: Steve Albrink, Office of Mobile
Sources, Vehicle Programs & Compliance Division, (202) 233-9003, (202)
233-9596 fax).
ICR-2: Kerrin Bressant, Office of Mobile Sources, Vehicle Programs
& Compliance Division, (202) 233-9291, (202) 233-9596 (fax).
ICR-3: Sonny Kakar, Office of Mobile Sources, Vehicle Programs &
Compliance Division, (202) 233-9467, (202) 233-9596 (fax), E-mail
address: kakar.sonny@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Comments: This notice requests
comments on three different Information Collection Activities (ICRs)
related to highway and nonroad motor vehicles and other engines for
which the Agency plans to request renewal of their authorizations under
the Paperwork Reduction Act. The different ICRs will be referred to as
ICR-1, ICR-2 and ICR-3 in the succeeding sections below.
ICR-1: Emission defect information and voluntary emissions recall
reporting and record keeping requirements for manufacturers of on-
highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty
engines; and large nonroad compression ignition engines; and nonroad
spark-ignition engines at and below 19 kilowatts.
ICR-2: Emission recall audit program voluntary request for
information to determine whether manufacturers are in compliance with
recall procedural regulations, and to determine the cause of
ineffectual recall campaigns.
ICR-3: Vehicle emission control defect survey questionnaire
reporting and record keeping requirements for owners and repair
facilities of on-highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks,
heavy-duty engines; and large non-road compression ignition engines.
Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal: ICR-1: OMB No.
2060-0048.
ICR-2: OMB No. 2060-0046.
ICR-3: OMB No. 2060-0047.
Affected Entities: ICR-1: Entities potentially affected by this
action are manufacturers of on-highway light-duty vehicles, light-duty
trucks, and heavy-duty engines; manufacturers of large nonroad
compression ignition engines; and manufacturers of small nonroad spark-
ignition engines.
ICR-2: Entities potentially affected by this action are individual
vehicle owners of on-highway light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks.
ICR-3: Entities potentially affected by this action are owners and
repair facilities of on-highway light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks,
heavy-duty engines, and large non-road compression ignition engines.
Titles: ICR-1: Emission Defect Information Reports and Voluntary
Emissions Recall Reports (OMB # 2060-0048, approved through 5/31/96.)
ICR-2: Emission Recall Audit Program Owner Questionnaire (OMB #
2060-0046, approved through 5/31/96.)
ICR-3: Vehicle Emission Control Defect Survey Questionnaire for on-
highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks, heavy-duty
engines, and large non-road compression ignition engines. (OMB # 2060-
0047, approved through 5/31/96.)
Abstracts: 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 are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter
15.
EPA would like to solicit comments to:
(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are
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 collections of information, including the validity of
the methodologies and assumptions used;
(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
(iv) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of the appropriate
automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
ICR-1: Some manufacturers of motor vehicles and certain engines are
required to submit two different reports under 40 CFR Part 85, Subpart
T, Part 89, Subpart I and Part 90, Subpart I. These reports are only
required where certain conditions involving emission defects or
voluntary recalls occur. The ``defect information report'' (DIR)
contains data regarding the class or engine family and number of
vehicles or engines on which a defect has been found, and a description
of the defect and its effects on vehicle or engine performance and
emissions. The Agency uses the DIR to help identify emission-related
defects or classes of vehicles or engines which may not comply with
federal emissions standards.
The ``voluntary emission recall'' (VER) report contains data on
voluntary recall campaigns conducted by manufacturers, including the
procedures used by the manufacturers to conduct voluntary recall
campaigns, the identification of vehicles or engines affected by the
campaign, and the repair to be completed on recalled vehicles or
engines; progress or quarterly updates of the VER reports track the
number of vehicles or engines repaired. The Agency uses the VER report
and progress reports to ensure that manufacturers are following
acceptable procedures when conducting recalls and to track the progress
and effectiveness of voluntary recall campaigns.
ICR-2: The Vehicle Compliance Programs Group (VCPG), Vehicle
Programs and Compliance Division (VPCD), Office of Mobile Sources
(OMS), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), uses this information
collection to enforce the Recall and Defect Reporting Regulations of 40
CFR Part 85, Subparts S and T. Individual owners of on-road light-duty
motor vehicles and light-duty trucks may be asked to provide
information on vehicles that have been recalled. The Vehicles
Compliance Programs Group (VCPG) uses such information to evaluate the
effectiveness of various aspects of a recall campaign, to determine
whether manufacturers are in compliance with
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recall procedural regulations, and to determine the cause of
ineffective recall campaigns. The information is obtained from
individuals through a questionnaire administered by telephone
interviews or in written format. The information collection effort will
involve approximately 300 respondents at a cost of $900.00 over a one-
year period.
The projected annual cost burden per respondent is as follows:
reading or listening to questions, burden cost is $1.60. Responding to
questions (verbally or in writing), burden cost is $1.40.
The total annual hour burden for respondents is 75 hours at a total
annual cost of $900.
ICR-3: The Vehicle Compliance Programs Group (VCPG) of the Vehicle
Programs and Compliance Division (VPCD) and the Engine Compliance
Programs Group (ECPG) of the Engine Programs and Compliance Division
(EPCD), Office of Mobile Sources (OMS), Office of Air and Radiation
(OAR), uses this information collection to gather additional data to
supplement in-use testing programs as well as provide possible evidence
in support of EPA's position during an administrative hearing. When EPA
orders a manufacturer to recall a certain class of motor vehicles (in
accordance with Clean Air Act Sec. 207(c)) but the manufacturer
disagrees with EPA's findings, the manufacturer may request an
administrative hearing. During such a hearing, EPA must make a detailed
presentation of facts showing that the class of vehicles in question
should indeed be recalled. Facts to be included in such a presentation
consist of information on the maintenance and performance history of
vehicles belonging to the class. Dealerships, fleets, or individual
owners of motor vehicles or engines may be asked to provide information
on the vehicles or engines at issue. The information is obtained
through a questionnaire administered by telephone interviews with
individual vehicle owners, and by telephone or in-person interviews
with dealerships or fleets.
Burden Statement: 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;
adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements; training personnel to be able to respond
to a collection of information; searching data sources; completing and
reviewing the collection of information; and transmitting or otherwise
disclosing the information.
ICR-1: Tables 1, 2 and 3 below represent the estimated annual
burden for this ICR.
Table 1.--On-Highway Light-Duty Motor Vehicle, Light-Duty Truck, and Heavy-Duty Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours
and Costs
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Voluntary
Defect emission VER quarterly
Collection activity information recall (VER) (progress)
reports reports/ reports
records
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Ave. Burden Hours/Response...................................... 14 11.5 1.5
Estimated Frequency of Response................................. 2.8 2.9 17.4
Total Burden Hours Per Respondent............................... 39.2 33.4 26.1
Estimated No. of Respondents.................................... 15 13 13
Total Burden Hours.............................................. 588 434.2 339.3
Total Cost Per Respondent ($)................................... 2,290 1,427 1,375
Total Cost ($).................................................. 34,350 18,551 17,875
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Table 2.--Large Non-Road Compression Ignition Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours and Costs
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Voluntary
Defect emission VER quarterly
Collection activity information recall (VER) (progress)
reports reports/ reports
records
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Ave. Burden Hours/Response...................................... 14 11.5 1.5
Estimated Frequency of Response................................. 1 1 6
Total Burden Hours Per Respondent............................... 14 11.5 9
Estimated No. of Respondents.................................... 5 5 5
Total Burden Hours.............................................. 70 57.5 45
Total Cost Per Respondent ($)................................... 818 492 474
Total Cost ($).................................................. 4,090 2,460 2,370
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Table 3.--Small Nonroad Spark Ignition Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours and Costs
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Voluntary
Defect emission
Collection activity information recall (VER) VER progress
reports reports/ reports
records
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Ave. Burden Hours/Response...................................... 14 11.5 1.5
Estimated Frequency of Response................................. 1 1 1
Total Burden Hours Per Respondent............................... 14 11.5 1.5
Estimated No. of Respondents.................................... 5 5 5
Total Burden Hours.............................................. 70 57.5 7.5
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Total Cost Per Respondent ($)................................... 818 492 79
Total Cost ($).................................................. 4,090 2,460 395
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ICR-2: The projected hour burden is as follows: reading or
listening to questions, burden hours = 8 minutes. Responding to
questions (verbally or in writing), burden hours = 7 minutes. The
frequency of response is once per respondent per year. The estimated
number of likely respondents is 300. The total burden for all
respondents is 75 hours.
The projected cost burden is as follows: reading or listening to
questions, burden cost = $1.60. Responding to questions (verbally or in
writing), burden cost = $1.40. The total cost for all respondents is
$900.
ICR-3: EPA's burden estimates for this collection are broken down
according to the respondent burden and cost. EPA may perform two
surveys annually, one of manufacturers of on-highway light-duty motor
vehicles or light-duty trucks, and the other of heavy-duty engines or
large non-road compression ignition engines, which will require either
telephone or in-person interviews with one hundred (100) individual
vehicle owners or dealerships or fleets per survey. A burden estimate
of twenty (20) minutes per individual vehicle owner is based on agency
experience with similar questions asked of individuals as part of the
in-use recall testing program. A burden estimate of thirty (30) minutes
per dealership or fleet is based on contact with dealership and fleets
made as part of the in-use recall testing program. The burden estimate
is calculated from an average of the two different burdens assuming
that one half of the respondents are individual vehicle owners and the
other half are dealerships or fleets. Therefore, the total respondent
burden will be 2,500 minutes for each survey. Individuals, dealerships,
or fleets will be asked to respond to only one survey in any given
year. Costs to respondents associated with this ICR are attributed to
individual or staff time involved in responding to the information
requests. The costs for respondents for reading or listening to and
responding to questions (verbally or in writing) are $8.50 per
respondent. Therefore, the total respondent cost for each survey will
be $850.
Dated: February 23, 1996.
Robin Miles-McLean,
Acting Director, Office of Mobile Sources.
[FR Doc. 96-4961 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
