2021-09013. Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; EPA's Light-Duty In-Use Vehicle Testing Program

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), EPA's Light-Duty In-Use Vehicle Testing Program (EPA ICR Number 0222.12, OMB Control Number 2060-0086) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through June 30, 2021. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on October 9, 2020 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. 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:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before June 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to EPA, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0690, 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 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.

Submit written comments and recommendations to OMB for the proposed information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lynn Sohacki, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105; telephone number: 734-214-4851; fax number: 734-214-4869; 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 http://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

Abstract: EPA has an ongoing program to evaluate the emissions performance of light-duty motor vehicles (i.e., passenger cars and light trucks) after they have been introduced into commerce. This program, known as EPA's “in-use” program, operates in conjunction with other motor vehicle emissions testing programs conducted by the Agency and the light-duty motor vehicle manufacturers. These other test programs include confirmatory certification testing of prototype vehicles by manufacturers and EPA and the mandatory manufacturer in-use verification program (IUVP.) The Clean Air Act directs EPA to ensure that motor vehicles comply with emissions requirements throughout their useful lives. The primary purpose of EPA's in-use program is information gathering. Nevertheless, EPA can require a recall if it receives information, from whatever source, including in-use testing, that a “substantial number” of any class or category of vehicles or engines, although properly maintained and used, do not conform to the emission standards, when in actual use throughout their useful life.

The EPA in-use program can be broken down into three closely related components. The first component involves the selection of classes of passenger cars and light trucks, totaling approximately 119 vehicles, for surveillance testing at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL.) In some cases, surveillance testing may be followed by confirmatory testing to develop additional information related to test failures observed in a class during surveillance testing. Confirmatory testing involves the selection of approximately 10 passenger cars and light trucks per class, averaging approximately 8 vehicles per year, for further testing at EPA's NVFEL. Confirmatory testing differs from surveillance testing in that the vehicles must meet stricter maintenance and use criteria. However, the emissions tests that are conducted are the same for surveillance and confirmatory testing. The second program component involves the testing of a subset of vehicles from the surveillance recruitment for operation of on-board diagnostics (OBD) systems. EPA does not currently recruit vehicles for OBD testing but includes the testing in this ICR in the event that OBD testing is resumed. The third component involves the special investigation of vehicles to address specific issues. The number of vehicles procured under this category may vary from year to year. Participation in the telephone screenings to identify qualifying light-duty vehicles, as well as the vehicle testing, is strictly voluntary. A group of 25 to 50 potential participants is identified from state vehicle registration records. These potential participants are asked to return a form indicating their willingness to participate and if so, to verify some limited vehicle information. Three of those who return the form are called and asked several screening questions concerning vehicle condition, operation and maintenance. Additional groups of potential participants may be contacted until a sufficient number of vehicles has been obtained. Owners verify the vehicle screening information when they deliver their vehicles to EPA or release the vehicle to EPA, voluntarily provide maintenance records for copying, receive a cash incentive and, if requested, a loaner car, and finally receive their vehicle from EPA at the conclusion of the testing.

Form Numbers: 5900-304, 5900-305, 5900-306, 5900-307, 5900-308, 5900-309.

Respondents/affected entities: Passenger car and light truck owners.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.

Estimated number of respondents: Approximately 993 vehicle owners/lessees returned EPA's forms indicating interest in participating in the program and approximately 127 ultimately participated.

Frequency of response: On occasion.

Total estimated burden: 228 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $5,864 (per year), includes $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 74 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to a decrease in the number of responses returned to EPA by potential participants and the associated burden.

Courtney Kerwin,

Director, Regulatory Support Division.