2011-12217. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (Renewal)

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (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. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before June 17, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0904, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to [e-mail], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: 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:

Nydia Yanira Reyes-Morales, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Mail Code 6403J, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9264; fax number: 202-343-2804; e-mail address: [e-mail].

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 October 14, 2010 (75 FR 63171), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-2007-0904, which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov,, or in person viewing at the Air Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC 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 Docket is 202-566-1742.

Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http:// www.regulations.gov,, to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “docket search,” then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at http:// www.regulations.gov 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. For further information about the electronic docket, go to http:// www.regulations.gov.

Title: Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (Renewal).

ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1826.05, OMB Control No. 2060-0369.

ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2011. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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 title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: When EPA establishes new regulations with tighter engine emission standards, engine manufacturers often need to change the design of their engines to achieve the required emissions reductions. Consequently, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may also need to redesign their products to accommodate these engine design changes. Sometimes, OEMs have trouble making the necessary adjustments by the effective date of the regulations. In an effort to provide OEMs with some flexibility in complying with the regulations, EPA created the Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (TPEM). Under this program, OEMs are allowed to delay compliance with the new standards for up to seven years as long as they comply with certain limitations. Participation in the program is voluntary. Participating OEMs and engine manufacturers who provide the noncompliant engines 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 2, and class determinations issued by EPA's Office of General Counsel.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 51 hours per response. 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 which have subsequently changed; 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: Entities potentially affected by these actions are manufacturers of compression-ignition engines and equipment.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 405.

Frequency of Response: Annually and on occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 40,090.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $4,086,455, includes $1,061,650 O&M costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 31,543 hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. Total burden has increased significantly due to a sharp increase in the estimated number of participants. Tighter Tier 4 standards have resulted in engine manufacturers not being able to provide their customers with compliant engines in time for the effective date of the new regulations. This has meant that equipment manufacturers who did not previously participate in TPEM now need the program to reach the gap between the effective date of the regulations and the date when compliant engines are ready. A significant number of participants will also be added when the small Si program starts in 2011. EPA expects at least 150 new participants from that industry alone.

Dated: May 12, 2011.

John Moses,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.