[Federal Register: March 26, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 58)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14705]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr98-75]


[[Page 14705]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5986-7]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and 
Earlier Model Year Urban Buses

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements 
for 1993 and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses, OMB Control Number 2060-
0302, expiration date: 04-30-98. The ICR describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected burden and cost; where 
appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 27, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone 
at (202) 260-2740, by email at farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov, or 
download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA 
ICR No. 1702.02.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model 
Year Urban Buses, OMB Control Number 2060-0302, EPA ICR No. 1702.02, 
expiration date: 04-30-98. This is a request for extension of a 
currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 219 (d) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, 
requires that the EPA promulgate regulations for urban buses that: a) 
operate in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) or consolidated MSA's 
with a 1980 population of 750,000 or more (the program could be 
expanded in the future to MSA's of less than 750,000, under section 
219(c) of the CAA); b) are not subject to the 1994 or later urban bus 
standards; and c) have their engines replaced or rebuilt after January 
1, 1995.
    The CAA Amendments require the subject urban buses be retrofitted 
to comply with an emission standard that reflects the best retrofit 
technology and maintenance practices reasonably achievable. Under these 
provisions, EPA has set new requirements for pre-1994 model year urban 
buses that are effective after January 1, 1995, when urban bus engines 
are rebuilt or replaced. The program requires that the particulate 
emissions level of the urban bus engines be reduced to a level below 
the engines' original particulate level through the use of retrofit/
rebuild equipment that is certified by EPA. The program will phase 
itself out as pre-1994 urban buses are retired from fleets.
    It is critical to the program that EPA know, with reasonable 
certainty, that equipment, when properly installed, maintained and 
used, will provide the emissions reductions promised by the equipment 
suppliers over the warranty period. The information that EPA is 
collecting at the time of certification is needed to determine: (1) the 
emissions performance of retrofit urban buses, (2) the installation and 
maintenance requirements of retrofit systems, and (3) the adequacy of 
the warranty provisions that will be provided with the retrofit 
systems. Collection of the information from certifiers is required to 
obtain certification approval. EPA requirements for submitting a 
notification of intent to certify retrofit/rebuild equipment are found 
in 40 CFR 85.1407(a). The record keeping requirements for equipment 
manufacturers are found in 40 CFR 85.1412(a)(1). Records are kept on 
equipment descriptions, test data, quality control plans and data, and 
in-service data. EPA may audit certifiers records to ensure accuracy 
and completeness of records.
    Urban bus operators are required to maintain records concerning 
activities associated with retrofitting/rebuilding urban buses. The 
record keeping requirements for urban bus operators are found in 40 CFR 
85.1404. Records are kept on equipment purchased, engine rebuilds and 
replacements, fuel type, and compliance with the applicable program 
option. EPA may request that operators submit information summarizing 
compliance with fleet compliance with program compliance based on 
recorded information. EPA may audit operator fleets and records to 
ensure compliance with program requirements.
    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. The 
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on 12/09/97 
(62 FR 64828 ); no comments were received in response to this document.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 9 
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; 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: Owner/operators of 1993 and earlier 
model year Urban Buses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 163.
    Frequency of Response: 338.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2996 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $170,000.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No 1702.02 and OMB Control No. 2060-0302 in any 
correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory 
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.
      and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: March 20, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-7935 Filed 3-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P