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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5933-1]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

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 notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the

following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB): Retrofit /Rebuild Requirements for 1993

and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses, EPA ICR Number 1702, OMB Control

Number 2060-0302, expiration date: 01-31-98. Before submitting the ICR

to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific

aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW,

Washington, D.C. 20460. Attn: Engine Programs & Compliance Division,

Retrofit/Rebuild Program 6403J. Interested persons may obtain a copy of

the ICR without charge upon request in writing or by telephone or E-

mail at the appropriate number below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Erb, Telephone Number: (202)

564-9259, Facsimile Number: (202) 565-2057, E-MAIL Number:

[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are

those which operate urban bus fleets in regulated areas and equipment

manufacturers who manufacture retrofit/rebuild components for

certification.

Title: Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model

Year Urban Buses (OMB Control No. 2060-0302;

[[Page 64829]]

EPA ICR No. 1702.) expiring 01/31/98. 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 set new requirements for pre-1994 model year urban

buses effective 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.

The original ICR for the urban bus retrofit/rebuild program was

approved by OMB on 07/22/94 for use through 07/31/97 and later approved

for extension until 01/31/97. Candidate equipment is approved under an

EPA certification program and if it meets cost guidelines is required

to be used. If no equipment is certified for a particular engine the

operator is required to restore the equipment to its original or

updated configuration based on the currently available rebuild kits on

the market. As of July 1997, seven parties have certified ten separate

equipment kits under the program over a two year period. It is

estimated that 5 equipment certifiers will certify equipment during a

given year at an hourly expenditure of an average of 170 hours per

certification application including testing, application reporting and

follow-up on issues. In addition, each certifier is expected to spend

approximately 40 hours per year on record keeping. EPA will conduct 1

audit each year of a certifier of equipment to review production

records and manufacturing operations to ensure kits are built and

shipped as specified in the certification notification. The burden

associated with each certifier audit is estimated to be 24 hours for

the certifier to accompany EPA staff, pull records and review

associated paperwork.

This regulation effects approximately 150 bus operators who operate

fleets of urban buses in areas that are affected. It is estimated that

each operator will spend 10 hours per year reviewing regulatory

requirements. EPA will request that up to 50 of these operators submit

information on their fleet each year to demonstrate compliance with

program requirements. It is estimated that each operator will require 8

hours to summarize the requested information for submittal. No burden

hours are associated with the record keeping of this information as it

is expected that the required records will be kept by operators during

the normal course of business. EPA will also conduct up to 12 audits of

urban bus operator fleets to ensure compliance with the regulations.

These on-site audits involve travel by EPA staff to the site, a review

of fleet records and physical inspection of the buses. The burden

associated with the audits is expected to be 40 hours for each operator

audited. This includes 12 hours preparing records, 20 hours

accompanying EPA auditors during the audit and 8 hours to follow-up on

issues. The hourly cost associated with the above requirements is

estimated to average $64.13 for each of the above burden areas.

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 EPA would like to solicit comments 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.

Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual reporting burden

for this request will amount to 6,173 hours. It is estimated that

average annual reporting burden for affected parties will amount to 29

hours per response, the proposed frequency of response is annual, and

it is estimated that there will be 163 respondents with an average of

1.3 responses each per year . The cost burden to respondents or record

keepers resulting from collection of this information is estimated to

be $366,000 per year.

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.

Dated: November 28, 1997.

Richard D. Wilson,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 97-32187 Filed 12-8-97; 8:45 am]

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