Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Source Compliance and State Action Reporting/ Compliance Reporting to the Aerometric Information and Retrieval System (AIRS)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6100-3]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Source Compliance and State Action Reporting/

Compliance Reporting to the Aerometric Information and Retrieval System

(AIRS)

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 EPA is planning to submit the

following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB): Source Compliance and State Action

Reporting, EPA ICR Number 0107, OMB control number 2060-0096, current

expiration date 7/31/98. 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 July 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: US EPA Office of Compliance, 401 M Street, Washington DC

Copies of background materials may be obtained without charge from Mark

Antell (2222A) at this address, or electronically, via EMAIL request to

[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Antell, 202/564-5003, FAX 202/

564-0032, EMAIL [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are

State, District, Commonwealth and territorial governments.

Title: Source Compliance and State Action Reporting, OMB Control

Number 2060-0096, EPA ICR No. 0107 expiring July 31, 1998.

Abstract: Source Compliance and State Action reporting is an

activity whereby State, District, Commonwealth and territorial

(hereafter referred to as State) governments make air compliance

information available to EPA on a quarterly basis via input to the

Aerometric Information and Retrieval System (AIRS). The information

provided to EPA includes compliance determinations and compliance

activities. EPA uses this information to assess progress toward meeting

emission requirements developed under the authority of the Clean Air

Act to protect and maintain the atmospheric environment and the public

health. The compliance information in AIRS is used by many States and

by all ten EPA Regional offices on a frequent basis for managing

activities of their air pollution control programs.

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:

The burden for this effort was reduced dramatically in the mid 90's

from 145633 hours/yr (pre-1995 ICR inventory), to the current approved

58686 hours. The burden change was due to reduced reporting

requirements and improved technology. This request reflects modest but

continuing burden reductions for similar reasons.

Number of respondents--55 (State governments).

Number of hours required per response--52 to 405 depending on State

size.

Number of responses required per respondent per year--4.

Total hours/cost requested--55,500/$1.47 million.

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: May 14, 1998.

Elaine Stanley,

Director, Office of Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98-13607 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]

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