Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6134-1]

Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3506

(c)(2)), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request

(ICR) listed below is coming up for renewal. Before submitting the

renewal package to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), EPA is

soliciting comments on specific aspects of the collection as described

below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 2, 1998.

ADDRESS: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Assessment and Modeling

Division, Emission Inventory Group, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor,

MI 48105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Fulper, Telephone: (734) 214-

4400, Facsimile: (734) 214-4939.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected Entities: The entity affected by this action is the

general public who own on-road motor vehicles.

Title: Mobile Source Emission Factor Survey--2060-0078

Abstract: The EPA Emission Inventory Group, through contractors,

solicits the general public to voluntarily offer their vehicle for

emissions testing. The owner is also asked to complete a multiple

choice form of nine questions that summarize vehicle usage. There are

two methods used to solicit the general public for participation in

Emission Factors Program (EFP):

1. Postal cards are sent to a random selection of vehicle owners

using State motor vehicle registration lists; and

2. A random selection of motor vehicle owners, who arrive at State

inspection stations on an annual or biennial schedule, are solicited.

Information from the EFP provides a basis for developing State

Implementation Plans (SIPs), Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) reports,

are attainment status assessments for the National Ambient Air Quality

Standards (NAAQS).

The legislative basis for the Emission Factors Program is Section

103(a)(1)(2)(3) of the Clean Air Act, which requires the Administrator

to ``conduct * * * research, investigations, experiments,

demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects,

extent, prevention, and control of air pollution'' and ``conduct

investigations and research and make surveys concerning any specific

problem of air pollution in cooperation with any air pollution control

agency * * *''

EPA uses the data from the EFP to verify predictions of the

computer model known as MOBILE, which calculates the contribution of

mobile source emissions to ambient air pollution. MOBILE is used by

EPA, state and local air pollution agencies, the automotive industry,

and other parties that are interested in estimating mobile source

emissions.

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; and

(iii) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those

who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated

technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).

Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average 10 minutes to 2 hours per response,

including the time for reviewing instructions, completing the

questionnaire, and delivering the vehicle for testing. Send comments

regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection

of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to:

Chief, Information Policy Branch, PM-223, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, DC 20460

and the Paperwork Reduction Project (OMB# 2060-0078),

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503.

No person is 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 displayed in 40 CFR, Part 9.

Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the

information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden,

to the address listed above.

Dated: July 28, 1998.

Michael G. Shields,

Director, Policy Budget and Planning Division.

[FR Doc. 98-20606 Filed 7-31-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P