Notice2023-17466
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Implementation of the Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (Renewal)
Primary source
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Published
August 15, 2023
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), Implementation of the Fine Particulate Matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (Renewal) (EPA ICR Number 2258.06; OMB Control Number 2060- 0611) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through January 31, 2024. This notice allows for 60 days for public comments.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55453-55454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17466]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0691; FRL-11139-01-OAR]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information
Collection Request; Comment Request; Implementation of the Fine
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request (ICR), Implementation of the
Fine Particulate Matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (Renewal) (EPA ICR Number 2258.06; OMB Control Number 2060-
0611) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before
doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of
the proposed information collection as described below. This is a
proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through
January 31, 2024. This notice allows for 60 days for public comments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2013-069, to the EPA online using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (our
preferred method), by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e382ce828d87ce91ce878c80888697a3869382cd848c95"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4e2f632f202a633c632a212d252b3a0e2b3e2f60292138">[email protected]</span></a>, or by mail to:
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460. The EPA's policy is
that all comments received will be included in the public docket
without change including any personal information provided, unless the
comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Leigh Herrington, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode C539-01, Post Office Box 12055, Research Triangle Park, NC
27711; telephone number: 919-541-0882; fax number: (919) 541-2225;
email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a121f080813141d0e151454161f131d123a1f0a1b541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="48202d3a3a21262f3c272666242d212f20082d3829662f273e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
which is currently approved through January 31, 2024. 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.
This notice allows 60 days for public comments. Supporting
documents, which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be
collecting, are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket
can be viewed online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> or in person at the
EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-
1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit
<a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA), the EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it 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 forms of information
technology. The EPA will consider the comments received and amend the
ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB
for review and approval. At that time, the EPA will issue another
Federal Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB
and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.
Abstract: The PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS State Implementation Plan
(SIP) Requirements Rule (PM<INF>2.5</INF> SIP Requirements Rule) was
effective on October 24, 2016 (81 FR 58010, August 24, 2016). This rule
provides the framework of Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for air
agencies to develop state implementation plans to attain and maintain
the PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. States have applied this framework to
develop attainment plans and redesignation requests and maintenance
plans for areas designated nonattainment for the 1997 PM<INF>2.5</INF>
NAAQS, the 2006 PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS, and the 2012 PM<INF>2.5</INF>
NAAQS. This proposed ICR renewal covers the
[[Page 55454]]
period February 1, 2024-January 31, 2027.
The initial ICR finalized with the PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS SIP
Requirements Rule estimated, for the 3 years following the ICR approval
date, the burden associated with plan development and plan revisions
related to ongoing implementation efforts in 31 areas designated
nonattainment for the 1997, 2006 and/or 2012 PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS.
The estimates included the burden to develop and submit, and the burden
to the EPA to review and to approve or disapprove, attainment plans to
meet the requirements prescribed in CAA sections 110 and part D,
subparts 1 and 4 of title I. A PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS attainment plan
contains rules and other measures designed to improve air quality and
achieve the NAAQS by the deadlines established under the CAA. It also
must address several additional CAA requirements related to
demonstrating timely attainment and must contain contingency measures
in the event the nonattainment area does not achieve reasonable further
progress throughout the attainment period or in the event the area does
not attain the NAAQS by its attainment date. States that have attained
by the applicable attainment date may be eligible to submit a
redesignation request and maintenance plan to receive a redesignation
from ``nonattainment'' to ``attainment.'' After a state submits an
attainment or maintenance plan, the CAA requires the EPA to take action
on the plan. Tribes located within the geographic boundary of a
nonattainment area may develop or submit attainment plans, but they are
not required to do so.
This ICR supersedes the existing ICR--for which the EPA is
proposing renewal in this action--for purposes of PM<INF>2.5</INF>
NAAQS implementation.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: State and local governments.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory.
Estimated number of respondents: 12.
Frequency of response: Once per triggering event [i.e., an air
agency is required to revise and submit a SIP revision when the area is
initially designated as nonattainment, reclassified to a higher
classification, when an areas fails to achieve reasonable further
progress, when a Serious nonattainment area fails to timely attain,
and/or when a state requests redesignation for a PM<INF>2.5</INF>
nonattainment area that attains the NAAQS)].
Total estimated burden: 24,900 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $1.76M (present value per year), which
includes $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 1800 hours of
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This decrease is due to the reduction in nonattainment
areas from 18 to 12. While the hours decreased due to the fewer number
of respondents, there is a present-day value increase in estimated
costs due to the increase in labor rates and the need for several areas
to continue to develop plans to help address complex air quality
issues.
Scott Mathias,
Director, Air Quality Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-17466 Filed 8-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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