[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34386-34387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15265]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0269; FRL 9993-47-OMS]
Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and
Approval; Comment Request; Transportation Conformity Determinations for
Federally Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, Programs and
Projects (Reinstatement)
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), Transportation
Conformity Determinations for Federally Funded and Approved
Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects (EPA ICR Number 2130.06,
OMB Control Number 2060-0561), to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act. This is a proposed reinstatement of the ICR, which was
approved through March 31, 2019. Public comments were previously
requested via the Federal Register on November 19, 2018 during a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public
comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its
estimated burden and cost to the public.
DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 19,
2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0269, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method) or by mail to: EPA
[[Page 34387]]
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email to
[email protected]. Address comments to ``OMB Desk Officer for
EPA''.
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: Astrid Terry, Office of Transportation
and Air Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood
Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone number: 734-214-4812; email
address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents, which explain in
detail the information that EPA will be collecting, are available in
the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at
www.regulations.gov 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 www.epa.gov/dockets.
Abstract: Transportation conformity is required under Clean Air Act
section 176(c) (42 U.S.C. 7506(c)) to ensure that federally supported
transportation activities are consistent with (conform to) the purpose
of the State Air Quality Implementation Plan (SIP). Transportation
activities include transportation plans, transportation improvement
programs (TIPs), and federally funded or approved highway or transit
projects. Conformity to the purpose of the SIP means that
transportation activities will not cause or contribute to new air
quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely
attainment of the relevant National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS)) or interim milestones.
Transportation conformity applies under EPA's conformity
regulations at 40 CFR part 93, subpart A, to areas that are designated
nonattainment and maintenance areas for the following transportation-
related criteria pollutants: Ozone, particulate matter
(PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2). EPA published the original
transportation conformity rule on November 24, 1993 (58 FR 62188), and
subsequently published several revisions. EPA develops the conformity
regulations in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The federal government
needs information collected under these regulations to ensure that
metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and federal transportation
actions are consistent with state air quality goals.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: MPOs, local transit agencies, state
departments of transportation, and state and local air quality
agencies.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory pursuant to Clean Air
Act section 176(c) (42 U.S.C. 7506(c)) and 40 CFR part 93.
Estimated number of respondents: 155.
Frequency of response: Typically, once every 4 years for
transportation plans and TIPs, and for the largest MPOs with 3 or more
NAAQS, once every 3 years for transportation plans and TIPs. As needed
for projects.
Total estimated burden: 48,671 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: $3,094,989 (per year), includes zero
annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs.
Changes in estimates: There is a decrease of 11,877 hours in the
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently
approved by OMB. A decrease in burden was projected due to the
requirement for transportation conformity ending in PM10,
NO2, and CO maintenance areas that have reached the end of
the 20-year maintenance period. A decrease in burden was projected due
to fewer transportation conformity determinations for areas previously
designated nonattainment or maintenance for the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS. Burden was increased for the 1997 ozone NAAQS due to the South
Coast II court decision, which occurred during the development of this
ICR. The number of training hours was reduced for this ICR as no new
emissions model has been released and additional hours for such a model
transition and training are not anticipated. Based on the comments and
supporting example documentation received during the first public
comment period, EPA increased the estimated burden hours by 40%
associated with an individual transportation plan and TIP conformity
determination in the largest MPOs as well as increased TIP frequency
for the largest MPOs where conformity applies for 3 or more NAAQS.
Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-15265 Filed 7-17-19; 8:45 am]
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