83 FR 58248 - Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Transportation Conformity Determinations for Federally Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, Programs and Projects, EPA ICR No. 2130.06, OMB Control No. 2060-0561

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 223 (November 19, 2018)

Page Range		58248-58249
FR Document		2018-25188

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Transportation Conformity Determinations for Federally Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects'' (EPA ICR No. 2130.06, OMB Control No. 2060- 0561), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 223 (Monday, November 19, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 223 (Monday, November 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58248-58249]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25188]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0269; FRL-9986-70-OAR]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
Transportation Conformity Determinations for Federally Funded and 
Approved Transportation Plans, Programs and Projects, EPA ICR No. 
2130.06, OMB Control No. 2060-0561

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Transportation Conformity 
Determinations for Federally Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, 
Programs, and Projects'' (EPA ICR No. 2130.06, OMB Control No. 2060-
0561), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing 
so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the 
proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed 
extension of the ICR.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 18, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2007-0269 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method) or by 
mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 
28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    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 https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, 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 automated electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. 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, 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: 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 ``standards'') or interim milestones.
    Transportation conformity applies under EPA's conformity 
regulations at 40 CFR parts 51 and 93, subpart A, to areas that are 
designated nonattainment, and those redesignated to attainment after 
1990 (``maintenance areas'' with plans developed under Clean Air Act 
section 175A) 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).
    Transportation conformity determinations are required before 
federal approval or funding is given to certain types of transportation 
planning documents as well as non-exempt highway and transit 
projects.\1\
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    \1\ Some projects are exempt from all or certain conformity 
requirements; see 40 CFR 93.126, 93.127, and 93.128.
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    EPA considered the following in renewing the existing ICR:
     Burden estimates for transportation conformity 
determinations (including both regional and project-level) in current 
nonattainment and maintenance areas for the ozone, PM2.5, 
PM10, and CO NAAQS;
     Federal burden associated with EPA's adequacy review 
process for submitted SIP motor vehicle emissions budgets that are to 
be used in conformity determinations;
     Efficiencies in areas making conformity determinations for 
multiple NAAQS;
     Differences in conformity resource needs in large and 
small metropolitan areas and isolated rural areas;
     Reduced burden from areas no longer determining conformity 
for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS due to revocation; \2\
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    \2\ See 81 FR 58010 (published on August 24, 2016 and effective 
October 24, 2016).
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     Reduced burden from areas completing 20 years of 
maintenance for PM10, NO2 and CO NAAQS, at which 
time transportation conformity is no longer required; and,
     Increased burden due to areas being designated as 
nonattainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS.\3\
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    \3\ See 83 FR 25776 (effective August 3, 2018) and 83 FR 35136 
(effective September 24, 2018) for San Antonio, Texas.
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    This ICR does not include burden associated with the general 
development of transportation planning

[[Page 58249]]

and air quality planning documents for meeting other federal 
requirements.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), state 
departments of transportation, local transit agencies, and state and 
local air quality agencies. Federal agencies potentially affected by 
this action include FHWA, FTA, and EPA.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory pursuant to Clean Air 
Act section 176(c) (42 U.S.C. 7506(c)) and 40 CFR parts 51 and 93.
    Estimated number of respondents: EPA estimates that 109 MPOs will 
be subject to transportation conformity requirements during the period 
covered by this ICR and that EPA Regional Offices, the FHWA, and FTA 
will be involved in interagency consultation, and review of 
transportation-related conformity determinations performed by MPOs 
during this process. EPA also estimates that similar consultation will 
occur for projects in isolated rural areas.
    Frequency of response: The information collections described in 
this ICR must be completed before a transportation plan, TIP, or 
project conformity determination is made. The Clean Air Act requires 
conformity to be determined for transportation plans and TIPs every 
four years. Conformity determinations on projects in metropolitan and 
isolated rural areas are required on an as-needed basis.
    Total estimated burden: 35,344 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $2,247,525 (per year), includes zero 
annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: There is a decrease of 15,214 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease is due to less burden associated with 
decreased conformity analyses for PM10, CO, 1997 
PM2.5, and NO2 NAAQS and a decrease in burden 
over the previous ICR for reduced emissions model transition and 
training burden.

    Dated: November 8, 2018.
Karl Simon,
Director, Transportation and Climate Division, Office of Transportation 
and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2018-25188 Filed 11-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

58248 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 223 / Monday, November 19, 2018 / Notices

can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/ Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood (NAAQS or ‘‘standards’’) or interim
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone milestones.
other information, call (866) 208–3676 number: 734–214–4812; email address: Transportation conformity applies
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. terry.astrid@epa.gov. under EPA’s conformity regulations at
Dated: November 13, 2018. 40 CFR parts 51 and 93, subpart A, to
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
areas that are designated nonattainment,
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Supporting documents which explain in and those redesignated to attainment
Deputy Secretary. detail the information that EPA will be after 1990 (‘‘maintenance areas’’ with
[FR Doc. 2018–25135 Filed 11–16–18; 8:45 am] collecting are available in the public plans developed under Clean Air Act
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P docket for this ICR. The docket can be section 175A) for the following
viewed online at www.regulations.gov transportation-related criteria
or in person at the EPA Docket Center, pollutants: Ozone, particulate matter
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide
AGENCY Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). EPA
The telephone number for the Docket published the original transportation
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0269; FRL–9986–70– Center is 202–566–1744. For additional
OAR] conformity rule on November 24, 1993
information about EPA’s public docket, (58 FR 62188), and subsequently
visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets. published several revisions. EPA
Proposed Information Collection
Request; Comment Request; Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of develops the conformity regulations in
Transportation Conformity the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments coordination with the Federal Highway
Determinations for Federally Funded and information to enable it to: (i) Administration (FHWA) and Federal
and Approved Transportation Plans, Evaluate whether the proposed Transit Administration (FTA).
Programs and Projects, EPA ICR No. collection of information is necessary Transportation conformity
2130.06, OMB Control No. 2060–0561 for the proper performance of the determinations are required before
functions of the Agency, including federal approval or funding is given to
AGENCY: Environmental Protection whether the information will have certain types of transportation planning
Agency (EPA). practical utility; (ii) evaluate the documents as well as non-exempt
ACTION: Notice. accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the highway and transit projects.1
burden of the proposed collection of EPA considered the following in
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection information, including the validity of renewing the existing ICR:
Agency is planning to submit an the methodology and assumptions used; • Burden estimates for transportation
information collection request (ICR), (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and conformity determinations (including
‘‘Transportation Conformity clarity of the information to be both regional and project-level) in
Determinations for Federally Funded collected; and (iv) minimize the burden current nonattainment and maintenance
and Approved Transportation Plans, of the collection of information on those areas for the ozone, PM2.5, PM10, and CO
Programs, and Projects’’ (EPA ICR No. who are to respond, including through NAAQS;
2130.06, OMB Control No. 2060–0561), the use of appropriate automated • Federal burden associated with
to the Office of Management and Budget electronic, mechanical, or other EPA’s adequacy review process for
(OMB) for review and approval in technological collection techniques or submitted SIP motor vehicle emissions
accordance with the Paperwork other forms of information technology, budgets that are to be used in
Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is e.g., permitting electronic submission of conformity determinations;
soliciting public comments on specific responses. EPA will consider the • Efficiencies in areas making
aspects of the proposed information comments received and amend the ICR conformity determinations for multiple
collection as described below. This is a as appropriate. The final ICR package NAAQS;
proposed extension of the ICR. will then be submitted to OMB for • Differences in conformity resource
DATES: Comments must be submitted on review and approval. At that time, EPA needs in large and small metropolitan
or before January 18, 2019. will issue another Federal Register areas and isolated rural areas;
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, notice to announce the submission of • Reduced burden from areas no
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to longer determining conformity for the
OAR–2007–0269 online using submit additional comments to OMB. 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS due to revocation; 2
www.regulations.gov (our preferred • Reduced burden from areas
Abstract: Transportation conformity is completing 20 years of maintenance for
method) or by mail to: EPA Docket required under Clean Air Act section
Center, Environmental Protection PM10, NO2 and CO NAAQS, at which
176(c) (42 U.S.C. 7506(c)) to ensure that time transportation conformity is no
Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 federally supported transportation
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC longer required; and,
activities are consistent with (‘‘conform • Increased burden due to areas being
20460. to’’) the purpose of the state air quality designated as nonattainment for the
EPA’s policy is that all comments implementation plan (SIP). 2015 ozone NAAQS.3
received will be included in the public Transportation activities include This ICR does not include burden
docket without change including any transportation plans, transportation associated with the general
personal information provided, unless improvement programs (TIPs), and development of transportation planning
the comment includes profanity, threats, federally funded or approved highway
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

information claimed to be Confidential or transit projects. Conformity to the 1 Some projects are exempt from all or certain
Business Information (CBI) or other purpose of the SIP means that conformity requirements; see 40 CFR 93.126,
information whose disclosure is transportation activities will not cause 93.127, and 93.128.
restricted by statute. or contribute to new air quality
2 See 81 FR 58010 (published on August 24, 2016

and effective October 24, 2016).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: violations, worsen existing violations, or 3 See 83 FR 25776 (effective August 3, 2018) and
Astrid Terry, Office of Transportation delay timely attainment of the relevant 83 FR 35136 (effective September 24, 2018) for San
and Air Quality, Environmental national ambient air quality standards Antonio, Texas.

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Document Created: 2018-11-17 02:46:23
Document Modified: 2018-11-17 02:46:23

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Comments must be submitted on or before January 18, 2019.
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
FR Citation		83 FR 58248