Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2205.02, OMB Control No. 2090-0028, 71643-71644 [E8-27965]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 25, 2008 / Notices found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for 8-hour ozone in the Eastern Kern County 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. On March 24, 2008, the California Air Resources Board submitted a revision to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) containing Early Progress Plans for the 8-hour ozone standard for five California areas, including the Eastern Kern County nonattainment area. As a result of our adequacy finding, the Kern Council of Governments and the U.S. Department of Transportation must use these budgets in future conformity analyses once the finding becomes effective. DATES: This finding is effective December 10, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karina O’Connor, U.S. EPA, Region IX, Air Division (AIR–2), 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105–3901; (775) 833–1276 or oconnor.karina@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, whenever ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean EPA. Today’s notice is simply an announcement of a finding that we have already made. EPA Region IX sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board on November 10, 2008 stating that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for year 2008 in the submitted SIP containing an early progress plan for the Eastern Kern 8-hour ozone nonattainment area are adequate. The finding is available at EPA’s conformity website: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/ stateresources/transconf/adequacy.htm. The adequate motor vehicle emissions budgets are provided in the following table: Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. The criteria by which we determine whether a SIP’s motor vehicle emission budgets are adequate for conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). We have described our process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP budgets in our July 1, 2004 preamble starting at 69 FR 40038 and we used the information in these resources in making our adequacy determination. Please note that an adequacy review is separate from EPA’s completeness review, and should not be used to prejudge EPA’s ultimate approval action for the SIP. Even if we find a budget adequate, the SIP could later be disapproved. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: November 14, 2008. Keith Takata, Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX. [FR Doc. E8–27968 Filed 11–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OA–2008–0701; FRL–8744–7] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2205.02, OMB Control No. 2090–0028 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Volatile Collection Request (ICR) has been Nitrogen organic forwarded to the Office of Management oxides 1 Budget year compounds (tons per and Budget (OMB) for review and (tons per day) approval. This is a request to renew an day) existing approved collection. The ICR, 2008 .................. 5 18 which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and 1 The plan uses a comparable State term, its estimated burden and cost. reactive organic gases (ROG). Transportation conformity is required DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 26, by Clean Air Act section 176(c). EPA’s 2008. conformity rule requires that jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS BUDGETS, SUMMER PLANNING INVENTORY transportation plans, transportation improvement programs, and projects conform to state air quality implementation plans (SIPs) and establishes the criteria and procedures for determining whether or not they do. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:01 Nov 24, 2008 Jkt 217001 Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OA–2008–0701, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to oei.docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71643 Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathalie Simon, National Center for Environmental Economics, Office of Policy Economics and Innovation, (1809T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:202–566–2347; fax number: 202–566–2363; e-mail address: simon.nathalie@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On September 23, 2008 (73 FR 54798), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice. EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA EPA–HQ–OA–2008–0701, which is available for online viewing at www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is 202–566–1744, and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is 202–566– 1752. Use EPA’s electronic docket and comment system at www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select ‘‘docket search,’’ then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA’s policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM 25NON1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES 71644 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 25, 2008 / Notices information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov. Title: Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects (Renewal). ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2205.02, OMB Control No. 2090–0028. ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2008. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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 in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9. Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking renewal of a generic information collection request (ICR) for the conduct of focus groups and one-on-one interviews related to survey development for economics projects. Focus groups are groups of individuals brought together for moderated discussions on a specific topic or issue. These groups are typically formed to gain insight and understanding of attitudes and perceptions held by the public surrounding a particular issue. One-on-one interviews, as the term implies, are individual interviews in which a respondent is generally asked to review materials and provide feedback on their content and design as well as the thought processes that the materials invoke. Focus groups and oneon-one interviews (hereafter referred to collectively as ‘‘focus groups’’) used as a qualitative research tool have three major purposes: • To better understand respondents’ attitudes, perceptions and emotions in response to specific topics and concepts; • To obtain respondent information useful for better defining variables and measures in later quantitative studies; and • To further explore findings obtained from quantitative studies. Through these focus groups, the Agency will be able to gain a more indepth understanding of the public’s attitudes, beliefs, motivations and VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:01 Nov 24, 2008 Jkt 217001 feelings regarding specific issues and will provide invaluable information regarding the quality of draft survey instruments. Focus group discussions are necessary and important steps in the design of a quality survey. The target population for the focus group discussions will vary by project, but will generally include members of the general public. Participation in the focus groups will be completely voluntary. Each focus group will fully conform to federal regulations— specifically the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Hawkins-Stafford Amendments of 1988 (Pub. L. 100–297), and the Computer Security Act of 1987. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2.33 hours per response. 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 which have subsequently changed; 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. Respondents/Affected Entities: Individuals. Estimated Number of Respondents: 337. Frequency of Response: Once. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 786. Estimated Total Annual Cost: $22,385, includes $0 annualized capital or O&M costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 214 hours in the annual estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is based on new estimates provided by the program offices at EPA on their projected use of focus groups. Dated: November 19, 2008. John Moses, Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. E8–27965 Filed 11–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Gulf of Mexico Program Policy Review Board; Notice of Charter Renewal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Charter Renewal. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2, the Gulf of Mexico Program Policy Review Board (GMPPRB) is a necessary committee which is in the public interest. Accordingly, GMPPRB will be renewed for an additional two-year period. The purpose of GMPPRB is to provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator of EPA on issues associated with plans to improve and protect the water quality and living resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Inquiries may be directed to Gloria Car, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. EPA, Gulf of Mexico Program Office (Mail Code: EPAIGMPO), Stennis Space Center, MS, 39529, Telephone (228) 688–2421, or car.gloria@epa.gov. Dated: November 18, 2008. Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water. [FR Doc. E8–27857 Filed 11–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–M ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8744–5] Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of twenty-third update of the Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Since 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has maintained a Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket (‘‘the Docket’’) under Section 120(c) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Section 120(c) requires EPA to establish a Docket that contains certain information reported to EPA by Federal facilities that manage hazardous waste or from which a reportable quantity of hazardous substances has been released. The Docket is used to identify Federal facilities that should be evaluated to determine if they pose a E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM 25NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71643-71644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27965]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2008-0701; FRL-8744-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects 
(Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2205.02, OMB Control No. 2090-0028

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an 
existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, 
describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated 
burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 26, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2008-0701, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by e-mail to oei.docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental 
Information, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathalie Simon, National Center for 
Environmental Economics, Office of Policy Economics and Innovation, 
(1809T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:202-566-2347; fax number: 202-
566-2363; e-mail address: simon.nathalie@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On September 23, 2008 (73 FR 54798), EPA sought comments on 
this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any 
additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB 
within 30 days of this notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA EPA-HQ-OA-2008-0701, which is available for online viewing at 
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of 
Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number 
for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the 
OEI Docket is 202-566-1752.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives 
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted 
material, confidential business information (CBI), or other

[[Page 71644]]

information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For 
further information about the electronic docket, go to 
www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Focus Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects 
(Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2205.02, OMB Control No. 2090-0028.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2008. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
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 
in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when 
approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by 
publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such 
as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The 
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is 
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking 
renewal of a generic information collection request (ICR) for the 
conduct of focus groups and one-on-one interviews related to survey 
development for economics projects. Focus groups are groups of 
individuals brought together for moderated discussions on a specific 
topic or issue. These groups are typically formed to gain insight and 
understanding of attitudes and perceptions held by the public 
surrounding a particular issue. One-on-one interviews, as the term 
implies, are individual interviews in which a respondent is generally 
asked to review materials and provide feedback on their content and 
design as well as the thought processes that the materials invoke. 
Focus groups and one-on-one interviews (hereafter referred to 
collectively as ``focus groups'') used as a qualitative research tool 
have three major purposes:
     To better understand respondents' attitudes, perceptions 
and emotions in response to specific topics and concepts;
     To obtain respondent information useful for better 
defining variables and measures in later quantitative studies; and
     To further explore findings obtained from quantitative 
studies.
    Through these focus groups, the Agency will be able to gain a more 
in-depth understanding of the public's attitudes, beliefs, motivations 
and feelings regarding specific issues and will provide invaluable 
information regarding the quality of draft survey instruments. Focus 
group discussions are necessary and important steps in the design of a 
quality survey. The target population for the focus group discussions 
will vary by project, but will generally include members of the general 
public. Participation in the focus groups will be completely voluntary. 
Each focus group will fully conform to federal regulations--
specifically the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Hawkins-
Stafford Amendments of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-297), and the Computer 
Security Act of 1987.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2.33 
hours per response. 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 which have subsequently changed; 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 337.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 786.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $22,385, includes $0 annualized 
capital or O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 214 hours in the 
annual estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is based on new estimates provided 
by the program offices at EPA on their projected use of focus groups.

    Dated: November 19, 2008.
John Moses,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-27965 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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