Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5, 31030-31031 [2015-13131]

Download as PDF 31030 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 104 / Monday, June 1, 2015 / Notices Lhorne on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Filings Instituting Proceedings Docket Numbers: RP15–984–000. Applicants: White River Hub, LLC. Description: Annual Report of Fuel Gas Reimbursement Percentage for 2015 of White River Hub, LLC. Filed Date: 5/12/15. Accession Number: 20150512–5094. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/26/15. Docket Numbers: RP15–985–000. Applicants: Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company. Description: Annual Report of Fuel Gas Reimbursement Percentage for 2015 of Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company. Filed Date: 5/12/15. Accession Number: 20150512–5097. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/26/15. Docket Numbers: RP15–996–000. Applicants: Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP. Description: Section 4(d) rate filing per 154.204: Cap Rel Neg Rate Agmts (Atlanta Gas 8438 to various eff 5/1/15) to be effective 5/1/2015. Filed Date: 5/21/15. Accession Number: 20150521–5066. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 6/2/15. Docket Numbers: RP15–997–000. Applicants: Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America. Description: Section 4(d) rate filing per 154.204: Substitute Published Index Prices to be effective 7/1/2015. Filed Date: 5/21/15. Accession Number: 20150521–5224. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 6/2/15. Docket Numbers: RP15–998–000. Applicants: Texas Eastern Transmission, LP. Description: Section 4(d) rate filing per 154.204: Negotiated Rate—Chevron Jun2014 TEAM2014 Release to be effective 6/1/2015. Filed Date: 5/22/15. Accession Number: 20150522–5143. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 6/3/15. Docket Numbers: RP15–999–000. Applicants: Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC. Description: Section 4(d) rate filing per 154.204: Negotiated Rates Cleanup—Contract 789456 to be effective 6/1/2015. Filed Date: 5/22/15. Accession Number: 20150522–5147. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 6/3/15. Docket Numbers: RP15–1000–000. Applicants: Rockies Express Pipeline LLC. Description: Section 4(d) rate filing per 154.204: Neg Rate 2015–05–15 E2W to be effective 7/1/2015. Filed Date: 5/22/15. Accession Number: 20150522–5234. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 6/3/15. VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:50 May 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. Filings in Existing Proceedings Docket Numbers: RP15–956–001. Applicants: Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP. Description: Tariff Amendment per 154.205(b): Amendment to Filing in RP15–956–000 to be effective 5/1/2015. Filed Date: 5/20/15. Accession Number: 20150520–5112. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 6/1/15. Any person desiring to protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rule 211 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. The filings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the links or querying the docket number. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Dated: May 26, 2015. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–13084 Filed 5–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0265; FRL–9928–64– OAR] Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) NAAQS Implementation Rule (Renewal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) NAAQS Implementation Rule (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 2258.04, OMB Control No. 2060–0611), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed renewal of a currently approved information collection which was originally approved in conjunction with the EPA’s now-remanded 2007 final rule addressing implementation-related requirements for the 1997 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and renewed twice since then. On March 23, 2015, the EPA also proposed a new ICR associated with its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would replace the remanded 2007 PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation Rule. Until that ICR is approved, the existing ICR will remain in effect, subject to approval of this proposed renewal. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 31, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2007–0265, online using https:// 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. 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, or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cecil (Butch) Stackhouse, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, by phone at (919) 541–5208 or by email at stackhouse.butch@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 https:// 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, the EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1 Lhorne on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 104 / Monday, June 1, 2015 / Notices 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. 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. 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. Abstract: The final implementation rule for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS (2007 PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation Rule) was promulgated on April 25, 2007 (79 FR 20586). This rule provided the framework of Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for air agencies to meet in attainment plans to achieve the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in designated nonattainment areas. States also applied this framework to develop attainment plans for areas designated nonattainment for the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS revised by the agency in 2006 (74 FR 58688, November 13, 2009; 76 FR 6056; February 3, 2011). The ICR originally finalized with the 2007 PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation Rule had estimated, for the 3 years following the ICR approval date, the burden to air agencies 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, subpart 1 of title I. A PM2.5 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:50 May 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 the attainment period or in the event the area does not attain the NAAQS by its attainment date. After a state submits an attainment plan, the CAA requires the EPA to approve or disapprove the plan. Tribes may develop or submit attainment plans, but are not required to do so. On January 4, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) remanded the 2007 PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation Rule, concluding that the agency had erred in implementing the PM2.5 NAAQS according to only the general nonattainment area planning provisions of subpart 1, part D, title I of the CAA, rather than in accordance with the PMspecific planning requirements of subpart 4, part D, title I of the CAA and certain general planning provisions in subpart 1. On March 23, 2015, the EPA proposed a new implementation rule (80 FR 15340) consistent with the attainment planning requirements under CAA subparts 1 and 4 of part D, title I, that would apply to ongoing implementation efforts by air agencies in areas designated nonattainment for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, as well as to new efforts in areas recently designated nonattainment for the most recent 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. As part of its proposed implementation rule, the EPA also proposed a new ICR to cover the 3year period after the ICR is approved by OMB, which would account for both the burden associated with plan revisions related to ongoing implementation efforts for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS as well as the additional cost burden to air agencies developing attainment plans for areas designated nonattainment for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. Once final, the new ICR will supersede the existing ICR—for which the EPA is proposing renewal in this action—for purposes of PM2.5 NAAQS implementation. In the meantime, while the EPA completes its current rulemaking and finalizes the new ICR, the agency is hereby proposing a renewal of the existing ICR that would continue to apply during this interim period. Respondents/affected entities: State and local governments. Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory. Currently approved estimated number of respondents: 95 (total). Frequency of response: Once per triggering event [i.e., each air agency with a newly-designated nonattainment area or an area reclassified to a higher classification is required to revise its State Implementation Plan (SIP)]. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31031 Currently approved total estimated burden: 175,400 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b). Total estimated cost: $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in estimates: The EPA expects there to be a reduction in excess of 50 percent in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the information collection that is currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to the fact that the EPA estimates that only six areas may be candidates for reclassification triggering new submittal requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, as compared to 31 nonattainment areas initially designated for that NAAQS. In addition, one of the six areas (San Joaquin Valley, CA) remains nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. The burden estimate, detailed in the supporting statement located in the docket for this proposed renewal, accounts for new SIP revisions from states with nonattainment areas potentially subject to reclassification. Dated: May 21, 2015. Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. 2015–13131 Filed 5–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9928–46–OGC] Proposed Settlement Agreement Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of proposed settlement agreement; request for public comment. AGENCY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act (the ‘‘Act’’), 42 U.S.C. 7413(g), notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement agreement to address a lawsuit filed by National Parks Conservation Association, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Friends of the Boundary Waters, Voyageurs National Park Association, Fresh Energy, and the Sierra Club (collectively, ‘‘Plaintiffs’’) and Intervenor Defendant Northern States Power Company Minnesota, d/b/ a Xcel Energy in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota: National Parks Conservation Association, et al. v. EPA, Civ. No. 12– 3043 (D. Minn.). On December 5, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a complaint alleging that the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (‘‘EPA’’) had failed to perform a SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31030-31031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13131]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0265; FRL-9928-64-OAR]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Fine 
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) NAAQS Implementation Rule (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Fine Particulate 
Matter (PM2.5) NAAQS Implementation Rule (Renewal)'' (EPA 
ICR No. 2258.04, OMB Control No. 2060-0611), to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before 
doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of 
the proposed information collection as described below. This is a 
proposed renewal of a currently approved information collection which 
was originally approved in conjunction with the EPA's now-remanded 2007 
final rule addressing implementation-related requirements for the 1997 
PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and 
renewed twice since then. On March 23, 2015, the EPA also proposed a 
new ICR associated with its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would 
replace the remanded 2007 PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation Rule. 
Until that ICR is approved, the existing ICR will remain in effect, 
subject to approval of this proposed renewal.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2007-0265, online using https://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.
    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, or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cecil (Butch) Stackhouse, Office 
of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, by phone at (919) 541-5208 or by email at 
stackhouse.butch@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 https://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, the EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary

[[Page 31031]]

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. 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. 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.
    Abstract: The final implementation rule for the 1997 
PM2.5 NAAQS (2007 PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation 
Rule) was promulgated on April 25, 2007 (79 FR 20586). This rule 
provided the framework of Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for air 
agencies to meet in attainment plans to achieve the 1997 
PM2.5 NAAQS in designated nonattainment areas. States also 
applied this framework to develop attainment plans for areas designated 
nonattainment for the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS revised by the 
agency in 2006 (74 FR 58688, November 13, 2009; 76 FR 6056; February 3, 
2011).
    The ICR originally finalized with the 2007 PM2.5 NAAQS 
Implementation Rule had estimated, for the 3 years following the ICR 
approval date, the burden to air agencies 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, subpart 1 of title I. A PM2.5 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. After a state submits an 
attainment plan, the CAA requires the EPA to approve or disapprove the 
plan. Tribes may develop or submit attainment plans, but are not 
required to do so.
    On January 4, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of 
Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) remanded the 2007 PM2.5 NAAQS 
Implementation Rule, concluding that the agency had erred in 
implementing the PM2.5 NAAQS according to only the general 
nonattainment area planning provisions of subpart 1, part D, title I of 
the CAA, rather than in accordance with the PM-specific planning 
requirements of subpart 4, part D, title I of the CAA and certain 
general planning provisions in subpart 1. On March 23, 2015, the EPA 
proposed a new implementation rule (80 FR 15340) consistent with the 
attainment planning requirements under CAA subparts 1 and 4 of part D, 
title I, that would apply to ongoing implementation efforts by air 
agencies in areas designated nonattainment for the 1997 and 2006 
PM2.5 NAAQS, as well as to new efforts in areas recently 
designated nonattainment for the most recent 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS. As part of its proposed implementation rule, the EPA also 
proposed a new ICR to cover the 3-year period after the ICR is approved 
by OMB, which would account for both the burden associated with plan 
revisions related to ongoing implementation efforts for the 1997 and 
2006 PM2.5 NAAQS as well as the additional cost burden to 
air agencies developing attainment plans for areas designated 
nonattainment for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. Once final, the new 
ICR will supersede the existing ICR--for which the EPA is proposing 
renewal in this action--for purposes of PM2.5 NAAQS 
implementation. In the meantime, while the EPA completes its current 
rulemaking and finalizes the new ICR, the agency is hereby proposing a 
renewal of the existing ICR that would continue to apply during this 
interim period.
    Respondents/affected entities: State and local governments.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory.
    Currently approved estimated number of respondents: 95 (total).
    Frequency of response: Once per triggering event [i.e., each air 
agency with a newly-designated nonattainment area or an area 
reclassified to a higher classification is required to revise its State 
Implementation Plan (SIP)].
    Currently approved total estimated burden: 175,400 hours (per 
year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $0 annualized capital or operation & 
maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: The EPA expects there to be a reduction in 
excess of 50 percent in the total estimated respondent burden compared 
with the information collection that is currently approved by OMB. This 
decrease is due to the fact that the EPA estimates that only six areas 
may be candidates for reclassification triggering new submittal 
requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, as compared to 31 
nonattainment areas initially designated for that NAAQS. In addition, 
one of the six areas (San Joaquin Valley, CA) remains nonattainment for 
the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. The burden estimate, detailed in the 
supporting statement located in the docket for this proposed renewal, 
accounts for new SIP revisions from states with nonattainment areas 
potentially subject to reclassification.

    Dated: May 21, 2015.
Stephen D. Page,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air 
and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2015-13131 Filed 5-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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