Upon renewal of this collection, OMB requests that EPA submit the following as supplemental documents: the regulatory text that includes the ICR; the regulatory text that includes the submission instructions; and screen shots of the electronic portal where the reporting requirements will be submitted online to EPA. Please also port over all of the tables and text, which were very well presented in the current format, into the standard 18 question SS-A upon renewal. All renewals should be using the standard 18 question SS-A format in three years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
09/30/2023
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2022
17
0
17
38,255
0
5,974
0
0
0
Subpart P of 40 CFR 51, Protection of Visibility, also known as the regional haze rule, is the subject of this clearance request. In the next three years, activities conducted by the states, Federal Land Managers (FLMs), and the EPA will focus on submitting SIP revisions and progress reports for regional haze. 40 CFR 51.308 (f) requires states to develop regional haze implementation plan revisions evaluating and reassessing reasonable progress goals, calculations of baseline and natural visibility conditions, the long-term strategy, the monitoring strategy and other implementation plan requirements. There are similar reporting requirements under 40 CFR 51.309, a section of the regional haze rule in which three states (Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico) elected to submit their SIPs. Under section 309, these states adopted regional haze strategies for the period from 2003 to 2018 for sulfur dioxide emissions. These strategies are based on recommendations from the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC) for protecting the 16 Class I areas in the Colorado Plateau area. During the next three years, fourteen states will also be responsible for submitting progress reports. 40 CFR 51.308 (g) requires states to develop periodic reports evaluating progress towards the reasonable progress goals for improving visibility in Class I areas inside the state and in neighboring states, and 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10) requires similar actions on the part of the 3 states that submitted regional haze SIPs under 40 CFR 51.309.
The burden estimates for this ICR reflect the requirements of the final Regional Haze Rule with respect to the scheduled events and activities in the implementation process. The last collection request anticipated the program consisting of submission and review of 5-year progress reports as well as SIP revisions. The change in burden reflects changes in the activities conducted due to the normal progression of the program, the fact that the periodic comprehensive regional haze SIP revisions will need to be acted on by the EPA and the states will be working on and submitting those periodic comprehensive SIP revisions. There are 52 SIP revisions due by July 31, 2021.
$371,835
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Christopher Werner 919 541-5133
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
2540ss03.docx
Proposed Revisions to the Regional Haze Regulations