[Federal Register: February 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 40)]
[Notices]
[Page 10765-10766]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28fe08-64]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0145; FRL-8534-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; National-Scale Activity Survey (N-SAS); EPA ICR No.
2293.01, OMB Control No. 2060-NEW
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request for a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB
for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects
of the proposed information collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 28, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2008-0145, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov.
Fax: 202-566-9744.
Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center,
Air and Radiation Docket, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room, EPA
West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20004. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal
hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2008-0145. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail.
The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part
of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available
on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends
that you include your name and other contact information in the body of
your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read
your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zachary Pekar, Health and
Environmental Impacts Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code C504-06,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone: 919-541-3704; fax: 919-
541-0237; e-mail: pekar.zachary@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0145, which is available for online viewing at
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation
Docket and Information Center 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 Air and
Radiation Docket is 202-566-1742.
Use www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of
information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing
of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the
public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system,
select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified in this
document.
What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.
What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0145.
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
adults age 35
[[Page 10766]]
and older living in metropolitan areas that experience episodes of high
ozone pollution levels in the summer.
Title: National-Scale Activity Survey (N-SAS).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2293.01, OMB Control No. 2060-NEW.
ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity.
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 EPA, along with State and regional air quality
regulators support the Air Quality Index (AQI), to notify the public of
health hazards associated with air pollution, primarily ozone and
particulate matter pollution (PM). EPA, and specifically the Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards, which manages the AQI program, is
interested in assessing the public's awareness, knowledge and both
stated and actual behavioral response to AQI warnings. To address this
need, OAQPS wishes to conduct the longitudinal National-Scale Activity
Surveys (N-SAS) to gather information on the public's perceptions,
awareness, attitudes, and stated and actual behaviors in response to
AQI warnings. The survey data will be used to evaluate whether the AQI
warnings effectively inform the public about health hazards associated
with high levels of ozone and to measure behavior change on high ozone
days. The information will also be used to help improve outreach
efforts to this population. The survey will be administered to a
susceptible subpopulation of concern, adults age 55 and older who
engage in some level of physical activity living in cities with ozone
pollution problems. The survey will also be administered to a similar
sample of adults age 35 and older for comparison purposes. The data
will be collected through a Web-based survey of members from Knowledge
Network's Web panel. Response to the survey is voluntary. The
respondents will be anonymous to EPA and contractor staff and Knowledge
Networks keeps identity of respondents confidential.
The longitudinal N-SAS consists of a series of nine surveys. A
screening survey at the beginning and a debriefing survey at the end
will provide information on the respondents, their awareness and
knowledge of air pollution and the AQI, risk perceptions regarding
health effects, and reported behaviors on high ozone days. After the
screening survey, panelists will be administered a set of seven
activity diaries administered on both high and low ozone days to
collect information on actual behavior.
In addition to assessing the effectiveness of AQI-based ozone
warnings, the data will also be used to supplement the limited data
available to develop exposure profiles for older Americans and to
identify behaviors that may affect exposure analysis, for example
identifying populations that report altering their behavior on high air
pollution days or reported behavior by individuals who live in a
particular area such as near major roadways. The responses will also
provide information for future studies of the economic benefits of air
quality improvements by identifying behavioral changes and other
potential costs associated with high levels of air pollution.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.24
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.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 800 complete all
surveys, 1,858 starting sample size.
Frequency of response: On occasion, up to 9 surveys total.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 9.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 2.24 hours for each respondent
to complete all 9 surveys, for the original sample of 1,858 the average
burden across all respondents is 1.04 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $53,000. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $53,000 and an estimated cost of $0 for capital
investment or maintenance and operational costs.
Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?
This is a new request.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
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 pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: February 20, 2008.
Karen M. Martin,
Acting Director, Health and Environmental Impacts Division.
[FR Doc. E8-3787 Filed 2-27-08; 8:45 am]
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