This is a request to conduct internet
survey research for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA
is responsible under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)
for developing the fuel economy labels that are posted on window
stickers of all new light duty cars and trucks sold in the U.S.
and, beginning with the 2011 model year, on all new medium-duty
passenger vehicles (a category that includes large sport-utility
vehicles and passenger vans). In 2006 EPA updated how the window
sticker fuel economy values are calculated to better reflect
typical real-world driving patterns and provide more realistic fuel
economy estimates. Beginning in the fall of 2010, increasing market
penetration of advanced technology vehicles, in particular plug-in
hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles, will require new
label metrics and presentation to effectively convey information to
consumers. Therefore, EPA has initiated a rulemaking action to
update the current fuel economy label to both address the unique
nature of advanced technology vehicles as well as to add new
information on the label for conventional-gasoline powered
vehicles. The proposed rule will ensure that American consumers
continue to have the most accurate, meaningful, and useful
information available to them with regard to new vehicles sold in
the U.S. Recently, the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act
(EISA) introduced additional new labeling requirements that are to
be implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). To maximize regulatory efficiency, minimize
the burden on manufacturers, and provide the best information
possible to American consumers, EPA and NHTSA are conducting a
joint rulemaking to redesign the current fuel economy label. To
help the agencies develop a joint label that meets the statutory
requirements as well as the policy objectives described above, EPA
is currently completing three phases of focus groups and is
requesting approval in this Emergency ICR submission to conduct an
internet survey that will complement these focus groups. The focus
groups solicited information from a diverse group of consumers
regarding what information displayed on the fuel economy label will
best serve the intended purpose of providing consumers with useful
and meaningful information about the fuel efficiency, fuel
consumption, fuel cost and environmental impact of the vehicles
they are considering purchasing. Phase 3 of the focus groups asked
consumers to assist in developing the most effective presentation
for the overall fuel economy label for both conventionally-fueled
vehicles and for advanced technology vehicles. The internet-based
survey will test the label designs resulting from phase 3 focus
groups with a broader audience. The goals of the internet survey
are to examine how understandable the new label designs are, and
whether the new labels will improve consumers' abilities to select
more fuel-efficient vehicles. It will test these questions for both
conventional and advanced technology vehicles. This study plans to
use two convenience samples: self-selected U.S. new vehicle
purchasers and people who have expressed an intention to purchase a
new vehicle by requesting a price quote from a dealer. Because the
study is not a probability-based sample, it may not yield estimates
representative of the target population, new vehicle buyers.
However, even if the results are not representative of the
population, the agencies believe that the study design will provide
quantitative estimates of differences in consumer responses between
various test conditions, and it may be possible to adjust results
to reflect differences between the respondents and the target
population.
EPA plans to conduct an
internet survey to get data regarding the most understandable and
compelling fuel economy label design for both conventionally fueled
vehicles and advanced technology vehicles. EPA is hopeful that with
this emergency ICR approval at least preliminary survey results
will be available before the proposal is signed. The proposed rule
will put forward a proposed new fuel economy label design as well
as alternative label designs for public comment. The internet
survey will test these label designs, developed and tested during
focus group research, with a broader audience. Specifically, it
will examine how understandable the label designs are, and whether
the new labels will improve consumers' abilities to select more
fuel-efficient vehicles. The scope of the internet survey is
limited and will involve approximately 6000 people. Detailed burden
estimates are presented in the Supporting Statement. During a
meeting with OMB on January 5th of this year discussing the
development of EPA's fuel economy label rulemaking, EPA noted the
desire to conduct focus groups prior to issuing a proposed rule to
ensure that the content and designs are understood and allow
consumers to effectively compare the relative energy consumption
and environmental benefits of conventional gasoline, hybrid
vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. OMB at
that meeting urged EPA to consider undertaking more quantitative
research, in addition to the focus groups, and EPA seeks to be
responsive to OMB's request by conducting a robust internet survey
as a follow-up to the focus groups. EPA seeks this information on
an expedited basis for two key reasons, as previously addressed in
EPA ICR 2343.01-2343.03. First, manufacturers are developing a wide
range of advanced technology vehicles, including Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and Electric Vehicles (EVs), that will
require new labels as early as this fall. Manufacturers are eager
to have finalized labels available for these new vehicles and have
urged EPA to complete a rulemaking no later than the end of 2010 to
insure that labels are available for model year 2012 vehicles
(beginning in January 2011). Failure of EPA and NHTSA to complete
this rulemaking in a timely manner will create confusion and delay
for manufacturers and will also increase consumer confusion and
market delays for consumers. Second, EPA's proposed greenhouse gas
regulations for light-duty vehicles will be going into effect
starting with the 2012 model year, and EPA would like to have a new
label design finalized so that 2012 model year vehicles can be
equipped with a new label. This may be especially important given
the increased focus on greenhouse gas emissions and the likelihood
that the new label will have an indication of each vehicle's
greenhouse gas emissions performance. EPA has already issued a
formal ICR notice concerning all focus groups and survey activities
associated with this fuel economy label rulemaking and the comment
period closed on February 1, 2010 (no substantive comments were
received). Additionally, EPA is soliciting public comment on the
internet survey via a Federal Register notice published on May 12,
2010 (75 Federal Register 26751). The current schedule calls for
the internet survey to be conducted as early as June 14 - June 25,
but no later than June 25-July 5, 2010. The normal ICR process does
not allow enough time for EPA to plan for and conduct this survey.
There is no statutory deadline for the fuel economy rule, but as
stated above, EPA believes it is critical to consumers, auto
manufacturers, and to the Agencies to complete a rulemaking in time
to cover 2012 model year vehicles. To do this, the final rule must
be done by the end of the 2010 calendar year. The normal time
needed for ICR approval would not provide enough time to conduct
the internet survey prior to the need to propose the joint
EPA/NHTSA rule this summer.
US Code:
49
USC 32908 Name of Law: Fuel economy information
EPA has started a new
rulemaking action that will amend the way in which fuel economy
estimates are displayed, particularly for advanced technology
vehicles. EPA is focusing on additional metrics beyond MPG,
including fuel consumption metrics (gallons/100 miles, kW-hr/100
miles), Cost metrics ($/mi, $/100 miles, monthly fuel cost, annual
fuel cost, or 5-year fuel cost) and greenhouse gas metrics.
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.
Supporting_Statement_Part_B_Internet_Survey_5_20_10_final.doc
Internet Survey Research for Improving Fuel Economy Label Design and Content