In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. Prior to publication of the final rule, the agency must submit to OMB a summary of all comments related to the information collection contained in the proposed rule and the agency response. The agency should clearly indicate any changes made to the information collection as a result of these comments.
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Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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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.
Proposed changes to the regional haze rule include: a 3-year extension of the deadline for state submittal of periodic comprehensive SIP revisions (from July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2021); a change in submission deadlines for progress reports and removal of the requirement that progress reports be submitted as SIP revisions; discontinuance of the 1980s-era requirement for 36 states and territories with Class I areas to submit SIP revisions every 10 years that assess whether reasonably attributable visibility impairment (RAVI) is occurring and removal of the obligation for the EPA to periodically assess RAVI for the 20 states that never committed to meet this requirement; extension to the remaining 16 states the ability of a FLM to certify to a state that RAVI is occurring and thereby trigger a requirement for a responsive SIP revision; and clarification of several terms in the current rule text and updating of cross references.
$343,408
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Chris Werner 919 541-5133
Reginfo record details
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.
2540ss01.docx
Proposed Revisions to the Regional Haze Regulations