PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements Rule (Renewal)
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved without change
04/29/2026
01/30/2024
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2029
36 Months From Approved
04/30/2026
24
0
18
24,900
0
25,500
0
0
0
The EPA has established a suite of PM2.5 standards based on numerous health studies and other evidence demonstrating that serious health effects are associated with exposure to elevated levels of PM2.5. Estimates show that attainment of the PM2.5 standards would result in tens of thousands fewer premature deaths each year, tens of thousands fewer hospital admissions each year, and hundreds of thousands fewer doctor visits, absences from work and school, and respiratory illnesses in children annually. EPA initially established annual and 24-hour PM2.5 standards in 1997. The 24-hour standard was subsequently revised in 2006, and the primary annual standard was revised in 2012.
The EPA finalized the PM2.5 NAAQS State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements Rule (81 FR 58010) effective October 24, 2016, to describe the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements that must be met by states with nonattainment areas to develop plans for attaining and maintaining the NAAQS. The intended effect of the PM2.5 NAAQS SIP Requirements Rule is to provide certainty to states regarding their planning obligations related to SIP development. Only states with nonattainment areas are required to submit SIPs that meet the requirements of the rule.
The information collection activities in this proposed renewal have been submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The PRA requires the EPA to assess the administrative burden (in hours and dollars) for state air agencies to develop plans to attain the PM2.5 NAAQS, and for EPA to review and take action on such plans.
The current ICR that is set to expire January 31, 2024 estimated a burden of 76,500 total labor hours at an annual labor cost of $1.6 million (present value) over three years for 18 area responses (8 states). For this revision, EPA is estimating 74,700 total labor hours at an annual labor cost of $1.76 million (present value) over three years for 12 area responses (6 states). The decrease in total state respondent labor hours is due to the reduction in non attainment areas from 18 to 12. While the hours decreased due to the fewer number of respondents, there is an increase in estimated costs due to the increase in labor rates and the need for several areas to continue to develop plans to help address complex air quality issues. The estimates in this renewal have been calculated using 2023 dollars and some assumptions regarding overhead, O&M costs, and capital costs have been adjusted to meet current guidelines and common procedures for preparing ICRs.
$193,796
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Leigh Herrington 919 541-0882
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.