The EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation
(OAR) developed the SmartWay Transport Partnership (“SmartWay”)
under directives outlined in Subtitle D of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 which calls on EPA to assess the energy and air quality
impacts of activities within the freight industry. These activities
include long-duration truck idling, the development and promotion
of strategies for reducing idling, fuel consumption, and negative
air quality effects. SmartWay’s objectives also are consistent with
the Federal Technology Transfer Act and other laws that support
collaborative partnerships between government and industry.
SmartWay is open to organizations that own, operate, or contract
with fleet operations, including truck and multi-modal carriers,
air carriers, logistics companies, and shippers. Organizations that
do not operate fleets, but that are working to strengthen the
freight industry, such as industry trade associations, state and
local transportation agencies and environmental groups, also may
join as SmartWay Affiliates. All organizations that join SmartWay
are asked to provide EPA with information as part of their SmartWay
registration to annually benchmark their transportation-related
operations and improve the environmental performance of their
freight activities. A company joins SmartWay when it completes and
submits a SmartWay Excel-based Partnership tool (“reporting tool”)
to EPA. The data outputs from the submitted tool are used by
Partners and SmartWay in several ways. First, the data provides
confirmation that SmartWay Partners are meeting established
objectives as in their Partnership Agreement. The reporting tool
outputs enable EPA to assist SmartWay Partners in adjusting their
commitments, as appropriate, and to update them with environmental
performance and technology information that empower them to improve
their efficiency. This information also improves EPA’s knowledge
and understanding of the environmental and energy impacts
associated with goods movement, and the effectiveness of both
proven and emerging strategies to lessen those impacts. In addition
to requesting annual transportation-related data, EPA may ask its
SmartWay Partners for other kinds of information which could
include opinions and test data on the effectiveness of new and
emerging technology applications, sales volumes associated with
SmartWay-recommended vehicle equipment and technologies, the reach
and value of partnering with EPA through the SmartWay Partnership,
and awareness of the SmartWay brand. In some instances, EPA might
query other freight industry representatives (not just SmartWay
Partners), including trade and professional associations, nonprofit
environmental groups, energy, and community organizations, and
universities, and a small sampling of the general public.
Elimination of the Affiliate
Challenge and efficiencies gained through the use of the online
reporting tool have created burden reductions of 22 and 1,105
respectively for a total reduction 1,127 hours. These reductions
counteract a total burden increase of 733 hours that results from
increased participation in the program and burden calculation
adjustments. In this renewal ICR there is an anticipated net
reduction of 394 hours.
$171,180
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Kathleen Martz 734
214-4335
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.