[Federal Register: May 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 86)] [Notices] [Page 24148-24149] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05my99-53] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6336-1] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Ambient Air Quality Surveillance AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Ambient Air Quality Surveillance, OMB Number 2060-0084, EPA ICR 0940.16, expiration date June 30, 1999. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 4, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by E-Mail at Farmer.Sandy@epamail.epa.gov or download a copy of the ICR off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0940.16. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Ambient Air Quality Surveillance, [OMB Number (2060-0084), EPA ICR # 0940.16] expiring June 30, 1999. This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: The general authority for the collection of ambient air quality data is contained in sections 110 and 319 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 1857). Section 110 makes it clear that State generated air quality data are central to the air quality management process through a system of State implementation plans (SIP). Section 319 was added via the 1977 Amendments to the Act and spells out the key elements of an acceptable monitoring and reporting scheme. To a large extent, the requirements of section 319 had already been anticipated in the detailed strategy document prepared by EPA's Standing Air Monitoring Work Group (SAMWG). The regulatory provisions to implement these recommendations were developed through close consultation with the State and local agency representatives serving on SAMWG and through reviews by ad-hoc panels from the State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators and the Association of [[Page 24149]] Local Air Pollution Control Officials. These modifications to the previous regulations were issued as final rules on May, 10, 1979 (44 FR 27558) and are contained in 40 CFR part 58. Major amendments which affect the hourly burdens were made in 1983 for lead, 1987 for PM-10, 1993 for enhanced monitoring for ozone, and 1997 for PM2.5. The specific required activities for the burden include establishing and operating ambient air monitors and samplers, conducting sample analyses for all pollutants for which a national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) has been established, preparing, editing, and quality assuring the data, and submitting the ambient air quality data and quality assurance data to EPA. Some of the major uses of the data are for judging attainment of the NAAQS, evaluating progress in achieving/maintaining the NAAQS or State/local standards, developing or revising SIP's, evaluating control strategies, developing or revising national control policies, providing data for model development and validation, supporting enforcement actions, documenting episodes and initiating episode controls, documenting population exposure, and providing information to the public and other interested parties. 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 are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15. The Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the collection of information was published on August 3, 1998 (63 FR 41251); no comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4,624 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, 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. Respondents/Affected Entities: State and local air pollution control agencies. Estimated Number of Respondents: 130. Frequency of Response: Quarterly, Semi-Annually, Annually. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2,404,606 hours. Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $73,643,000. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please refer to EPA ICR No. 0940.16 and OMB Control No. 2060-0084 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, Regulatory Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503. Dated: April 29, 1999. Richard T. Westlund, Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 99-11273 Filed 5-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P