[Federal Register: April 4, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 64)]
[Notices]
[Page 16771-16773]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04ap06-33]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ORD-2005-0530; FRL-8052-2]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Application for Reference or Equivalent Method
Determination; EPA ICR No. 0559.09 OMB Control No. 2080.0005
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is
being revised in response to proposed revisions to the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter. Before submitting
the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on
specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described
below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 5, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
ORD-2005-0530, by one of the following methods:
[[Page 16772]]
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket,
oei.dochet@epa.gov.
Fax: 202-566-1749.
Mail: EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530, Environmental Protection
Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20460. Please include a total of 2 copies.''
Hand Delivery: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West
Building, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2005-0530. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be
included in the public docket without change and may be made available
online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert W. Vanderpool, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Human Exposure and Atmospheric
Sciences Division, Process Modeling Research Branch, Mail Drop D205-03,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919-541-7877;
facsimile number: 919-541-1153; e-mail: Vanderpool.Robert@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of
Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/
DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading
Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Office of
Environmental Information Docket is 202-566-1742.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified in this document.
What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
(ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
(iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.
What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
primarily manufacturers and vendors of ambient air quality monitoring
instruments that are used by state and local air quality monitoring
agencies in their federally required air surveillance monitoring
networks, and agents acting for such instrument manufacturers or
vendors. Other entities potentially affected may include state or local
air monitoring agencies, other users of ambient air quality monitoring
instruments, or any other applicant for a reference or equivalent
method determination.
Title: Application for Reference and Equivalent Method
Determination (OMB Control No. 2080-0005; EPA ICR 0559.09.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0559.08; OMB Control No. 2080-0005.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on January
2008. Revisions to the ICR are being made in response to proposed
revisions to the NAAQS for particulate matter. 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 in title
40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved,
are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the
Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related
collection instrument or
[[Page 16773]]
form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: To determine compliance with the NAAQS, State air
monitoring agencies are required to use, in their air quality
monitoring networks, air monitoring methods that have been formally
designated by the EPA as either reference or equivalent methods under
EPA regulations at 40 CFR part 53. A manufacturer or seller of an air
monitoring method (e.g. an air monitoring sampler or analyzer) that
seeks to obtain such EPA designation of one of its products must carry
out prescribed tests of the method. The test results and other
information must then be submitted to the EPA in the form of an
application for a reference or equivalent method determination in
accordance with 40 CFR part 53. The EPA uses this information, under
the provisions of part 53, to determine whether the particular method
should be designated as either a reference or equivalent method. After
a method is designated, the applicant must also maintain records of the
names and mailing addresses of all ultimate purchasers of all analyzers
or samplers sold as designated methods under the method designation. If
the method designated is a method for fine particulate matter
(PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10-2.5),
the applicant must also submit a checklist signed by an ISO-certified
auditor to indicate that the samplers or analyzers sold as part of the
designated method are manufactured in an ISO 9001-registered facility.
Also, an applicant must submit a minor application to seek approval for
any proposed modifications to previously designated methods.
A response to this collection of information is voluntary, but it
is required to obtain the benefit of EPA designation under 40 CFR part
53. Submission of some information that is claimed by the applicant to
be confidential business information may be necessary to make a
reference or equivalent method determination. The confidentiality of
any submitted information identified as confidential business
information by the applicant will be protected in full accordance with
40 CFR 53.15 and all applicable provisions of 40 CFR part 2.
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 number for EPA's
regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
The EPA would like to solicit comment to:
(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
(ii) evaluate the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used;
(iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
(iv) minimize the burden of the collection information on those who
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average
approximately 7,492 hours during the next three years. 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 which have
subsequently changed; 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.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 22.
Frequency of response: Annual.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 7,492.
Estimated total annual costs: $650,494. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $517,831 and an estimated cost of $132,668 for capital
investment or maintenance and operational costs
Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?
There is an increase of 2,774 hours in the total estimated
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's estimate that an average
of 1.33 additional applications for reference or equivalent method
determinations, and an average of 1.67 additional minor applications
for approval of modifications, will be received annually following
promulgation of the proposed regulation changes. It is estimated that
there will be a corresponding increase in total respondent costs of
$219,112 for these additional applications and an increase in $4,415
for these additional minor modifications.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.
Dated: February 23, 2006.
Jewel F. Morris,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. E6-4859 Filed 4-3-06; 8:45 am]
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