[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 199 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 60939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26354]



[[Page 60939]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6884-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reformulated Gasoline and Conventional Gasoline

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Reformulated Gasoline and Conventional 
Gasoline, (EPA ICR No. 1591.13, OMB Control No. 2060-0277, expiration 
date: 12-31-00). 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 December 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Transportation and Regional Programs Division, Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation, Mail Code 
6406J, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. A paper or electronic copy of the draft ICR 
may be obtained without charge by contacting the person listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James W. Caldwell, (202) 564-9303, 
fax: (202) 565-2085, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which produce, import, or distribute gasoline.
    Title: Reformulated Gasoline and Conventional Gasoline: 
Requirements for Refiners, Oxygenate Blenders, and Importers of 
Gasoline; Requirements for Parties in the Gasoline Distribution Network 
(40 CFR part 80--subparts D, E and F), EPA ICR No. 1591.13, OMB Control 
No. 2060-0277, expiration date: 12-31-00.
    Abstract: Gasoline combustion is the major source of air pollution 
in most urban areas. The Clean Air Act (Act) requires that gasoline 
dispensed in certain areas with severe air quality problems be 
reformulated to reduce toxic and ozone-forming (smog) emissions. The 
Act also requires that in the process of producing reformulated 
gasoline (RFG), dirty components removed in the reformulation process 
not be ``dumped'' into the remainder of the country's gasoline, known 
as conventional gasoline (CG). The EPA promulgated regulations at 40 
CFR part 80 establishing standards for RFG and CG, as specified in the 
Act, and establishing mandatory reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements for demonstrating compliance and as an aid to enforcement. 
The primary requirements are to test each batch of gasoline for various 
properties, report the results to EPA, and demonstrate compliance with 
the standards on an annual basis. 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 EPA would like to solicit comments 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.
    Burden Statement: EPA estimates the respondent population at 75 RFG 
refineries, 25 RFG import facilities, 25 RFG oxygenate blenders, 225 CG 
refineries, 50 CG import facilities, 250 pipelines and terminals, 500 
truckers, 19 independent laboratories, 20 auditors, and the RFG Survey 
Association, Inc. The typical RFG or CG respondent will have around 100 
to 130 reports per year, depending primarily on the number of batches 
of gasoline involved. The total number of reports is estimated at 
53,170 and the total burden at 101,585 hours. While this gives an 
average burden per report of about two hours, about 95% of the reports 
have an estimated burden of one hour. At $60 per hour, the labor cost 
is about $6 million. Most start-up costs were incurred at the start of 
the program in 1995. However, there is an estimated annualized capital 
cost for analysis equipment of $4.8 million. Annual operating and 
maintenance costs are estimated at about $5 million, and annual 
purchase of services costs are estimated at about $13 million. 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.

    Dated: October 4, 2000.
Lori Stewart,
Acting Director, Transportation and Regional Programs Division.
[FR Doc. 00-26354 Filed 10-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P