[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 122 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33681-33682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15881]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7000-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Application for Reference or Equivalent Method 
Determination

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 notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Application for Reference and 
Equivalent Method Determination, EPA ICR Number: 0559.06, OMB No: 2080-
0005, expiration date: 12/31/2001. 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 August 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Human Exposure and 
Atmospheric Sciences Division, Atmospheric Methods and Monitoring 
Branch, Mail Drop 46, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Interested 
persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by contacting the 
contact person identified in this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Elizabeth T. Hunike, 919-541-3737; facsimile number: 919-541-1153; 
E-Mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
primarily manufacturers and vendors of ambient air quality monitoring 
instruments which 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 No. 0559.06; expiring 
December 31, 2001).
    Abstract: To determine compliance with the national ambient air 
quality standards (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), 
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

[[Page 33682]]

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 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: The EPA estimates that the total annual 
respondent burden for all activities covered in this ICR is 
approximately 4720 hours and a cost of approximately $88,000. These 
estimates are based on a projected receipt of 5 major applications per 
year with a weighted average burden of 860 hours per application, and 
an estimated 14 minor applications per year with a weighted average 
burden of 30 hours each. However, it should be noted that actual 
applications range widely in content and extent. Accordingly, the 
individual respondent burden for a particular application response may 
differ substantially from these weighted average burden estimates. The 
weighted average cost burden estimate includes start up costs, the 
total cost of capital equipment annualized over its expected useful 
life, operation and maintenance, and purchase of services.
    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: June 14, 2001.
Jewell F. Morris,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 01-15881 Filed 6-22-01; 8:45 am]
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