[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35239-35240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16688]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7006-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; 
Comment Request; Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives; Gasoline 
Volatility; Reporting Requirements for Refiners, Blenders, Importers, 
and Transferors of Gasoline Containing Ethanol, and Reporting 
Requirements for Parties Seeking a Testing Exemption

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): Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives; 
Gasoline Volatility; Reporting Requirements for Refiners, Blenders, 
Importers, and Transferors of Gasoline Containing Ethanol, and 
Reporting Requirements for Parties Seeking a Testing Exemption (40 CFR 
80.27), (EPA ICR Number 1367.06, OMB Control Number 2060-0178, 
expiration date: 12-31-01). 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 September 4, 2001.

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 20460-0001. 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 transfer gasoline

[[Page 35240]]

containing ethanol, or who wish to obtain a testing exemption.
    Title: Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives; Gasoline Volatility; 
Reporting Requirements for Refiners, Blenders, Importers, and 
Transferors of Gasoline Containing Ethanol, and Reporting Requirements 
for Parties Seeking a Testing Exemption (40 CFR 80.27), EPA ICR Number 
1367.06, OMB Control Number 2060-0178, expiring 12-31-01.
    Abstract: Gasoline volatility, as measured by Reid Vapor Pressure 
(RVP) in pounds per square inch (psi), is controlled in the spring and 
summer in order to minimize evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from 
motor vehicles. RVP ranges generally from about 7 psi to 9 psi, 
depending on location. The addition of ethanol to gasoline increases 
the RVP by about 1 psi. Gasoline that contains at least 9 volume 
percent ethanol is subject to a standard that is 1 psi greater. As an 
aid to industry compliance and EPA enforcement, the product transfer 
document which accompanies a shipment of gasoline containing ethanol is 
required by regulation to contain a legible and conspicuous statement 
that the gasoline contains ethanol and the percentage concentration of 
ethanol. This is intended to deter the mixing within the distribution 
system, particularly in retail storage tanks, of gasoline which 
contains ethanol with gasoline which does not contain ethanol. Such 
mixing would likely result in a gasoline with an ethanol concentration 
of less than 9 volume percent but with an RVP above the standard. 
Parties wishing a testing exemption must submit certain information to 
EPA. 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 that there at 3,000,000 shipments 
annually of gasoline containing ethanol. Thus the required statement 
must be placed on 3,000,000 product transfer documents annually. Such 
documents are a customary business practice, so the burden is limited 
to the placement of the statement, which is generally computer-
generated or hand-stamped. EPA estimates an average burden of 5 seconds 
per document, for a total annual burden for 3,000,000 documents of 
4,170 hours. At an estimated industry labor cost of $60 per hour, EPA 
estimates the labor cost burden at $250,200 for about 1,000 parties 
which produce or import gasoline containing ethanol. Thus the cost per 
party is about $250 annually. There are no start-up costs, as they were 
incurred some years ago at the start of the program. There are no 
annualized capital costs and no operation and maintenance costs because 
the product transfer documents are in use for other reasons and there 
are no recordkeeping requirements. There are no purchase-of-services 
costs. There is no burden for transferors of gasoline containing 
ethanol because the product transfer document that accompanies each 
shipment is already handled as a customary business practice. It is 
estimated that EPA will receive 2 requests annually for testing 
exemptions, at 4 hours burden and $240 labor cost per request. An 
operating and maintenance cost for postage and copying of $10 per 
request is estimated. 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 22, 2001.
Michael G. Shields,
Acting Director, Transportation and Regional Programs Division.
[FR Doc. 01-16688 Filed 7-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P