[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52253-52254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19440]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OAR-2004-0090, FRL-7806-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; 
Comment Request; Gasoline Volatility, EPA ICR Number 1367.07, OMB 
Control Number 2060-0178

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit a 
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing 
collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2004. 
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 October 25, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2004-
0090, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
[email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation Docket, Mail code 6102T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James W. Caldwell, Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality, Mail Code 6406J, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 343-9303; fax number: (202) 343-2801; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OAR-2004-0090, which is available for public 
viewing at the Office of Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 
8:30 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 Air and Radiation Docket is 
(202) 566-1742. An electronic version of the public docket is available 
through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. UseEDOCKET 
to obtain a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view 
public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public 
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 above.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within 
60 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether 
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public 
viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the 
comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business 
information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is 
restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment containing 
copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in 
the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The entire 
printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available 
in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the official 
docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is otherwise 
restricted by statute, is not included in the official public docket, 
and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For further 
information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal Register 
notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 31, 2002), 
or go to http://www.epa.gov./edocket.

[[Page 52254]]

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which produce or import gasoline containing ethanol, or who wish 
to obtain a testing exemption.
    Title: Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives; Gasoline Volatility; 
Reporting Requirements for Parties Which Produce or Import Gasoline 
Containing Ethanol, and Reporting Requirements for Parties Seeking a 
Testing Exemption (40 CFR 80.27), EPA ICR Number 1367.07.
    OMB Control Number: 2060-0178, expiring 12-31-04.
    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 is subject to a Federal standard of 7.8 psi or 9.0 
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 1.0 psi 
greater. As an aid to industry compliance and EPA enforcement, the 
product transfer document, which is prepared by the producer or 
importer and 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. Also, a party wishing a testing exemption for research on 
gasoline that is not in compliance with the applicable volatility 
standard, 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.
    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 4,600,000 shipments 
annually of gasoline containing ethanol. Thus the required statement 
must be placed on 4,600,000 product transfer documents annually. Such 
documents are generated by the producer or importer as 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 4,600,000 documents of 6,389 hours. At an estimated 
industry labor cost of $65 per hour, EPA estimates the labor cost 
burden at $415,285 for about 1,500 parties that produce or import 
gasoline containing ethanol. Thus the cost per party is about $277 
annually. Annualized start-up costs are estimated at $3,250, based on 
50 new producers or importers of gasoline with ethanol each year, and a 
burden of one hour each to implement the requirement. 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. It is estimated that EPA will receive 2 requests annually for 
testing exemptions, at 4 hours burden and $260 labor cost per request, 
for a total of $520. An operating and maintenance cost for postage and 
copying of $10 per request is estimated, for a total of $20. 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: August 18, 2004.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 04-19440 Filed 8-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P