[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 333-335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-8269]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0091, FRL-8018-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Ambient Air Quality Surveillance, EPA ICR Number 0940-
18, OMB Control Number 2060-0084

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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 
scheduled to expire on June 30, 2006. 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 February 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID number OAR-
2002-0091, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (202) 566-1741
     Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center 
(EPA/DC), Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2002-0091. 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 http://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: David Lutz, Emissions, Monitoring and 
Analysis Division (D243-02), Environmental Protection Agency; telephone 
number (919) 541-5476; fax number: 919-541-1903; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

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-OAR-2002-0091, which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation 
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 Air and Radiation 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.

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    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.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those State, local air pollution control agencies, and tribal entities 
which collect and report ambient air quality data for the criteria 
pollutants to EPA as well as other supporting measurements.
    Title: Ambient Air Quality Surveillance.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0941-18, OMB Control No. 2060-0084.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 
2006. 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 form, if 
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: This Information Collection Request (ICR) includes 
ambient air monitoring data and other supporting measurements reporting 
and recordkeeping activities associated with the 40 CFR part 58 Ambient 
Air Quality Surveillance rule. These data and information are collected 
by various State and local air quality management agencies and reported 
to the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards within the Office 
of Air and Radiation, U.S. EPA.
    This ICR reflects revisions of the previous ICR update of 2002, and 
it covers the period of 2007-2009. The number of monitoring stations, 
sampling parameters and frequency of data collection and submittal is 
expected to remain stable for 2007-2009.
    The data collected through this information collection consist of 
ambient air concentration measurements for the seven air pollutants 
with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (i.e., ozone, sulfur 
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, carbon monoxide, PM2.5 and 
PM-10), ozone precursors, meteorological variables at a select number 
of sites and other supporting measurements. Accompanying the pollutant 
concentration data are quality assurance/quality control data and air 
monitoring network design information.
    The U.S. EPA and others (e.g., State and local air quality 
management agencies, tribal entities, environmental groups, academic 
institutions, industrial groups) use the ambient air quality data for 
many purposes. Some of the more prominent uses include informing the 
public and other interested parties of an area's air quality, judging 
an area's (e.g., county, city, neighborhood) air quality in comparison 
with the established health or welfare standards (including both 
national and local standards), evaluating an air quality management 
agency's progress in achieving or maintaining air pollutant levels 
below the national and local standards, developing and revising State 
Implementation Plans (SIPs) in accordance with 40 CFR part 51, 
evaluating air pollutant control strategies, developing or revising 
national control policies, providing data for air quality model 
development and validation, supporting enforcement actions, documenting 
episodes and initiating episode controls, air quality trends 
assessment, and air pollution research.
    The State and local agencies and tribal entities with 
responsibility for reporting ambient air quality data and information 
as requested in this ICR submit these data electronically to the U.S. 
EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. Quality assurance/quality 
control records and monitoring network documentation are also 
maintained by each State and local agency, in AQS electronic format 
where possible.
    Although the State and local air pollution control agencies and 
tribal entities are responsible for the operation of the air monitoring 
networks, the EPA funds a portion of the total costs through federal 
grants. These grants generally require an appropriate level of 
contribution, or ``match,'' from the State/local agencies or tribal 
entities. The costs shown in this renewal are the total costs incurred 
for the monitoring program regardless of the source of the funding. 
This practice of using the total cost is consistent with prior ICR 
submittals and renewals.
    This Information Collection is estimated to involve 168 respondents 
for a total cost of approximately $173,153,415 (total capital, and 
labor and non-labor operation and maintenance) plus a total burden of 
2,105,714 hours. The labor costs associated with the hours is 
$111,019,923. Included in the total are other costs of non-labor 
operations and maintenance of $10,936,320 and equipment and contract 
costs of $51,197,172. In addition to the costs at the State and local 
air pollution control agencies and tribal entities, there is a burden 
to EPA of 135,793 hours and $11,695,453.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 
12,534 hours per respondent. 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: 168.
    Frequency of response: Data submissions are required quarterly, but 
may occur more frequently.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,105,714 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $173,153,415. This includes an 
estimated labor burden cost of $111,019,923 and an estimated cost of 
$51,197,172 for equipment and contract costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    There is a decrease of 298,892 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease reflects EPA's consolidation of monitors 
into fewer sites, termination of unnecessary monitors, and more 
efficient procedures for measuring and reporting data.

[[Page 335]]

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. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: December 20, 2005.
William Lamson,
Acting Director, Emissions Monitoring and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. E5-8269 Filed 1-3-06; 8:45 am]
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