[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16771-16773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4859]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ORD-2005-0530; FRL-8052-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Application for Reference or Equivalent Method 
Determination; EPA ICR No. 0559.09 OMB Control No. 2080.0005

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 
being revised in response to proposed revisions to the National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter. 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 June 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
ORD-2005-0530, by one of the following methods:

[[Page 16772]]

     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket, 
[email protected].
     Fax: 202-566-1749.
     Mail: EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20460. Please include a total of 2 copies.''
     Hand Delivery: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West 
Building, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. 
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2005-0530. The 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 
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: Robert W. Vanderpool, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Human Exposure and Atmospheric 
Sciences Division, Process Modeling Research Branch, Mail Drop D205-03, 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919-541-7877; 
facsimile number: 919-541-1153; e-mail: [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-HQ-ORD-2005-0530, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of 
Environmental Information 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 Office of 
Environmental Information 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.
    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.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
primarily manufacturers and vendors of ambient air quality monitoring 
instruments that 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 0559.09.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0559.08; OMB Control No. 2080-0005.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on January 
2008. Revisions to the ICR are being made in response to proposed 
revisions to the NAAQS for particulate matter. 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

[[Page 16773]]

form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: To determine compliance with the 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) and coarse particulate matter (PM10-2.5), 
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 number for EPA's 
regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
    The EPA would like to solicit comment 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 information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 
approximately 7,492 hours during the next three years. 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: 22.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 7,492.
    Estimated total annual costs: $650,494. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $517,831 and an estimated cost of $132,668 for capital 
investment or maintenance and operational costs

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    There is an increase of 2,774 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's estimate that an average 
of 1.33 additional applications for reference or equivalent method 
determinations, and an average of 1.67 additional minor applications 
for approval of modifications, will be received annually following 
promulgation of the proposed regulation changes. It is estimated that 
there will be a corresponding increase in total respondent costs of 
$219,112 for these additional applications and an increase in $4,415 
for these additional minor modifications.

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.

    Dated: February 23, 2006.
Jewel F. Morris,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. E6-4859 Filed 4-3-06; 8:45 am]
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