[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41434-41435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11606]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530; FRL-8201-9]


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 (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 an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an 
existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, 
describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated 
burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 21, 
2006

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2005-0530, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to Office of Environmental Information 
(OEI) Docket, [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

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: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On April 4, 2006 (71 FR 16771), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments during the 
comment period. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted 
to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
    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 202-566-1752.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA 
receives them and without change, unless the comment contains 
copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure 
is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic 
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Application for Reference and Equivalent Method 
Determination.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0559.09; OMB Control No. 2080-0005.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2008. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
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: 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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 341 
hours per response. 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

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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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: State, local, or tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22.
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 7,492 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $650,494, includes $132,668 annualized 
capital or O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 50 hours in the 
total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is due to the nature of the 
proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for 
particulate matter.

    Dated: July 11, 2006.
Sara Hisel McCoy,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-11606 Filed 7-20-06; 8:45 am]
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