[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 238 (Thursday, December 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73577-73581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29155]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9920-28-OAR]


Fuels and Fuel Additives: Request for Substantiations of Claims 
of Confidential Business Information (CBI) From Businesses That Have 
Submitted Reports and Transactional Information Under the Renewable 
Fuel Standard (RFS) Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) has 
received a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for 
certain records submitted to EPA under the Renewable Fuel Standard 
(RFS) program between January 1, 2011 and November 2014. These records 
were submitted to EPA pursuant to the RFS program's annual reporting, 
quarterly reporting and transactional information reporting within 
EPA's Moderated Transaction System (EMTS). This notice is a request for 
substantiations of confidentiality claims from businesses that have 
submitted any or all of the information listed in this notice and are 
claiming the information as confidential business information (CBI). 
The procedures by which businesses may voluntarily substantiate claims 
of CBI in regard to the information at issue in the FOIA request are 
provided in this notice, which is referenced in the parties' joint 
briefing schedule in the case, Perkins Coie LLP v. McCarthy, Case 1:13-
cv-01799 (D.D.C filed Nov. 11, 2013). EPA's Office of General Counsel 
(OGC) will review comments received in response to this notice in 
preparing a Final Confidentiality Determination under 40 CFR part 2, 
subpart B, to determine whether the information at issue should be 
released publicly in response to the FOIA request at issue in the 
above-referenced litigation. If OGC determines after reviewing the 
substantiations that some or all of the documents responsive to the 
FOIA request are not entitled to confidential treatment under 40 CFR 
part 2, and therefore should be released, EPA will provide notice of 
this determination by letter, prior to release, to businesses who have 
submitted the information, allowing such businesses 10 working days to 
respond, pursuant to 40 CFR 2.205(f).

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked or hand delivered to the 
address listed below, or emailed to the person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, by January 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You \1\ may submit your comments by any of the following 
methods: Email: [email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ By ``you,'' EPA is referencing here and throughout this 
notice an authorized representative of a business that has submitted 
to EPA the information at issue in this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Mail:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
ATTN: Ben Larson,
Mail Code 6405A,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.

Commercial Delivery:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
William Jefferson Clinton Building--North,
ATTN: Ben Larson,
Mail Code 6405A, Room 6520W,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20004.

    Instructions: Address all comments to the person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, postmarked, hand delivered or 
emailed by January 9, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Larson, Compliance Division, 
Office of Transportation and Air Quality (MC-6405A), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 343-9565; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Worldwide Web (WWW). In addition to being 
available in the Federal Register, an electronic copy of today's notice 
will also be available through the WWW. A copy of this notice will be 
posted on EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard notification Web site at: 
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/notices.htm.
    This request for substantiation is covered under OMB's Information 
Collection Request number 2020-0003.
    Organization of this Document: The following outline is provided to 
aid in location information in this preamble.

I. General Information
    A. Does this notice apply to me?
    B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments to the EPA?
II. Background and Purpose of Notice
III. Description of Data Elements Requested by Category
    A. Annual Compliance Report
    B. Ownership of Renewable Identification Numbers Generated in 
Years 2012 and 2013
    C. Transactional Information Contained in EPA's Moderated 
Transaction System
IV. Request for Comments

I. General Information

A. Does this notice apply to me?

    This notice is directed to businesses that have submitted 
information under 40 CFR part 80 subpart M. If you have further 
questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular 
party, after reviewing the remainder of this notice, please contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. The FOIA 
request does not identify by name any single company in its request for 
RFS documents.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments to the EPA?

1. Submitting Information Claimed as CBI in Response to This Notice
    Clearly mark as ``CONFIDENTIAL'' any or all of the comments or 
information that you claim to be CBI that you submit in response to 
this notice. For CBI saved on a computer disc or CD ROM that you mail 
to the EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as ``CONFIDENTIAL'' 
and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific 
information that is claimed as CBI. Information marked as CBI will not 
be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR 
part 2.
    Do not submit information through email that you consider to be CBI 
or otherwise protected. Only send or deliver information identified as 
CBI to the mail or hand/courier delivery address listed within this 
notice.
    Alternatively, businesses can submit example reports with example 
data filled in within each field. The business can use the example data 
as a tool for explaining its reasoning.
    If you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming 
CBI, please consult the person identified in the section within this 
notice marked FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments
    Follow all instructions in this notice and, if you are claiming 
information as CBI, please respond to each of the eleven questions 
listed within the ``Request for Comments'' section below. As necessary, 
please provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and 
suggest alternatives, making any necessary references to applicable 
statutes, case law or regulations. Explain your views as clearly as 
possible,

[[Page 73578]]

avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats.
    Make sure to submit your information and comments by the comment 
period deadline identified in the preceding section titled DATES. You 
may also provide the name, date, and Federal Register citation.

II. Background and Purpose of Notice

    Background. The EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality 
(OTAQ) has responsibility for protecting public health and the 
environment by regulating air pollution from vehicles, engines, and the 
fuels used to operate them, and by encouraging travel choices that 
minimize emissions. To promote the use of fuels derived from renewable 
sources, Congress established the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) 
program in Section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act (the CAA or the Act). 
The CAA specifies increasing annual ``applicable volumes'' of four 
categories of renewable fuel--total renewable fuel, cellulosic biofuel, 
biomass-based diesel, and advanced biofuel--to be used in the 
transportation sector.\2\ For purposes of the RFS program, renewable 
fuel must be derived from ``renewable biomass'' and meet other 
definitional requirements, including specified lifecycle greenhouse gas 
emissions reductions as compared to baseline petroleum fuel. The Act 
directs EPA to establish a compliance program and annual percentage 
standards to ensure that the applicable volumes of renewable fuel are 
used.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Section 211(o)(7) provides EPA with authority to waive the 
statutory applicable volumes in whole or in part in certain 
specified circumstances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA implements the RFS through regulations established in 40 CFR 
part 80 subpart M. EPA requires the submission of compliance reporting 
information under Sec. Sec.  80.1451 and 80.1452. Certain additional 
information must be submitted to EPA for facility registration, and for 
other purposes. See Sec. Sec.  80.1449, 1450, 1464, 1465, 1466, 1467, 
1469.
    Purpose. EPA OTAQ has received a request under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552, for certain records submitted to 
EPA under the RFS reporting requirements, including the Annual 
Compliance reports submitted by Obligated Parties; RIN Activity or 
Ownership by Quarter; and transactional information entered into the 
EPA's Moderated Transaction System (EMTS). The FOIA request does not 
identify by name any single company in its request for RFS documents. 
The specific data elements in these reports are defined further below 
under the section, ``Description of Data Elements Requested by 
Category.'' Companies submitting reports under the RFS program have 
claimed all or some of this information as confidential business 
information (CBI). In accordance with applicable EPA regulations, 40 
CFR part 2, subpart B, the EPA has determined that some companies have 
asserted CBI claims, and that others might be expected to assert CBI 
claims, for some or all of the information sought through the FOIA 
request. Under EPA regulations at 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, the FOIA 
request has been initially denied to afford companies an opportunity to 
provide comments and information to substantiate a claim as described 
below. The FOIA request and corresponding CBI issues are the subject of 
litigation in federal district court in the District of Columbia, 
Perkins Coie LLP v. McCarthy, Case 1:13-cv-01799 (D.D.C filed Nov. 11, 
2013).
    In light of the large number of businesses involved that have made 
CBI claims or are expected to make CBI claims, EPA is proceeding using 
a multi-step process as described in the joint proposed briefing 
schedule in the above-noted case. First, a certain number of businesses 
have recently received formal requests by certified letter for 
substantiations, pursuant to 40 CFR 2.204(e). Second, this Federal 
Register notice is to provide the remaining businesses that supplied 
the information described in this notice with an opportunity to provide 
information in support of each respective business's confidentiality 
claims, as further directed below. This submission is not required and 
a business will not waive any claim by not submitting information in 
response to this Federal Register notice. The EPA's Office of General 
Counsel (OGC) will consider the responses received from all of the 
businesses that were contacted by direct letter and through this 
Federal Register notice and issue a final confidentiality determination 
that covers the information described in this notice. EPA anticipates 
that the final confidentiality determination for each business will be 
the same. As to those businesses that have submitted RFS information to 
EPA but did not receive one of the request letters for substantiation 
discussed above and chose not to provide information in response to 
this notice, the EPA anticipates providing determinations pursuant to 
40 CFR 2.204(d)(2) and 2.205(f) to those businesses based on the 
determinations made for the businesses that provide substantiations. 
Each business will receive 10 working days' notice prior to release of 
any information that is not found to be confidential.
    Therefore, EPA is providing you the opportunity to make the 
showings described below, with specific references to those portions of 
the information you consider to be CBI. Please note that each affected 
business need only substantiate its claims of confidentiality once 
during this process. EPA will not be sending out additional letters 
requesting substantiation following the publication of this notice. By 
the conclusion of this process, EPA will provide: (1) final 
confidentiality determinations to the businesses that have submitted 
responses to this notice or to any directly mailed substantiation 
request letters, and (2) notice, under 40 CFR 2.204(d)(2) and 2.205(f), 
to the other businesses on record who have submitted types of RFS 
information, if any, that EPA determines not to be confidential.

III. Description of Data Elements Requested by Category

    EPA OGC will make a final confidentiality determination on the 
categories of information described under this section. The categories 
list the different data elements that an affected business may have 
submitted to EPA under the RFS program. Certain data elements listed 
below may not be relevant to every affected business.

A. Annual Compliance Report

    Any obligated party described in Sec.  80.1406 (refiners and 
importers of gasoline/diesel) or exporter of renewable fuel described 
in Sec.  80.1430 must submit to EPA reports on an annual basis as 
described in Sec.  80.1451(a)(1). The time period for the reports, 
which are responsive to the pending FOIA request, include those 
submitted from 2011 through November 2014. The format and exact data 
elements of the annual compliance report has varied between compliance 
years, but they include the information required by Sec.  
80.1451(a)(1), and the following general types of data elements:
    Report Information
    a. Report Name (RFS0303, RFS0302, etc)--Form ID for the RFS2 Annual 
Compliance Report;
    b. Report Type (original or resubmission)--Indicates whether this 
is an original report or resubmission;
    c. CBI (yes or no)--Specifies if the data contained within the 
report is being claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
under 40 CFR part 2, subpart B;

[[Page 73579]]

    d. Report Date--Date of report submission;
    e. Compliance Year--Compliance period of the report.
    Compliance Elements
    f. Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) Name--Indicates to which RVO 
types (Cellulosic Biofuel, Biomass-Based Diesel, Advanced Biofuel, 
Renewable Fuel) the reported compliance information is related;
    g. Renewable Fuel Standard Value/Equivalence Value--The renewable 
fuel standards are defined at Sec.  80.1405. For exporters of renewable 
fuel, the equivalence value for the exported renewable fuel is found at 
Sec.  80.1415;
    h. Cellulosic biofuel waiver credits payment method--The method by 
which payment has been submitted for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits, 
including pay.gov, fedwire, or U.S. Mail;
    i. Cellulosic biofuel waiver credits ID--Transaction reference ID 
provided by the U.S. Treasury for purchase of the cellulosic biofuel 
waiver credits.
    Compliance Activity and Status
    j. Compliance Basis--How obligated parties indicate the compliance 
level, including as an Aggregated Importer, Aggregated Refiner, 
Exporter, or facility by facility;
    k. If ``Refinery by Refinery'' selected for compliance basis, then 
each facility ID listed out in a separate row;
    l. Renewable Fuel Export Type--For renewable fuel exporters, the 
type of renewable fuel exported;
    m. Total volume of gasoline and diesel production and Renewable 
Fuel Exported;
    n. Prior year deficit--Renewable Volume Obligation deficit from 
prior compliance year;
    o. Current year deficit--Renewable Volume Obligation deficit to be 
carried into the next compliance year;
    p. Renewable Volume Obligation--Total, in gallons, calculated by 
combining the non-renewable gasoline, non-renewable diesel, multiplying 
it by the annual standards, and combining the result with any prior-
year deficit as described in Sec.  80.1407;
    q. Current year/Prior year RINs used for compliance (aggregated by 
D-code, RVO name, and compliance level);
    r. Cellulosic biofuel waiver credits used.

B. Ownership of Renewable Identification Numbers Generated in Years 
2012 and 2013

    Producers and importers of renewable fuel generate renewable 
identification numbers, or ``RINs,'' for each gallon of renewable fuel 
they import or produce for use in the United States. RINs are assigned 
to batches of renewable fuel by producers and importers of such fuel, 
and typically separated from those batches by an obligated party or 
other entity that blends the renewable fuel into conventional fuel. 
Once separated, RINs may be kept for compliance or sold. Obligated 
parties comply with their renewable volume obligations by accumulating 
RINs and then retiring them to demonstrate annual compliance.
    RIN ownership is tracked through EPA's Moderated Transaction System 
(EMTS). EMTS is a high-volume transaction system that tracks the full 
RIN lifecycle, including RIN generation, buy/sell, separation, and 
retirement. RIN ownership totals are continuously captured and 
maintained within this system.
    In addition, companies also report RIN ownership totals through the 
quarterly compliance ``RIN Activity Report'' as required in Sec.  
80.1451(c)(1). The RIN Activity Report contains RINs owned at the start 
and end of each quarter for ``prior-year'' and ``current-year'' RINs.
    This FOIA request seeks ownership information by company for RINs 
that were generated in years 2012 and 2013.

C. Transactional Information Contained in EPA's Moderated Transaction 
System

    As described in the previous section, RFS transactions are entered 
into EMTS as required under Sec.  80.1451(c)(1)(ii). Elements listed 
are referenced as they appear in the EMTS users guide posted at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/emtshtml/emtsdocuments.htm. The 
time period for the reports, which are responsive to the pending FOIA 
request, include those submitted from 2011 through November 2014. The 
following list contains the data elements responsive to this FOIA.
    RIN trades (data elements within a ``buy'' and ``sell'' 
transaction)--EMTS system records specific to RINs transferring from 
one trading partner to another, including specific data elements about 
the trade.
Company Identifying Information
    a. Submitting Company Identifying Info--Company entering the RIN 
buy/sell transaction into EMTS;
    b. EMTS Transaction Date--The date EMTS processed the transaction;
Trading Partner Identifying Information
    c. Trading partner ID--The four digit EPA assigned ID of the 
company identified as the trading partner;
    d. Trading partner Name--The name of the company identified as the 
trading partner.
Optional Information Provided to Trading Partner
    e. PTD number [optional]--Number on the Product Transfer Document 
(used for transactions);
    f. Matching Transaction Identifier [optional]--User-specified ID 
that can be used to match specific transactions (entering the EMTS 
Transaction ID of the received trade to be matched);
    g. Public Supporting Document [optional]--Any public supporting 
text used by the company to share with its trading partner;
    h. Public Supporting Document Number [optional]--Tracking/
identification numbers that are associated with the public supporting 
document text;
    i. Public Supporting Document [optional]--Any public supporting 
text used by the company to share with its trading partner;
    j. Public Supporting Document Number [optional]--Tracking/
identification numbers that are associated with the public supporting 
document text.
Compliance Activity
    k. RIN quantity--Amount of RINs involved in the transaction;
    l. Batch volume [conditional--required for assigned RINs]--Volume 
of batch fuel, in gallons, involved in the transaction;
    m. Fuel Code/''D'' Code--Identifies the type of Fuel produced 
involved in the transaction;
    n. Assignment Code--Status of the RINs (Assigned or Separated);
    o. RIN Year--Generation year of the RINs;
    p. [QAP Service Type Code]--** New in 4Q 2014--Indicates the 
Quality Assurance Provider (QAP) service associated with the RINs;
    q. Buy/Sell Reason code--The reason the buy/sell transaction is 
taking place;
    r. Price per RIN [conditional--required if Price per Gallon is not 
reported]--Price per individual RIN;
    s. Price per Gallon [conditional--required if Price per RIN is not 
reported]--Price per individual gallon;
    t. Transaction Detail Comment [conditional]--Comment provided by 
the user on the transaction;
    u. RINs Information for non-FIFO trades [multiple, conditional--
includes: Generate Organization ID, Generate Facility ID, and Batch 
Number]--Information provided by buyer/seller to select specific 
batches either at the producer level or down to the individual batch 
level.

[[Page 73580]]

Other Optional Submitter Provided Information
    v. 1--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    w. 1--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text;
    x. 2--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    y. 2--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text.
    RIN generation transactions--EMTS system records specific to a 
registered renewable fuel producer assigning RINs to a batch of 
renewable fuel, including elements related to the renewable fuel 
production process.
Company Identifying Information
    a. Submitting Company Identifying Info--Company entering the RIN 
generation transaction into EMTS;
    b. EMTS Transaction Date--The date EMTS processed the transaction.
Compliance Activity
    c. RIN Quantity--Quantity of RINs generated for the batch;
    d. Batch volume--Total volume of the fuel batch in gallons;
    e. Fuel Code/''D'' Code--Identifying the type of renewable fuel 
associated with the batch;
    f. Production Process--Process used for producing the renewable 
fuel;
    g. Fuel Category--The renewable fuel (ethanol, biogas, biodiesel, 
etc);
    h. Fuel Production Date--Date the renewable fuel batch was produced
    i. Denaturant Volume--The volume of non-renewable fuel added to a 
volume of ethanol to create the batch volume for a given batch number 
of renewable fuel;
    j. Equivalence Value--A multiplier applied to the batch volume to 
determine the number of RINs that will be generated per gallon of 
renewable fuel produced. The equivalence value is directly related to 
fuel category code;
    k. Production Source--Originating Organization--Four digit ID of 
the organization producing the renewable fuel;
    l. Production Source--Originating Facility--Five digit ID of the 
production facility of the renewable fuel;
    m. Batch number--Industry user assigned identification number for 
the batch of renewable fuel;
    n. Production Source--Additional information (text box);
    o. Feedstock--Feedstock used to produce the batch of renewable 
fuel;
    p. Feedstock amount--Amount of feedstock used in the production of 
the batch of renewable fuel;
    q. Feedstock--Additional Information (text box);
    r. Co-product--Co-products created from the renewable fuel 
production process;
    s. Co-product additional information--Comment provided by the 
industry user on the co-products produced;
    t. [QAP Service Type Code]--** New in 4Q 2014--Quality Assurance 
Provider service type associated with the RINs;
    u. Transaction Detail Comment--Comments provided by the industry 
user on the EMTS transaction.
Other Optional Submitter Provided Information
    v. 1--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    w. 1--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text;
    x. 2--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    y. 2--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text.
    RIN separation transaction--EMTS system records specific to a RFS 
registered party separating RINs from renewable fuel, including 
elements related to the RIN quantity and why the party is separating 
RINs.
Company Identifying Information
    a. Submitting Company Identifying Info--Company entering the RIN 
separation transaction into EMTS;
    b. EMTS Transaction Date--The date EMTS processed the transaction;
Compliance Activity
    c. RIN quantity--Quantity of RINs separated from the fuel;
    d. Batch volume--Volume of renewable fuel involved in the 
transaction;
    e. Fuel Code/''D'' Code--Identifying the type of renewable fuel;
    f. Separate Reason Code--Reason for separating RINs from the 
renewable fuel;
    g. Transaction Date--Date EMTS processes the transaction;
    h. RIN Year--Year the RINs involved in the transaction were 
generated;
    i. [QAP Service Type Code]--** New in 4Q 2014--Quality Assurance 
Provider service type associated with the RINs;
    j. Blender Organization Identifier [conditional]--Company ID for 
upstream delegation for blending;
    k. Blender Organization Name [conditional]--Company name for 
upstream delegation for blending;
    l. Transaction Detail Comment [conditional]--User provided comments 
on the transaction;
    m. RINs Information for non-FIFO trades [multiple, conditional--
includes: Generate Organization ID, Generate Facility ID, and Batch 
Number]--Information provided by the Organization involved in the 
transaction to select specific batches either at the producer level or 
down to the individual batch level.
Other Optional Submitter Provided Information
    n. 1--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    o. 1--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text;
    p. 2--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    q. 2--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text.
    RIN retirement transaction--EMTS system records specific to a RFS 
registered party using RINs for compliance or removing RINs from the 
RFS marketplace for other reasons, including elements related to the 
RIN quantity and why the party is retiring RINs.
Company Identifying Information
    a. Submitting Company Identifying Info--Company entering the RIN 
retirement transaction into EMTS;
    b. EMTS Transaction Date--The date EMTS processed the transaction.
Compliance Activity
    c. RIN quantity--Amount of RINs retired;
    d. Batch volume [conditional]--Amount of fuel in gallons involved 
in the retire transaction;
    e. Fuel Code/''D'' Code--Identifying the type of renewable fuel;
    f. Assignment Code--Status of RINs (assigned or separated);
    g. RIN Year--Year RINs involved in the transaction were generated;
    h. [QAP Service Type Code]--** New in 4Q 2014--Quality Assurance 
Provider service type associated with the RINs;
    i. Retire Reason code--Reason for retiring the RINs;

[[Page 73581]]

    j. Transaction Date--Date the EMTS system processes the 
transaction;
    k. Compliance Year [conditional]--If retiring for annual 
compliance, the compliance year;
    l. Compliance Level Code [conditional]--If retiring for annual 
compliance, the compliance level such as Refiner, Importer, or 
Exporter;
    m. Compliance Facility Identifier [conditional]--If retiring for 
annual compliance and choosing to comply facility by facility, the five 
digit facility ID the RINs are being retired under;
    n. Transaction Detail Comment [conditional]--Comments provided by 
the industry user on the EMTS transaction;
    o. RINs Information for non-FIFO trades [multiple, conditional--
includes: Generate Organization ID, Generate Facility ID, and Batch 
Number]--Information provided by the Organization involved in the 
transaction to select specific batches either at the producer level or 
down to the individual batch level.
Other Optional Submitter Provided Information
    p. 1--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    q. 1--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text;
    r. 2--Supporting Document [optional]--Information for the industry 
user to create user defined data to report supporting document 
identifiers;
    s. 2--Supporting Document Number [optional]--ID number associated 
with the supporting document text.

IV. Request for Comments

    The purpose of this notice is to notify you, as an authorized 
representative of a business that has submitted information to the RFS 
program, that the EPA OGC will be making a final confidentiality 
determination concerning the information described within this notice 
that you have claimed or might be expected to claim as CBI. If you feel 
that some or all of the information is entitled to confidential 
treatment, you must make the showings below with specific reference to 
those portions of the information you consider confidential.
    Please be specific when identifying and substantiating the 
information subject to your claim. Where your claim, as originally made 
at the time of submission to the Agency or as modified by your response 
to this letter, does not include all information on a page, please 
attach a copy of each such page with brackets around the text that you 
claim to be CBI. Any information not specifically identified as subject 
to a confidentiality claim and substantiated as such in your response 
to this letter may be disclosed to the requester without further notice 
to you. Please note that if a page, document, group, or class of 
documents claimed by you to be CBI contains a significant amount of 
information which the EPA OGC determines is not CBI, your CBI claim 
regarding that page, document, group, or class of documents may be 
denied.
    For each item or class of information that you claim as CBI, please 
answer the following questions, giving as much detail as possible. Your 
comments in response to these questions will be used by the EPA to 
determine whether the information has been shown to be entitled to 
confidential treatment:
    1. For what period of time do you request that the information be 
maintained as confidential, e.g., until a certain date, until the 
occurrence of a specified event, or permanently? If the occurrence of a 
specific event will eliminate the need for confidentiality, please 
specify that event.
    2. Information submitted to the EPA becomes stale over time. Why 
should the information you claim as confidential be protected for the 
time period specified in your answer to question #1?
    3. What measures have you taken to protect the information claimed 
as confidential? Have you disclosed the information to anyone other 
than a governmental body or someone who is bound by an agreement not to 
disclose the information further? If so, why should the information be 
considered confidential?
    4. Is the information contained in any publicly available material 
such as the Internet, publicly available databases, promotional 
publications, annual reports, or articles? If so, specify which.
    5. Is there any means by which a member of the public could obtain 
access to the information? Is the information of a kind that you would 
customarily not release to the public?
    6. Has any governmental body made a determination as to the 
confidentiality of the information? If so, please attach a copy of the 
determination.
    7. For each item or category of information claimed as 
confidential, explain with specificity why release of the information 
is likely to cause substantial harm to your competitive position. 
Explain the specific nature of those harmful effects, why they should 
be viewed as substantial, and the causal relationship between 
disclosure and such harmful effects. How could your competitors make 
use of this information to your detriment?
    8. Do you assert that the information is submitted on a voluntary 
or a mandatory basis? Please explain the reason for your assertion. If 
you assert that the information is voluntarily submitted information, 
please explain whether the information is the kind that would 
customarily not be released to the public.
    9. Whether you assert the information as voluntary or involuntary, 
please address why disclosure of the information would tend to lessen 
the availability to the EPA of similar information in the future.
    10. If you believe any information to be (a) trade secret(s), 
please so state and explain the reason for your belief. Please attach 
copies of those pages containing such information with brackets around 
the text that you claim to be (a) trade secret(s).
    11. Explain any other issue you deem relevant (including, if 
pertinent, reasons why you believe that the information you claim to be 
CBI is not emission data or effluent data).
    Please note that you bear the burden of substantiating your 
confidentiality claim(s). Generalized or conclusory statements will be 
given little or no weight in EPA's determination on the confidentiality 
of the information you claim to be CBI. Your comments must be 
postmarked or hand delivered to this office, or emailed to the person 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, by January 9, 
2015.
    If you wish to claim any information that you provide in your 
response to this letter to itself be confidential, you must mark the 
response ``CONFIDENTIAL'' or with a similar designation, and must 
bracket all text in the response that you so claim. Information so 
designated will be disclosed by the EPA only to the extent allowed by, 
and by means of the procedures set forth in, 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. 
If you fail to claim the information provided in your response as 
confidential, it may be made available to the public without further 
notice to you.
    Should you have any questions concerning this matter, contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

    Authority: 40 CFR 2.204 et. al

    Dated: December 4, 2014.
Byron Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air 
Quality.
[FR Doc. 2014-29155 Filed 12-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P