[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42938-42939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14165]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0894; FRL-11032-01-OAR]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives--Requirements for 
Manufacturers (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR) ``Registration of Fuels 
and Fuel Additives--Requirements for Manufacturers'' (EPA ICR No. 
0309.16, OMB Control No. 2060-0150) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments 
on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described 
below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through March 31, 2024. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 5, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2006-0894, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460. EPA's policy is that all comments 
received will be included in the public docket without change including 
any personal information provided, unless the comment includes 
profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James W. Caldwell, Compliance 
Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Mail Code 6405A, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9303; fax number: (202) 343-2800; 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that EPA will be collecting are available in the public 
docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
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. 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. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: In accordance with the regulations at 40 CFR part 79, 
subparts A, B, C, and D, Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives, 
manufacturers (including importers) of motor-vehicle gasoline, motor-
vehicle diesel fuel, and additives to those fuels, are required to have 
these products registered by EPA prior to their introduction into 
commerce. Registration involves providing a chemical description of the 
fuel or additive, and certain technical, marketing, and health-effects 
information. Manufacturers are also required to submit annual reports 
on production volume and related information. The information is used 
to identify products where evaporative or combustion emissions may pose 
an unreasonable risk to public health, thus meriting further 
investigation and potential regulation. The information is also used to 
ensure that fuel additives comply with EPA requirements for protecting 
catalytic converters and other automotive emission controls. The data

[[Page 42939]]

have been used to construct a comprehensive data base on fuel and 
additive composition. The Mine Safety and Health Administration of the 
Department of Labor restricts the use of diesel additives in 
underground coal mines to those registered by EPA. Most of the 
information has been claimed by the manufacturers as CBI.
    Form numbers: EPA Forms 3520-12, for the registration of a new 
fuel, and 3520-13, for the registration of a new fuel additive, have 
been replaced with on-line registration at: https://www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/register-or-update-fuel-or-fuel-additive-request. EPA Forms for annual reports, 3520-12A, 3520-
12Q, 3520-13A, and 3520-13B, are available at: https://www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/how-report-annually-fuel-and-fuel-additive and may be submitted on-line.
    Respondents/affected entities: Manufacturers and importers of 
motor-vehicle gasoline, motor-vehicle diesel fuel, and additives to 
those fuels.
    Respondents obligation to respond: Mandatory per 40 CFR part 79.
    Estimated number of respondents: 1,975.
    Frequency of response: On occasion, annually.
    Total estimated burden: 20,990 hours per year. Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $2.3 million per year, includes $53,500 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: There is a decrease of 1,260 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease is due to a slight decrease in new 
registration activity and reduction in reporting frequency from the 
conversion of quarterly reports for fuel manufacturers to an annual 
report. The change from quarterly to annual reports is found in 40 CFR 
79.5(a).

Byron Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air 
Quality.
[FR Doc. 2023-14165 Filed 7-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P