[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17463-17464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05080]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-11768-01-ORD]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information 
Collection Request; Comment Request; Application for Reference and 
Equivalent Method Determination (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of collection request and application for reference and 
equivalent method determination.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), Application for Reference and 
Equivalent Method Determination'' (EPA ICR No. 0559.15, OMB Control No. 
2080-0005) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 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 December 31, 
2024. This notice allow for 60 days for public comments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 10, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2005-0530, 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: Robert W. Vanderpool, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 919-541-7877; email address: 
[email protected].

[[Page 17464]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed extension of the ICR, 
which is currently approved through December 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.
    This notice allows 60 days for public comments. Supporting 
documents, which explain in detail the information that the 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: 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.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Private manufacturers, states 
Respondent's obligation to respond 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 part 53.15 and all 
applicable provisions of 40 CFR part 2.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22 (total).
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Total Estimated Burden: 7,492 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total Estimated Cost: $846,764 (per year), includes $172,692 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is no change in hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB.

Alice Gilliland,
Acting Director, Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling.
[FR Doc. 2024-05080 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
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