[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 122 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33681-33682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15881]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7000-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Application for Reference or Equivalent Method
Determination
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): Application for Reference and
Equivalent Method Determination, EPA ICR Number: 0559.06, OMB No: 2080-
0005, expiration date: 12/31/2001. 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 August 24, 2001.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Human Exposure and
Atmospheric Sciences Division, Atmospheric Methods and Monitoring
Branch, Mail Drop 46, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Interested
persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by contacting the
contact person identified in this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth T. Hunike, 919-541-3737; facsimile number: 919-541-1153;
E-Mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
primarily manufacturers and vendors of ambient air quality monitoring
instruments which 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 No. 0559.06; expiring
December 31, 2001).
Abstract: To determine compliance with the national ambient air
quality standards (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),
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
[[Page 33682]]
numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR
chapter 15.
The EPA would like to solicit comments 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 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.
Burden Statement: The EPA estimates that the total annual
respondent burden for all activities covered in this ICR is
approximately 4720 hours and a cost of approximately $88,000. These
estimates are based on a projected receipt of 5 major applications per
year with a weighted average burden of 860 hours per application, and
an estimated 14 minor applications per year with a weighted average
burden of 30 hours each. However, it should be noted that actual
applications range widely in content and extent. Accordingly, the
individual respondent burden for a particular application response may
differ substantially from these weighted average burden estimates. The
weighted average cost burden estimate includes start up costs, the
total cost of capital equipment annualized over its expected useful
life, operation and maintenance, and purchase of services.
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;
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.
Dated: June 14, 2001.
Jewell F. Morris,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 01-15881 Filed 6-22-01; 8:45 am]
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