[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60020-60021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24981]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0091, FRL-9472-8]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Ambient Air Quality Surveillance
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 the EPA is planning
to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
This ICR is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2012. Before submitting
the ICR to the OMB for review and approval, the EPA is soliciting
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as
described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 28, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID number OAR-
2002-0091, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected].
Fax: (202) 566-1741.
Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center
(EPA/DC), Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2002-0091. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be
included in the public docket without change and may be made available
online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means the EPA will not know
your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body
of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA
without going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address
will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that
is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If
you submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include
your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and
with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If the EPA cannot read your comment
due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification,
the EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files
should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and
be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about
EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Trinca, Air Quality Assessment
Division, Environmental Protection Agency; telephone number: (919) 541-
0520; fax number: (919) 541-1903; e-mail address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How can I access the docket and/or submit comments?
The EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket
ID No. EPA-OAR-2002-0091, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in-person viewing at the Air and
Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room
B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. 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 Air and
Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified in this document.
What information is EPA particularly interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the EPA specifically
solicits 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. In particular, the EPA is requesting comments
from very small businesses (those that employ less than 25 people) on
examples of specific additional efforts that the EPA could make to
reduce the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this
collection.
What should I consider when I prepare my comments for the EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by the EPA, be sure to identify the
docket ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the
first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and
Federal Register citation.
What information collection activity or ICR does this apply to?
Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
those state,
[[Page 60021]]
local air pollution control agencies, and tribal entities which collect
and report ambient air quality data for the criteria pollutants to the
EPA as well as other supporting measurements.
Title: Ambient Air Quality Surveillance
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0940-25, OMB Control No. 2060-0084.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on April 30,
2012. 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 the
EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the
Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, and 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: This ICR includes ambient air monitoring data and other
supporting measurements reporting and recordkeeping activities
associated with the 40 CFR part 58 Ambient Air Quality Surveillance
rule. These data and information are collected by various state and
local air quality management agencies and reported to the Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards within the Office of Air and Radiation,
U.S. EPA.
This ICR reflects revisions of the previous ICR update of 2009, and
it covers the period of 2012-2014. The number of monitoring stations,
sampling parameters, and frequency of data collection and submittal is
expected to remain stable for 2012-2014.
The data collected through this information collection consist of
ambient air concentration measurements for the seven air pollutants
with national ambient air quality standards (i.e., ozone, sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, carbon monoxide, and particulate
matter (PM2.5 and PM10)), ozone precursors,
meteorological variables at a select number of sites and other
supporting measurements. Accompanying the pollutant concentration data
are quality assurance/quality control data and air monitoring network
design information.
The U.S. EPA and others (e.g., state and local air quality
management agencies, tribal entities, environmental groups, academic
institutions, industrial groups) use the ambient air quality data for
many purposes. Some of the more prominent uses include informing the
public and other interested parties of an area's air quality, judging
an area's (e.g., county, city, neighborhood) air quality in comparison
with the established health or welfare standards (including both
national and local standards), evaluating an air quality management
agency's progress in achieving or maintaining air pollutant levels
below the national and local standards, developing and revising State
Implementation Plans (SIPs) in accordance with 40 CFR part 51,
evaluating air pollutant control strategies, developing or revising
national control policies, providing data for air quality model
development and validation, supporting enforcement actions, documenting
episodes and initiating episode controls, air quality trends
assessment, and air pollution research.
The state and local agencies and tribal entities with
responsibility for reporting ambient air quality data and information
as requested in this ICR submit these data electronically to the U.S.
EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. Quality assurance/quality
control records and monitoring network documentation are also
maintained, by each state and local agency, in AQS electronic format
where possible.
Although the state and local air pollution control agencies and
tribal entities are responsible for the operation of the air monitoring
networks, the EPA funds a portion of the total costs through federal
grants. These grants generally require an appropriate level of
contribution, or ``match,'' from the state/local agencies or tribal
entities. The costs shown in this renewal are the total costs incurred
for the monitoring program regardless of the source of the funding.
This practice of using the total cost is consistent with prior ICR
submittals and renewals.
This Information Collection is estimated to involve 168 respondents
for a total cost of approximately $195,490,206 (total capital, and
labor and non-labor operation and maintenance) plus a total burden of
2,105,714 hours. The labor cost associated with the hours is
$125,341,493. Included in the total are other costs of non-labor
operations and maintenance of $12,347,105 and equipment and contract
costs of $57,801,607. In addition to the costs at the state and local
air pollution control agencies and tribal entities, there is a burden
to the EPA of 135,793 hours and $13,204,166.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average
12,534 hours per respondent. 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 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.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 168.
Frequency of response: Data submissions are required quarterly, but
may occur more frequently.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,105,714 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $195,490,206. This includes an
estimated labor burden cost of $125,341,493 and an estimated cost of
$57,801,607 for equipment and contract costs.
What is the next step in the process for this ICR?
The EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to the OMB
for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, the
EPA will issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to the OMB and
the opportunity to submit additional comments to the OMB. If you have
any questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact
the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: September 22, 2011.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2011-24981 Filed 9-27-11; 8:45 am]
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