INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST REVISION

FOR

PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5 AM BIENT AIR MONITORING

40 CFR PART 58

OMB 2007-0492, EPA ICR #

SUPPORTING STATEMENTi Table of Contents

PART A OF SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Section 1. Identification of the Information Collection 1(a) Title of the Information Collection ...............................................................................1 1(b) Short Characterization/Abstract ...................................................................................1

Section 2. Need For and Use of the Collection 2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection ................................................................................2 2(b) Practical Utility/Users of the Data ...............................................................................3

Section 3. Non-duplication, Consulta tions, and Other Collection Criteria 3(a) Non-duplication ......................................................................................................... ...4 3(b) Public Notice Required Pr ior to ICR Submission to OMB ..........................................5 3(c) Consultations ........................................................................................................... .....5 3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection .............................................................................5 3(e) General Guidelines ...................................................................................................... .6 3(f) Confidentiality ......................................................................................................... .....6 3(g) Sensitive Questions ..................................................................................................... .6

Section 4. The Respondents and the Information Requested 4(a) Respondents/SIC Codes ...............................................................................................7 4(b) Information Requested .................................................................................................7

Section 5. The Information Collected--A gency Activities, Coll ection Methodology, and Information Management 5(a) Agency Activities ....................................................................................................... 10 5(b) Collection Methodology and Management ................................................................11 5(c) Small Entity Flexibility ..............................................................................................11 5(d) Collection Schedule ....................................................................................................1 2

Section 6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection 6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden ..................................................................................13 6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs .....................................................................................14 6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost .........................................................................15 6(d) Estimating the Respondent Univ erse and Total Burden and Costs ............................15 6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables .............................................................15 6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden ...................................................................................16 6(g) Burden Statement .......................................................................................................1 6

PART B OF SUPPORTING STATEMENT1 PART A OF SUPPORTING STATEMENT

1. IDENTIFICATION OF TH E INFORMATION COLLECTION

1(a) Title of the Information Collection

“Revisions to Ambient Air Monitoring Re gulations for Fine Pa rticulate Matter”

1(b) Short Characterization/Abstract

This Information Collection Request (ICR) includes ambient air monitoring data reporting and recordkeeping activities associated with the 40 CFR part 58 Ambient Air Quality Surveillance regulations. These data and informa tion are collected by State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies and reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

EPA is taking comment on this ICR as part of the final rulemaking as an ICR was not published with the rule proposal.

EPA is finalizing several updates to monitoring requirements for fine particles, including a requirement for monitoring along heavily traveled roads in large urban areas. Pollution can be higher along these roads as a resu lt of emissions from cars, and from heavy duty diesel trucks

and buses. Near

‐ roadway PM2.5 monitoring will be required at one location in each urban area (a core

‐ based statistical area, or CBSA) with a population of 1 million or more. These
monitors, to be located at near

‐ road monitoring sites also measuring nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide, will have to be operational no later than Jan. 1, 2015. EPA is not increasing the size of the national PM2.5 monitoring networ k, which consists of about 900 monitors; the agency anticipates that states would be able to relocate existing monitors (about 52 total) to meet

the near

‐ roadway requirement. For purposes of costi ng in this ICR, only 21 monitors will be moved by 2015. Data from these monitors, along with other monitors in the area, could be used

to determine whether the area is meeting both the annual and 24

‐ hour standards. However, data

from these monitors would not be available in time for use in making initial attainment and nonattainment designations.

Other proposed updates to the monitoring and da ta handling requirements include: Updates to data handling requirements to reflect proposed revi sions to the standards, and to clarify existing requirements.

EPA is not proposing any changes to monitori ng requirements for coarse particles (PM10).

The burden estimates are for the 3-year period from 2013 through 2015.

The data collected through this information collection consist of ambient air concentration measurements for the criteria air polluta nts with the PM2.5 NAAQS and meteorological

variables at a select number of monitoring sites throughout the Un ited States. Accompanying the2 pollutant concentration data are quality assu rance/quality control da ta and air monitoring network design information.

The EPA and others (e.g., Stat e, local, and Tribal air qua lity management agencies, environmental groups, academic institutions, indu strial groups) use the ambient air quality data for many purposes. Some of the more prominen t 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 heal th or welfare standard s (including both national and local standards), evaluating an air quality management agency’s progress in achieving or maintaining air pollutant levels below the nati onal 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, providi ng data for air quality model development and validation, supporting en forcement actions, documenting episodes and initiating episode controls, ai r quality trends assessment , and air pollution research.

The State, local, and tribal air quality management agenci es with responsibility for reporting ambient air quality data and informati on as requested in this ICR submit these data electronically to the EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) and AIRNow databases. Quality assurance/quality control records and monitoring network document ation are also maintained by each State, local, and Tribal agency, in AQS electronic format where possible.

Although the State, local, and Tr ibal air quality management agencies are responsible for the operation of the air monitori ng networks, the EPA funds a por tion of the total costs through federal grants. Some of these grants require an appropriate level of c ontribution, or match, from the State/local air quality management agencies. The costs shown in this ICR 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 the prior ICR submittals for 40 CFR part 58.

This Information Collection is estimated to involve 133 respondents for a total cost of approximately $53,211,231 (total capital, and labo r and non-labor operation and maintenance) plus a total burden of 410,862 hours. The labor costs associated with the hours is $38,291,920. Included in the $53,211,231 total are other costs of non-labor operations and maintenance of $1,079,896 and equipment and contract costs of $13,839,415. In addition to the costs at the State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies, there is a burde n to EPA of total of 35,098 hours and $2,272,078. The incremental cost estimate to move the 21 monitors in 2015 to meet the near-road requirement is $28,570.

2. NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection

The information requirements included within this ICR are necessary to provide the EPA with ambient air quality surveillance data to determine the Un ited States air quality status, to make attainment decisions with respect to th e PM NAAQS, to assist in developing necessary control strategies to ensure attainment of the PM NAAQS, to assess national trends in air pollution, to inform the public of air quality, an d to determine the population exposure to various3 ambient air pollutants. The EPA’s goal of attain ing the NAAQS in all areas of the United States is directly dependent upon the availability of ambient air quality data requested in this information collection. Additionally , the EPA, State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies, environmental groups, industrial groups, and academic organizations use these data to study atmospheric chemistry, e.g., th e formation of ozone, to determine the most appropriate and effective control strategies necessary to reduce air pollution.

The principal legal authority for this info rmation collection is the Clean Air Act 42

U.S.C.A. ' 7403, 7410, and 7511a, from which the 40 CFR part 58 regulations were promulgated.

Under ' 7403 (c), the Administrator is required to conduct a program of research, testing, and development of methods for sampling, measur ement, monitoring, anal ysis, and modeling of air pollutants, specifically includ ing a requirement to establish a national network to monitor, collect, and compile data with quant ification of certainty in the stat us and trends of air emissions and air quality. This program will also include the development of improved methods and technologies to increase understa nding of the sources of ozon e precursors, ozone formation, ozone transport, regional influences on urban ozon e, regional ozone trends , and interactions of ozone with other pollutants.

Section 7410 (a) contains the SIP requirements, which include a requirement that each State submit a SIP that provides for the estab lishment and operation of appropriate devices, methods, systems, and procedures necessary to m onitor, compile, analyze, and make available to the Administrator data on ambient air quality.

Section 7511a (c)(1) states that the Admini strator will promulgate rules requiring that State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies conduct enhanced monitoring of ozone and its precursors (oxides of nitrogen and volat ile organic compounds) in serious, severe, or

extreme ozone nonattainment areas.

2(b) Practical Utility/Users of the Data

The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) uses the ambient air quality data included within this collection to make attainment d ecisions with respect to each air pollutant subject to NAAQS. For those areas th at do not attain the NAAQS for one or more pollutants, the OAQPS, the affect ed EPA Regional Office, and th e affected State or local air quality management agency will work to develop an appropriate SIP to address how the area’s air quality can be improved to meet the applicable NAAQS.

To identify how the nation is progressing in improving air quality, the OAQPS prepares annually the National Air Quality and Emissions Trends report (http://www.epa.gov/airtrends) using the ambient air quality data collected through this ICR. The State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies use these data for multiple purposes including tracking their progress toward achieving and maintaining air quality within the established NAAQS and any statewide standards they have established.4 Using the Air Quality Index (AQI) reporting system outlined within the 40 CFR part 58 regulations (on which this ICR is based), State, local, and Tr ibal air quality management agencies report air quality to the public in all metropolitan areas with a population greater than 200,000. Details on the AQI system can be f ound at http://www.epa.gov/airnow. The AQI reporting mediums can vary depending upon the locat ion; however, it is generally reported in newspapers, on local television news stations, through a central telephone number, and/or by

radio.

The EPA, State, local, and Tribal air qua lity management agencies, the regulated community (e.g., industrial groups), environmental groups, and air pollution researchers (such as those at the Georgia Institute of Technology a nd the Harvard School of Public Health) use ambient air pollutant and meteorological data to study the emission of air pollutants, the formation of secondary air polluta nts (e.g., ozone, fine particles), th e transport of these pollutants over large distances, and the effect s of various pollutants on the pub lic’s health and welfare.

Given the significant impact of ambient air data upon the implementation of national and State air quality management programs, it is essential that the EPA provide the means for ensuring that the ambient air quality data measur ed, recorded, and reported to the Agency are of a high quality. The means for accomplishing this need encompasses a variety of factors, such as the requirements that State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies report precision and accuracy testing results, incorporate quality assurance/quality control procedures in their daily monitoring site operation, conduct equipm ent and procedure audits through the National Performance Audit Program, and work with the EPA to conduct systems audits periodically. Records detailing the operation and maintenance practices for each ambient air monitoring site are necessary in order to meet the qualit y assurance/quality control requirements and

recommendations.

3. NON-DUPLICATION, CONSULTATION S, AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA

3(a) Non-duplication

This collection is not unnecessarily duplica tive of information ot herwise reasonably accessible to the agency. The AQS and AIRNOW systems, which contain information based solely on this collection, are the only national air quality data repos itories available to the EPA. The ambient air quality survei llance data and related inform ation collected through this

information collection are not otherw ise reasonably accessible to the EPA.

A few State and local air quality management agencies have their own data storage systems (e.g., the California Air Resources Board) ; however, most State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies use the AQS and AI RNow as their primary repositories for all air quality data.

3(b) Public Notice Required Pr ior to ICR Submission to OMB5 The 1995 Paperwork Reduction Act requires th at any agency developing a non-rule related ICR must solicit public comments for a 60-day period prior to submitting the ICR to OMB. This section is not applicable to th is ICR because this is a rule-related ICR.

3(c) Consultations

During the development of the ICR, the EPA consulted with State and local air quality management agency contacts. Through the c ourse of planning, monitoring, and improving upon

this collection and its associated regulation, the EPA regularly consults with affected State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies through various methods including the regulatory process, regular meetings, and training courses. The EPA conducts work shops and training on the AQS reporting system, e.g., the AQS Conference. The EPA Regional Offices conduct annual ambient air monitoring meetings with their affected State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies to assist these affected ag encies with this collection and its associated regulation. The EPA’s OAQPS also meets regularly with leading State and local air monitoring managers to discuss the Nation’s ambient air m onitoring program and this collection, via large monthly phone calls and smaller in person meeting two or three times per year. Starting in 1999, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) established the subcommittee on fine particle monitoring to provide advice to EP A on various implementation aspects of the PM monitoring networks. In a ddition, CASAC also has establ ished a monitoring strategy

subcommittee to extend consulta tion to the entire network

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection

State, local, and Tribal air quality manageme nt agencies would collect and report ambient air quality data without the 40 CF R 58 regulation associated with this collection. Sanctions do not automatically accrue to State or local air quality management agencies that fail to meet these requirements. The 40 CFR part 58 regulations a nd this associated collection do provide for a consistent system for reporting and record keeping that would not exist without these requirements. The effects of less frequent collection include:

• A national database that is not cons istently updated and available for public consumption;

• Less timely attainment designa tions with respect to the NAAQS;

• More difficultly in identifying and repair ing problems with an ambient air monitor-- i.e., data are used as to check a monitor’s operating condition, and reporting data less frequently would delay a State or local agen cy’s ability to recogni ze a problem with a monitor or a laboratory procedure; and

• The EPA would not be able to consistently answer questions from the public in a timely fashion regarding air quality in various areas of the country.

3(e) General Guidelines6 All of the OMB’s general guidelines for in formation collections in 5 CFR 1320.6 are met by this ICR. None of the guidelines are exceeded.

• Data reporting on a quarter ly basis is the requirement. Nearly all respondents voluntarily report on a monthly basis.

• Record retention is for no more than 3 y ears (most records are kept by the EPA data repository, not the affected State, local, a nd Tribal air quality management agencies)

• Information is maintained and reported in the standardized electronic AQS format.

3(f) Confidentiality

Information that is considered personal, pr ivate, proprietary, or confidential is not required for this collection. One purpose of collecting ambi ent air data through AQS and AIRNow is to inform the public of general air qu ality in ambient air (air considered generally accessible to the public), and as such, does not present a need for maintaining a confidential nature. Security measures are taken to preven t tampering with the AQS electronic database by limiting the access to the AQS mainfra me only to authorized users

3(g) Sensitive Questions

This section is not applicab le to this ICR because no info rmation involving matters of a

sensitive nature is collected.

4. THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED

4(a) Respondents/SIC Codes

This ICR affects State, local , and Tribal governments (SIC code 951, Administration of Environmental Quality Program) that are curre ntly operating and maintaining established ambient air quality networks. The 40 CFR part 58 regulations associated with this request require that State, local, and Tr ibal air quality management ag encies conduct the ambient air quality surveillance and report th e data to the EPA’s AQS. Alt hough industrial, environmental, and research organizations may us e the data available through th e AQS, they are not required to report any information for this information colle ction. Data submittal to AIRNow is voluntary for all organizations, but most State and local ag encies reporting to AQS al so report to AIRNow.

4(b) Information Requested

(i) Data items, including record keeping requirements

These data items are submitted electronically to EPA’s AQS as required by 40 CFR part

58. Those data marked with an asterisk are stor ed electronically within the EPA’s AQS, and separate records kept by the State or local ai r quality management agency are not required.7 • Hourly ambient air polluta nt concentrations of O 3, SO 2 , NO 2 , and CO collected at

SLAMS sites and PAMS*.

• Daily (24-hour) concentration values of PM and lead collected at SLAMS sites *.

• Ozone precursor and meteorolog ical data collected at PAMS*.

• Precision and accuracy data for all SLAMS sites, PAMS, and Special Purpose Monitors (SPM)*. (PSD air quality survei llance concentration da ta reporting is not required by the 40 CFR part 58 regulations ad dressed by this ICR--the submission of these data is required under 40 CFR part 51. However, the precision and accuracy information for PSD sites is reported under the authority of 40 CFR part 58.)

• O 3, CO, SO 2 , NO 2 , PM, and lead data as collected by SPMs*. This includes data collected by collocated samplers or c oncurrent monitors as appropriate.

• SLAMS monitoring network description information, including the site AQS identification number*, site location*, sampling and analysis method*, operating schedule*, monitoring objective*, site

= s scale of representa tion*, identity of the urban area represented*, a nd quality assurance plan.

• PAMS network description which in cludes an implementation schedule, identification of the monitoring area represented*, AQS site identification number*, site location*, site type*, sampling and analysis method*, operating schedule*, and an ozone event forecasting scheme, if appropriate.

• Results of the annual ambient air monito ring network and quality assurance plan

review.

• Annual SLAMS summary report which includ es the location, date, pollution source, and duration of each incident of air po llution during which ambient levels of a pollutant reached or exceeded the signifi cant harm levels as defined in 40 CFR 51.151*, the certification of the report

= s accuracy by a designated State air pollution control officer, and various other summa ry statistics as provided by the AQS system*.

• In metropolitan areas with a population gr eater than 200,000, the appropriate State or local air quality management agency mu st report to the public through prominent notice (e.g., newspaper, radio, local weather forecast, at a public ly accessible area) the AQI value indicating the status of the area

= s air quality (i.e., good, moderate, unhealthful, very unhealthful, hazardous). This prominent notice must be made on at least 5 days per week. The AQI* is calcu lated using information collected in this

request.

In addition to those items recorded and stor ed in the EPA’s AQS and AIRNow systems, State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies maintain records on the following items:8 • Approved PAMS network description for areas designated as serious, severe, or

extreme ozone nonattainment areas.

• SLAMS site information that is not ma intained on the AQS or AIRNow systems (e.g., site maps, pictures), and any si ting waiver documentation provided by the Regional Administrator, the Admi nistrator, or their designee.

• The network quality assurance plan for the measurement of the criteria pollutants. This includes operational procedures for th e entire network, e.g., the selection of methods; training; equipmen t installation; selection and control of calibration standards; calibration; zero/span checks and adjustments of automated analyzers; control checks and their frequency; cont rol limits for zero, span and other control checks, and respective correc tive actions when such limits are surpassed; calibration and zero/span checks for multiple range analyzers; preventive and remedial maintenance; quality control procedures for air pollution episode monitoring; recording and validating data; data qualit y assessment (precision and accuracy); and quality control documentation.

(ii) Respondent Activities

A model respondent would engage in the fo llowing activities to comply with this information request:

• Read the 40 CFR part 58 regulatory provisi ons and other EPA guidance (for example, please reference our Internet site at www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic.)

• Plan ambient air monitoring activities, su ch as developing a quality assurance plan for the network operation and maintenance, developing and reviewing the ambient air quality surveillance network design, planni ng where to locate sites, plan how to maintain and operate each site, devel op a data reporting and validation plan.

• Write the quality assurance plan for netw ork operation and maintenance, the ambient air quality surveillance netw ork plan, and the data repo rting and validation plan. Submit these plans to the EPA Regional or Headquarters office for review, and approval if appropriate.

• Obtain on-site leases or agreements to locate ambient air quality surveillance equipment.

• Investigate vendors, and procure equipment necessary to meet the ambient air quality network plan.

• Receive training for site operation and ma intenance, quality assurance procedures, and data processing and reporting.9 • Make arrangements for appropriate u tility hookups for each ambient air quality surveillance site, i.e., electr icity, telephones, data lines for electronic submission of concentrations from automated analyzers.

• Install ambient air quality surveillance e quipment and equipment shelter. Ensure security of the site.

• Conduct ambient air quality monitoring, in corporating all appropriate quality assurance procedures such as calibrati ons, precision and accuracy checks, and, if necessary, concurrent monitoring.

• For particulate matter and lead, conduct n ecessary filter collection and analyses to

obtain concentration data.

• Report ambient air pollutant concentration data electronically if from an automated analyzer (generally, this includes ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide measurements), and from a central location, such as a laboratory, if for particulate matter, ozone precu rsors, or lead samplers.

• Validate the ambient air data for quality assurance considerations.

• Electronically submit the complete and valid ated ambient air data to the AQS and/or AIRNow data repositories.

• Prepare and submit to EPA annually the SLAMS sites summary report.

Each of these activities are conducted using existing reporting and recordkeeping practices, including electronic submittal to the AQS and to AIRNow . If the 40 CFR part 58 regulations did not exist, and presumably the related AQS and AIRNow, the quality assurance procedures, and the siting guidance did not exis t, the State, local, and Tribal air quality management agencies would in a majority of cases conduct monitoring; however, methods used by each agency would vary and data would not be readily available to EPA and the public. The influence of the 40 CFR part 58 regulations ha s been to provide a nationally consistent mechanism for collecting ambient air quality data including uniform quality assurance procedures, data collection and storage medi ums (AQS), and uniform methodology. Without this regulations and associated ICR, managing and maintaining a nationa l air quality program would be extremely difficult, if possible.

5. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED --AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

5(a) Agency Activities

The EPA conducts the following activities to implement this ICR and associated regulation:10 • Periodically review the 40 CFR part 58 regulations to update the information collection and monitoring requirements in light of new technological developments or new air pollutant standards. Develop re visions to the regula tions in response to legislative action and program changes.

• Establish, maintain, and support the AQS and AIRNow as the national repositories for all State, local, and Tribal air quality management agency ambient air quality data and monitoring information. Periodically evaluate and improve upon this system as new technologies, and new regulator y requirements would dictate.

• Answer respondent (generally State, lo cal, and Tribal air quality management agencies, but also industrial organizati ons, environmental groups, and others) questions about ambient air monitoring, th e 40 CFR part 58 regulatory requirements, and the AQS and AIRNow. This include s the establishment of the Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center bulletin board, the AQS toll-free hotline,

and other written or verbal communication.

• Support the quality assura nce program by working with in the EPA and with the respondents to evaluate precision and accuracy data, oversee the National Performance Audit Program, participate in systems audits, and conduct weekly data validation checks on the AQS data submittal.

• Provide within the AQS mechanisms for st atistical calculations, such as the number of times a particular ambient air qua lity monitoring site exceeds the NAAQS. Distribute the AQS data in various ways including upon written request, by Freedom of Information Act request, by press releas e, and in the annual National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report.

• Provide adequate electronic storage space w ithin the AQS for all ambient air quality

surveillance data and information.

• Provide various reports and gr aphics for users of AIRNow.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

All State, local, and Tribal ambient air mon itoring networks have access to and use wellestablished quality assurance pr ocedures as defined in the Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems, Volumes I a nd II, EPA/600/R-94/038a & b. These documents ensure that all ambient air quality data are accurate and reliable.

The EPA has provided and will continue to provide resources for the maintenance and operation of the AQS and AIRNow national data repositories. All data required by this collection are submitted electronically to reduce the burden of the collection and to improve data quality, agency efficiency, and responsiveness to the public. Various statistical and graphical summaries are also provided by the AQS and AIRN ow systems which enhance the utility of the information for consumption by the public and all affected State, local, and Tribal air quality11 management agencies. In submitting ambient air data into the AQS and AIRNow national repositories, we ensure that the data are publicly available, elect ronically stored, and electronically retrievable. State, local, and Tr ibal air quality manageme nt agencies and the EPA have been submitting data to the AQS since its inception in 1987.

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

This collection contains a minimum amount of information in order to manage the air quality program for the United States. The smalle st entities affected by th is collection are local air quality management agencies, typically consis ting of the governing agencies for a county or group of counties, or a smaller metropolitan area (e.g., cities with a popu lation of 100,000). This

collection reduces to the extent practicable and appr opriate the burden on en tities that provide ambient air quality data and information to or for the EPA, including with respect to small entities, as defined in the Re gulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S. C. 601(6)), the use of such techniques as:

• Establishing differing compliance or re porting requirements or timetables that

account for the resources available to thos e who are to respond (e.g., the monitoring and reporting requirements decrease as th e population of an area decreases, and various timetables for deploying ambient ai r monitoring stations are negotiated between the affected State or local air qua lity management agency and the EPA with consideration of the respondent

= s resources);

• Clarification, consolidation, or simp lification of compliance and reporting requirements (e.g., by establishing, maintain ing, and improving as needed the AQS and AIRNow national repositories for ambient air quality data and information);

• Exemption from coverage of the collection of information, or any part thereof (e.g., the EPA negotiates with State, local, and Tr ibal air quality management agencies to determine the most effective and most efficient ambient air quality networks with respect to the monitoring need s, technical abilities, and resources available to each affected agency).

5(d) Collection Schedule

Ambient air quality surveillance data and pr ecision and accuracy data for criteria air pollutants are submitted according to the schedu le defined in 40 CFR 58.16. These current regulations require that State a nd local air quality management ag encies report their data within 90 days after the end of the quarter during whic h the data were collect ed. Volatile organic compound (VOC), carbonyl, NH 3 , and NH0 3 data measured by PAMS are reported within 6 months following the end of each quart erly reporting period as in 40 CFR 58.45.

The annual SLAMS report is submitted by July 1 of each year for data collected from January 1 through December 31 of the previous year in accordance with 40 CFR 58.15. This certification applies to all SLAMS and all SPM m onitoring data that have been submitted by July

1.12 The annual air quality survei llance network reviews are conducted and reports are

submitted to the EPA on a schedule that is determin ed by the affected State or local air quality management agency and the EPA Regional Office.

Ambient air quality data and informa tion are made available to the public at any time in various ways, including:

• Upon request to the appropriate EP A Regional office, or to the OAQPS;

• By Freedom of Information Act Request to the appropriate EP A Regional Office or the OAQPS;

• From the State or local air quality manage ment agency responsible for collecting the ambient air quality data and information;

• By obtaining access, through appropriate EP A channels, to the AQS and AIRNow to obtain the data electronically;

• Through EPA public reports, such as the annual A National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report; or

• Through the AIRNow data base and the AQI reporting mechanisms which include newspaper, television, Internet and ot her publicly available notices (see www.epa.gov/airnow).

6. ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AN D COST OF THE COLLECTION

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden

All activities listed with section 4 (b) (ii) of this ICR Supporting Statement are presented in the Table 1 of the Appendix. As discussed in Section 1, this ICR reflects revised burden and cost estimates updating the most recent OMB approved ICR (2002).

The detailed burden and cost estimates for the different types of monitors with the exception of PM 10-2.5 monitors are based on information provide d in the updated version of Guidance for Estimating Ambient Air Monitoring Costs for Criteria Pollutants and Selected Air

Toxic Pollutants (prepared by Desert Research Institute for the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Asse ssment Division, Ambient Air Monitoring Group, January 2005). The cost estimates presented in this guidance document are based on existing literature and direct monitoring experience. The costs for equipment and supplies were verified with vendors. The monitoring costs for PM 10-2.5 are based on vendor quotes for the monitor type that EPA expects respondents to use to comply with the requ irements and assuming that the

labor hour factors associated w ith installing, operating, and mainta ining these monitors are same

as those factors for PM 2.5 monitors that are presented in th e guidance document. Costs for level

of effort estimates are verified with selected St ate and local agencies. Al l cost values presented13 in the guidance document are adjusted to 2004 do llars, based on the average of the first two

quarters.

For use in preparing the burden estimates fo r this ICR, costs were inflated to 2013, 2014, or 2015 dollars using the appropria te Gross Domestic Pr oduct (GDP) price indi ces as reported in the report available at http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/bu2/inflateGDP.html . Tables showing the detailed burden estimate calculations are presen ted in the Appendix. A summary of the average annual respondent burden costs follows.14 Worksheet 1: Annual Average Respondent Burden Estimates

Collection

Activities Total Labor Hours Per Respondent Per Year (133 respondents)

1. Network design 3

2. Site installation 42

3. Sampling & analysis 146

4. Maintenance & repairs 400

5. Data management 1453

6. Quality assurance 446

7. Supervision 600

TOTAL 3090

6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs

All activities listed with section 4 (b) (ii) of this ICR Supporting Statement are included in the Table 1 of the Appendix. A summary of the average annual re spondent burden costs

follows.

Worksheet 2: Annual Average Respondent Cost Estimates

Collection

Activities Total Labor Cost Per Respondent Per Year (133 respondents)

1. Network design $195

2. Site installation $3,046

3. Sampling & analysis $114,844

4. Maintenance & repairs $22,522

5. Data management $83,832

6. Quality assurance $25,271

7. Supervision $38,200

TOTAL $287,91015 6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost

We estimated the Agency burden and cost by using current burden and cost of the ambient air monitoring program related to this collection. We included burden and cost for the OAQPS, the ten Regional Offices, and associated contract activities . The in-house activities for this collection are completed by a va riety of individuals with a vari ety of salaries; therefore, we used the actual salary as an average for com puting the program costs. Actual contractor expenses were used for those activities complete d using extramural resources. We estimated a total of 35,098 hours and $2,272,078 total agency burden.

6(d) Estimating the Respondent Un iverse and Total Burden and Costs

Worksheet 3 shows the total respondent hourly burdens and costs which was taken from section 6(b) above for the estimated 133 responden ts. The total labor burden for the respondents was estimated to be 410,862 hour s at a total cost of $38,291,920.

Worksheet 3: Annual Total Respo ndent Labor Burden/Cost Estimates

Collection

Activities Total Labor Hours

Per Year Total Labor Cost

Per Year

1. Network design 399 $25,879

2. Site installation 5,625 $405,123

3. Sampling & analysis 19,392 $15,274,202

4. Maintenance & repairs 53,138 $2,995,438

5. Data management 193,215 $11,149,627

6. Quality assurance 59,263 $3,361,085

7. Supervision 79,830 $5,080,565

TOTAL 410,862 $38,291,920

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables

(i) Respondent Tally

Respondent Total Annual Burden = 410,862 hours

Respondent Total Annual Labor Cost for O & M = $38,291,920

Respondent Total Annual Cost for Non-labor O & M = $1,079,896

Respondent Total Equipment/Contract Dollars = $13,839,415

Total Respondent Tally = $53,211,23116 (ii) The Agency Tally

Agency Total Annual Burden = 35,098 hours

Agency Total Annual Cost = $2,272,078

(iii) Variations In The Annual Bottom Line

.

We do not expect any significant variations in the annual bottom line for the ambient air monitoring networks for the clearance period requested.

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden

The previously approved ICR estimate of bur den hours is 410,862. There is no change in

this estimate. The total number of monitors that the respondents woul d need to operate and maintain under the requirements of this regu lation is not increas ing or decreasing.

6(g) Burden Statement

The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 67 hours per respondent. Bu rden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintai n, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes th e time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and syst ems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintain ing information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously appl icable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collecti on of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of informa tion; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. 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 va lid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are li sted in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.

To allow comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggest ed methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the use of automated collection techniques, EPA established a public docket for this

ICR under Docket ID No. OAR-2007-0492 which has been available for public viewing at the

Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center Docket in the EPA Do cket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave ., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Readi ng Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center Docket is (202) 566-1742. An electronic version of the public do cket was made available through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket . The public was able to use EDOCKET to submit or view public comments, access th e index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that ha ve been available electronically. The public17 was also advised to send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street , NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk

Office for EPA.18 PART B OF SUPPORTING STATEMENT

This section is not applicable to this ICR because statistica l methods are not used in the

data collection associated with the rule amendments.