[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79580-79581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22298]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530; FRL-12298-01-OMS]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Application for Reference and Equivalent Method Determination 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Application for Reference and 
Equivalent Method Determination (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR Number 0539-15, 
OMB Control Number 2080-0005) to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is 
currently approved through December 31, 2024. Public comments were 
previously

[[Page 79581]]

requested via the Federal Register on March 11, 2024 during a 60-day 
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public 
comments.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before October 30, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
ORD-2005-0530, to EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0f607d6b226b606c646a7b4f6a7f6e21686079"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="751a071158111a161e1001351005145b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>, 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.
    Submit written comments and recommendations to OMB for the proposed 
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert W. Vanderpool, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 919-541-7877; fax number: 919-541-4848; email 
address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#590f38373d3c2b29363635770b363b3c2b2d193c2938773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2f4c3ccc6c7d0d2cdcdce8cf0cdc0c7d0d6e2c7d2c38cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a>.

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.
    Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register 
on March 11, 2024 during a 60-day comment period (89 FR 17463). This 
notice allows for an additional 30 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.
    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 
(PM<INF>2.5</INF>) and coarse particulate matter (PM<INF>10-2.5</INF>), 
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 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: $846.791 (per year), which includes $172,692 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in hours in the total 
estimated respondent hour burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. Based on a review of historical BLS indices for 2020 
and 2024, cost index factors were used to update the estimate 2024 
respondent costs for capital/start-up costs and O&M costs.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Information Engagement Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-22298 Filed 9-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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