Document ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530-0013
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Application for Reference and Equivalent Method Determination (Renewal)
Posted Date: 2014-07-01T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37309-37310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15385]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530; FRL-9913-06-ORD]

Proposed Information Collection Request; 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 is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Application for Reference and 
Equivalent Method Determination (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0559.12, OMB 
Control No. 2080-0005) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 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 October 31, 2014. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2005-0530, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to ord-docket@epa.gov, 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, Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division, 
Process Modeling Research Branch, Mail Drop D205-03, Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919-541-7877; fax number: 919-541-
1153; email address: Vanderpool.Robert@epa.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    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

[[Page 37310]]

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
    Frequency of response: Annual
    Total estimated burden: 7,492 hours
    Total estimated cost: $650,494 (per year), includes $132,668, 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is no change in the hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB.

    Dated: June 20, 2014.
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta,
Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 2014-15385 Filed 6-30-14; 8:45 am]
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