Document ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530-0012
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Application for Reference and Equivalent Method Determination
Posted Date: 2011-07-26T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44583-44585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18836]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530; FRL-9443-5]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Application for Reference and 
Equivalent Method Determination (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

[[Page 44584]]

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 an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an 
existing collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the 
nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 25, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2005-0530 to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to ord.docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, ORD Docket, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert W. Vanderpool, Human Exposure 
and Atmospheric Sciences Division, Process Modeling Research Branch, 
Mail Drop D205-03, Environmental Protection Agency, 109 TW Alexander 
Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919-541-
7877; fax number: 919-541-1153; e-mail address: 
vanderpool.robert@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On April 8, 2011 (76 FR 19769), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments during the 
comment period. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted 
to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov or in person viewing at the ORD Docket in 
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC 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 Reading Room is 202-566-1744, 
and the telephone number for the ORD Docket is 202-566-1752.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index 
listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in 
the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, 
select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified 
above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether 
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public 
viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without 
change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential 
business information (CBI), or other information whose public 
disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the 
electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Application for Reference and Equivalent Method 
Determination (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0559.11, OMB Control No. 2080-0005.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2011. Under 
OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the 
collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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 EPA's regulations 
in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when 
approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, 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: 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) 
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.
    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 Part 53.15 and all applicable provisions of 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 341 
hours per response. 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Manufacturers or sellers of an air 
monitoring method.

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    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22.
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 7,492.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $650,494, includes $132,668 annualized 
capital and O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in hours in the total 
estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved 
ICR Burdens. This is based on a comprehensive review of ongoing and 
expected NAAQS reviews encompassing this ICR's period of performance.

    Dated: July 20, 2011.
John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-18836 Filed 7-25-11; 8:45 am]
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