[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5626-5627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02542]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0530; FRL-9974-07-OEI]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Application for Reference and 
Equivalent Method Determination (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0559.13, OMB 
Control No. 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 February 28, 2018. Public comments were previously requested 
via the Federal Register on September 6, 2017 during a 60-day comment 
period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public 
comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its 
estimated burden and cost to the public. 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: Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 12, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
ORD-2005-0530, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email to 
[email protected].

[[Page 5627]]

Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA.
    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, Exposure Methods and Measurements Division, Air 
Quality Branch, Mail Drop D205-03, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; 
telephone number: 919-541-7877; fax number: 919-541-4848; email 
address: [email protected].

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.
    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 
(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. 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.
    Form numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Private manufacturers.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain the benefit 
of EPA designation under 40 CFR part 53.
    Estimated number of respondents: 22 (total).
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 7492 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $687,044 (per year), includes $140,121 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the estimates: There is no change in the hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-02542 Filed 2-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


