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)

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_2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM_10−2.5), 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 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.

[FR Doc. 2024-22298 Filed 9-27-24; 8:45 am]

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