[Federal Register: August 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 164)]
[Notices]
[Page 52253-52254]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au04-66]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OAR-2004-0090, FRL-7806-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection;
Comment Request; Gasoline Volatility, EPA ICR Number 1367.07, OMB
Control Number 2060-0178
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit a
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing
collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2004.
Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information
collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 25, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2004-
0090, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to
a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation Docket, Mail code 6102T,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James W. Caldwell, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality, Mail Code 6406J, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 343-9303; fax number: (202) 343-2801; e-mail
address: caldwell.jim@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this
ICR under Docket ID number OAR-2004-0090, which is available for public
viewing at the Office of Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center 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 Office of Air and Radiation Docket is
(202) 566-1742. An electronic version of the public docket is available
through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. UseEDOCKET
to obtain a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view
public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public
docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are
available electronically. Once in the system, select search,'' then key
in the docket ID number identified above.
Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within
60 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public
viewing in EDOCKET 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. When EPA identifies a comment containing
copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in
the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The entire
printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available
in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the official
docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is otherwise
restricted by statute, is not included in the official public docket,
and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For further
information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal Register
notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 31, 2002),
or go to http://www.epa.gov./edocket.
[[Page 52254]]
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
those which produce or import gasoline containing ethanol, or who wish
to obtain a testing exemption.
Title: Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives; Gasoline Volatility;
Reporting Requirements for Parties Which Produce or Import Gasoline
Containing Ethanol, and Reporting Requirements for Parties Seeking a
Testing Exemption (40 CFR 80.27), EPA ICR Number 1367.07.
OMB Control Number: 2060-0178, expiring 12-31-04.
Abstract: Gasoline volatility, as measured by Reid Vapor Pressure
(RVP) in pounds per square inch (psi), is controlled in the spring and
summer in order to minimize evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from
motor vehicles. RVP is subject to a Federal standard of 7.8 psi or 9.0
psi, depending on location. The addition of ethanol to gasoline
increases the RVP by about 1 psi. Gasoline that contains at least 9
volume percent ethanol is subject to a standard that is 1.0 psi
greater. As an aid to industry compliance and EPA enforcement, the
product transfer document, which is prepared by the producer or
importer and which accompanies a shipment of gasoline containing
ethanol, is required by regulation to contain a legible and conspicuous
statement that the gasoline contains ethanol and the percentage
concentration of ethanol. This is intended to deter the mixing within
the distribution system, particularly in retail storage tanks, of
gasoline which contains ethanol with gasoline which does not contain
ethanol. Such mixing would likely result in a gasoline with an ethanol
concentration of less than 9 volume percent but with an RVP above the
standard. Also, a party wishing a testing exemption for research on
gasoline that is not in compliance with the applicable volatility
standard, must submit certain information to EPA. 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 are
listed in 40 CFR part 9.
The EPA would like to solicit comments 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.
Burden Statement: EPA estimates that there at 4,600,000 shipments
annually of gasoline containing ethanol. Thus the required statement
must be placed on 4,600,000 product transfer documents annually. Such
documents are generated by the producer or importer as a customary
business practice, so the burden is limited to the placement of the
statement, which is generally computer-generated or hand-stamped. EPA
estimates an average burden of 5 seconds per document, for a total
annual burden for 4,600,000 documents of 6,389 hours. At an estimated
industry labor cost of $65 per hour, EPA estimates the labor cost
burden at $415,285 for about 1,500 parties that produce or import
gasoline containing ethanol. Thus the cost per party is about $277
annually. Annualized start-up costs are estimated at $3,250, based on
50 new producers or importers of gasoline with ethanol each year, and a
burden of one hour each to implement the requirement. There are no
annualized capital costs and no operation and maintenance costs because
the product transfer documents are in use for other reasons, and there
are no recordkeeping requirements. There are no purchase-of-services
costs. It is estimated that EPA will receive 2 requests annually for
testing exemptions, at 4 hours burden and $260 labor cost per request,
for a total of $520. An operating and maintenance cost for postage and
copying of $10 per request is estimated, for a total of $20. 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;
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.
Dated: August 18, 2004.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 04-19440 Filed 8-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P