1696ss05

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST (ICR)

Part A of the Supporting Statement

(September 2006)

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION

1(a) Title: Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives - Health-Effects

Research Requirements for Manufacturers (40 CFR part 79, subpart F) (Renewal); EPA ICR Number 1696.05; OMB Control Number 2060-0297

1(b) Abstract

In accordance with the regulations at 40 CFR 79, Subparts A, B, C, D and F (there is no Subpart E), Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives, manufacturers of (1) motor vehicle gasoline, (2) motor vehicle diesel fuel, and (3) additives for those fuels, are required to have their products registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prior to their introduction into commerce. Registration involves providing (1) a chemical description of the fuel or additive, (2) certain technical and marketing information, and (3) certain health-effects information. Periodic reports on production and related information are required. Subpart F requires the conduct of health-effects research. This ICR addresses the information collection requirements of that research. The information collection requirements of Subparts A through D, and the supplemental notification requirement of Subpart F (indicating how the manufacturer plans to satisfy the research requirements, or qualifies for an exemption) are covered by a separate ICR (EPA ICR Number 0309.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0150, expiration date: 3-31-2007).

The program is operated by the Transportation and Regional Programs Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation. The information developed by the health-effects research will be used to identify products whose evaporative or exhaust emissions pose a particular threat to public health, thus meriting further investigation and/or regulation. Manufacturers of similar products are allowed to group in order to share the research costs. Several groups, also known as consortiums, have been formed. The largest consortium, organized by the American Petroleum Institute (API), represents most of the manufacturers of conventional gasolines, diesel fuels, and additives. The regulations define the fuel/additive categories for which the research is required. There are three tiers of requirements. Tier 1 requires an emissions characterization (combustion and, in certain instances, evaporative) and a literature search over the past 30 years for health-effects information on those emissions. Tier 2 (also known as standard Tier 2) requires short-term inhalation exposures of laboratory animals to emissions (combustion and, if required under Tier 1, evaporative) to screen for adverse health effects. The EPA has the authority to require “Alternative Tier 2" testing if there is a reasonable basis to conclude that such testing is more appropriate. The EPA reached that conclusion with respect to gasoline and gasoline-oxygenate blends. The API consortium was notified of the proposed alternative requirements in 1997. After public review and comment, and discussions with API, the alternative requirements were finalized and API notified in 1998. Similar situations existed for a manganese gasoline additive known a MMT, manufactured by the Ethyl Corporation (now Afton Chemical Corporation), and a blend of diesel fuel and water, known as PuriNOx, manufactured by the Lubrizol Corporation. Tier 3 provides for follow-up research. Tier 3 can be required when uncertainties as to the significance of observed health effects, welfare effects, and/or emissions exposures from a fuel or fuel/additive mixture interfere with EPA’s ability to make reasonable estimates of the potential risks posed by the emissions from such products.

There are approximately 300 fuel manufacturers, 700 additive manufacturers, 500 registered fuels, and 5700 registered additives. These numbers change daily.

2. NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection

Motor vehicles comprise a major source of air pollution in urban areas, and account for about half the toxic air emissions in the United States. Congress demonstrated its strong concern for the protection of public health by providing broad legislative authority to monitor and regulate fuels, fuel additives, and their emissions. This registration program was established by the Air Quality Act of 1967, carried forward into the Clean Air Act (Act) of 1970, and strengthened in the Act’s 1977 and 1990 reauthorizations.

Section 211(a) of the Act provides EPA with the authority to designate, by regulation, any mobile source fuel or additive for registration. Any fuel or additive used to such an extent that there is, or would be, significant public emissions exposure, is an appropriate candidate. Once designated, it may not be introduced into commerce until it has been registered by EPA. Section 211(b) requires, for the purpose of registration, that the manufacturer provide certain compositional and related information. It provides EPA with the authority to require health-effects testing and the submittal of health-effects data and related data. Section 211(e), a 1977 amendment, made the health-effects research requirements mandatory. The original regulations were promulgated by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1970 and transferred to the EPA shortly thereafter. They ultimately resided at 40 CFR 79 and were revised in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Due to their broad public emissions exposure, motor vehicle gasolines and diesel fuels, and their additives, were designated.

The regulations at 40 CFR 79, subpart F, promulgated on May 27, 1994, require research for each of the following fuel/additive groups whose components are derived from conventional petroleum, heavy oil deposits, coal, tar sands and/or oil sands:

(1) Gasoline

Baseline Group - gasoline/additive elements are limited to carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur (for convenience, hereby referred to as CHONS), gasoline oxygen content is less than 1.5 weight percent, and the gasoline meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications.

Nonbaseline Group - gasoline/additive elements are limited to CHONS, gasoline oxygen content is 1.5 weight percent or greater, and the gasoline meets ASTM specifications. A group is established for each oxygenate (e.g., ethanol).

Atypical Group - a group is established for each non-CHONS element (e.g., manganese), combination of non-CHONS elements, property that does not meet ASTM specification, or combination of properties that do not meet ASTM specifications.

(2) Diesel

Baseline Group - diesel/additive elements are limited to CHONS, the fuel oxygen content is less than 1.0 weight percent, and the fuel meets ASTM specifications.

Nonbaseline Group - diesel/additive elements are limited to CHONS, the fuel oxygen content is 1.0 weight percent or greater, and the fuel meets ASTM specifications. A group is established for each oxygenate. An exception is biodiesel, which is one group, even though it consists of mixed alkyl esters of plant and/or animal origin.

Atypical Group - a group is established for each non-CHONS element (e.g., iron), combination of non-CHONS elements, property that does not meet ASTM specification, or combination of properties that do not meet ASTM specifications.

The regulations also require research for each gasoline, diesel fuel, and additive group that is derived in whole or in part from sources other than those mentioned above, such as shale, used oil, and waste plastics. The fuel/additive group is defined by the source. Research is also required for fuels that do not meet ASTM specifications.

The research is structured into three tiers of requirements for each group. Tier 1 requires an emissions characterization and a literature search for the health effects of those emissions. For products registered as of May 27, 1994, the Tier 1 data were due by May 27, 1997. For products currently seeking registration, the Tier 1 data must be submitted before the product can be registered. Tier 2 requires short-term inhalation exposures of laboratory animals to emissions to screen for adverse health effects. For products registered as of May 27, 1994, the Tier 2 data were due by May 27, 1997, or evidence of a contract that would provide the Tier 2 data by May 27, 2000. For products currently seeking registration, the Tier 2 data are due before registration can occur. (There are several exceptions to the above. For biodiesel products, the Tier 1 deadline was March 17, 1998, and the Tier 2 deadline was May 27, 2000. For atypical products, the Tier 2 deadline for evidence of a contract was November 27, 1998, with the Tier 2 data due by November 27, 2001.) The regulations also allow EPA to establish Alternative Tier 2 requirements in lieu of standard Tier 2, if warranted. Follow-up studies, if required, would occur under Tier 3.

The objective of the program is to determine if there are any fuels and/or additives whose evaporative emissions or products of combustion pose a particular danger to public health or welfare. Section 211(c) of the Act provides EPA with the authority to regulate such fuels and additives. For example, the use of lead additives in gasoline, gasoline volatility, and the sulphur content of gasoline and diesel fuel, has been regulated under this section.

There are several exceptions to the above, in order to lessen the burden for small businesses. Manufacturers of baseline and/or nonbaseline products, who have an annual sales revenue of less than $50 million, are exempt from Tier 1 and Tier 2. Manufacturers of atypical products, who have an annual sales revenue of less than $10 million, are exempt from Tier 2. There are less burdensome provisions for the manufacturers of aerosol additives. Manufacturers who merely relabel a registered product are not subject to Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3.

In 1994 the API formed a consortium of the major fuel and additive manufacturers. In 1997 it submitted Tier 1 data for baseline gasoline, baseline diesel, and six nonbaseline gasoline groups (di-isopropyl ether (DIPE), ethanol, ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA)). Tier 2 data were submitted for baseline diesel. In 1997 a consortium submitted information for aerosol additive manufacturers. In 1997 Tier 1 data were submitted for two atypical gasoline groups and five atypical diesel groups, and Tier 2 data were submitted for diesel. In 1998 and 2000, Tier 1 and Tier 2 data were submitted for biodiesel, respectively. In 2000 and 2002, Tier 1 and Tier 2 data were submitted for summer PuriNOx, an emulsion of water and diesel. In 2003 Tier 1 data were submitted for Clean Fuels Technology Emulsified Diesel Fuel. In 2005 Tier 1 data were submitted for an iron-based diesel additive known as CleanBoost. In 2006 Tier 1 data were submitted for a cerium based diesel additive known as Envirox.

On August 20, 1997 the API was informed of proposed Alternative Tier 2 requirements for baseline gasoline and the six nonbaseline gasoline groups for which Tier 1 data were submitted. After public notice and comment, and discussions with API, the alternative requirements were finalized, and API was notified on November 2, 1998. Notice was published in the Federal Register. The research is in progress.

In 1994 the Ethyl Corporation (Ethyl) was informed that Alternative Tier 2 testing would be required for its manganese additive MMT and alternative requirements were proposed in a January 25, 1999 letter to Ethyl and announced in the Federal Register. These requirements were finalized in a May 11, 2000 letter to Ethyl and announced in the Federal Register. The research is in progress.

Alternative Tier 2 requirements were also established for winter PuriNOx. The procedure as described above was followed and the data were submitted in 2003.

2(b) Practical Utility/Users of the Data

These health-effects data will allow decision makers to assess the relative risks of the fuel/additive groups described above. For example, some individuals appear to be sensitive to the emissions from gasoline/oxygenate blends, citing headaches and nausea. Should certain formulations show unacceptable levels of risk, further regulatory action could be taken.

The data may also be used by non-EPA organizations, such as fuel/additive producers and trade organizations, to review a product’s potential toxicity, exposure, or registration status, to determine whether the submittal of further information would be duplicative, or to contact producers to use the registration already granted and share in the cost of previous compliance. Public interest and environmental organizations may review the data and perform their own evaluations. Laboratories may review the test reports for guidance on sound laboratory practices and data generation. Academic and medical experts may use the information in research or to compare with independent findings. State and local agencies responsible for protecting the public health will be very interested in these data in determining which fuel formulations present the least public health risk. The California Environmental Protection Agency assessed the use of oxygenates in gasoline, not only from an emissions standpoint, but also from a groundwater contamination standpoint, due to leaking storage tanks.

3. NONDUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS, AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA

3(a) Nonduplication

To our knowledge, this is the only program which requires the manufacturers of motor vehicle fuels and fuel additives to develop emissions health-effects data. The regulations allow manufacturers of similar products to group and test one representative of the group, thus minimizing duplicative testing.

3(b) Public Notice

A Federal Register notice requesting public comment on this ICR was published on July 17, 2006 (71 FR 40513). No comments were received.

3(c) Consultations

Burden estimates were discussed in general with less than 10 parties.

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection

These are one-time requirements for each product.

3(e) General Guidelines

All Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines are met.

3(f) Confidentiality

Section 211(b)(2)(B) of the Act requires that the results of the Tier 2 health-effects testing shall not be considered confidential. Some Tier 1 data, particularly those related to composition, could be claimed as confidential and would be subject to EPA’s freedom of information provisions at 40 CFR part 2.

3(g) Sensitive Questions

There are no sensitive questions.

4. THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION COLLECTED

4(a) Respondents/NAICS/SIC Codes

The fuel and fuel additive manufacturers are related to the following major group North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) six-digit codes and Standard Industrialization Classification (SIC) four-digit codes:

324110 - Petroleum Refineries

2911 - Diesel Fuels Manufacturing

2911 - Gasoline Made in Petroleum Refineries

32419 - All Other Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing

2999 - Oil-based Additives Made From Refined Petroleum

325110 - Petrochemical Manufacturing

2865 - Benzene, Olefins, Toluene, and Xylene

2869 -Butane

325193 - Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing

2869 - Ethanol

4(b) Information Requested

(i) Data Items

The following is required to be submitted for each fuel and additive subject to the Tier 1 requirements (40 CFR 79.52):

1. Name of the manufacturer and name of the fuel or additive;

2. Group/consortium identification;

3. Literature search over the past 30 years for existing information pertaining to health effects, environmental effects, and emissions of the fuel or additive; includes description of data bases searched, search period, and summary of relevant information found, including abstracts and references;

4. Chemical characterization of combustion and evaporative emission products; report on emissions generation procedures, analytic methods, and results. This requirement can be mitigated by adequate existing information obtained during the literature search in item 3. The full report(s) summarized in item 3 would be required.

The following is required to be submitted for each fuel and additive subject to the Tier 2 or Alternative Tier 2 requirements (40 CFR 79.53):

1. Name of the manufacturer and name of the fuel or additive;

2. Group/consortium identification;

3. Results of subchronic, 90-day, inhalation exposure of lab animals to combustion emissions, and in separate testing, if applicable, to evaporative emissions, for screening of general toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, adult reproduction/teratogenicity, pulmonary toxicity, and neurotoxicity for Tier 2, or related negotiated testing for Alternative Tier 2. This requirement can be mitigated by adequate existing information obtained during the literature search of Tier 1. The full report(s) summarized in Tier 1 would be required.

The following is required to be submitted for each fuel and additive subject to the Tier 3 requirements (40 CFR 79.54):

1. Name of the manufacturer and name of the fuel or additive;

2. Group/consortium identification;

3. Results of follow-up testing to resolve uncertainties identified upon analysis of Tier 1 and/or Tier 2/Alternative Tier 2 data. The test requirements will be established through notice and comment and negotiation with the manufacturer(s). The burden will likely be comparable to that for Tier 2 testing.

See 40 CFR 79.59(c) for the detailed documentation requirements of the Tier 1, Tier 2, and Alternative Tier 2 reports. See 40 CFR 79.59(d) for the detailed documentation requirements for a Tier 3 report. There are no recordkeeping requirements.

(ii) Respondent Activities

The following activities are required:

1. Read or hear the regulations at 40 CFR 79, Subpart F;

2. Obtain the required data;

3. Review the data;

4. Prepare the required report(s);

5. Send the report(s) to EPA.

5. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED--AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

5(a) Agency Activities

The following activities are required:

1. Respond to inquiries on the Tier 1, Tier 2, Alternative Tier 2, and Tier 3 requirements;

2. Provide copies of the regulations;

3. Review the Tier 1, Tier 2, Alternative Tier 2, and Tier 3 reports;

4. Upon completion of a review, notify the submitter that the report is adequate, or, if it is inadequate, notify the submitter of the deficiencies;

5. Establish public access to the test results, as required by the Act, while maintaining the confidentiality of data so entitled;

6. Store the reports.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

The reports will be reviewed by the Office of Transportation and Air Quality and the Office of Research and Development. The quality of the data will be determined by professionals knowledgeable with emissions and health-effects testing. The review will be manual. The nature of the reports makes them unsuitable for automatic data processing. The reports will be available to the public in hard copy, and, if so submitted, electronically. They will be stored in the format submitted.

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

As discussed in section 2(a), certain small businesses are exempt from some or all of these requirements.

6. ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND THE COST OF THE COLLECTION

6(a) and (b) Estimating Respondent Burden and Costs

Due to the costs, it is likely that only limited additional Tier 1 research will be done. Future fuels and additives subject to Tier 1 will almost exclusively be those that can group with existing Tier 1 data, and likely will come from manufacturers who have already paid for the Tier 1 data. Thus, it is estimated that there will only be one Tier 1 submission per year over the next three years. However, manufacturers of baseline and nonbaseline products with less than $50 million in annual revenue are exempt from Tier 1, so there will be continuing registration activity in that area.

In the previous ICR, it was concluded that the few new products for which a new Tier 1 would be required are likely to be in the atypical or nonbaseline categories, with an estimated Tier 1 cost of about $350,000 per product, with about $100,000 for the literature search and about $250,000 for the emissions characterization. Two recent submitters of Tier 1 reports said that their costs slightly less. Thus, we believe that the $350,000 estimate is still appropriate.

The $350,000 estimate was determined as follows:

In discussions with fewer than ten fuel and fuel additive manufacturers, four labor categories were identified as having involvement: managerial, legal, professional/technical (prof/tech), and clerical. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (December 2005), for private industry, wages and benefits were:

Managerial $43.48 per hour

Prof/Tech $43.48 per hour

Clerical $19.61 per hour

Assuming the managerial and legal rates are comparable, doubling for company overhead beyond wages and benefits, employing a 2% annual inflation factor to bring the rates to 2006, and, for convenience, rounding up to the even dollar, gives the following rates that will be used in this ICR:

Total Employer Cost

Managerial $90 per hour

Legal $90 per hour

Prof/Tech $90 per hour

Clerical $40 per hour

Worksheet 1: Tier 1 Literature Search

The estimated burden hours and costs are:

Activity mgmt legal prof/tech clerical

read regs 40/$3600 40/$3600 40/$3600 40/$1600

obtain data 40/$3600 40/$3600 200/$18,000 200/$8000

review data 40/$3600 40/$3600 200/$18,000 200/$8000

prepare report

and send to EPA 40/$3600 40/$3600 100/$9000 100/$4000

totals 160/$14,400 160/$14,400 540/$48,600 540/$21,600 1400/$99,000

Capital/start-up costs for the literature search are estimated at $10,000 for the purchase of computer hardware/software for recording the search and the purchase of filing cabinets for storage. Operating and maintenance costs are estimated at $2000 for computer maintenance, document storage, and shipping of the report and documents to EPA.

Worksheet 2: Tier 1 Emissions Characterization

The estimated hours and costs are:

Activity mgmt legal prof/tech clerical

read regs 40/$3600 40/$3600 40/$3600 40/$1600

obtain data 40/$3600 40/$3600 500/$45,000 500/$20,000

review data 40/$3600 40/$3600 100/$9000 100/$4000

prepare report

and send to EPA 40/$3600 40/$3600 100/$9000 100/$4000

totals 160/$14,400 160/$14,400 740/$66,600 740/$29,600 1800/$125000

Capital/start-up costs are estimated at $25,000 for the purchase of test engines and computer hardware/software. Operating and maintenance costs are estimated at $90,000 for lease of laboratory space and test equipment. Thus, the total estimated cost for a Tier 1 submission is $99,000 + $10,000 + $2,000 + $125,000 + $25,000 + $90,000 = $351,000.

Standard Tier 2/Alternative Tier 2/Tier 3 activity also will be very limited. The EPA has concluded that existing data cover Tier 2 for baseline diesel. Alternative Tier 2 covers baseline gasoline, the six major nonbaseline gasoline oxygenates, and the atypical gasoline additive MMT. Thus, only atypical products for manufacturers with $10 million or greater in annual revenue, and new gasoline oxygenates for manufacturers with $50 million or greater in annual revenue, remain that are subject to the standard Tier 2or Alternative Tier 2 requirements. While EPA has yet to require a Tier 3, it is likely to have a burden similar to that for Tier 2/Alternative Tier 2. EPA estimates that there will be three standard Tier 2/Alternative Tier 2/Tier 3 submittals over the next three years, at an estimated cost of about $1.6 million each. (The manufacturer of a diesel emulsion estimated its Tier 2 cost at $1.6 million.)

Worksheet 3: Tier 2/alternative Tier 2/Tier 3 Inhalation Research

The estimated hours and costs are:

Activity mgmt legal prof/tech clerical

read regs 160/$14400 160/$14400 160/$14400 160/$6400

obtain data 160/$14400 160/$14400 8000/$720000 4000/$160000

review data 160/$14400 160/$14400 800/$72000 800/$32000

prepare report

and send to EPA 160/$14400 160/$14400 400/$36000 400/$16000

totals 640/$57600 640/$57600 9360/$842400 5360/$214400

grand total 16000/$1,172,000

Capital/start-up costs are estimated at $150,000 for the purchase of animals, cages/related equipment, and computer hardware/software. Operating and maintenance costs are estimated at $250,000 for the lease of laboratory space and test equipment, and animal supplies. Thus, the total estimated cost for a Tier 2 submission is $1,172,000 + $150,000 + $250,000 = $1,572,000

It is estimated that API will spend $1.1 million per year, including $20,000 per year in capital/start-up (C/S) costs and $180,000 per year in operating and maintenance (O&M) costs, over the next three years in conducting its Alternative Tier 2 animal testing. Subtracting C/S and O&M costs from the $1.1 million leaves $0.9 million, and assuming (as in the previous ICR) an average of $100 per hour for labor and benefits for this specialized Alternative Tier 2 animal research, results in an annual burden of 9,000 hours. It is assumed that API will submit one report per year. The reasons for the C/S and O&M costs are the same as in the previous paragraph for Tier 2 inhalation research.

It is estimated that Afton Chemical Corporation (Afton) will spend $225,000 per year, including $5,000 per year in C/S costs and $25,000 per year in O&M costs, over the next three years in conducting its Alternative Tier 2 animal testing. Subtracting C/S and O&M costs from the $225,000 leaves $195,000, and assuming (as in the previous ICR) an average of $100 per hour for labor and benefits for this specialized Alternative Tier 2 animal research, results in an annual burden of 1,950 hours. It is assumed that Afton will submit one report per year. The reasons for the costs are as above.

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost

It is estimated that the EPA will expend about one-half of a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) annually, allocated among several professionals, for the activities listed in section 5(a). Assuming $75 per hour, for government salary and overhead at the professional level, gives an annual cost of $78,000 to the EPA. Costs for storage and public availability will be nominal.

6(d) Estimating the Respondent Universe and Total Burden and Costs

As discussed, it is anticipated that Tier 1 and standard Tier 2/Alternative Tier 2/Tier 3 activities will be very limited, with three Tier 1 submissions and three Tier 2/Alternative Tier 2/Tier 3 submissions over the next three years, at an estimated cost of $0.35 million for each Tier 1 and $1.6 million for each Tier 2/Alternative Tier 2/Tier 3, for an annual burden of about $1.95 million. Adding $1.1 million per year for API and $0.225 million per year for Ethyl gives an annual industry burden estimate of $3.3 million. The estimated annual EPA burden is $78,000.

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Table

Worksheet 4: Annual Industry Burden

Activity Number Capital/Start-up O&M costs Total Hours Total Cost

Tier 1 1 $35,000 $92,000 3,200 $351,000

Tier 2/ 1 $150,000 $250,000 16,000 $1,572,000

Alt. 2/T3

API 1 $20,000 $180,000 9,000 $1,100,000

Afton 1 $5,000 $25,000 1,950 $225,000

Totals 4 $210,000 $547,000 30,150 $3,248,000

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden

The API and Afton testing programs are winding down as they near completion. Other activities are estimated to be at about the same level.

Worksheet 5: Change in Burden - Annual Responses/Annual Hours

Previous Requested Change Reason

4/60,700 4/30,150 0/30,550 Adjustment (see paragraph 6(f))

6(g) Burden Statements

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 7,538 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; 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. 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 and 48 CFR chapter 15.

To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the use of automated collection techniques, EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID Number EPA- HQ-OAR-2006-0525, which is available for online viewing at www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 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 Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center is (202) 564-1742. An electronic version of the public docket is available at www.regulations.gov. This site can be used to 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. When in the system, select “search,” then key in the Docket ID Number identified above. Also, you can send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Office for EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID No. EPA- HQ-OAR-2006-0525 and OMB Control Number (2060-0297) in any correspondence.

NOTE:  The EPA Docket Center suffered damage due to flooding during the last week of June 2006.  The Docket Center is continuing to operate.  However, during the cleanup, there will be temporary changes to Docket Center telephone numbers, addresses, and hours of operation for people who wish to visit the Public Reading Room to view documents.  Consult EPA's Federal Register notice at 71 FR 38147 (July 5, 2006) or the EPA website at www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm for current information on docket status, locations and telephone numbers.

Part B of the Supporting Statement - Not Applicable to this ICR

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