This ICR is
approved. Before resubmission of this ICR, the agency is encouraged
to confirm estimates of the time required to comply with reporting
requirements, taking into account respondents' adoption of flexible
measure and electronic reporting tools.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2012
36 Months From Approved
1,542
0
0
124,976
0
0
495,900
0
0
Title IV of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 (the acid rain title) established goals to
reduce annual emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides
(NOx) and place a national cap on SO2 emissions beginning in the
year 2000. To ensure compliance and to provide the national
consistency, Title IV require the designated representative of each
affected acid rain source to obtain an operating permit for the
affected source and to certify that an approved emissions
monitoring system has been installed and is properly operated at
each affected unit's source of emissions. In addition, under a
Federal NOx Budget Trading Program, sources also must meet similar
requirements as part of an emissions trading program. In May 2005,
EPA promulgated the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which may
broaden the trading program concept to additional sources.
Emissions monitoring and reporting is the foundation upon which
these allowance trading systems are based. Without accurate
monitoring and reporting of emissions there would be no assurance
that emissions had been reduced. Data handling or reporting is
required by the law, and under promulgated regulations EPA imposes
data handling, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. The EPA
requires that all affected units required to monitor and report
emissions under these trading programs use a data acquisition and
handling system (DAHS) to record and submit hourly data in an
electronic data report (EDR) format. The Clean Air Markets Division
(CAMD) has undertaken the re-engineering of the process and data
systems into the new Emissions Collection and Monitoring Plan
System (ECMPS) reviewing how data and emissions are reported,
quality assured, maintained and submitted. Adding flexibility to
the process is one of the main reasons for changing how monitoring
and emissions data are quality assured and submitted.
The existing requirements in 40
CFR Part 75 are mandatory for all sources subject to the Acid Rain
Program under Title IV of the Clean Air Act, as well as certain
other emissions trading programs administered by EPA. These
requirements are covered by existing ICRs for the Acid Rain Program
(ICR No. 1633.13, OMB No. 2060-0258), the NOx SIP Call (ICR No.
1857.03, OMB No. 2060-0445), and the Clean Air Interstate Rule (ICR
No. 2152.01). The information requirements in this ICR are based on
revisions to the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements, and reflect the one time costs necessary for sources
to review the rule revisions and to adapt their recordkeeping and
reporting systems to the revised requirements. These revisions do
not impose new requirements upon sources with regard to monitoring
or quality assurance activities. Thus, this ICR only covers
specific monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting elements that
will be necessitated by the proposed revisions: (1) reviewing the
new requirements; (2) making changes to data acquisition and
handling systems (DAHs); and (3) debugging software changes. All
burdens associated with other elements of Parts 72 and 75 will
remain covered by the underlying ICRs of the existing programs.
When changes covered by this rule are final, the burden estimates
under the existing program ICRs will be adjusted accordingly. The
Clean Air Markets Division (CAMD) has undertaken the re-engineering
of the process and data systems associated with emissions,
monitoring plan, and certification data into the new Emissions
Collection and Monitoring Plan System (ECMPS). As part of the ECMPS
project, CAMD reviewed how monitoring plan information,
certification/recertification applications, on-going quality
assurance data, and emissions data are maintained, quality assured,
and submitted. CAMD also reviewed the tools available for checking
and submitting data on a quarterly and ozone season basis. Adding
flexibility to the process is one of the main reasons for changing
how monitoring and emissions data are quality assured and
submitted. Several of the changes add flexibility to the process.
First, monitoring plans will no longer be required as part of the
quarterly file. Second, sources will be able to submit on_going
quality assurance test data after the tests are performed, and will
not have to wait to submit the data as part of a quarterly report.
Lastly, the new XML file format will allow the data to be organized
based on dates and hours instead of pollutant type. To accomplish
these objectives, EPA is proposing certain modifications to 40 CFR
parts 72 and 75. In addition, EPA also is proposing some additional
changes to clarify certain provisions, implement approaches
approved through existing guidance, or make similar types of minor
rule improvements
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
2203ss02.doc
Revisions to the Emissions Monitoring Rule under the Acid Rain Program, NOx Budget Trading Program, and Clean Air Interstate Programs