This request is
approved for three years. Prior to resubmission of this request for
extension, the Agency should reassess estimates of burden taking
into account recent experience with the program.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
09/30/2013
36 Months From Approved
1,224
0
0
207,662
0
0
4,073,352
0
0
The EPA is finalizing the network
design requirements for the oxides of sulfur (SOX), specifically
sulfur dioxide (SO2), to support the revised National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for SO2. Presently, state agencies, and
local agencies when delegated by the state, are required to operate
minimum numbers of EPA-approved SO2 monitors based on the
population of each of their Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA) and
the amount of SO2 emissions within those CBSAs. EPA is finalizing
requirements to require monitors in CBSAs where there is an
increased coincidence of population and SO2 emissions. The final
network design corresponds to the proposal of the new NAAQS based
on peak 1-hour daily maximum concentrations, or 1-hour NAAQS, and
the associated level of 75 parts per billion (ppb). The
introduction of the 1-hour NAAQS and the range of levels are
intended to protect against peak, shorter term exposure risks. In
the final SO2 monitoring network design, EPA has finalized minimum
SO2 monitoring requirements which call for monitors in CBSA based
on a Population Weighted Emissions Index (PWEI) that uses
population and emissions inventory data at the CBSA level to assign
required monitoring for a given CBSA (population and emissions
being obvious relevant factors in prioritizing numbers of required
monitors). The PWEI for a particular CBSA is calculated by
multiplying the population (using the latest Census Bureau
estimates) of a CBSA by the total amount of SO2 emissions in that
CBSA. The CBSA emission value is in tons per year, and is
calculated by aggregating the county level emissions for each
county in a CBSA as maintained in the latest edition of the
National Emissions Inventory. We then divide the resulting product
of CBSA population and CBSA SO2 emissions by 1,000,000 to provide a
PWEI value, the units of which are millions of people-tons per
year. Those CBSAs with a PWEI value of 1,000,000 or more are
required to operate three monitors within that CBSA. Those CBSAs
with a PWEI value between 1,000,000 and 100,000 are required to
operate two monitors within that CBSA. Those CBSAs with a PWEI
value between 100,000 and 5,000 are required to operate one monitor
within that CBSA. In summary, EPA estimates that this final SO2
network design will require 163 monitoring sites in 131 CBSAs, and
that a large majority of existing SO2 sites will satisfy these
minimum monitoring requirements..
All activities listed with
section 4 (b) (ii) of this ICR Supporting Statement are presented
in Worksheet 1. The detailed burden and cost estimates for the
different types of monitors are based on information provided in
the updated version of Guidance for Estimating Ambient Air
Monitoring Costs for Criteria Pollutants and Selected Air Toxic
Pollutants (prepared by Desert Research Institute for the EPA
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality
Assessment Division, Ambient Air Monitoring Group, January 2005).
The cost estimates presented in this guidance document are based on
existing literature and direct monitoring experience. The costs for
equipment and supplies were verified with vendors. The monitoring
costs are based on vendor quotes for the monitor type that EPA
expects respondents to use to comply with the requirements. Costs
for level of effort estimates are verified with selected State and
local agencies. All cost values presented in the guidance document
are adjusted to 2004 dollars. For use in preparing the burden
estimates for this ICR, costs for the monitoring requirements were
inflated to 2011, 2012, and 2013. The cost escalation factors were
estimated based on the appropriate Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
price indices as reported in the report available at
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/bu2/inflateGDP.html.
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.
ICR_FOR SO2_FINAL_RULE_JUNE_2010.XLS
ICR Supporting Statement FINAL- 9-1-10.doc
Ambient Oxides of Sulfur Monitoring Requirements: Revisions to Network Design Requirements