The highway diesel program regulations
require most motor vehicle (highway) diesel fuel sold at retail
stations to contain 15 parts per million (ppm) sulfur or less
(hereafter referred to as ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, or ULSD)
beginning October, 2006. General recordkeeping and reporting
related to diesel fuel regulations for on-road, non-road and
performance-based test methods are included in EPA ICR 1718.08 (OMB
Control Number 2060-0277). Under the regulation, where a violation
of the 15 ppm sulfur standard is identified at a retail outlet, the
retailer responsible for dispensing the noncompliant fuel is deemed
liable, as well as the refiner(s), importer(s) and distributor(s)
of such fuel. The highway diesel regulations further provide,
however, that any person deemed liable can rebut this presumption
by establishing an affirmative defense that includes, among other
things, showing that it conducted a quality assurance sampling and
testing program as prescribed by the regulations. This ICR covers
burdens and costs associated with provisions that allow refiners
and importers of ULSD an alternative means of meeting the
affirmative defense requirements in the diesel sulfur regulations
by participating in a nationwide diesel fuel sampling and testing
program. The reporting burden covered by this proposed ICR related
to reports that refiners, importers and distributors, will only
have to submit in the event they have a non-complying sulfur test
result. (See 40 CFR ? 80.613.) We have estimated 20 respondents per
year may have to submit and, of these, one respondent may be a
small business. The authority citation for the direct final rule
and the association information collection is for the following
Clean Air Act sections: 42 United States Code ?? 7414, 7542, 7545,
and 7601(a).
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.