Prior to
submitting a request for extension, the Agency should clarify the
relationship between Protocol Gas Verification Programs and
consider consolidating similar collections of information (e.g. QA
requirements for SLAMS, SPS, and PSD) to improve transparency and
avoid duplication.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
12/31/2016
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2013
211
0
211
70
0
70
0
0
0
This ICR includes ambient air
monitoring data reporting and recordkeeping activities associated
with the 40 CFR part 58 Appendix A, Ambient Air Quality
Surveillance Quality Assurance Regulations. These data and
information are collected by state, local, and tribal air quality
management agencies and reported to the EPA. The EPA Ambient Air
Quality Monitoring Program's quality assurance requirements in 40
CFR part 58, Appendix A, require: "2.6 Gaseous and Flow Rate Audit
Standards. Gaseous pollutant concentration standards (permeation
devices or cylinders of compressed gas) used to obtain test
concentrations for CO, SO2, NO, and NO2 must be traceable to either
a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Traceable
Reference Material (NTRM), NIST Standard Reference Materials (SRM),
and Netherlands Measurement Institute (NMI) Primary Reference
Materials (valid as covered by Joint Declaration of Equivalence) or
a NIST-certified Gas Manufacturer's Internal Standard (GMIS),
certified in accordance with one of the procedures given in
reference 4 of this appendix. Vendors advertising certification
with the procedures provided in reference 4 of this appendix and
distributing gases as "EPA Protocol Gas" must participate in the
EPA Protocol Gas Verification Program or not use "EPA" in any form
of advertising." These requirements give assurance to end users
that all specialty gas producers selling EPA Protocol Gases are
participants in a program that provides an independent assessment
of the accuracy of their gases' certified concentrations. In 2010,
EPA developed an Ambient Air Protocol Gas Verification Program
(AA-PGVP) that helps to ensure that producers selling EPA Protocol
Gases participate in the AA-PGVP and provides end users with
information about participating producers and verification results.
Each year, EPA compares gas cylinders from every specialty gas
producer being used by ambient air monitoring organizations. EPA
Regions 2 and 7 provide analytical services for verification of 40
cylinders/lab or 80 cylinders total/year. Cylinders are verified at
a pre-determined time each quarter. In order to make the
appropriate selection, EPA needs to know what specialty gas
producers are being used by the monitoring organizations.
Therefore, EPA needs to survey each primary quality assurance
organization every year to collect information on specialty gas
producers being used and whether the monitoring organization would
like to participate in the verification for the upcoming calendar
year.
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.
2375ss02.docx
Implementation of Ambient Air Protocol Gas Verification Program