Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form RFS0104 Recordkeeping and Reporting for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program Form and Instruction	New
2546t01-v2.xlsx Supplementary Document	2019-08-22
2546table01.xlsx Supplementary Document	2018-11-09
2546ss01-v2.docx Supporting Statement A	2019-08-22

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
233977	Recordkeeping and Reporting for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2060-0725	ICR Reference No: 201811-2060-008
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OAR	Agency Tracking No: 2546.01
Title: Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 08/22/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 02/19/2019
Terms of Clearance: Recommend that the agency evaluate their burden estimates upon resubmission.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2022	36 Months From Approved
Responses	2,726,409	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	654,965	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: This Information Collection Request (ICR) consolidates all Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) information collection activities into one, easy-to-understand format. These information collection activities include registration, recordkeeping, and reporting under 40 CFR Part 80, subpart M. Previously, RFS information collection activities have been scattered through multiple ICR packages. EPA believes that presenting all RFS-related information collection activities in one ICR, utilizing updated and accurate information about the number of active parties in the program, and applying consistent assumptions, will result in better and more accurate burden estimates. This ICR will supersede and replace the following currently approved ICRs under the following titles and OMB control numbers: RFS2 Voluntary RIN Quality Assurance Program, OMB Control Number 2060-0688; Cellulosic Production Volume Projections and Efficient Producer Reporting, OMB Control Number 2060-0707; Renewable Fuels Standard Program (RFS2-Supplemental), OMB Control Number 2060-0637; Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) Program, OMB Control Number 2060-0640; Regulation of Fuel and Fuel Additives: 2011 Renewable Fuel Standards – Petition for International Aggregate Compliance Approach, OMB Control Number 2060-0655; and Production Outlook Report for Unregistered Renewable Fuels Producers, OMB Control Number 2060-0660.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 7414,7542,7545 Name of Law: Clean Air Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 57973	12/08/2017
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 56319	11/13/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Recordkeeping and Reporting for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program	RFS2400, RFS0303 , RFS0104 , RFS0601, RFS0701, RFS0801, RFS0901, RFS1400, RFS 1500, RFS 1600 , RFS2100, RFS2200, RFS2300 , RFS2500, RFS2700, RFS2000	RFS Activity Report ,   RFS Annual Compliance Report ,   Renewable Fuel Producer Supplemental Report ,   RFS Renewable Fuel Producer Co-Products Report ,   RFS Renewable Biomass Report ,   RFS Production Outlook Report ,   Reporting Fuels Under 80.1451(b)(1)(ii)(T) ,   Reporting Fuels Under 80.1451(b)(1)(ii)(T) - Finish ,   Reporting Fuels Under 80.1451(b)(1)(ii)(T) - Blende ,   Batch Verification ,   Aggreggate RIN Verification ,   On-Site Audit Report ,   List of Potentially Invalid RINS ,   Mass Balance ,   RFS Efficient Producer Data Report ,   RFS Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Questionnaire

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	2,726,409	0	0	2,792,618	-66,209	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	654,965	0	0	652,072	2,893	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	102,010	-102,010	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new information collection that consolidates all information currently collected under the RFS regulations of 40 CFR Part 80, subpart M. The items were previously split into separate information collections, forcing respondents to review several collections in order to understand their burden. The existence of separate information collections also caused administrative difficulties for the agency, as each one had to be individually renewed at different points in time. This information collection provides burden estimates that are accessible, understandable, and correct. EPA has organized the information collection in a manner that best describes and counts the respondents. EPA has tied the information to be collected to regulatory citations and, where applicable, to any required or optional forms. Where appropriate, we have applied updated assumptions, based upon programmatic experience. EPA has updated the number of respondents to reflect the current state of the RFS program. There has been significant growth in the number of parties who have registered and who are active within the program since its inception. For example, the initial ICR estimates from 2011 anticipated that there would be 150 producers of renewable fuel; as of September 2017, there were 595 registered producers of renewable fuel. Other types of respondent have experienced growth, as well, since the RFS program's inception. The total number of responses has decreased slightly (< 3% of current total) from the total of the previous individual ICRs (2,792,618 responses) to this consolidated ICR (2,726,409). The reasons for the change (a decrease of 66,209) include the following: 1) this new ICR considered all current forms and procedures and who actually submits them - i.e., not all respondents submit all reports, although some of the previous ICRs did not make this distinction; and 2) this new ICR removed a small number of erroneously counted or double counted responses from the total. The totally hourly burden increased slightly (< 1% of current total) because we made some upward adjustments to our time estimates in response to industry feedback. The total burden in dollars (capital costs) decreased by $102,100 due to correction of an error in one of the previous ICRs, where labor costs were accidentally recorded as capital costs. By standardizing our assumptions and including all RFS-related collections in one new RFS ICR, EPA believes we will be better able to characterize the existing burden, and any future change in burden upon renewal. From an agency perspective, this holistic approach will assist us in considering the cost effectiveness of planned improvement to the information systems related to registration and reporting.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,297,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 02/19/2019

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