The agency is asked to provide a burden change table as part of the next information collection request that shows the estimated burden changes for that request relative to the estimates in the information collection request submitted on 8/31/22 and relative to the original estimates for the 2060-0725, 2060-0723, and 2060-0728 collections.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2025
36 Months From Approved
11/30/2022
5,761,551
0
2,726,409
860,970
0
654,965
23,039,905
0
0
This ICR package is a renewal of an existing collection, Recordkeeping and Reporting for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, OMB Control Number 2060-0725, expiring August 31, 2022. The RFS regulations are in 40 CFR part 80, subpart M. Because it is more efficient and easier for regulated parties to understand, we seek to consolidate the following approved ICRs into this collection: Modifications to Fuel Regulations to Provide Flexibility for E15; Modifications to RFS RIN Market Regulations (Final Rule), OMB Control Number 2060-0723, expiring November 30, 2022; and Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021, Response to the Remand of the 2016 Standards, and Other Changes (Final Rule), OMB Control Number 2060-0728, expiring December 31, 2023.
The RFS program was created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), which amended the Clean Air Act (CAA). The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) further amended the CAA by expanding the RFS program. The RFS program is a national policy that requires a certain volume of renewable fuel to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum-based transportation fuel, heating oil or jet fuel. The reporting requirements of the RFS program typically fall under registration and compliance reporting. Recordkeeping requirements include product transfer documents (PTDs) and retention of records that support items reported. Because RFS relies upon a marketplace of RINs, EPA has created and maintains the EPA Moderated Transaction System (EMTS) capable of handling a high volume of RIN trading activities. The respondents to this ICR are RIN Generators (producers and importers of renewable fuel), Obligated Parties (refiners and importers of gasoline and diesel), Exporters, RIN Owners, independent third-party Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) Providers, Third Parties (Auditors who submit reports on behalf of other respondents), and certain petitioners under the international aggregate compliance approach (such petitions are infrequent).
There is decrease of 66,917 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICRs (as discussed above, this ICR combines three ICRs in the renewal of 2060-0725; these three total 927,888 hours) currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to several factors. Certain reporting burdens (e.g., initial registration or initial programming of product codes) are one-time and front-loaded as far as their hourly burden; and this leads to a decrease in total hours upon renewal in subsequent years. The number of parties participating in various recordkeeping and reporting activities based upon their roles in the program is somewhat fluid, and activity varies with economic conditions, and we tended to be overly generous in our initial estimates. Upon renewal, we use the actual number of registrants, by role; this ICR renewal uses the total number of parties registered in October 2021. Finally, we showed our estimates to industry representatives who are actual respondents (to perform industry consultations) and made adjustments to the hours spent in recordkeeping and reporting, and to the hourly rates used to estimate cost, based upon their feedback, and as described in the docketed supporting statement.
$4,485,827
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Anne Pastorkovich 202 343-9623
Reginfo record details
No
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.
Third Party Auditors