The data collected through this information collection consist of ambient air concentration measurements for the seven air pollutants with national ambient air quality standards (i.e., ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, carbon monoxide, PM2.5 and PM10), ozone precursors, meteorological variables at a select number of sites and other supporting measurements. Accompanying the pollutant concentration data are quality assurance/quality control data and air monitoring network design information. The U.S. EPA and others (e.g., state and local air quality management agencies, tribal entities, environmental groups, academic institutions, industrial groups) use the ambient air quality data for many purposes. Some of the more prominent uses include informing the public and other interested parties of an areas air quality, judging an areas (e.g., county, city, neighborhood) air quality in comparison with the established health or welfare standards (including both national and local standards), evaluating an air quality management agency's progress in achieving or maintaining air pollutant levels below the national and local standards, developing and revising State Implementation Plans (SIPs) in accordance with 40 CFR 51, evaluating air pollutant control strategies, developing or revising national control policies, providing data for air quality model development and validation, supporting enforcement actions, documenting episodes and initiating episode controls, air quality trends assessment, and air pollution research.
The currently approved ICR estimate of burden hours is 1,771,662. This ICR renewal burden hour estimate updates the previous submittal. There is a decrease of 321,694 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. The decrease in burden, labor costs, and capital/O&M costs from the most recently approved ICR is due to an adjustment(s). There is an adjustment decrease in the total estimated burden as currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved Burdens. This decrease reflects the consolidation of monitors into fewer sites, consolidation of PAMS network burden estimates to avoid double counting, termination of unnecessary monitors, and more efficient automated procedures (e.g., moving from manual samplers to automated continuous samplers) for measuring and reporting data. The decrease is offset somewhat by the additional burden and cost estimates included for asset management and sensors.
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.
0940t30.xlsx
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Ambient Air Surveillance