Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline Volatility

Byron J. Bunker
Environmental Protection Agency
January 17, 2014

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3199-3200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00934]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0478; FRL-9905-57-OAR]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline Volatility

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), Regulation of Fuels and Fuel 
Additives: Gasoline Volatility (EPA ICR No. 1367.10, OMB control No. 
2060-0178), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public 
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as 
described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is 
currently approved through July 31, 2014. An Agency may not conduct or 
sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2007-0478, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James W. Caldwell, Compliance 
Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Mail Code 6406J, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9303; fax number: 
(202) 343-2802; email address: caldwell.jim@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will

[[Page 3200]]

be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The 
docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the 
EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-
1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit 
http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether 
the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of 
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA 
will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. 
The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and 
approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: Gasoline volatility, as measured by Reid Vapor Pressure 
(RVP) in pounds per square inch (psi), is controlled in the spring and 
summer in order to minimize evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from 
motor vehicles. RVP is subject to a federal standard of 7.8 psi or 9.0 
psi, depending on location. The addition of ethanol to gasoline 
increases the RVP by about 1 psi. Gasoline that contains 9 volume 
percent to 10 volume percent ethanol is subject to a standard that is 
1.0 psi greater. As an aid to industry compliance and EPA enforcement, 
the product transfer document (PTD), which is prepared by the producer 
or importer and which accompanies a shipment of gasoline containing 
ethanol, is required by regulation to contain a legible and conspicuous 
statement that the gasoline contains ethanol and the percentage 
concentration of ethanol. This is intended to deter the mixing within 
the distribution system, particularly in retail storage tanks, of 
gasoline with ethanol in the 9 percent to 10 percent range with 
gasoline which does not contain ethanol in that range. Such mixing 
would likely result in a gasoline which is in violation of its RVP 
standard. Also, a party wishing a testing exemption for research on 
gasoline that is not in compliance with the applicable volatility 
standard must submit certain information to EPA. EPA has additional PTD 
requirements for gasoline containing ethanol at 40 CFR 80.1503. Those 
requirements are covered in a separate ICR.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are those who produce or import gasoline containing 
ethanol, or who wish to obtain a testing exemption.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory per 40 CFR 80.27(d) 
and (e).
    Estimated number of respondents: 2,000.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 12,330 hours per year. Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $1.1 million, includes $20 annualized capital 
or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is no change in the hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. The use of ethanol in gasoline has increased slightly, but that 
has been offset by a slight decrease in gasoline consumption.

    Dated: January 13, 2014.
Byron J. Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air 
Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2014-00934 Filed 1-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P