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

Topics:  Gasoline

Byron J. Bunker
Environmental Protection Agency
1 April 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18228-18229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06708]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0478; FRL-10007-18-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 (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), Regulation of Fuels and 
Fuel Additives: Gasoline Volatility (EPA ICR No. 1367.13, OMB control 
No. 2060-0178), to the Office of Management and Budget

[[Page 18229]]

(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA). 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 December 31, 2020. 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 June 1, 2020.

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.
    The 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 6405A, 
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 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 
Building, 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 
document 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 during the summer 
ozone season (June 1 to September 15) 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 between nine and 15 volume percent ethanol is provided a 1.0 
psi waiver such that the RVP may be up to 8.8 psi or 10.0 psi for a 
federal standard of 7.8 psi or 9.0 psi respectively. As an aid to 
industry compliance and EPA enforcement, the product transfer document 
(PTD), which is prepared by the gasoline 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 containing between 
nine and 15 volume percent ethanol 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 seeking 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: 2,200.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 1,410 hours per year. Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $154,030, includes $10 annualized capital or 
operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: With just about all PTDs now computer-
generated, the average time to include the regulatory language on each 
PTD has decreased from one second to 0.1 second. The total annual 
burden has decreased from 12.330 hours per year to 1,410 hours per 
year.

    Dated: March 25, 2020.
Byron J. Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air 
Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2020-06708 Filed 3-31-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P