Prior to submitting a request for extension, the Agency should clarify the relationship between Protocol Gas Verification Programs and consider consolidating similar collections of information (e.g. QA requirements for SLAMS, SPS, and PSD) to improve transparency and avoid duplication.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
12/31/2016
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2013
211
0
211
70
0
70
0
0
0
This ICR includes ambient air monitoring data reporting and recordkeeping activities associated with the 40 CFR part 58 Appendix A, Ambient Air Quality Surveillance Quality Assurance Regulations. These data and information are collected by state, local, and tribal air quality management agencies and reported to the EPA.
The EPA Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program's quality assurance requirements in 40 CFR part 58, Appendix A, require: "2.6 Gaseous and Flow Rate Audit Standards. Gaseous pollutant concentration standards (permeation devices or cylinders of compressed gas) used to obtain test concentrations for CO, SO2, NO, and NO2 must be traceable to either a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Traceable Reference Material (NTRM), NIST Standard Reference Materials (SRM), and Netherlands Measurement Institute (NMI) Primary Reference Materials (valid as covered by Joint Declaration of Equivalence) or a NIST-certified Gas Manufacturer's Internal Standard (GMIS), certified in accordance with one of the procedures given in reference 4 of this appendix. Vendors advertising certification with the procedures provided in reference 4 of this appendix and distributing gases as "EPA Protocol Gas" must participate in the EPA Protocol Gas Verification Program or not use "EPA" in any form of advertising."
These requirements give assurance to end users that all specialty gas producers selling EPA Protocol Gases are participants in a program that provides an independent assessment of the accuracy of their gases' certified concentrations. In 2010, EPA developed an Ambient Air Protocol Gas Verification Program (AA-PGVP) that helps to ensure that producers selling EPA Protocol Gases participate in the AA-PGVP and provides end users with information about participating producers and verification results.
Each year, EPA compares gas cylinders from every specialty gas producer being used by ambient air monitoring organizations. EPA Regions 2 and 7 provide analytical services for verification of 40 cylinders/lab or 80 cylinders total/year. Cylinders are verified at a pre-determined time each quarter.
In order to make the appropriate selection, EPA needs to know what specialty gas producers are being used by the monitoring organizations. Therefore, EPA needs to survey each primary quality assurance organization every year to collect information on specialty gas producers being used and whether the monitoring organization would like to participate in the verification for the upcoming calendar year.
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.
2375ss02.docx
Implementation of Ambient Air Protocol Gas Verification Program