Request for Comments: Automobile Refinishing Solvent Use Survey (ARSUS)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5420-1]

Request for Comments: Automobile Refinishing Solvent Use Survey

(ARSUS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the

following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Request

(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting

the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on

specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described

below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division (MD-62),

Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Charles O. Mann, (919) 541-4593, Fax (919) 541-7891, E-mail

[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are

those which are the owners and operators of the facilities that are

classified in any of the following SIC codes:

5511--Motor Vehicle Dealers (New and Used)

5521--Motor Vehicle Dealers (Used Only)

7532--Top, Body, and Upholstery Repair Shops and Paint Shops

7538--General Automotive Repair Shops

7539--General Automotive Repair Shops, Not Elsewhere Classified

Title: Automobile Refinishing Solvent Use Survey (ARSUS).

Abstract: This information collection is a voluntary one-time

survey of automobile refinishers requested by the Emissions

Characterization and Prevention Branch (ECPB) of the Environmental

Protection Agency's (EPA) Air Pollution and Prevention Control Division

(APPCD) to support the overall EPA program to investigate the emissions

of ozone precursors both nationally and at the metropolitan level. Data

collected are used to validate existing and proposed model-based

estimates of emissions, develop statistically valid estimates of

precursors usage in the auto refinishing industry, and investigate

functional relationships between emissions and factors that may be

useful predictors of emissions.

Automobile refinishers make extensive use of solvents in paints, in

body fillers, and for clean-up both before and after repair operations.

Most of these solvents evaporate after they are used. As volatile

organic compounds (VOC) they are precursors in the formation of ground-

level ozone. Paints used in automobile refinishing contain higher

concentrations of the more reactive VOC than do other types of paint.

In addition, there is a high degree of uncertainty in emissions

estimates for automobile refinishing. National solvent usage estimates

for the category range

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from as low as 80,000 tons per year to as high as 286,000 tons per

year. This uncertainty, more than a factor of 3.5, is largely due to

the uncertainty in the use of thinning and cleanup solvents. It must

also be noted that this uncertainty is at the national level.

Additional uncertainty is introduced when a surrogate (such as

population or accident statistics) is used to allocate national usage

estimates to the local level.

Past automobile refinishing emission estimates are based on

national production data, distribution to regions, States, and local

areas on the basis of employment and population statistics. Solvent

emissions from automobile refinishers are currently estimated using a

per capita emission factor, which does not reflect the variability of

emissions from different shops and may misrepresent emissions from this

industry. The emission estimation method is used by State and local air

pollution agencies in the development of air emission inventories.

The voluntary survey includes a national survey of auto body repair

shops and local-area intensive surveys of 6 high-population areas. The

survey instrument collects information on the quantity and types of

materials used by the automobile refinishing facilities such as paints,

primers, cleanup solvents, etc. In addition, information on the usage

of these solvents is recorded by the survey. Usage includes details on

when (time of day, day of week and season), how (spary booths, spray

guns, etc.) and where (location of facilities) the solvents were used.

The national survey data are divided into two independent sets with

probability proportional to population. One set is used to estimate

model parameters (train the technique). The second set is used to

develop a comparison variable (validating the technique or model for

emission estimation) with an unbiased estimate of the difference

between the model estimate and the true value.

Data are collected using a combined mail and telephone survey

approach. Respondents are requested to complete on survey that requests

information on the facility, type of automobile refinishing work

conducted, solvent usage, temporal and activity variation on solvent

usage, application equipment, solvent cleaning systems, air pollution

control equipment, and local industry demographics. The telephone

survey will prompt nonrespondents and clarify survey responses.

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. The OMB control numbers of EPA's

regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.

The EPA would like to solicit comments 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

submissions of responses.

Burden Statement: The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for

this collection of information is estimated to average 47 minutes per

response. The survey is a one-time data collection. The survey includes

5,900 field samples. An estimated 4,500 survey responses are expected.

Since we anticipate that respondents will use existing records and

equipment to respond to the survey, no capital or start-up cost burdens

are expected.

Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources

expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or

provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time

needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize

technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and

verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and

disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to

comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;

train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;

search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;

and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Dated: January 31, 1996.

Chalres O. Mann,

Chief, Emissions Characterization and Prevention Branch.

[FR Doc. 96-2919 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]

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