[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 2822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1539]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-140241; FRL-4995-6]


Access to Confidential Business Information by Contractors; 
Extension of Contracts and Access to Confidential Information

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Due to the lack of authorized funding (i.e. a Fiscal Year 1996 
Appropriations Bill or Continuing Resolution) and the resultant 
furlough of EPA employees, EPA is extending the contracts and access to 
confidential business information of four state agencies serving as 
contractors to EPA, the State of New York Department of Environmental 
Conservation (Contract Number 68-W5-0040), Illinois Environmental 
Protection Agency (Contract Number 68-W5-0039), Georgia Department of 
Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-0038), and Wisconsin 
Department of Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-0037).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan B. Hazen, Director, 
Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. E-545, 401 
M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 554-1404, TDD: (202) 554-0551, 
e-mail: TSCA-H[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the fall of 1995, the State of New York 
Department of Environmental Conservation (Contract Number 68-W5-0040), 
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Contract Number 68-W5-0039), 
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-0038), 
and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-
0037), each were retained as EPA contractors to review information 
directed to EPA under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), including confidential business information (CBI). The purpose 
of the contracts is to have the states determine the value of TSCA 
derived information to their respective toxics programs. By the terms 
of the contracts, access to TSCA CBI could be as long as 120 days after 
the date of contract commencement.
    As a result of the furlough of EPA personnel and the closure of the 
Federal government for significant portions of the contract period, the 
state contractors were not able to access data or secure necessary 
Agency personnel assistance so as to adequately perform the contracts.
    For this reason, the Agency has determined that access to TSCA CBI 
should be extended another 60 days, to insure that the state 
contractors have sufficient time to address the issue of the utility of 
TSCA data to state programs. Additional information may be secured from 
Scott Sherlock, the EPA staffer assigned to this project, at telephone 
number (202) 260-1536; e-mail: [email protected].

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Access to confidential businesss 
information.

    Dated: January 23, 1996.
Linda A. Travers,
Director, Information Management Division, Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 96-1539 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F