[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33791-33792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16354]



[[Page 33791]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 372

[OPPTS-400111A; FRL-5727-2]


Addition of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds; Modification of 
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Listing; Toxic Chemical Release 
Reporting; Community Right-to-Know; Extension of Comment Period and 
Docket Control Number Correction

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and docket control 
number correction.

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SUMMARY: In the Federal Register of May 7, 1997, EPA issued a proposed 
rule to add a chemical category that includes dioxin and 27 dioxin-like 
compounds to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting 
requirements under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community 
Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and section 6607 of the Pollution 
Prevention Act of 1990. In response to a request, EPA is extending the 
comment period by 60 days until September 5, 1997. The comment period 
for the proposed rule was scheduled to close on July 7, 1997. In 
addition, EPA is correcting the docket control number for the proposed 
rule, which was incorrectly identified in two places in the May 7, 1997 
proposal as ``OPPTS-400109.'' The correct docket control number is 
``OPPTS-400111.''

DATES: Written comments must be received by September 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted in triplicate to: OPPT 
Docket Clerk, TSCA Document Receipt Office (7407), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Rm. G-099, Washington, DC 20460, Attention: Docket Control Number 
OPPTS-400111.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by following 
the instructions under Unit IV. of this document. No confidential 
business information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
    Comments containing information claimed as confidential must be 
clearly marked as CBI. If CBI is claimed, three additional sanitized 
copies must also be submitted. Nonconfidential versions of comments on 
the proposed rule will be placed in the rulemaking record and will be 
available for public inspection. Comments should include the docket 
control number for the proposal, OPPTS-400111, and the name of the EPA 
contact for the proposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel R. Bushman, Petitions 
Coordinator, 202-260-3882, e-mail: [email protected], for 
specific information on this document, or for more information on EPCRA 
section 313, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know 
Hotline, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 5101, 401 M St., 
SW., Washington, DC 20460, Toll free: 1-800-535-0202, in Virginia and 
Alaska: 703-412-9877 or Toll free TDD: 1-800-553-7672.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    In response to a petition from Communities For A Better Environment 
to add dioxin and 27 dioxin-like compounds to the list of chemicals 
subject to the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency 
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and section 
6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA), EPA proposed to add 
a category of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds to the list. In 
conjunction with that proposed addition, EPA proposed to modify the 
current listing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). EPA requested 
comment on, but did not at that time propose, the establishment of 
lower reporting thresholds for the dioxin and dioxin-like compounds 
category. EPA stated that any final action to add a dioxin and dioxin-
like compounds category will not be taken until EPA is ready to take 
final action on a rule setting lower reporting thresholds for chemicals 
that, like dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, persist in the environment 
and bioaccumulate. The proposal was issued in the Federal Register of 
May 7, 1997 (62 FR 24887) (FRL-5727-2), with a comment response 
deadline of July 7, 1997.

II. Extension of Comment Period

    On June 4, 1997, EPA received a request from the Chlorine Chemistry 
Council (CCC), a business council of the Chemical Manufacturers 
Association, to extend the comment period on the proposed rule for 60 
days. The CCC requested the extension because they believe that the 
original comment period was too short. Specifically, the CCC believes 
that 60 days is insufficient to analyze and comment thoroughly on the 
proposed category addition and that additional time is needed to study 
the impact of potential lower reporting thresholds for the category. 
The CCC also stated that additional time should be provided to allow 
the seven new industry groups recently added to the facilities that 
must report under EPCRA section 313 to evaluate their reporting 
obligations under EPCRA and the possible impact of the proposed 
category addition. In addition, the CCC states that since EPA has 
stated that the proposed rule would not be finalized until a rule 
lowering the reporting thresholds is ready to be finalized, extending 
the comment period for the proposed addition will not delay the 
submission of any data on the category.
    EPA has considered these comments and has determined that extending 
the comment period is an appropriate action that will not cause a 
significant delay in the evaluation of the proposed category addition. 
Therefore, EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule 
until September 5, 1997. All comments should be submitted to the 
address listed under the ADDRESSES unit at the front of this document. 
All comments must be received by September 5, 1997.

III. Docket Number Correction

    In the May 7, 1997 proposed rule (62 FR 24887), the docket 
established for the proposed rulemaking was incorrectly identified as 
``OPPTS-400109'' in 2 of 3 places under the ADDRESSES unit on page 
24887, column 3, lines 11 and 40. The correct docket control number is 
OPPTS-400111. EPA wants to eliminate any confusion and make it clear 
that the correct docket control number to use for submitting comments 
on the proposed rule is OPPTS-400111.

IV. Rulemaking Record

     The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public 
version, has been established for this rulemaking under docket control 
number ``OPPTS-400111'' (including comments and data submitted 
electronically as described below). A public version of this record, 
including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does 
not include any information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection 
from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. 
The public record is located in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information 
Center, Rm. NE-B607, 401 M St., Washington, DC.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
    [email protected]


    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data 
will also be accepted on disks in

[[Page 33792]]

WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. All comments and 
data in electronic form must be identified by the docket control number 
OPPTS-400111. Electronic comments on this proposed rule may be filed 
online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

    Dated: June 17, 1997.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 97-16354 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F