[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60675-60676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29594]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 79

[FRL-5919-5]


Proposed Alternative Tier 2 Requirements for Baseline Gasoline 
and Oxygenated Gasoline Categories of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether, 
Ethyl Alcohol, and Other Oxygenates

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this document is to announce that the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment periods, 
which published on September 9, 1997 (62 FR 47400), on the proposed 
Alternative Tier 2 testing requirements under the fuel and fuel 
additive (F/FAs) registration testing requirements of 40 CFR part 79, 
subpart F an additional 60 days.
    EPA has extended the comment periods for the following reasons. 
First, the API 211(b) Research Group has requested an extension because 
there are many inherent complexities in the proposed testing, 
especially in regard to the required exposure work. Second, the public 
has shown an interest in the testing being required under the proposed 
Alternative Tier 2 notification.

DATES: Comments on these proposed Alternative Tier 2 provisions must be 
received from the public by January 7, 1998. Comments on the proposed 
Alternative Tier 2 provisions now must be received from the API 211(b) 
Research Group within 120 days of their initial receipt of the proposed 
testing regimen.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this proposed action should be addressed 
to Public Docket No. A-96-16, Waterside Mall (Room M-1500), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket Section, 401 M Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Materials relevant to this rulemaking 
have been placed in Docket A-96-16. Documents may be inspected between 
the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A 
reasonable fee may be charged for copying docket material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Brophy, Environmental Scientist, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, 
(202) 233-9068.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulated Entities

    Entities potentially regulated by this action are those that 
manufacture gasoline with or without the fuel additives MTBE, ethyl 
tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), ethyl alcohol (EtOH), tertiary amyl methyl 
ether (TAME), diisopropyl ether (DIPE), and tertiary butyl alcohol 
(TBA) and manufacturers of these oxygenates and other gasoline 
additives. Regulated categories and entities include:

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                                                Examples of regulated   
                 Category                             entities          
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Industry..................................  Oil refiners, gasoline      
                                             importers, oxygenate       
                                             blenders, oxygenate and    
                                             fuel additive              
                                             manufacturers.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but, rather illustrates 
the types of entities that EPA is currently aware of that are likely to 
be regulated by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this 
table could also be regulated. To determine whether an entity not 
described by the examples listed in the table is subject to these 
requirements, refer to the applicability criteria in part 79 of title 
40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. If questions remain regarding 
the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the 
person listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    This document serves as a notice to all manufacturers of the 
subject F/FAs, that are not exempted from these requirements section.
    EPA has extended the comment periods for the following reasons. 
First, the API 211(b) Research Group has requested an extension because 
there are many inherent complexities in the proposed testing, 
especially in regard to the required exposure work. Second, the public 
has shown an interest in the testing being required under the proposed 
Alternative Tier 2 notification.
    Therefore, EPA has decided to extend the comment periods for both 
the the API 211(b) Research Group and for the public in order to assure 
that all commenters are able to fully review and comment on the 
proposed testing regimen.
    The Agency notified the API 211(b) Research Group, by certified 
letter of the 60-day extension and a copy of this extension letter as 
well as the

[[Page 60676]]

notification letter of the proposed tests and schedule under the 
Alternative Tier 2 provisions have been placed in the public record.
    In accordance with 40 CFR 79.56(a), manufacturers of F/FAs may 
satisfy the Subpart F testing requirements on a group basis, e.g. the 
API 211(b) Research Group. Each individual manufacturer that is a 
member of such a group, however, continues to be individually subject 
to the testing and data submission requirements.
    This document serves as a notice to all manufacturers of the 
subject F/FAs, that are not exempted from these requirements under the 
small business provisions of 40 CFR 79.58(d), that they are subject to 
these requirements.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 79

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Gasoline, 
Conventional gasoline, Oxygenates, Methyl tertiary butyl ether, and 
Motor vehicle pollution.

    Dated: November 3, 1997
Richard D. Wilson,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 97-29594 Filed 11-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P