[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54649-54652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27387]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 799

[OPPTS-42205A; FRL-6023-9]
RIN 2070-AC76


Methyl Isobutyl Ketone; Export Notification Requirements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
sections 4 and 12(b)(1), EPA is proposing to require that exporters of 
methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) (CAS No. 108-10-1) be subject to TSCA 
section 12(b)(1) export notification requirements. These requirements 
would become effective following publication in the Federal Register of 
a testing consent order (Order) incorporating an enforceable consent 
agreement (ECA) that would require health effects testing on MIBK and 
the issuance of a final rule based on this proposed rule. When the TSCA 
section 12(b)(1) rule for MIBK becomes effective, all exporters of 
MIBK, including persons who have not signed the ECA, would be required 
to comply with the export notification regulations under section 
12(b)(1) of TSCA with regard to exports of MIBK.

DATES: Written comments, identified by the docket control number OPPTS-
42205A, must be received by EPA on or before December 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Follow the instructions for each method as provided in Unit 
I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this preamble.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information: John 
Schaeffer, Project Manager, Chemical Information and Testing Branch 
(7405), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 
(202) 260-1266; e-mail: [email protected].
    For additional information: Susan B. Hazen, Director, Environmental 
Assistance Division (7408), Rm. E-541, Office of Pollution Prevention 
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 554-1404, TDD: (202) 554-0551; 
e-mail: TSCA-H[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Would this proposed rule apply to me?

    You would be affected by this proposed rule if you export or intend 
to export MIBK (CAS No. 108-10-1) and EPA has announced in the Federal 
Register that it has entered into an ECA for MIBK. Regulated categories 
and entities may include, but are not limited to:

[[Page 54650]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Examples of Regulated
                 Category                             Entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chemical exporters                          Persons who export
                                             or intend to export MIBK
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide for readers regarding examples of entities likely to be regulated 
by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this table could 
also be regulated. If you have any questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person 
listed as the technical contact in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'' at the beginning of this document.

B. How can I get additional information, including copies of this 
document and support documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document and other available support documents on the Internet from the 
EPA Home Page at the ``Federal Register--Environmental Documents'' 
entry for this document (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-TOX/1998/).
    2. In person. The official record for this proposed rule, including 
the public version, has been established under docket control number 
OPPTS-42205A. The official record also includes all material and 
submissions filed under docket control number OPPTS-42187A, the record 
for the proposed test rule for certain hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), 
as amended, and all materials and submissions filed under docket 
control number OPPTS-42187B, the record for the receipt of proposals 
for developing ECAs for HAPs chemicals. The public version of the 
record, including printed, paper versions of any electronic comments, 
which does not include any information claimed as confidential business 
information (CBI), is available for inspection in the TSCA 
Nonconfidential Information Center, Rm. NE B-607, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC. The Center is open from 12 noon to 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number of the 
Center is (202) 260-7099.

C. How do I submit comments and to whom do I submit them?

    You may submit comments by mail, in person, or electronically:
    1. By mail. Submit written comments to: Document Control 
Office(7407), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. G-099, East Tower, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. The telephone number of the OPPT Document Control 
Office is (202) 260-7093.
    2. In person. Deliver written comments to: OPPT Document Control 
Office, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. G-099, East Tower, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC.
    3. Electronically. Submit your comments electronically to: 
[email protected]. Submit electronic comments as an ASCII file avoiding 
the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Do not submit 
any information electronically that you consider to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI). Comments and data will also be accepted on 
disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. Submit computer 
disks to the address provided in Unit I.C.1. of this preamble. Identify 
all comments and data in electronic form by the docket control number 
OPPTS-42205A. Electronic comments on this proposed rule may also be 
filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How should I handle information in my comments that I believe may be 
CBI?

    You may protect CBI within comments that you submit in response to 
this document by marking each piece of confidential information or the 
entire document as CBI in accordance with 40 CFR 2.203(b). Information 
marked in this way will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. CBI claims must be made at the 
time the information is submitted to EPA. Information not marked 
confidential will be made available to the public by EPA without prior 
notice. When you make CBI claims for particular comments, you must send 
EPA a copy of the comments with the CBI information deleted.

II. Authority

    This proposed rule is issued under the authority of TSCA sections 4 
and 12(b)(1) (15 U.S.C. 2603 and 2611(b)(1)) and 40 CFR part 707, 
subpart D.

III. Background

A. What is the ECA for MIBK?

    MIBK is one of the chemicals proposed for health effects testing in 
a proposed test rule for hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) under TSCA 
section 4(a) (61 FR 33178, June 26, 1996) (FRL-4869-1). The proposed 
HAPs test rule was amended on December 24, 1997 (62 FR 67466) (FRL-
5742-2) and on April 21, 1998 (63 FR 19694) (FRL-5780-6). In the HAPs 
proposal, EPA invited the submission of proposals for testing of the 
chemicals in the proposed HAPs test rule. The proposals provide the 
basis for negotiating ECAs, which, if concluded, would be incorporated 
into TSCA section 4 Orders as alternatives to testing under the 
proposed rule.
    On December 11, 1996, and March 30, 1998, the Ketones Panel of the 
Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA Ketones Panel) submitted 
comments on testing that would be required in the proposed HAPs 
rulemaking. In conjunction with these comments the CMA Ketones Panel 
included a proposal to conduct a 2-generation reproductive toxicity 
study under an ECA rather than to wait for EPA to promulgate the final 
HAPs rule. EPA responded to this proposal in May 1998, indicating that 
this approach offered sufficient merit to proceed with ECA 
negotiations. EPA has published a document soliciting interested 
parties to monitor or participate in these negotiations (63 FR 32656, 
June 15, 1998) (FRL-5798-3). The procedures for ECA negotiations are 
described at 40 CFR 790.22(b).
    If an ECA for MIBK is agreed upon by EPA and the CMA Ketones Panel, 
and an Order is signed by EPA, testing to develop needed data would be 
required of those non-governmental persons that sign the agreement. In 
addition, the ECA would incorporate the applicable export notification 
requirements of section 12(b)(1) of TSCA and 40 CFR part 707, subpart 
D, which would apply to those non-governmental persons that have signed 
the ECA. Under TSCA section 12(b)(1) and 40 CFR part 707, subpart D, if 
any person exports or intends to export to a foreign country a chemical 
substance or mixture for which the submission of data is required under 
section 4 of TSCA, that person shall notify EPA of this export or 
intent to export. Export notification requirements apply whenever data 
must be submitted under the authority of section 4 of TSCA, regardless 
of whether the data must be submitted pursuant to a test rule, or an 
ECA and Order.

B. What would I be required to do under this proposed rule?

    If an ECA is concluded for MIBK (CAS No. 108-10-1), EPA would 
promulgate a final rule, based on this proposed rule, to add MIBK to 
the table in 40 CFR 799.5000, entitled ``Testing consent orders for 
substances and mixtures with Chemical Abstract Service Registry 
Numbers.'' The final rule would require all exporters of MIBK, 
including persons who either have signed or have not signed the ECA for 
MIBK, to comply with export notification regulations. (See 40 CFR 
799.19 and 40 CFR part 707, subpart D).

[[Page 54651]]

    When you export or intend to export a chemical for which the 
submission of data is required under TSCA section 4 to a particular 
foreign country for the first time, you must submit a one-time 
notification to EPA identifying the chemical and country of import. 
(See also 40 CFR 707.65(a)(2)(ii)). A single notification can cover 
multiple chemicals and multiple countries. If you export or intend to 
export the same chemical to an additional country, you must submit an 
additional export notification to EPA. Other procedures for submitting 
export notifications to EPA and penalties for noncompliance are 
described in 40 CFR part 707, subpart D.

IV. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

A. Does this action require review by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Orders 12866 or 13045?

    No. This action is not subject to review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under Executive Order 12866, entitled 
Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), because 
it has been determined that this is not a ``significant regulatory 
action.'' In addition, this action does not require special OMB review 
under Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 1985, April 23, 
1997), because it does not raise any issues regarding children's 
environmental-health risks and it is not expected to have an economic 
impact of more than $100 million.

B. Will this action have disproportionate impacts on minorities or low-
income communities?

     No. This action does not involve special considerations of 
environmental-justice related issues pursuant to Executive Order 12898, 
entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority 
Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

C. Does this action involve any information collection activities, such 
as reporting, recordkeeping, or notification, that have not already 
been approved by OMB?

    No. The information collection requirements related to this action 
have already been approved by OMB pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., under OMB Control Number 2070-0030 
(EPA ICR No. 0795). The public reporting burden for submitting an 
export notification to the agency is estimated to average 0.55 hour per 
response. As defined by the PRA and 5 CFR 1320.3(b), ``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. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, an information collection request 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB 
control number for this information collection appears above. In 
addition, the OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations, after initial 
display in the final rule, are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    Send any comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimate, and any suggested methods for 
minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques, to the Director, OPPE Regulatory Information 
Division (2137), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Include the OMB control number in any 
correspondence, but do not submit export notification letters to this 
address.

D. Does this action impose any requirements on State, local, or tribal 
governments?

    No.
    1. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Pub. 
L. 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of certain regulatory actions on State, local, or tribal 
governments or the private sector, and to seek input from State, local, 
and tribal governments on certain regulatory actions. EPA has 
determined that this action does not contain a Federal mandate that may 
result in expenditures of $100 million or more for State, local, or 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or the private sector, in any 1 
year. Therefore, this action is not subject to the requirements of 
sections 202 or 205 of UMRA. The requirements of sections 203 and 204 
of UMRA, which relate to regulatory requirements that might 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments and to regulatory 
proposals that contain a significant Federal intergovernmental mandate, 
respectively, also do not apply to this proposed rule. This is because 
the proposed rule would only affect the private sector, i.e., those 
companies that export or intend to export chemicals for which the 
submission of data is required under section 4 of TSCA.
    2. Executive Order 12875
    Under Executive Order 12875, entitled Enhancing the 
Intergovernmental Partnership (58 FR 58093, October 28, 1993), EPA may 
not issue a regulation that is not required by statute and that creates 
a mandate upon a State, local, or tribal government, unless the Federal 
government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance 
costs incurred by those governments. If the mandate is unfunded, EPA 
must provide to OMB a description of the extent of EPA's prior 
consultation with representatives of affected State, local, and tribal 
governments, the nature of their concerns, copies of any written 
communications from the governments, and a statement supporting the 
need to issue the regulation. In addition, Executive Order 12875 
requires EPA to develop an effective process permitting elected 
officials and other representatives of State, local, and tribal 
governments ``to provide meaningful and timely input in the development 
of regulatory proposals containing significant unfunded mandates.''
    Today's proposed rule does not create an unfunded Federal mandate 
on State, local, or tribal governments. The proposed rule does not 
impose any enforceable duties on these entities. Accordingly, the 
requirements of section 1(a) of Executive Order 12875 do not apply to 
this proposed rule.
    3. Executive Order 13084
    Under Executive Order 13084, entitled Consultation and Coordination 
with Indian Tribal Governments (63 FR 27655, May 19,1998), EPA may not 
issue a regulation that is not required by statute, that significantly 
or uniquely affects the communities of Indian tribal governments, and 
that imposes substantial direct compliance costs on those communities, 
unless the Federal government provides the funds necessary to pay the 
direct compliance costs incurred by the tribal governments. If the 
mandate is unfunded, EPA must provide to OMB, in a separately 
identified section of the preamble to the rule, a description of the 
extent of EPA's prior consultation with representatives of affected 
tribal governments, a summary of the nature of their concerns, and a 
statement supporting the need to issue the regulation. In addition, 
Executive Order 13084 requires EPA to develop an effective process 
permitting elected officials and other representatives of Indian tribal 
governments ``to provide meaningful and timely input in the development 
of regulatory policies on

[[Page 54652]]

matters that significantly or uniquely affect their communities.''
    Today's proposed rule does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
communities of Indian tribal governments. This proposed action does not 
involve or impose any requirements that affect Indian tribes. 
Accordingly, the requirements of section 3(b) of Executive Order 13084 
do not apply to this proposed rule.

E. Does this action result in a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small entities?

     Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
the Agency has determined that this proposed rule would not result in a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
and hereby certifies to that effect pursuant to section 605(b) of the 
RFA.
     The export regulations implementing section 12(b) of TSCA are 
found at 40 CFR part 707, subpart D. These regulations require only a 
one-time notification to EPA for each foreign country of export for 
each chemical for which data are required under section 4 of TSCA. In 
an analysis of the economic impacts of the July 27, 1993 amendment to 
the rules implementing section 12(b) of TSCA (58 FR 40238), EPA 
estimated that the one-time cost of preparing and submitting the TSCA 
section 12(b) notification was $62.60. See U.S. EPA, ``Economic 
Analysis in Support of the Final Rule to Amend Rule Promulgated Under 
TSCA Section 12(b),'' OPPT/ETD/RIB, June 1992, contained in the record 
for this rulemaking and referenced in the first amended proposed HAPs 
test rule (62 FR 67166, December 24, 1997). Inflated through the last 
quarter of 1996 using the Consumer Price Index, the cost is estimated 
to be $69.56.
    Although data available to EPA regarding export shipments of the 
HAPs chemicals are limited, an exporter would have to have annual 
revenues below $6,956 per chemical/country combination before the 
Agency would be concerned about the potential for substantive adverse 
impacts. EPA believes that it is reasonable to assume that few, if any, 
small exporters would have such small annual revenues per chemical/
country combination. The Agency concludes that the export notification 
requirements will not have a significant impact on entities involved in 
exporting chemicals, regardless of whether the exporting entity is 
small or large.

F. Does this action involve a technical standard?

     No. This proposed rule does not involve any technical standards 
that would require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus 
standards pursuant to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer 
and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Pub. L. 104-113, section 12(d) (15 
U.S.C. 272 note). Section 12(d) directs EPA to use voluntary consensus 
standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would be 
inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary 
consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., materials 
specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business 
practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies. The NTTAA requires EPA to provide Congress, through 
OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use available and 
applicable voluntary consensus standards. EPA invites public comment on 
EPA's conclusion that this action does not require the consideration of 
voluntary consensus standards.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 799

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Exports, Hazardous substances, 
Health, Laboratories, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: September 30, 1998.

Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.
    Therefore, it is proposed that 40 CFR chapter I be amended as 
follows:

PART 799--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 799 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2603, 2611, 2625.

    2. Section 799.5000 is amended by adding methyl isobutyl ketone to 
the table in CAS number order to read as follows:


Sec. 799.5000  Testing consent orders for substances and mixtures with 
Chemical Abstract Service Registry Numbers.

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                                         Substance or mixture
              CAS Number                         name                   Testing            FR Publication Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*                    *                    *                    *                    *                    *
                                                              *
CAS No. 108-10-1                       Methyl isobutyl ketone.  Health effects.........  [date of final rule]
*                    *                    *                    *                    *                    *
                                                              *
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[FR Doc. 98-27387 Filed 10-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F