[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64874-64876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31390]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 721

[OPPTS-50633A; FRL-6044-6]
RIN 2070-AB27


Revocation of Significant New Use Rules for Certain Chemical 
Substances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is revoking significant new use rules (SNURs) for 6 
substances promulgated under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA) for certain chemical substances based on new data. 
Based on the new data the Agency no longer finds that activities not 
described in the corresponding TSCA section 5(e) consent order or the 
premanufacture notice (PMN) for these chemical substances may result in 
significant changes in human or environmental exposure.

DATES: This rule is effective December 24, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan B. Hazen, Director, 
Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. E-531, 401 
M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone: (202) 554-1404, TDD: (202) 
554-0551; e-mail: TSCA-H[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of this document are 
available from the EPA Home Page at the Federal Register-Environmental 
Documents entry for this document under ``Laws and Regulations'' 
(http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
    In the Federal Register referenced for each substance, OPPTS-
50569A, September 18, l989 (54 FR 38381); OPPTS-50582, August 15, 1990 
(55 FR 33296); OPPTS-50613, October 4, 1993 (58 FR 51694); OPPTS-50623, 
December 2, 1996 (61 FR 63726) (FRL-4964-3); and OPPTS-50628, January 
22, l998 (63 FR 3393) (FRL-5720-3), EPA issued a SNUR establishing 
significant new uses for the substances. Because of additional

[[Page 64875]]

data EPA has received for these substances, EPA is revoking these 
SNURs.

I. Background

    The Agency proposed the revocation of these SNURs in the Federal 
Register of September 16, 1998 (63 FR 49518) (FRL-6024-9). The 
background and reasons for the revocation of each individual SNUR are 
set forth in the preamble to the proposed revocation. The comment 
period closed on October 16, 1998. The Agency received no comments 
concerning the proposed revocations. Therefore, EPA is revoking these 
rules.

II. Rationale for Revocation of the Rule

    During review of the PMNs submitted for the chemical substances 
that are the subject of this revocation, EPA concluded that regulation 
was warranted based on available information that indicated activities 
not described in the TSCA section 5(e) consent orders or the PMNs might 
result in significant changes in human or environmental exposure. Based 
on these findings, SNURs were promulgated.
    EPA has revoked those TSCA section 5(e) consent orders that are the 
bases for these SNURs and no longer finds that activities other than 
those described in the TSCA section 5(e) consent orders or the PMNs may 
result in significant changes in human or environmental exposure. The 
revocation of SNUR provisions for these substances is consistent with 
the findings set forth in the preamble to the proposed revocation of 
each individual SNUR.
    Therefore, EPA is revoking the SNUR provisions for these chemical 
substances. When this revocation becomes final, EPA will no longer 
require notice of intent to manufacture, import, or process these 
substances, except in the case where the PMN submitter has formally 
withdrawn the PMN. In addition, export notification under section 12(b) 
of TSCA will no longer be required.

III. Public Record

    The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public 
version, has been established for this rulemaking under docket control 
number OPPTS-50633A (including comments and data submitted 
electronically). A public version of this record, including printed, 
paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include any 
information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI), is 
available for inspection from 12 noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. The official rulemaking record is located in 
the TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, Rm. NE-B607, 401 M St., 
SW., Washington, DC.

IV. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

A. Certain Acts and Executive Orders

    This rule revokes or eliminates an existing regulatory requirement 
and does not contain any new or amended requirements. As such, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of 
actions from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory 
Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). This rule does not 
impose any requirements, it does not contain any information 
collections subject to approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or require any other action under Title 
II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4). 
Nor does it require any special considerations as required by Executive 
Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice 
in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, 
February 16, 1994) or require OMB review in accordance with Executive 
Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health 
Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997).
    In addition, pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Agency has determined 
that SNUR revocations, which eliminate requirements without imposing 
any new ones, have no adverse economic impacts. The Agency's generic 
certification for SNUR revocations appears on June 2, 1997 (62 FR 
29684) (FRL-5597-1) and was provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy 
of the Small Business Administration.

B. 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 rule does not create an unfunded Federal mandate on State, 
local, or tribal governments. The 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 rule.

C. 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 matters that significantly or uniquely affect 
their communities.''
    Today's rule does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
communities of Indian tribal governments. This rule 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 rule.

V. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must

[[Page 64876]]

submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House 
of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. 
EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required 
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of 
this rule in the Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as 
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 721

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: November 9, 1998.

Charles M. Auer,

Director, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics.

    Therefore, 40 CFR part 721 is amended as follows:

PART 721--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 721 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2604, 2607, and 2625(c).

Sec. Sec. 721.723, 721.1525, 721.1737, 721.1740, 721.7360   [Removed]

    2. By removing Sec. Sec. 721.723, 721.1525, 721.1737, 721.1740, and 
721.7360.

[FR Doc. 98-31390 Filed 11-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F