[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38422-38423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18341]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00169B; FRL-6093-5]


Consumer Labeling Initiative; Notice of Availability of Draft 
Report

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability for public review and 
comment of a draft version of the Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI) 
Phase II Report. The draft Phase II Report describes qualitative and 
quantitative consumer research performed during 1998, summarizes the 
research findings and conclusions, describes other project activities 
ongoing since 1997, and identifies recommendations for Agency and 
voluntary industry action. The final version of the Phase II Report is 
expected to be published in the fall of 1999.

DATES: Comments on the CLI project or on the Phase II Report can be 
submitted at any time. For comments to be incorporated into the final 
Phase II Report, they must be received by the Agency or its agent, Abt 
Associates Inc., on or before July 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The draft Phase II Report is available electronically and in 
hard copy; for availability refer to Unit I. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION'' section. Comments on the draft Phase II Report may be 
submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. Please follow the 
detailed instructions for each method as provided in Unit I. of the 
``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Dominiak, CLI Task Force Co-
Chair, Chemical Control Division (7405), Office of Pollution Prevention 
and Toxics, Rm. E-213B, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 
260-7768; fax: (202) 260-1096; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Notice Apply to Me?

    This notice is directed to the public in general. As such, the 
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may 
be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the 
information in this notice, consult the contact person listed under 
``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.''

B. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of These Documents?

    1. Electronically. The draft Phase II Report can be downloaded from 
the Internet in PDF file format at http://www.abtdemo.com/cli.
    You may also obtain electronic copies of this document and the 
draft Phase II Report from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://
www.epa.gov/. On the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations'' and then 
look up the entry for this document under the ``Federal Register--
Environmental Documents.'' You can also go directly to the Federal 
Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/
 2. In person: Persons interested in viewing the draft Phase II 
Report in hard copy should contact the TSCA Nonconfidential Information 
Center (NCIC). The TSCA NCIC is located at EPA Headquarters in Rm. NE-
B607, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. The telephone number is (202) 
260-7099.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that 
you identify docket control number ``OPP-00169B'' and ``AR-139-Consumer 
Labeling Initiative'' in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.
    1. By mail. Submit comments to: OPPT Document Control Officer 
(7407), AR-139-Consumer Labeling Initiative, Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Room G099, East Tower, Washington, DC 20460.
    Comments on the draft Phase II Report only may also be mailed to: 
Srabani Roy, Abt Associates Inc., 55 Wheeler St., Cambridge, MA 02138-

[[Page 38423]]

1168. No CBI should be submitted to Abt Associates either 
electronically or by mail.
    2. In person: Deliver your comments to either location listed 
immediately above.
    3. Electronically. Submit electronic comments by e-mail to: ``oppt-
[email protected],'' or you may mail or deliver your standard computer disk 
using the addresses in this unit. Electronic comments on the draft 
Phase II Report may be submitted alternatively to Abt Associates Inc., 
which is under contract to EPA on this project, at: 
srabani-[email protected]. All comments submitted directly to 
Abt Associates Inc., will also be entered into the official record for 
this action.
    Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to 
be CBI. 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 standard computer disks in 
WordPerfect 6/7/8 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form 
must be identified by the docket control number ``OPPTS-00169B'' and 
``AR-139-Consumer Labeling Initiative.'' Electronic comments may also 
be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

II. Background

    EPA launched a voluntary Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI) in 1996 
(61 FR 12011, March 22, 1996) (FRL-4956-8) to explore ideas from 
consumers, industry, and health and safety professionals on ways to 
make the environmental, safe use, and health information on household 
product labels easier for consumers to find, read, understand, and use. 
The CLI was designed as a pilot project addressing indoor insecticides, 
outdoor pesticides, and household hard surface cleaners. The first 
stage of the CLI concluded with publication of the CLI Phase I Report 
(EPA-700-R-96-001) in September 1996. Phase II of the project, which 
began in 1997 and ran through early 1999, included qualitative research 
with consumers conducted by EPA, as well as quantitative research 
undertaken voluntarily by the Agency's industry and trade association 
partners. The raw data from these surveys were placed in the CLI 
Administrative Record (AR-139) for public inspection and comment (63 FR 
57298, October 27, 1998) (FRL-6040-3).
    The draft CLI Phase II Report contains the detailed findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations developed from the survey information 
and other ongoing CLI activities. Comments received on or before July 
29, 1999, will be incorporated in the final version of the CLI Phase II 
Report, which is expected to be published in the fall of 1999. The 
draft Phase II Report can be downloaded in PDF file format at: http://
www.abtdemo.com/cli. The draft Report is approximately 165 pages, with 
Appendices of approximately 200 pages. PDF files require the use of the 
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded without charge at: http:/
/www.adobe.com. The draft Phase II Report can also be reviewed in hard 
copy in the CLI Administrative Record (AR-139).

III. How Should I Handle CBI Information That I Want to Submit to 
the Agency?

    Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to 
be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to 
this document as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as 
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance 
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. In addition to one complete 
version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a 
copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as 
CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the 
official record. Information not marked confidential will be included 
in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If 
you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, 
please consult the person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'' section.

IV. Public Record

    The Agency has established an official record for this action under 
administrative record AR-139. The official record consists of the 
documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments 
received during an applicable comment period, and other information 
related to this action, including any information claimed as CBI. This 
official record includes the documents that are physically located in 
the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those 
documents. The public version of the official record does not include 
any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official 
record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic 
comments submitted during an applicable comment period, is available 
for inspection from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The official record is located in the TSCA 
Nonconfidential Information Center, Rm. NE-B607, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection.

    Dated: July 13, 1999.
Wardner Penberthy,
Acting Director, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 99-18341 Filed 7-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F