[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51319-51321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24697]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00597A; FRL-6384-4]


Proposed Test Guidelines; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On July 28, 1999, EPA issued a notice announcing the 
availability of

[[Page 51320]]

a combined chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity test guideline for the 
Series 870-Health Effects Test Guidelines for use in the testing of 
fibrous particles in the development of test data (OPPTS 870.8355). 
Natural and synthetic fibers are one group of substances that have been 
identified to be of potential health concern to humans. The comment 
period would have ended September 27, 1999. Due to the complexity of 
the proposed test guideline and the potential health concerns to 
humans, EPA has decided to extend the comment period by 45 days.

DATES: Comments, identified by the docket control number OPP-00597, 
must be received on or before November 12, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit III. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-00597 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: 
Christine M. Augustyniak, Associate Director, Environmental Assistance 
Division (7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone numbers: (202) 554-1404 and TDD: (202) 554-0551; fax number: 
(202) 554-5603; e-mail address: TSCA-H[email protected].
    For technical information contact: David Lai, Risk Assessment 
Division (7403), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 260-6222; fax number: (202) 260-1279; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. Although this 
action may be of particular interest to those persons who are or may be 
required to conduct testing of chemical substances under the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act 
(FFDCA), or the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
(FIFRA), 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 applicability of this action to a particular entity, 
consult the technical person listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.''

II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this 
Document and Other Related Documents?

    A. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document, and certain other related documents that might be available 
electronically, 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/.
    You may also obtain copies of test guidelines from the EPA Internet 
Home Page by selecting ``Researchers and Scientists/Test Methods and 
Guidelines/OPPTS Harmonized Test Guidelines'' at http://www.epa.gov/
epahome/research.htm.
    B. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-00597. 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 Confidential Business Information (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 in the 
Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, 
Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 
a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

III. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    As described in Unit III.A. of the proposed test guideline notice 
of availability published in the Federal Register of July 28, 1999 (64 
FR 40871) (FRL-6078-6), you may submit your comments through the mail, 
in person, or electronically. Please follow the instructions that are 
provided in the notice of availability. Do not submit any information 
electronically that you consider to be CBI. To ensure proper receipt by 
EPA, be sure to identify docket control number OPP-00597 in the subject 
line on the first page of your response.

IV. How Should I Handle CBI 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 technical person listed under ``FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.''

V. What Action is EPA Taking?

     EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed test guideline 
for developing a combined chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity test 
guideline for use in the testing of respirable fibrous substances 
(OPPTS 870.8355). Natural and synthetic fibers are one group of 
substances that have been identified to be of potential health concern 
to humans. The background on the proposed test guideline can be found 
in the previous Federal Register notice of availability published on 
July 28, 1999 (64 FR 40871) (FRL-6078-6). A time extension of 45 days 
is being provided such that the comment period will now end on November 
12, 1999.

VI. Do Any Regulatory Assessment Requirements Apply to this Action?

     No. This action is not a rulemaking, it merely extends the date by 
which public comments must be submitted to EPA on the notice of 
availability that previously published in the Federal Register of July 
28, 1999 (64 FR 40871). For information about the applicability of the 
regulatory assessment requirements to the proposed test guideline, 
please refer to the discussion in Unit V. of that document.

List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Chemical testing, Test guideline.


[[Page 51321]]


    Dated: September 16, 1999.
William H. Sanders, III
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 99-24697 Filed 9-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F