[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56998-56999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27678]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 710

[OPPTS-82053A; FRL-6388-1]
RIN 2070-AC61


TSCA Inventory Update Rule Amendments; Extension of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA is extending the comment period for the proposed rule to 
amend the TSCA Inventory Update Rule (IUR) published on August 26, 
1999. In response to several requests, the comment period is being 
extended by 60 days until December 24, 1999. The comment period for the 
proposed rule was scheduled to close on October 25, 1999. Under section 
8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA currently requires 
manufacturers (including importers) of certain chemical substances and 
mixtures on the TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory to report current 
data regarding production volume, plant site information, and site-
limited status. The proposed rule requires the reporting of additional 
data that would assist EPA in evaluating potential exposures and risks 
resulting from industrial chemical operations and commercial and 
consumer uses of chemical substances. The proposed rule also modifies 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements, removes one reporting 
exemption and creates others, and modifies confidential business 
information (CBI) reporting and retention procedures. Information from 
the proposed IUR Amendments will help both EPA and the public better 
identify and mitigate potential exposures and risks associated with 
TSCA chemicals.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPPTS-82053, must 
be received by EPA on or before December 24, 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 OPPTS-82053 in the subject line of 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: (202) 554-1404, TDD: (202) 554-0551; e-mail: TSCA-
H[email protected].
    For technical information contact: Susan Krueger, Project Manager, 
Economics, Exposure and Technology Division (7406), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 260-1713, fax: (202) 260-1661; 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you manufacture 
or import chemical substances and mixtures currently subject to 
reporting under the Inventory Update Rule (IUR) at 40 CFR part 710 or 
manufacture or import inorganic chemical substances. In the past, 
processors of chemical substances have not been required to comply with 
the requirements at 40 CFR part 710. The proposed amendments do not 
change the status of processors under the regulations at 40 CFR part 
710. Potentially affected categories and entities may include, but are 
not limited to:

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Examples of
            Category                     NAICS            Potentially
                                                       Regulated Persons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chemical manufacturers and        325, 32411          Chemical
 importers                                             manufacturers
                                                       (including
                                                       importers)
                                                       currently subject
                                                       to IUR reporting
 
                                                      Chemical
                                                       manufacturers
                                                       (including
                                                       importers) of
                                                       inorganic
                                                       chemical
                                                       substances
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this 
action. Other types of entities not listed above could also be 
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining 
whether or not this action applies to certain entities. To determine 
whether you or your business is affected by this action, you should 
carefully examine the applicability provisions in 40 CFR part 710. If 
you have 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 or Copies of this Document 
or Other Documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document and various support documents 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/.
    In addition, electronic copies of this document and various support 
documents may be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/iuramend.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPPTS-82053. 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 in the TSCA Nonconfidential 
Information Center, Rm. NE-B607, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC. The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Center 
is (202) 260-7099.

III. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    As described in Unit I.C. of the proposed rule published in the 
Federal

[[Page 56999]]

Register of August 26, 1999 (40 FR 46772) (FRL-6097-4), you may submit 
comments through the mail, in person, or electronically. Please follow 
the instructions in the proposed rule. 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 OPPTS-82053 in the 
subject line of the first page of your correspondence.

IV. 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 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 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 identified under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.''

V. What Should I Consider As I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    EPA invites you to provide your views on the various options 
proposed, new approaches EPA has not considered, the potential impacts 
of the various options (including possible unintended consequences), 
and any data or information that you would like the Agency to consider 
during the development of the final action. You may find the following 
suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Tell us what you support, as well as what you disagree with.
    6. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    7. Offer alternative ways to improve the proposed rule or 
collection activity.
    8. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
document.
    9. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to provide the docket 
control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first 
page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation, and the appropriate EPA or OMB ICR number.

VI. What Action is EPA Taking?

    EPA is extending the comment period for EPA's August 26, 1999 
proposed rule (64 FR 46772) to add exposure related information 
requirements, alter CBI reporting and retention procedures, revise 
reporting thresholds and exemptions, and make other revisions. EPA 
proposed these changes pursuant to its authority under TSCA section 
8(a).

VII. 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 on a proposed rule must be submitted to EPA on a 
proposed rule that previously published in the Federal Register of 
August 26, 1999 (64 FR 46772). For information about the applicability 
of the regulatory assessment requirements to the proposed rule, please 
refer to the discussion in Unit XI. of that document.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 710

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

    Dated: October 7, 1999.
William H. Sanders III.
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 99-27678 Filed 10-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F