[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15152-15153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6979]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-140284; FRL-6497-8]


Access to Confidential Business Information by Chemical Abstract 
Services

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has authorized its contractor Chemical Abstract Services 
(CAS) and its subcontractor TMC MicroImage, Inc., both of Columbus, 
Ohio, access to information which has been submitted to EPA under 
sections 5 and 8 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Some of 
the information may be claimed or determined to be confidential 
business information (CBI).

DATES: Access to the confidential data submitted to EPA occurred as a 
result of an approved waiver dated February 28, 2000, which requested 
granting CAS and TMC immediate access to TSCA CBI. This waiver was 
necessary to allow CAS and TMC to assist the Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) in microfilming and processing TSCA CBI 
materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For General Information Contact: 
Barbara Cunningham, Director, Office of Program Management and 
Evaluation (7401), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

I. Does this Notice Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, 
however, be of interest to ``those persons who are or may be required 
to conduct testing of chemical substances under the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA).'' Since other entities may also be interested, 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 person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    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/. 
To access this document, 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/.

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    Under contract number 68-W5-0015, contractor CAS and its 
subcontractor TMC, both of Columbus, Ohio, will assist the Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) in microfilming and processing 
of TSCA CBI materials.
    In accordance with 40 CFR 2.306(j), EPA has determined that under 
EPA contract number 68-W5-0015, CAS and TMC will require access to CBI 
submitted to EPA under sections 5 and 8 of TSCA to perform successfully 
the duties specified under the contract.
    CAS and TMC personnel will be given access to information submitted 
to EPA

[[Page 15153]]

under sections 5 and 8 of TSCA. Some of the information may be claimed 
or determined to be CBI. In a previous notice published in the Federal 
Register of February 24, 1998 (63 FR 9229) (FRL-5771-5), CAS and TMC 
were authorized access to TSCA CBI submitted to EPA under sections 5 
and 8(b) of TSCA.
    EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters of information 
under sections 5 and 8 of TSCA that EPA may provide CAS and TMC access 
to these CBI materials on a need-to-know basis only. All access to TSCA 
CBI under this contract will take place at either CAS' Columbus, Ohio 
facility or the subcontractor may take TSCA CBI materials to its 
facility for the purpose of microfilming, provided the transfer of 
materials is done so only under the direct supervision of a CAS 
official authorized for TSCA CBI access and that all TSCA CBI materials 
be returned daily to CAS' facility.
    CAS and TMC will be authorized access to TSCA CBI at their 
facilities under the EPA TSCA Confidential Business Information 
Security Manual. Before access to TSCA CBI is authorized at CAS and TMC 
sites, EPA will perform the required inspection of its facilities and 
ensure that the facilities are in compliance with the Manual.
    Upon completing review of the CBI materials, CAS will return all 
transferred materials to EPA.
    Clearance for access to TSCA CBI under this contract may continue 
until June 30, 2000.
    CAS and TMC personnel will be required to sign nondisclosure 
agreements and will be briefed on appropriate security procedures 
before they are permitted access to TSCA CBI.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Access to confidential business 
information.

    Dated: March 13, 2000.
Allan S. Abramson,
Director, Information Management Division, Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics.
[FR Doc. 00-6979 Filed 3-20-00 8:45 am]
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