[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44775-44776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18276]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6837-4]


Final Notification of Alternative Tier 2 Requirements for 
Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MMT)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce that the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notified the Ethyl 
Corporation (Ethyl), manufacturer of the motor fuel additive 
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), and other affected 
registrants of motor fuels and additives containing MMT, of Alternative 
Tier 2 health and exposure testing requirements.

DATES: The Alternative Tier 2 testing requirements for MMT are 
effective upon receipt by Ethyl of the notification letter discussed in 
this notice.

ADDRESSES: Written requests for information regarding this notification 
should be addressed to Public Docket Number A-98-35, Waterside Mall 
(Room M-1500), Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket Section, 401 
M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. A copy of the notification 
transmitted to Ethyl and the notification transmitted to other affected 
registrants have been placed in Docket A-98-35. Documents may be 
inspected between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying docket material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph R. Sopata, Chemist, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, (202) 
564-9034.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulated Entities.

    Entities who may be regulated pursuant to the notifications 
referenced in this notice are those that manufacture or use the fuel 
additive MMT. Regulated categories and entities include:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Examples of
            Category              regulated entities      SIC  Codes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry........................  The Ethyl           2911, 5172, 2899.
                                   Corporation,
                                   petroleum
                                   refiners,
                                   gasoline
                                   importers, fuel
                                   additive
                                   manufacturers.
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    This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this 
action. This table lists the types of entities that EPA has concluded 
could potentially be regulated pursuant to the notifications. Other 
types of entities not listed in this table could also be regulated. If 
you have any questions regarding the applicability of the notifications 
to a particular entity, consult the person listed in the preceding 
section dealing with EPA contacts.

I. Introduction

    The Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended, required the Administrator of 
EPA to promulgate regulations requiring manufacturers of fuels and fuel 
additives (``F/FAs'') to conduct tests to determine potential health 
effects of such products. The final rule, promulgated on May 27, 1994, 
established new health effects testing requirements for the 
registration of designated F/FAs as authorized by CAA sections 
211(b)(2) and 211(e) of the CAA.
    The registration requirements are organized within a three-tier 
structure. Tier 1 requires F/FA manufacturers to supply to EPA (1) the 
identity and concentration of certain emission products of designated 
F/FAs and an analysis of potential emission exposures, and (2) any 
available information regarding the health and welfare effects of the 
whole and speciated emissions. 40 CFR 79.52. Tier 2 requires that 
combustion emissions of each F/FA subject to the testing requirements 
be tested for subchronic systemic and organic toxicity, as well as the 
assessment of specific health effect endpoints. 40 CFR 79.53. Tier 3 
testing may be required, at EPA's discretion, when remaining 
uncertainties as to the significance of observed health or welfare 
effects, or emissions exposures interfere with EPA's ability to 
reasonably assess the potential risks posed by emissions from a F/FA. 
40 CFR 79.54. EPA's regulations permit submission of adequate existing 
test

[[Page 44776]]

data in lieu of conducting new duplicative tests. 40 CFR 79.53(b).
    At its discretion, EPA may modify the standard Tier 2 health 
effects testing requirements for a F/FA (or group thereof) by 
substituting, adding, or deleting testing requirements, or changing the 
underlying vehicle/engine specifications. 40 CFR 79.58(c). EPA will 
not, however, delete a testing requirement for a specific endpoint in 
the absence of existing adequate information, or an alternative testing 
requirement for that endpoint. 40 CFR 79.58(c). When EPA exercises its 
authority under this special provision, it will allow an appropriate 
time for completion of the prescribed alternative tests.

II. Proposed Alternative Tier 2 Requirements for MMT

    On January 29, 1999, Ethyl was notified by certified letter of 
certain tests which the Agency proposed to require under the 
Alternative Tier 2 provisions for MMT, and the proposed schedule for 
completion and submission of such tests. Other affected registrants of 
fuels and fuel additives containing MMT were also notified by certified 
letter. An associated Federal Register notice (64 FR 6294) initiated a 
60-day public comment period. Copies of the documents associated with 
the proposed tests and schedule under the Alternative Tier 2 provisions 
have been placed in the docket.
    The purpose of this notice is to announce that the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) has notified Ethyl, the manufacturer of MMT, 
and other affected registrants of fuels and additives containing MMT, 
of the adoption of Alternative Tier 2 testing requirements under 40 CFR 
79.58(c) for fuels containing up to \1/32\ gram per gallon (gpg) 
manganese in the form of MMT.
    The purpose of the Alternative Tier 2 test requirements is to 
address specific research needs related to assessment of the potential 
risks associated with use of fuels containing MMT. The Alternative Tier 
2 test requirements are within two general categories, pharmacokinetic 
testing of manganese compounds and characterization of manganese 
emissions from vehicles utilizing fuels containing MMT. These 
Alternative Tier 2 testing requirements are intended to be the first 
stage in a two-stage Alternative Tier 2 test program. EPA intends to 
evaluate the results produced in the first stage of testing, as well as 
any other information which may be submitted to or obtained by EPA in 
the meantime, in determining the specific nature and scope of the 
second stage of Alternative Tier 2 testing. Any additional Alternative 
Tier 2 tests proposed for fuels and additives containing MMT in the 
future will be announced in a separate Federal Register notice.
    On May 19, 2000, Ethyl was notified by a certified letter of the 
specific tests which the Agency is requiring under the Alternative Tier 
2 provisions for MMT, and the schedule for completion and submission of 
such tests. Other affected registrants of fuels and additives 
containing MMT were also notified by certified letter. A copy of the 
notification to Ethyl and the notification to other registrants, 
including a description of the Alternative Tier 2 tests and the 
schedule for such tests, has been placed in the Public Docket Number A-
98-35, Waterside Mall (Room M-1500), Environmental Protection Agency, 
Air Docket Section, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. The 
notifications are also available on the internet via EPA's Mobile 
Source home page at http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/. 

III. Environmental Impact

    EPA's health effects testing notifications for MMT will result in 
no immediate environmental impact. Section 211(c) of the CAA, however, 
authorizes EPA to take regulatory action to control or prohibit 
manufacture or sale of fuels and fuel additives if testing information 
submitted by registrants or other information available to EPA 
indicates that use of such products may be reasonably anticipated to 
endanger public health or welfare. Thus, information obtained from 
health effects testing conducted by manufacturers of F/FAs may provide 
a basis for subsequent regulatory action.

IV. Economic Impact

    The testing requirements which are the subject of this notice will 
have a potential economic impact on the affected registrants, who are 
obligated to make expenditures to conduct any required testing. EPA 
does not anticipate that there will be any direct economic impact on 
registrants of fuels and additives containing MMT other than Ethyl, 
because Ethyl has stated that it will be responsible for satisfying any 
test requirements imposed by EPA for the group of fuels and additives 
containing MMT.
    The regulations at 40 CFR 79.58(d) also contain special provisions 
limiting testing obligations for those fuel or fuel additive 
manufacturers whose total annual sales are less than $10 million. EPA 
does not believe that the testing requirements which are the subject of 
these notifications will have any economic impact on small entities.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 79

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Gasoline, 
Conventional gasoline, Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, 
and Motor vehicle pollution.

    Dated: June 20, 2000.
Robert A. Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 00-18276 Filed 7-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P