[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 116 (Friday, June 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32615-32616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15151]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-140290; FRL-6788-3]


Access to Confidential Business Information by Abt Associates

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  EPA has authorized its contractor Abt Associates of 
Cambridge, MA access to information which has been submitted to EPA 
under sections 4, 5, 6, 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 under sections 
4, 5, 6, and 8 of TSCA occurred as a result of an approved waiver dated 
May 30, 2001, which requested granting Abt Associates immediate access 
to sections 4, 5, 6, and 8 of TSCA CBI. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  By mail:  Barbara A. Cunningham, 
Acting Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; e-mail address: [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 hasnot 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 underFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    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;, ``Regulations 
and Proposed Rules,'' 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-W-01-039, contractor Abt Associates, of 
55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA, will assist the Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPTS) in evaluating the potential risks of new 
chemical substances including microorganisms; and evaluating existing 
chemicals for risk and for the need to develop data bearing on such 
risks.
     In accordance with 40 CFR 2.306(j), EPA has determined that under 
EPA contract number 68-W-01-039, Abt Associates will require access to 
CBI submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, and 8 of TSCA to perform 
successfully the duties specified under the contract.
     Access to the confidential data submitted to EPA under sections 4, 
5, 6, and 8 of TSCA occurred as a result of an approved waiver dated 
May 30, 2001, which requested granting Abt Associates immediate access 
to sections 4, 5, 6, and 8 of TSCA CBI. This waiver was necessary to 
allow Abt Associates to assist EPA in evaluating the potential risks of 
new chemical substances including microorganisms, and evaluating 
existing chemicals for risk and for the need to develop data bearing on 
such risks. 
     EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters of information 
under sections 4, 5, 6, and 8 of TSCA that EPA will provide Abt 
Associates access to these CBI materials on a need-to-know basis only. 
All access to TSCA CBI under this contract will take place at EPA 
Headquarters and at Abt Associates' site located at 4800 Montgomery 
Lane, Bethesda, MD. No access will occur at the Bethesda, MD facility 
until after it has been approved for the storage of TSCA CBI.
     Abt Associates will be authorized access to TSCA CBI at EPA 
Headquarters and their site located at 4800 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, 
MD, in accordance with the EPA TSCA Confidential Business Information 
Security Manual.
     Clearance for access to TSCA CBI under this contract may continue 
until April 30, 2006.
     Abt Associates personnel will be required to sign nondisclosure

[[Page 32616]]

agreements and will be briefed on appropriate security procedures 
before they are permitted access to TSCA CBI.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Confidential business information.


    Dated: June 7, 2001.
Allen A. Abramson,
Director, Information Management Division, Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 01-15151 Filed 6-14-01; 8:45 am]
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