[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48177-48178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18588]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPT-2002-0042; FRL-6819-1]


Final National Action Plan for Alkyl-lead; Notice of Availability

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  On August 25, 2000, EPA issued a proposed National Action 
Plan on alkyl-lead for public review and comment. This Plan is intended 
to promote further voluntary reductions of use and exposure to alkyl-
lead compounds. Alkyl-lead is used as a fuel additive to reduce 
``knock'' in certain combustion engines. These compounds also help 
lubricate internal engine components and protect intake and exhaust 
valves against recession. Currently, the largest uses of alkyl-lead 
compounds are in aviation gasoline for general aviation (piston-engine) 
aircraft, and racing gasoline. Six comments were submitted to the 
Agency concerning this plan. The Agency has reviewed these comments and 
has revised the Plan accordingly. This Notice announces the 
finalization and availability of the Alkyl-lead National Action Plan. 
This plan was developed pursuant to the Agency's Multimedia Strategy 
for Priority Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Pollutants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For general information contact: 
Barbara Cunningham, Director, Office of Program Management and 
Evaluation, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7401), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    For technical information contact: Paul Matthai, Pollution 
Prevention Division, Mail Code 7409M, Office of Pollution Prevention 
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-8839; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, 
however, be of interest to persons who make, distribute, or use racing 
and aviation gasoline. 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 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    1. 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/pbt. To access this document, on the PBT Home Page select ``Strategy 
and Action Plans.''
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPPT-2002-0042. 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 TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, North 
East Mall Rm. B-607, Waterside Mall, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
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.

II. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    On November 16, 1998, EPA released its Agency-wide Multimedia 
Strategy for Priority Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) 
Pollutants (PBT Strategy). The goal of the PBT Strategy is to identify 
and reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and 
future exposure to priority PBT pollutants. This document serves as the 
Final National Action Plan for alkyl-lead, one of the 12 Level 1 
priority PBT pollutants identified for the initial focus of action in 
the PBT Strategy.
    Alkyl-lead compounds are man-made compounds in which a carbon atom 
of one or more organic molecules is bound to a lead atom. 
Tetraethyllead (TEL) and tetramethyllead (TML) compounds are the most 
common alkyl-lead compounds that have been used in the past and are 
still in use today in the United States. These two alkyl-lead compounds 
are the focus of this National Action Plan. Alkyl-lead is used as a 
fuel additive to reduce ``knock`` in combustion engines, help lubricate 
internal engine components and protect intake and exhaust valves 
against recession. Currently, the largest uses of alkyl-lead are in 
aviation gasoline for general aviation (piston-engine) aircraft, and 
racing gasoline. Neither of these uses are subject to any of the 
regulations that restrict leaded motor gasoline use.
    In the human body, alkyl-lead compounds are distributed through the 
blood to ``soft tissues'' particularly the liver, kidneys, muscles, and 
brain. Initial symptoms of alkyl-lead poisoning include, among others: 
anorexia, insomnia, tremor, weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, 
mood shifts such as aggression or depression, and impairment of memory. 
In the case of acute alkyl-lead poisoning, possible health effects 
include mania, convulsions, delirium, fever, coma, and in some cases 
even death.
    The ultimate goal of this alkyl-lead Plan is to identify and reduce 
risks to human health and the environment from current and future 
exposure to alkyl-lead. EPA believes that, with the regulatory actions 
it has taken to date, this goal is within reach. However, the Agency is 
concerned about any sub-populations that may remain at risk, for 
example, individuals exposed at racetracks or general aviation 
airports. The Agency also recognizes that these remaining risks should 
not be taken lightly. EPA does not have the authority under the Clean 
Air Act to regulate the use of leaded gasoline for the racing industry, 
and the authority to regulate aircraft fuel lies with the Federal 
Aviation Administration. Therefore, the

[[Page 48178]]

Agency has chosen to address the risks that remain for alkyl-lead 
through voluntary efforts under its PBT pollutants program. It is 
likely that further reductions in exposures to these chemicals will 
come only through product substitution and voluntary measures.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Alkyl-lead, PBT.

    Dated: June 10, 2002.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.
[FR Doc. 02-18588 Filed 7-22-02 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S