[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28004-28006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12870]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPT-2003-0023; FRL-7309-1]


Approval of Test Marketing Exemption for a Certain New Chemical

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's approval of an application for 
test marketing exemption (TME) under section 5(h)(1) of the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA) and 40 CFR 720.38. EPA has designated 
this application as TME-03-0001. The test marketing conditions are 
described in the TME application and in this notice.

DATES: Approval of this TME is effective May 9, 2003. Comments, 
identified by docket ID number OPPT-2003-0023 and the TME number, must 
be received on or before June 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or 
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as 
provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: 
Barbara Cunningham, Director, Environmental Assistance Division 
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: [email protected].
    For technical information contact: Miriam Wiggins-Lewis, Chemical 
Control Division, (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-9373; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed in particular to the chemical manufacturer 
and/or importer who submitted the TME to EPA. This action may, however, 
be of interest to the public in general. 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 Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket identification (ID) number OPPT-2003-0023. The 
official public docket consists of the documents specifically 
referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other 
information related to this action. Although a part of the official 
docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials 
that is available for public viewing at the EPA Docket Center, Rm. 
B102-Reading Room, EPA West, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, 
DC. The EPA Docket Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The EPA Docket Center Reading 
Room telephone number is (202) 566-1744 and the telephone number for 
the OPPT Docket, which is located in EPA Docket Center, is (202) 566-
0280.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official 
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that 
are available electronically. Although not all docket materials may be 
available electronically, you may still access any of the publicly 
available docket materials through the docket facility identified in 
Unit I.B.1. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the 
appropriate docket ID number.
    Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets. 
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public 
docket, will not be available for public viewing

[[Page 28005]]

in EPA's electronic public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted 
material will not be placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will 
be available only in printed, paper form in the official public docket. 
To the extent feasible, publicly available docket materials will be 
made available in EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is 
selected from the index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify 
whether the document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic 
public docket. Although not all docket materials may be available 
electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available 
docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. 
EPA intends to work towards providing electronic access to all of the 
publicly available docket materials through EPA's electronic public 
docket.
    For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is 
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, 
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public 
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's 
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
    Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or 
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public 
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the docket will 
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where 
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph 
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief 
description written by the docket staff.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    The notice of receipt was published late in the 45-day review 
period; however, an opportunity to submit comments is being offered at 
this time.
    You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand 
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the 
appropriate docket ID number and the TME number in the subject line on 
the first page of your comment. Please ensure that your comments are 
submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after 
the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not 
required to consider these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or 
information that is otherwise protected by statute, please follow the 
instructions in Unit I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit 
CBI or information protected by statute.
    1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as 
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name, 
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in 
the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the 
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter 
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be 
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact 
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's 
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or 
contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included 
as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, 
and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot 
read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you 
for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
    i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to 
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for 
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. 
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number 
OPPT-2003-0023. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which 
means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to [email protected], 
Attention: Docket ID Number OPPT-2003-0023 and the TME number. In 
contrast to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not 
an ``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly 
to the docket without going through EPA's electronic public docket, 
EPA's e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail 
addresses that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public 
docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM 
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These 
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file 
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    2. By mail. Send your comments to: Document Control Office (7407M), 
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001.
    3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: OPPT 
Document Control Office (DCO) in EPA East Building Rm. 6428, 1201 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID Number 
OPPT-2003-0023 and the TME number. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone 
number for the DCO is (202) 564-8930.

D. How Should I Submit CBI To the Agency?

    Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI 
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You 
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part 
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM, 
mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify 
electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that 
is 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 the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion 
in the public docket and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit 
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside 
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information 
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's 
electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any 
questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult 
the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

[[Page 28006]]

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    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. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternative ways to improve the notice or collection 
activity.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
document.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action and the TME number in the subject 
line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, 
date, and Federal Register citation.

II. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    Section 5(h)(1) of TSCA and 40 CFR 720.38 authorizes EPA to exempt 
persons from premanufacture notification (PMN) requirements and permit 
them to manufacture or import new chemical substances for test 
marketing purposes, if the Agency finds that the manufacture, 
processing, distribution in commerce, use, and disposal of the 
substances for test marketing purposes will not present an unreasonable 
risk of injury to health or the environment. EPA may impose 
restrictions on test marketing activities and may modify or revoke a 
test marketing exemption upon receipt of new information which casts 
significant doubt on its finding that the test marketing activity will 
not present an unreasonable risk of injury.

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA has approved the above-referenced TME. EPA has determined that 
test marketing the new chemical substance, under the conditions set out 
in the TME application and in this notice, will not present any 
unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.

IV. What Restrictions Apply to this TME?

    The test market time period, production volume, number of 
customers, and use must not exceed specifications in the application 
and this notice. All other conditions and restrictions described in the 
application and in this notice must also be met.

    TME-03-0001.
    Date of Receipt: March 17, 2003.
    Notice of Receipt: April 21, 2003 (68 FR 19532).
    Applicant: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Chemical: Modified Polyol.
    Use: Component of coating with open use.
    Production Volume: 4,000 Kiligram/year.
    Number of Customers: One.
    Test Marketing Period: 270 to 365 days, commencing on first day of 
commerical manufacture.
    The following additional restrictions apply to this TME. A bill of 
lading accompanying each shipment must state that the use of the 
substance is restricted to that approved in the TME. In addition, the 
applicant shall maintain the following records until 5 years after the 
date they are created, and shall make them available for inspection or 
copying in accordance with section 11 of TSCA:
    1. Records of the quantity of the TME substance produced and the 
date of manufacture.
    2. Records of dates of the shipments to each customer and the 
quantities supplied in each shipment.
    3. Copies of the bill of lading that accompanies each shipment of 
the TME substance.

V. What was EPA's Risk Assessment for this TME?

    EPA identified no significant health or environmental concerns for 
the test market substance. Therefore, the test market activities will 
not present any unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the 
environment.

VI. Can EPA Change Its Decision on this TME in the Future?

    Yes. The Agency reserves the right to rescind approval or modify 
the conditions and restrictions of an exemption should any new 
information that comes to its attention cast significant doubt on its 
finding that the test marketing activities will not present any 
unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Test marketing exemptions.

    Dated: May 9, 2003.
Miriam Wiggins-Lewis,
Acting Chief, New Chemicals Prenotice Management Branch, Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 03-12870 Filed 5-21-03; 8:45 am]
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