[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1924-1926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-709]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 721

[OPPT-2003-0031; FRL-7320-1]
RIN 2070-AB27


Revocation of Significant New Uses of Certain Chemical Substances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is revoking significant new use rules (SNURs) for four 
substances promulgated under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA) based on new data. Based on the new data the Agency 
no longer finds that activities not described in the corresponding TSCA 
section 5(e) consent orders or premanufacture notices (PMN) for these 
chemical substances may result in significant changes in human or 
environmental exposure.

DATES: This final rule is effective on February 12, 2004.

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: James Alwood, Chemical Control 
Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 202 564-8974; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you manufacture, 
import, process, or use the chemical substances contained in this 
revocation. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not 
limited to:
    [sbull] Chemical manufacturers (NAICS 325), e.g., persons 
manufacturing, importing, processing, or using chemicals for commercial 
purposes.
    [sbull] Petroleum and coal product industries (NAICS 324), e.g., 
persons manufacturing, importing, processing, or using chemicals for 
commercial purposes.
    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this 
action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be 
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining 
whether this action might apply to certain entities. To determine 
whether you or your business may be affected by this action, you should 
carefully examine the applicability provisions in title 40 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR 721.5. 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-2003-0031. 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

[[Page 1925]]

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. A frequently updated electronic version 
of 40 CFR part 721 is available at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_40/40cfr721 00.html, a beta site currently under 
development.
    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 identification number.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    The Agency proposed the revocation of these SNURs in the Federal 
Register of September 20, 2002 (67 FR 59233) (FRL-7181-1). The 
background and reasons for the revocation of each individual SNUR are 
set forth in the preamble to the proposed revocation. The comment 
period closed on October 21, 2002. EPA received no comments regarding 
the proposed revocation of the SNURs. Therefore, EPA is revoking these 
rules.

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

    Section 5(a)(2) of TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2604(a)(2)) authorizes EPA to 
determine that a use of a chemical substance is a ``significant new 
use.'' EPA must make this determination by rule after considering all 
relevant factors, including those listed in section 5(a)(2) of TSCA. 
Once EPA determines that a use of a chemical substance is a significant 
new use, section 5(a)(1)(B) of TSCA requires persons to submit a notice 
to EPA at least 90 days before they manufacture, import, or process the 
substance for that use. The mechanism for reporting under this 
requirement is established under 40 CFR 721.5.
    During review of the PMNs submitted for the chemical substances 
that are the subject of this revocation, EPA concluded that regulation 
was warranted based on available information that indicated activities 
not described in the TSCA section 5(e) consent order or PMN might 
result in significant changes in human or environmental exposure as 
described in section 5(a)(2) of TSCA. Based on these findings, SNURs 
were promulgated.
    EPA has revoked the TSCA section 5(e) consent orders that are the 
basis for these SNURs and no longer finds that activities other than 
those described in the TSCA section 5(e) consent orders or PMN may 
result in significant changes in human or environmental exposure. The 
revocation of SNUR provisions for these substances is consistent with 
the findings set forth in the preamble to the proposed revocation of 
each individual SNUR.
    Therefore, EPA is revoking the SNUR provisions for these chemical 
substances. When this revocation becomes final, EPA will no longer 
require notice of intent to manufacture, import, or process these 
substances. In addition, export notification under section 12(b) of 
TSCA will no longer be required.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This rule revokes or eliminates an existing regulatory requirement 
and does not contain any new or amended requirements. As such, the 
Agency has determined that this SNUR revocation will not have any 
adverse impacts, economic or otherwise.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types 
of regulatory actions from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled 
Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). This 
rule does not contain any information collections subject to approval 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Since 
this rule eliminates a reporting requirement, the Agency certifies 
pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), that this SNUR revocation will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    For the same reasons, this action does not require any action under 
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law 
104-4). This rule has neither Federalism implications, because it will 
not have substantial direct effects on States, on the relationship 
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, 
as specified in Executive Order 13132, entitled Federalism (64 FR 
43255, August 10, 1999), nor tribal implications, because it will not 
have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on the 
relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, as specified in Executive Order 13175, 
entitled Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments 
(59 FR 22951, November 6, 2000).
    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045, entitled 
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks 
(62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because this is not an economically 
significant regulatory action as defined under Executive Order 12866, 
and it does not address environmental health or safety risks 
disproportionately affecting children. It is not subject to Executive 
Order 13211, entitled Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly 
Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), 
because this action is not expected to affect energy supply, 
distribution, or use. Because this action does not involve any 
technical standards, section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer 
and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) 
(15 U.S.C. 272 note), does not apply to this action. This action does 
not involve special considerations of environmental justice related 
issues as required by Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions 
to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

IV. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act (CRA), 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the Agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and the Comptroller General of the United 
States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. This rule is not a 
``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 721

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.


    Dated: December 19, 2003.
Charles M. Auer,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

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Therefore, 40 CFR part 721 is amended as follows:

[[Page 1926]]

PART 721--[AMENDED]

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1. The authority citation for part 721 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2604, 2607, and 2625(c).


Sec. Sec.  721.1710, 721.4200, 721.4240, and 721.4466  [Removed]

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2. By removing Sec. Sec.  721.1710, 721.4200, 721.4240, and 721.4466.

[FR Doc. 04-709 Filed 1-12-04; 8:45 am]
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