[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77048-77052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24612]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 82

[FRL-8016-7]
RIN 2060-AM56


Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Extension of Global Laboratory 
and Analytical Use Exemption for Essential Class I Ozone Depleting 
Substances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to extend the global laboratory and 
analytical use exemption for production and import of class I ozone-
depleting substances from December 31, 2005, to December 31, 2007, 
consistent with recent actions by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol 
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The exemption allows 
persons in the United States to produce and import controlled 
substances for laboratory and analytical uses that have not been 
already identified by EPA as nonessential.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective on January 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. OAR-2004-0064. All documents in the docket are listed in the 
EDOCKET index at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Although listed in the 
index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other 
material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet 
and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly 
available docket materials are available either electronically in 
EDOCKET or in hard copy at the Air Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 
1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. This Docket Facility is 
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone 
number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone 
number for the Air Docket is (202) 566-1742.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hodayah Finman, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Stratospheric 
Protection Division (6205J), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9246; fax numbers: (202) 343-
2338; [email protected]. You may also visit the EPA's Ozone 
Depletion Web site at www.epa.gov/ozone for further information about 
EPA's Stratospheric Ozone Protection regulations, the science of ozone 
layer depletion, and other related topics.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule concerns the exemption for 
laboratory and analytical uses from CAA restrictions on the consumption 
and production of class I controlled substances. In May 2005, EPA 
proposed extending this exemption program from December 31, 2005, to 
December 31, 2007, consistent with action taken by the Parties to the 
Montreal Protocol (70 FR 25726, May 13, 2005). Today's action finalizes 
the proposed extension. In addition, the Agency solicited comment on 
clarifying the status of methyl bromide, a class I controlled 
substance, under the laboratory and analytical use exemption program. 
EPA is deferring final action on that aspect of the proposed rule.
    Section 553(d) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C., 
Chapter 5, generally provides that rules may not take effect earlier 
than 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register. Today's 
final rule is issued under section 307(d) of the CAA, which states: 
``The provisions of section 553 through 557 * * * of Title 5 shall not, 
except as expressly provided in this subsection, apply to actions to 
which this subsection applies.'' CAA section 307(d)(1). Thus, section 
553(d) of the APA does not apply to this rule. EPA nevertheless is 
acting consistently with the policies underlying APA section 553(d) in 
making this rule effective on January 1, 2006 APA section 553(d) 
provides an exception for any action that grants or recognizes an 
exemption or relieves a restriction. Today's final rule extends an 
exemption from the phaseout of class I ozone-depleting substances. 
Because the current exemption expires at the end of 2005, EPA is making 
this rule effective immediately to ensure that the exemption will not 
lapse.

Table of Contents

I. Background on the Montreal Protocol and the Global Laboratory and 
Analytical Use Exemption
II. Extension of the Global Laboratory and Analytical Use Exemption
III. Applicability of the Global Laboratory and Analytical Use 
Exemption to Methyl Bromide
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
    A. Executive Order No. 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
    B. Paperwork Reduction Act
    C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    E. Executive Order No. 13132: Federalism
    F. Executive Order No. 13175: Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    G. Executive Order No. 13045: Protection of Children From 
Environmental Health & Safety Risks
    H. Executive Order No. 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
    I. National Technology Transfer Advancement Act
    J. Congressional Review Act

I. Background on the Montreal Protocol and the Global Laboratory and 
Analytical Use Exemption

    The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 
(Protocol) is the international agreement to reduce and eventually 
eliminate the production and consumption \1\ of all stratospheric 
ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). The elimination of production and 
consumption of ODSs is accomplished through adherence to phaseout 
schedules for specific class I ODSs,\2\ including: chlorofluorocarbons 
(CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform. The Clean 
Air Act, as amended in 1990 and 1998, requires EPA to promulgate 
regulations implementing the Protocol's phaseout schedules in the 
United States. Those regulations are codified at 40 CFR part 82. As of 
January 1, 1996, production and import of most class I ODSs were phased 
out in developed countries, including the United States.
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    \1\ ``Consumption'' is defined as the amount of a substance 
produced in the United States, plus the amount imported into the 
United States, minus the amount exported to Parties to the Montreal 
Protocol (see Section 601(6) of the Clean Air Act). Stockpiles of 
class I ODSs produced or imported prior to the 1996 phaseout may be 
used for purposes not expressly banned at 40 CFR part 82.
    \2\ Class I ozone depleting substances are listed at 40 CFR part 
82, subpart A, appendix A.
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    However, the Protocol provides exemptions that allow for the 
continued import and/or production of ODSs for specific uses. Under the 
Protocol, for

[[Page 77049]]

most class I ODSs, the Parties may collectively grant exemptions to the 
ban on production and import of ODSs for uses that they determine to be 
``essential.'' For example, with respect to CFCs, Article 2A(4) 
provides that the phaseout will apply ``save to the extent that the 
Parties decide to permit the level of production or consumption that is 
necessary to satisfy uses agreed by them to be essential.'' Similar 
language appears in the control provisions for halons (Art. 2B), carbon 
tetrachloride (Art. 2D), methyl chloroform (Art. 2E), 
hydrobromochlorofluorocarbons (Art. 2G), and bromochloromethane (Art. 
2I). As defined by Decision IV/25 of the Parties, use of a controlled 
substance is essential only if (1) it is necessary for the health, 
safety or is critical for the functioning of society (encompassing 
cultural and intellectual aspects), and (2) there are no available 
technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes that 
are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health.
    Decision X/19 under the Protocol (taken in 1998) allowed a general 
exemption for essential laboratory and analytical uses through December 
31, 2005. EPA included this exemption in our regulations at 40 CFR part 
82, subpart A. While the Clean Air Act does not specifically provide 
for this exemption, EPA determined that an exemption for essential 
laboratory and analytical uses was allowable under the Act as a de 
minimis exemption. EPA addressed the de minimis exemption in the final 
rule of March 13, 2001 (66 FR 14760-14770).
    Decision X/19 also asked the Protocol's Technology and Economic 
Assessment Panel (TEAP), a group of technical experts from member 
countries, to report annually on procedures that could be performed 
without the use of controlled substances and stated that at future 
meetings the Parties would decide whether such procedures should no 
longer be eligible for exemptions. Based on the TEAP's recommendation, 
the Parties to the Protocol decided in 1999 (Decision XI/15) that the 
general exemption no longer applied to the following uses: Testing of 
oil and grease, and total petroleum hydrocarbons in water; testing of 
tar in road-paving materials; and forensic finger-printing. EPA 
incorporated this exclusion at Appendix G to Subpart A of 40 CFR part 
82 on February 11, 2002 (67 FR 6352).
    Subsequently, in its May 2003 progress report the TEAP noted, ``No 
new non-ODS methods have been forthcoming which would enable the TEAP 
to recommend the elimination of further uses of controlled substances 
for analytical and laboratory uses'' (p. 106, see Air Docket OAR-2004-
0064). Based on this statement, and in consideration of the pending 
cessation of the laboratory use exemption in 2005, the European 
Community proposed an extension of the exemption that would allow 
further time for development of non-ODS methods. At their fifteenth 
Meeting in November 2003, the Parties adopted the proposal in Decision 
XV/8, which extended the global exemption for laboratory and analytical 
uses to December 31, 2007.
    EPA's regulations regarding this exemption at 40 CFR 82.8(b) 
currently state, ``A global exemption for class I controlled substances 
for essential laboratory and analytical uses shall be in effect through 
December 31, 2005 subject to the restrictions in appendix G of this 
subpart, and subject to the record-keeping and reporting requirements 
at Sec.  82.13(u) though (x). There is no amount specified for this 
exemption.'' Because certain laboratory procedures continue to require 
the use of class I substances in the United States, and because non-ODS 
replacements for the class I substances have not been identified for 
all uses, EPA is revising 40 CFR 82.8(b) to reflect the extension of 
the exemption to 2007 consistent with Decision XV/8. For a more 
detailed discussion of the reasons for the exemption, refer to the 
March 13, 2001, Federal Register notice.

II. Extension of the Global Laboratory and Analytical Use Exemption

    With today's action, EPA is extending the laboratory and analytical 
use exemption from December 31, 2005, to December 31, 2007. This 
exemption allows for production and import of certain ODSs to meet 
laboratory and analytical needs.
    EPA received three sets of comments on the proposed rule (70 FR 
25726), two of which did not support extending the exemption and one 
late comment which did support extending the exemption. One commenter 
indicated that as long as there is an exemption program, industry will 
not have an incentive to seek alternatives. EPA believes that the time-
limited nature of the exemption program, first through 2005 and now 
through 2007, does provide industry with an incentive to continue to 
explore alternatives. The Agency notes that many of the exempted uses 
are for niche applications or for experimental work of importance to 
society. For example, some federal and state laws, including 
regulations issued under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, 
require testing of the water, soil, or air to measure compliance with 
environmental standards. A pure sample of an ODS may be necessary to 
properly calibrate the testing equipment and effectively monitor the 
presence of chemicals of interest in the environment. A fuller 
description of laboratory and analytical uses may be found in EPA's 
2001 rulemaking on the topic (66 FR 14760) and in the comments in the 
accompanying paper docket A-93-39.
    Furthermore, EPA notes that total consumption (defined as 
production plus imports minus exports) for laboratory uses is small 
relative to baseline and has declined over time. The amount of phased-
out class I substances being supplied to laboratories under this 
exemption decreased each year since 1997 to reach the level of eight 
metric tons in 2001 (approximately one-quarter the amount supplied in 
1997), according to EPA's tracking system for ODSs.
    Another commenter expressed concern that the exemption would be 
phased out ``eventually'' as described in the proposal and suggested 
that the exemption should last only another two years. In today's 
action, EPA is extending the laboratory and analytical use exemption by 
two years recognizing, however, that after December 2007 there still 
may be a need for this exemption. Should the Parties to the Montreal 
Protocol take a decision to further extend the exemption beyond 2007, 
EPA will seek comment on a new timeframe for the exemption.
    The commenter continues to express concern that the exemption 
benefits companies at the expense of children and other members of the 
public. As described above, this exemption services the research and 
analytical community who are often engaged in work to protect the 
public. The laboratory and analytical exemption was agreed to by the 
Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Decisions X/19 and XV/8 as part of 
the careful balancing intrinsic in any public policy discussion. As 
discussed in the March 2001 notice, the controls in place for 
laboratory and analytical uses provide adequate assurance that very 
little, if any, environmental damage will result from the handling and 
disposal of the small amounts of class I ODSs used in such 
applications. Therefore, EPA does not anticipate significant 
environmental impacts on the ozone layer as a result of today's action.

[[Page 77050]]

III. Applicability of the Global Laboratory and Analytical Use 
Exemption to Methyl Bromide

    As of January 1, 2005, production and import of methyl bromide is 
no longer allowed in the United States, except for limited exemptions 
(40 CFR 82.4(d)). Methyl bromide is a class I controlled substance used 
chiefly as a fumigant for soil treatment and pest control. In the 
proposed rule, EPA sought comment on whether the global laboratory 
exemption should include methyl bromide and also sought information on 
laboratory and analytical processes that involve the use of small 
quantities of methyl bromide. EPA only received one comment and it was 
general in nature. The commenter indicated that she did not support any 
exemptions for methyl bromide. Recognizing that further discussion of 
whether the global laboratory exemption should include methyl bromide 
may occur at a future meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, 
EPA is deferring final action on this aspect of the proposed rule.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735 (October 4, 1993)), the 
Agency must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant'' 
and therefore subject to OMB review and the requirements of the 
Executive Order. The Order defines ``significant regulatory action'' as 
one that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an annual 
effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a 
material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, 
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, 
local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious 
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by 
another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of 
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and 
obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy 
issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or 
the principles set forth in the Executive Order.
    It has been determined that this rule is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under the terms of Executive Order 12866 and is 
therefore not subject to OMB review.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This action does not impose any new information collection burden 
because EPA is not creating new information or reporting requirements. 
However, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has previously 
approved the information collection requirements contained in the 
existing regulations, as part of the final rule promulgated by the 
Agency on May 10, 1995, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and has assigned OMB control number 2060-
0170 (EPA ICR number 1432). A copy of the OMB approved Information 
Collection Request (ICR) may be obtained from Susan Auby, Collection 
Strategies Division; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T); 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460 or by calling (202) 566-
1672.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time 
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize 
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to 
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; 
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; 
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    EPA has determined that it is not necessary to prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis in connection with this final rule.
    For purposes of assessing the impact of today's rule on small 
entities, the term small entities is defined as: (1) A Pharmaceutical 
preparations manufacturing business (NAICS code 325412); (2) a small 
governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town, 
school district or special district with a population of less than 
50,000; and (3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit 
enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not 
dominant in its field.
    After considering the economic impacts of today's final rule on 
small entities, EPA has concluded that this action will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
In determining whether a rule has a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities, the impact of concern is any 
significant adverse economic impact on small entities, since the 
primary purpose of the regulatory flexibility analyses is to identify 
and address regulatory alternatives ``which minimize any significant 
economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities.'' 5 U.S.C. 603 
and 604. Thus, an agency may conclude that a rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
if the rule relieves regulatory burden, or otherwise has a positive 
economic effect on all of the small entities subject to the rule.''
    This rule provides an otherwise unavailable benefit to those 
companies that obtain ozone depleting substances under the essential 
laboratory and analytical use exemption. Today's action will extend the 
Global Laboratory and Analytical Use Exemption (The Lab Exemption) from 
its current expiration date of December 31, 2005 to December 31, 2007. 
The Lab Exemption allows companies to produce CFCs and other Class I 
ozone depleting substances (ODS), that are otherwise phased out, for 
use of very small quantities of ODS in laboratory settings. We have 
therefore concluded that today's final rule will relieve regulatory 
burden for all small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal 
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, EPA 
generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit 
analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that 
may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
one year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement 
is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify 
and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt 
the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative 
that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of section 205 
do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover, 
section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other

[[Page 77051]]

than the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome 
alternative if the Administrator publishes with the final rule an 
explanation why that alternative was not adopted. Before EPA 
establishes any regulatory requirements that may significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, including tribal governments, it 
must have developed under section 203 of the UMRA a small government 
agency plan. The plan must provide for notifying potentially affected 
small governments, enabling officials of affected small governments to 
have meaningful and timely input in the development of EPA regulatory 
proposals with significant Federal intergovernmental mandates, and 
informing, educating, and advising small governments on compliance with 
the regulatory requirements.
    Today's rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory 
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local, or tribal 
governments or the private sector, since it merely extends the 
availability of an already available exemption to the ban on production 
and import of class I ODSs. For the same reason, EPA has determined 
that this rule contains no regulatory requirements that might 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments.

E. Executive Order No. 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure 
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.'' 
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the 
Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct 
effects on the 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.''
    This final rule does not have federalism implications. It will not 
have substantial direct effects on the 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. Today's rule affects only the 
companies that produce or import class I ozone-depleting substances for 
laboratory or analytical uses. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not 
apply to this rule.

F. Executive Order No. 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    Executive Order No. 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination 
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful 
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory 
policies that have tribal implications.'' This final rule does not have 
tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order No. 13175. Today's 
final rule does not significantly or uniquely affect the communities of 
Indian tribal governments. The final rule does not impose any 
enforceable duties on communities of Indian tribal governments. Thus, 
Executive Order No. 13175 does not apply to this final rule.

G. Executive Order No. 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health & Safety Risks

    Executive Order No. 13045: ``Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 
1997) applies to any rule that: (1) Is determined to be ``economically 
significant'' as defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns 
an environmental health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe 
may have a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory 
action meets both criteria, the Agency must evaluate the environmental 
health or safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain 
why the planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective 
and reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the Agency.
    While this proposed rule is not subject to the Executive Order 
because it is not economically significant as defined in Executive 
Order 12866, we nonetheless have reason to believe that the 
environmental health or safety risk addressed by this action may have a 
disproportionate effect on children. Depletion of stratospheric ozone 
results in greater transmission of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation 
to the earth's surface. The following studies describe the effects on 
children of excessive exposure to UV radiation: (1) Westerdahl J, 
Olsson H, Ingvar C. ``At what age do sunburn episodes play a crucial 
role for the development of malignant melanoma,'' Eur J Cancer 1994; 
30A: 1647-54; (2) Elwood JM, Jopson J. ``Melanoma and sun exposure: an 
overview of published studies,'' Int J Cancer 1997; 73:198-203; (3) 
Armstrong BK. ``Melanoma: childhood or lifelong sun exposure'' In: 
Grobb JJ, Stern RS, Mackie RM, Weinstock WA, eds. ``Epidemiology, 
causes and prevention of skin diseases,'' 1st ed. London, England: 
Blackwell Science, 1997: 63-6; (4) Whiteman D., Green A. ``Melanoma and 
Sunburn,'' Cancer Causes Control, 1994: 5:564-72; (5) Kricker A, 
Armstrong, BK, English, DR, Heenan, PJ. ``Does intermittent sun 
exposure cause basal cell carcinoma? A case control study in Western 
Australia,'' Int J Cancer 1995; 60: 489-94; (6) Gallagher, RP, Hill, 
GB, Bajdik, CD, et. al. ``Sunlight exposure, pigmentary factors, and 
risk of nonmelanocytic skin cancer I, Basal cell carcinoma,'' Arch 
Dermatol 1995; 131: 157-63; (7) Armstrong, BK. ``How sun exposure 
causes skin cancer: an epidemiological perspective,'' Prevention of 
Skin Cancer. 2004. 89-116. The public is invited to submit or identify 
peer-reviewed studies and data, of which EPA may not be aware, that 
assessed results of early life sun exposure.
    However, as discussed in the March 13, 2001, Federal Register 
notice, the laboratory and analytical applications addressed in today's 
proposed rule involve extremely controlled use and disposal of all 
chemicals, including any ODS. As a result, emissions of ODS into the 
atmosphere are negligible. In light of the conditions already applied 
to the global exemption by appendix G to subpart A of 40 CFR part 82, 
EPA believes that any additional controls on laboratory uses would 
provide little, if any, benefit.

H. Executive Order No. 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This rule is not a ``significant energy action'' as defined in 
Executive Order No. 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355 
(May 22, 2001)) because it is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer Advancement Act

    As noted in the proposed rule, section 12(d) of the National 
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public 
Law. No. 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs EPA to use 
voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do 
so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. 
Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., materials 
specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business 
practices) that are developed or adopted

[[Page 77052]]

by voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to 
provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not 
to use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. This 
action does not involve technical standards. Therefore, EPA did not 
consider the use of any voluntary consensus standards.

J. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 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 to 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. A Major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2). This rule will be effective on January 1, 2006.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 82

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedures, 
Air pollution control, Chemicals, Exports, Imports, Ozone, Production, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.

    Dated: December 22, 2005.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Administrator.


0
40 CFR Part 82 is amended as follows:

PART 82--PROTECTION OF STRATOSPHERIC OZONE

0
1. The authority citation for part 82 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7601, 7671-7671q.

Subpart A--Production and Consumption Controls

0
2. Section 82.8 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  82.8  Grant of essential use allowances and critical use 
allowances.

* * * * *
    (b) A global exemption for class I controlled substances for 
essential laboratory and analytical uses shall be in effect through 
December 31, 2007, subject to the restrictions in appendix G of this 
subpart, and subject to the record keeping and reporting requirements 
at Sec.  82.13(u) through (x). There is no amount specified for this 
exemption.
* * * * *

[FR Doc. 05-24612 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P