[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 194 (Friday, October 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59108-59110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16577]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794; FRL-8099-2]


Documents to be Addressed at the Second Meeting of the Stockholm 
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice alerts readers to the documents which will be 
discussed at the Second Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee 
(POPRC) meeting from November 6-10, 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland, and 
provides an overview of the procedural steps these chemicals will 
follow. Among the technical documents to be discussed are five risk 
profiles for chemicals previously proposed in November 2005 for 
addition to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 
(POPs) Annexes A, B, and/or C and proposals for five new chemicals to 
be added to those Annexes at the November 2006 meeting. Other documents 
to be discussed can be found on the meeting agenda posted on the 
Stockholm Convention website and include standard work plans for draft 
risk management evaluations and risk profiles, confidentiality 
arrangements, and treatment of isomers. The meeting documents have been 
posted at http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc_2/default.htm.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 31, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794, by one of the following methods.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA 
East, Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention: 
Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794. 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. Such deliveries are only accepted 
during the DCO's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements 
should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2006-0794. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available on-line 
at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-
mail. The regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous access'' system, 
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information 
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, 
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part 
of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available 
on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends 
that you include your name and other contact information in the body of 
your comment and with any disk or CD ROM you submit. 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. Electronic 
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of

[[Page 59109]]

encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the 
regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information 
is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as 
copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard copy, at the 
OPPT Docket, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC). The EPA/DC suffered structural 
damage due to flooding in June 2006. Although the EPA/DC is continuing 
operations, there will be temporary changes to the EPA/DC during the 
clean-up. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room, which was temporarily closed 
due to flooding, has been relocated in the EPA Headquarters Library, 
Infoterra Room (Room Number 3334) in EPA West, located at 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room 
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room 
is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is 
(202) 566-0280. EPA visitors are required to show photographic 
identification and sign the EPA visitor log. Visitors to the EPA/DC 
Public Reading Room will be provided with an EPA/DC badge that must be 
visible at all times while in the EPA Building and returned to the 
guard upon departure. In addition, security personnel will escort 
visitors to and from the new EPA/DC Public Reading Room location. Up-
to-date information about the EPA/DC is on the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Colby 
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, 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: Amy Breedlove, Chemical Control 
Division (7405M), Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 564-9823; 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, and may be of 
particular interest to industrial chemical and pesticide manufacturers, 
importers, and processors. 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 person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the 
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or 
CD ROM that you mail to EPA, 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 claimed CBI. In addition to one complete 
version of the comment that includes 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. Information so 
marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set 
forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Procedures for preparing confidential information related to 
pesticides and industrial chemicals are in Unit I.B.1. Send 
confidential information about industrial chemicals using the 
submission procedures under ADDRESSES. Send confidential information 
about pesticides to: Janice K. Jensen, Office of Pesticide Programs 
(7506P), Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460-0001 or 
hand delivered to: Janice K. Jensen, Office of Pesticide Programs 
(7506P), Potomac Yards South, Rm. S11317, 2777 South Crystal Dr., 
Arlington, VA 22202.
    3. Tips for preparing your comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
    i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying 
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
     ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
     iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and 
substitute language for your requested changes.
     iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information 
and/or data that you used.
     v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate.
     vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggested alternatives.
     vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use 
of profanity or personal threats.
     viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

II. Background

    The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is 
a multilateral environmental agreement designed to protect human health 
and the environment from POPs. The United States signed the Convention 
in May of 2001 but has not yet ratified it (and thus is not a Party to 
the Convention). The United States currently participates as an 
observer in Convention activities. The Convention, which went into 
force in May of 2004, requires the Parties to reduce or eliminate the 
production and use of a number of intentionally produced POPs used as 
pesticides or industrial chemicals. The Convention also calls upon 
Parties to take certain specified measures to reduce releases of 
certain unintentionally produced POPs with the goal of their continuing 
minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination. The Convention 
also imposes controls on the handling of POPs wastes and on trade in 
POPs chemicals. In addition, there are specific science-based 
procedures that Parties to the Convention must use when considering the 
addition of new chemicals to the Convention's Annexes.
    The first meeting of the Committee that reviews proposals for 
listing of new chemicals, called POPRC, took place in November 2005 in 
Geneva, Switzerland. Information about the Convention and the November 
2005 POPRC meeting is available at the Convention website (http://www.pops.int/ and http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/), 
respectively. POPRC had before it five proposals which were submitted 
for its consideration by Parties to the Convention, for addition to 
Annexes A, B, and/or C of the Convention. Three of the five proposals 
were for industrial chemicals: Pentabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 32534-
81-9), hexabromobiphenyl (CAS No. 36355-01-8), and PFOS. Two of the 
five proposals were for pesticides: Lindane

[[Page 59110]]

(CAS No. 58-89-9) and chlordecone (CAS No. 143-50-0).
    At the November 2005 meeting, in accordance with the procedures 
laid down in Article 8 of the Convention, POPRC examined the proposals 
and applied the screening criteria in Annex D of the Convention 
(``Information Requirements and Screening Criteria''). With regard to 
all five chemicals, POPRC decided that it was satisfied that the 
screening criteria had been fulfilled and that further work should 
therefore be undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the 
Convention.
    The five chemicals being newly proposed at the November 2006 
meeting for inclusion in Annexes A, B and/or C of the Stockholm 
Convention are two industrial chemicals: Octabromodiphenyl ether (CAS 
No. 32536-52-0) and pentachlorobenzene (CAS No. 608-93-5); one chemical 
with both industrial and pesticidal uses: Short-chained chlorinated 
paraffins (CAS No. 85535-84-8); and two pesticides: Alpha 
hexachlorocyclohexane (CAS No. 319-84-6) and beta hexachlorocyclohexane 
(CAS No. 319-85-7).
    Article 8 provides that once POPRC is satisfied that the screening 
criteria in Annex D have been fulfilled in the proposals, the following 
steps are then undertaken:
     Parties and observers are requested to provide additional 
information about the chemical, including information to be used in 
developing the risk profiles, per Annex E (``Information Requirements 
for the Risk Profile'').
     Draft risk profiles are prepared for consideration by 
POPRC.
     POPRC reviews the risk profiles and decides, on the basis 
of the risk profile, if the chemical is likely, as a result of its 
long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse 
human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is 
warranted. If POPRC determines that action is warranted, or the 
Conference of the Parties (COP) determines that the proposal shall 
proceed, then Parties and observers will be asked to provide 
information, per Annex F (``Information on Socio-Economic 
Considerations''), to aid in the development of risk management 
evaluations.
     Once POPRC is satisfied with the risk management 
evaluation, POPRC then prepares a recommendation whether to list the 
chemical for consideration by COP.
     COP makes the final decision on listing the chemical in 
Annexes A, B, and/or C.
    EPA anticipates issuing Federal Register notices, with at least 30 
day comment periods, soliciting information after all but the last 
step, when appropriate.

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    The Agency is issuing this notice to increase awareness of the 
documents being discussed at POPRC in November 2006, the status of 
their review under the Convention, and upcoming procedural steps 
required by the Convention. The Agency will also use any comments 
received to inform its position on issues for the meeting. The relevant 
meeting documents have been posted at http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc_2/default.htm.
    Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794, 
must be received on or before October 31, 2006.

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

    EPA is requesting comment and information under the authority of 
section 102(2)(F) of the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq., which directs all agencies of the Federal Government to 
``[r]ecognize the worldwide and long-range character of environmental 
problems and, where consistent with the foreign policy of the United 
States, lend appropriate support to initiatives, resolutions and 
programs designed to maximize cooperation in anticipating and 
preventing a decline in the quality of mankind's world environment.'' 
Section 17(d) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act 
(FIFRA) also provides additional support in that it directs the 
Administrator of EPA ``in cooperation with the Department of State and 
any other appropriate Federal agency, [to] participate and cooperate in 
any international efforts to develop improved pesticide research and 
regulations.''

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances.

    Dated: October 2, 2006.
Charles M. Auer,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. E6-16577 Filed 10-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S