[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76325-76330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21727]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794; FRL-8109-1]


Review of Chemical Proposals for Addition under the Stockholm 
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; Solicitation of 
Information for the Development of Risk Management Evaluations and Risk 
Profiles

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits information relevant to the development 
of risk management evaluations pursuant to the Stockholm Convention on 
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) for the following chemicals which 
are being reviewed for possible addition to the Stockholm Convention's 
(hereafter Convention) Annexes A, B, and/or C as POPs: 
Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) (CAS No. 36355-01-8); pentabromodiphenyl ether 
(PeBDE) (CAS No. 32534-81-9); chlordecone (CAS No. 143-50-0); lindane 
(CAS No. 58-89-9); and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Additionally, 
this notice solicits information relevant to the development of risk 
profiles pursuant to the Convention for the following chemicals which 
are also being reviewed for possible addition to the Convention's 
Annexes A, B, and/or C as POPs: Commercial octabromodiphenyl ether 
(octaBDE) (CAS No. 32536-52-0); pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) (CAS No. 608-
93-5); short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) (CAS No. 85535-84-8); 
alpha-hexachlorocylcohexane (alpha-HCH) (CAS No. 319-84-6); and beta-
hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) (CAS No. 319-85-7). EPA is issuing 
this notice to alert interested and potentially affected persons of 
these proposals and the status of their review under the Convention, 
and to encourage such persons to provide information relevant to the 
development of risk profiles and risk management evaluations under the 
Convention.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 4, 2007.

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 Bldg., 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 Docket'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'' systems, 
which

[[Page 76326]]

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 
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 (Rm. 3334), EPA West Bldg., 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 
Linter, 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: Ellie Clark, Chemical Control 
Division (7405M), Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 564-2962; 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 chemical substance 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 
technical 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, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001 or hand delivered to: Janice K. Jensen, 
Government and International Services Branch, Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Potomac Yard South, 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Rm. S11315, 
Arlington, VA 22202.
    3. Commenters should note that none of the CBI information received 
by EPA will be forwarded to the Convention Secretariat. Information 
from submissions containing CBI may be considered by EPA in the 
development of the U.S. response. If commenters wish EPA to consider 
incorporating information in documents with CBI as part of the U.S. 
response, commenters should provide a sanitized copy of the documents. 
Sanitized copies must be complete except that all information claimed 
as CBI is deleted. EPA will place sanitized copies in the public 
docket.
    4. 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

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

     The Agency is issuing this notice to increase awareness of the 
proposals concerning the chemicals subject to this notice, and to 
provide interested persons with an opportunity to provide relevant 
information to EPA for its consideration in the development of the 
United States' submissions relevant to Convention Annexes E and F for 
the chemical substances under review at this time for possible addition 
to Annexes A, B, and /or C of the

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Convention. On November 27, 2006, and December 8, 2006, the Convention 
Secretariat (hereafter Secretariat) invited Parties and observers to 
submit to the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) (via the Secretariat) 
information specified in Annex F and Annex E (at http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm) of the Convention, and other 
relevant information. The United States is an observer. EPA is 
requesting that any information be submitted to EPA on or before 
January 4, 2007. The United States intends to make a submission by 
February 2, 2007, to meet the Secretariat's deadline. In addition, EPA 
will consider the information during its review of the draft risk 
management evaluations and risk profiles developed by ad hoc working 
groups established under the POPRC in the coming months. The chemical 
listing process is discussed in more detail in Unit II.B. Individuals 
or organizations that wish to submit information directly to the POPRC 
via the Secretariat should work through their respective observer 
organizations, if any.

B. What is the Convention's Chemical Listing Process?

    The Convention 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. Article 8 of the Convention 
provides the process that must be followed for listing new chemicals in 
Annexes A, B, and/or C, and is described in summary below with certain 
associated implementation procedures being followed by POPRC:
    1. A Party to the Convention may submit a proposal to the 
Secretariat for listing a chemical in Annexes A, B, and/or C. The 
proposal shall contain the information specified in Annex D of the 
Convention (``Information Requirements and Screening Criteria'').
    2. The Secretariat verifies that the proposal contains the 
information specified in Annex D, and if the Secretariat is satisfied, 
the proposal is forwarded to POPRC.
    3. POPRC examines the proposal, applies the Annex D screening 
criteria, and determines whether the screening criteria have been 
fulfilled.
     4. If POPRC is satisfied that the criteria have been fulfilled, 
POPRC, through the Secretariat, will make the proposal and POPRC's 
evaluation available to all Parties and observers and invite them to 
submit the information specified in Annex E (``Information Requirements 
for the Risk Profiles'').
     5. Draft risk profiles are prepared by ad hoc working groups under 
POPRC in accordance with Annex E for consideration by POPRC and made 
available to all Parties and observers to collect technical comments.
     6. POPRC reviews the draft risk profile and technical comments, 
completes the risk profile, and determines whether 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.
     7. If POPRC determines that action is warranted, then POPRC, 
through the Secretariat, will ask Parties and observers to provide 
information specified in Annex F (``Information on Socio-Economic 
Considerations'') to aid in the development of risk management 
evaluations (that include an analysis of possible control measures).
     8. Draft risk management evaluations are prepared by ad hoc 
working groups under POPRC in accordance with Annex F for consideration 
by POPRC and made available to Parties and observers to collect 
technical comments.
     9. POPRC reviews the draft risk management evaluation prepared by 
the ad hoc working group and completes it.
     10. On the basis of the risk profile and the risk management 
evaluation for each chemical, POPRC recommends whether the chemical 
should be considered by the Conference of the Parties (COP) for listing 
in Annexes A, B, and/or C. (The type(s) of control measure(s) that 
might be introduced for a specific chemical would dictate whether the 
chemical would be listed in Annex A (elimination), Annex B 
(restriction), and/or Annex C (unintentional production) of the 
Convention.).
    11. COP makes the final decision on listing the chemical in Annexes 
A, B, and/or C.
     EPA anticipates issuing Federal Register notices soliciting 
information, when appropriate, during the listing process.

C. What Information is Being Requested for Risk Management Evaluations?

    For the chemicals currently at the risk management stage (see Unit 
II.G.), EPA is seeking information that is supplementary to the 
information provided during previous stages in the review process 
(i.e., information relevant to Annexes D and E; the proposals, 
evaluations and risk profiles, as well as the Secretariat's letter 
soliciting information, are available at the Convention website (http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm)). In addition, POPRC 
identified specific areas where information and data relevant to the 
chemicals under consideration would be particularly useful for the 
future process. This information is discussed in Unit II.G.
    When providing information, keep in mind that the possible control 
measures under the Convention include, among others, the prohibition or 
severe restriction of production and use. Therefore, the provision of 
accurate, high quality information, as described in this notice and in 
the Secretariat letter soliciting information, is a priority for 
POPRC's evaluation.
     Commenters are invited to provide information they deem relevant 
to POPRC's development of the risk management evaluation, such as that 
specified in Annex F of the Convention and other related information, 
as described below and in Unit II.G. Provide summary information and 
relevant references for:
    1. Efficacy and efficiency of possible control measures in meeting 
risk reduction goals:
     i. Describe possible control measures.
     ii. Technical feasibility.
     iii. Costs, including environmental and health costs.
     2. Alternatives (products and processes):
     i. Describe alternatives.
     ii. Technical feasibility.
    iii. Costs, including environmental and health costs.
     iv. Efficacy.
     v. Risk.
     vi. Availability.
     vii. Accessibility.
     3. Positive and/or negative impacts on society of implementing 
possible control measures:
     i. Health, including public, environmental, and occupational 
health.

[[Page 76328]]

     ii. Agriculture, including aquaculture and forestry.
     iii. Biota (biodiversity).
     iv. Economic aspects.
     v. Movement towards sustainable development.
    vi. Social costs.
     4. Waste and disposal implications (in particular, obsolete stocks 
of pesticides and clean-up of contaminated sites):
     i. Technical feasibility.
     ii. Cost.
     5. Access to information and public education.
     6. Status of control and monitoring capacity.
     7. Any national or regional control actions taken, including 
information on alternatives, and other relevant risk management 
information.
     8. Other relevant information for the risk management evaluation.
     9. Other information requested by POPRC.
    POPRC would also like to collect more Annex E information and has 
requested additional or updated information for the following:
     Production data, including quantity and location.
     Uses.
     Releases, such as discharges, losses, and emissions.

 D. What information is Being Requested for Risk Profiles?

    For chemicals at the risk profile stage (see Unit II.H.), EPA is 
seeking information that is supplementary to the information in the 
proposals on the chemicals and POPRC's evaluation of the proposals 
against the Annex D screening criteria. The proposals and the 
evaluations, as well as the Secretariat's letter inviting Parties and 
observers to provide information, are available at the Convention 
website: http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm. In 
addition, POPRC has identified some additional types of information on 
SCCP that would be useful in the development of the risk profiles. That 
information is discussed in Unit II.H. and can also be found in the 
Secretariat's Letter of Invitation.
    EPA has previously solicited information through the Lindane 
Reregistration Eligibility Document (RED), lindane and other HCH 
isomers risk assessments, and through its participation in the draft 
North American Regional Action Plan (NARAP) on Lindane and other 
hexachlorocyclohexane isomers. Consequently, EPA is only interested in 
any new information on alpha- and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane that may 
have been developed since those activities.
    Commenters are invited to provide information they deem relevant to 
POPRC's development of risk profiles, such as that specified in Annex E 
of the Convention and other related information, as described below and 
in Unit II.H.:
    1. Sources, including as appropriate:
     i. Production data, including quantity and location.
     ii. Uses.
    iii. Releases, such as discharges, losses, and emissions.
    2. Hazard assessment for the endpoint or endpoints of concern (as 
identified in the proposals and/or POPRC's evaluation of the proposals 
against the screening criteria of Annex D), including a consideration 
of toxicological interactions involving multiple chemicals.
     3. Environmental fate, including data and information on the 
chemical and physical properties of a chemical as well as its 
persistence and how they are linked to its environmental transport, 
transfer within and between environmental compartments, degradation, 
and transformation to other chemicals.
    4. Monitoring data.
     5. Exposure in local areas and, in particular, as a result of 
long-range environmental transport, and including information regarding 
bio-availability.

 E. How Should the Information be Provided?

    1. EPA requests that commenters, where possible, use the 
questionnaire developed by POPRC to provide their information. The 
questionnaire with explanatory notes can be found on the Convention 
website at: http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm. 
Information does not need to be provided for each item in the 
questionnaire. The explanatory notes under each item have been 
developed by POPRC and are meant to guide and assist the providers of 
information. Commenters are requested to include clear and precise 
references for all sources. Without the exact source of the 
information, POPRC will not be able to use the information. If the 
information is not readily available in the public literature, 
commenters may consider attaching the original source of the 
information to their submission. Commenters should indicate clearly on 
the questionnaire which chemical the information concerns and use one 
questionnaire per chemical. If for some reason the questionnaire does 
not provide an adequate mechanism for a type of comment or information, 
EPA requests that such comment or information be submitted using a 
similar format.
    2. Although POPRC has developed provisional arrangements for the 
treatment of confidential information, as mentioned in Unit I.B.3. No 
CBI will be forwarded to the Secretariat. EPA will, however, consider 
such information in development of the U.S. response to the 
Secretariat. Instructions on where and how to submit comments and 
confidential information can be found in Unit I.B.2. and 3. and 
ADDRESSES.
    3. Anyone wishing to have an opportunity to communicate with EPA 
orally on this issue should consult the technical person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

F. 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 U.S. 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.''

G. What is the Status of Chemicals at the Risk Management Stage?

    The first meeting of POPRC, took place November 7-11, 2005, in 
Geneva, Switzerland. Information about the Convention and the November 
POPRC meeting is available at the Convention website (http://www.pops.int and http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm), 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.
     Hexabromobiphenyl.
     Perfluorooctane sulfonate.
    Two of the five proposals were for pesticides:

[[Page 76329]]

     Lindane.
     Chlordecone.
    In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of the 
Convention and discussed in Unit II.B., during the November meeting, 
POPRC examined the proposals and applied the screening criteria in 
Annex D of the Convention. 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 to 
develop risk profiles. Therefore, POPRC, through the Secretariat, 
requested that Parties and observers provide information relevant to 
POPRC's development of risk profiles for the five chemicals listed in 
this unit. In the Federal Register notice of January 30, 2006 (71 FR 
4913) (FRL-7758-9), EPA invited commenters to provide EPA with 
information for the risk profiles.
    The second meeting of POPRC took place November 6-10, 2006 in 
Geneva, Switzerland. EPA provided notice of this meeting and the 
POPRC's intention to consider risk profiles for the five chemicals in 
the Federal Register notice of October 6, 2006 (71 FR 59108) (FRL-8099-
2). Information about the November POPRC meeting is available at the 
Convention website http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm.
    In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of the 
Convention and discussed in Unit II.B., during the November 2006 
meeting POPRC examined the risk profiles with respect to the 
requirements in Annex E of the Convention. With regard to all five 
chemicals, POPRC decided that, based on the risk profiles, these 
chemicals were likely, as a result of their long-range environmental 
transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and 
environmental effects such that global action is warranted. 
Additionally, in accordance with paragraph 7(a) of Article 8 of the 
Convention, POPRC invited Parties and observers to submit to the 
Secretariat the information specified in Annex F to the Convention by 
February 2, 2007.
    The next step in the process is for POPRC to prepare a risk 
management evaluation that includes an analysis of possible control 
measures, which as noted in Annex F (``Information on Socio-Economic 
Considerations'') should encompass ``the full range of options, 
including management and elimination.'' The risk management evaluation 
shall further evaluate and elaborate on the information referred to in 
Annexes D and E. Relevant information should include socio-economic 
considerations associated with possible control measures (see Unit 
II.C.) and should reflect due regard for the differing capabilities and 
conditions among the Parties. A draft outline of the risk management 
evaluation has been developed by POPRC, available in Annex IV of UNEP/
POPS/POPRC.2/6, which can be found at http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm. The risk management evaluation will take into 
account information to be submitted by Parties and observers as 
requested by POPRC through the Secretariat (a current step). Draft risk 
management evaluations developed by ad hoc working groups established 
under POPRC will be considered by the full POPRC and proceed as 
discussed in Unit II.B.
    In addition to the Annex F information discussed in Unit II.C., 
POPRC identified the following specific areas where information and 
data relevant to the chemicals under consideration would be 
particularly useful for the future process.
    1. Perfluorooctane sulfonate. POPRC is seeking data related to all 
potential PFOS precursors under the headings listed in Annex F. For 
purposes of this request, PFOS-related substances/potential PFOS 
precursors can be considered as all molecules having the following 
molecular formula: C8F17SO2Y, where Y 
= OH, metal or other salt, halide, amide and other derivatives 
including polymers. A listing of potential precursors is provided on 
the POPRC website. This list was originally offered as additional 
information by Sweden in its 2005 proposal for listing PFOS. In 
addition to Annex F information, information is requested on the 
following:
    i. Releases of PFOS and PFOS precursors from specific sources 
(including, but not limited to, consumer products, waste disposal, 
production, manufacturing and formulation).
     ii. Production and uses of PFOS precursors.
    iii. Toxicity and toxico-kinetics of PFOS precursors.
    iv. Degradation and transformation rates of PFOS precursors into 
PFOS, notably under environmentally relevant conditions.
    v. Bioavailability and accumulation of PFOS precursors.
     vi. Solubility of PFOS precursors in water (including dissociation 
constants where appropriate).
    2. Chlordecone. When evaluating chlordecone against the criteria 
contained in Annex D and during the preparation of the risk profile as 
described in Annex E, there was a lack of data on long-range 
environmental transport. Therefore, in addition to seeking information 
under the headings listed in Annex F, POPRC is seeking:
    i. Monitoring data for chlordecone in remote areas and areas far 
from sources.
     ii. Model results demonstrating long-range environmental 
transport.
     3. Hexabromobiphenyl. When evaluating HBB against the criteria 
contained in Annex D and during the preparation of the risk profile as 
described in Annex E, it was considered that the risk profile would 
benefit from further data. Therefore, in addition to seeking 
information under the headings listed in Annex F, POPRC is seeking:
    i. Data related to the ecotoxicity of HBB in aquatic systems and 
under environmentally relevant conditions, including exposures via food 
in aquatic species.
     ii. Laboratory or field food-chain studies.
     iii. Additional mammalian toxicity data.
     iv. Critical body burdens.
     v. Toxicokinetic information.
     4. Lindane. When evaluating lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane 
(HCH)) against the criteria in Annex D, as well as during discussions 
on the risk profile according to Annex E, it became clear that the 
other two major isomers (alpha- and beta-HCH) should also be 
considered. For both alpha- and beta-HCH, POPRC satisfied itself at the 
November 2006 meeting that the screening criteria have been fulfilled. 
The draft risk profiles for alpha- and beta-HCH are currently being 
compiled by POPRC, and the request for Annex E information on them is 
discussed in Unit II.H. To facilitate an effective assessment for 
lindane under Annex F, the Secretariat's request stated that it would 
be very useful to receive and evaluate Annex F information on alpha- 
and beta-HCH at the same time. Having Annex F information on all three 
isomers will enable POPRC to treat them consistently as it prepares the 
risk management statement for lindane and alpha- and beta-HCH. In 
addition to the information listed in Annex F, information is requested 
on the following:
    i. Whether production of lindane takes place (and quantities, if 
possible).
     ii. Whether processes are used whereby the formation of unwanted 
isomers are reduced (and if possible to what extent).
     iii. Whether alpha- and beta-HCH are used as raw materials in the 
production of other chemicals.
     iv. The amounts of alpha- and beta-HCH generated as waste during 
the production of lindane.
    v. Management of alpha- and beta-HCH wastes.

[[Page 76330]]

     vi. Releases to the environment of alpha- and beta-HCH from 
stockpiles, obsolete stocks, and production wastes.
    5. Commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether (C-pentaBDE). Evaluation of 
the risk profile for C-pentaBDE indicated the need for additional 
specificity on production, uses, and releases for this chemical 
mixture. Therefore, in addition to seeking information under the 
headings listed in Annex F, POPRC is seeking quantitative and 
qualitative data related to the production, uses, and releases of C-
pentaBDE and its components.

H. What is the Status of Chemicals at the Risk Profile Stage?

    The second meeting of POPRC took place on November 6-10, 2006, in 
Geneva, Switzerland. EPA provided notice of this meeting and POPRC's 
intention to consider proposals for the five chemicals listed below in 
the Federal Register notice of October 6, 2006. Information about the 
November POPRC meeting is available at the Convention website (http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm), 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.
    1. Two of the five proposals were for industrial chemicals:
     Octabromodiphenyl ether.
     Short-chained chlorinated paraffins.
    2. One of the five proposals was for a chemical with both 
industrial and pesticidal uses:
     Pentachlorobenzene.
    3. Two of the five proposals were for pesticides:
     Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane.
     Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane.
    In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of the 
Convention and discussed in Unit II.B., during the November meeting, 
POPRC examined the proposals and applied the screening criteria in 
Annex D of the Convention. With regard to all five chemicals, POPRC 
decided that it was satisfied that the screening criteria had been 
fulfilled and, in accordance with paragraph 4(a) of Article 8 of the 
Convention, POPRC invited Parties and observers to submit to the 
Secretariat the information specified in Annex E to the Convention by 
February 2, 2007.
    The next step in the process is for POPRC to prepare a risk profile 
for each of the chemicals to, as noted in Annex E, ``evaluate whether 
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.'' The risk 
profile must further evaluate and elaborate on the information referred 
to in Annex D of the Convention and include, as far as possible, the 
information listed in Annex E. A draft outline of the risk profile has 
been developed by POPRC, available at http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm. The risk profile will take into account 
information to be submitted by Parties and observers, as requested by 
POPRC through the Secretariat (a current step). The draft risk profiles 
developed by ad hoc working groups established under POPRC will be 
considered by the full POPRC and proceed as discussed in Unit II.B.
    In addition to the Annex E information discussed in Unit II.D., 
POPRC determined, and the Secretariat requested in their December 8, 
2006 letter, that additional information on the environmental fate of 
short-chained chlorinated paraffins or information relating to their 
properties which would enable a fuller evaluation of environmental fate 
as being particularly useful for the future process.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances.


    Dated: December 14, 2006.
Wendy Cleland-Hamnett,
Acting Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. E6-21727 Filed 12-19-06; 8:45 am]
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