[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 155 (Monday, August 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45244-45246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15780]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2004-0122; FRL-8144-1]


Material Characterization of Nanoscale Materials; Notice of 
Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is convening a public scientific peer consultation meeting 
on material characterization for nanoscale chemical substances 
(``nanoscale materials'') to inform the development of its Nanoscale 
Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) under the Toxic Substances Control 
Act (TSCA). The peer consultation on material characterization 
information for nanoscale materials is one of several actions EPA is 
taking to better understand the potential risks and benefits of 
nanotechnology. EPA is requesting comments at the public scientific 
peer consultation meeting regarding: Characteristics currently used or 
potentially available to characterize nanoscale materials; the 
rationale for the use of these characteristics; and issues to consider 
regarding use of these characteristics in the NMSP. These comments will 
inform EPA on material characteristics to be considered in the NMSP.

DATES: The meeting will be held on September 6-7, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.
    You may register for the meeting on or before August 31, 2007. See 
Unit IV. for additional information.
    Comments must be received on or before 8:30 a.m., September 6, 
2007.
    Requests to present oral comments must be received on or before 
August 31, 2007. See Unit IV. for additional information.
    To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 10 
days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to 
process your request.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key 
Bridge, 1900 Fort Myer Dr., Arlington, VA 22209.
    For instructions on submission of requests to present oral comments 
in this meeting, see Unit IV.
    Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) 
number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2004-122, 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-2004-0122. 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-
2004-0122. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the 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 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. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center 
homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index 
available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Advanced Search,'' then ``Docket 
Search.'' Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the 
``Submit'' button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov 
website to view the docket index or access available documents. 
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. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) at 
Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal 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. Docket visitors 
are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal 
detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed 
through an X-ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will be 
provided an EPA/DC badge that must be visible at all times in the 
building and returned upon departure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Colby 
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division

[[Page 45245]]

(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: Myrta Christian, Economics, 
Exposure and Technology Division (7406M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 564-8498: 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 those persons who manufacture, import, process, 
or use nanoscale materials that are chemical substances subject to the 
jurisdiction of TSCA. Potentially affected entities may include, but 
are not limited to:
     Chemical manufacturers (NAICS code 325), e.g., persons 
manufacturing, importing, processing, or using chemicals for commercial 
purposes.
     Petroleum and coal product industries (NAICS code 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. 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 a docket for this action under 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2004-0122. All documents in the docket are 
listed in the docket's index available at http://www.regulations.gov. 
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. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) at 
Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal 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. Docket visitors 
are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal 
detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed 
through an X-ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will be 
provided an EPA/DC badge that must be visible at all times in the 
building and returned upon departure.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.

C. 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 
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 as 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. 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 your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
    vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and 
suggest 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.

D. Where Can I Access More Information About Nanotechnology?

    For more information about nanotechnology under TSCA, go to http://www.epa.gov/oppt/nano.

II. Background

    There is a growing class of materials commonly referred to as 
engineered nanoscale materials. Materials having structures with the 
dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, also known as nanoscale 
materials or nanoscale substances, may have organizations and 
properties different than the same chemical substances displayed at a 
larger scale. Nanoscale materials that meet the definition of 
``chemical substances'' under TSCA are subject to TSCA. TSCA provides 
EPA with a strong framework for ensuring that new and existing chemical 
substances are manufactured and used in a manner that protects human 
health and the environment.
    EPA is developing the NMSP for nanoscale materials to complement 
and support its new and existing chemicals programs under TSCA. The 
NMSP will also help to provide a firmer scientific foundation for 
regulatory decisions by encouraging the development of key scientific 
information and appropriate risk management practices. This peer 
consultation on material characterization is one of several actions EPA 
is taking to better understand the potential risks and benefits of 
nanotechnology.
    On October 18, 2006, EPA invited the public, industry, 
environmental groups, other Federal agencies and other stakeholders to 
participate in the design, development, and implementation of the NMSP 
(see http://www.epa.gov/oppt/nano). On July 12, 2007, EPA announced the 
availability of several documents for public review and comment related 
to the further development of the NMSP, including the announcement of a 
public meeting on August 2, 2007, to discuss and take

[[Page 45246]]

comment on these documents (Ref. 4, see also http://www.epa.gov/oppt/nano/nmspfr.htm).
    EPA is holding this public scientific peer consultation meeting to 
assist in elaborating characteristics used to describe nanoscale 
materials for the purposes of the NMSP. The public meeting will involve 
peer panel discussions of EPA's discussion paper on possible material 
characteristics for the NMSP, with time allotted for public comment. 
EPA will place the discussion paper on possible material 
characteristics for nanoscale materials and the agenda for the meeting 
in the public docket, and on the OPPT nanotechnology website, 
Nanotechnology under the Toxic Substances Control Act, at http://epa.gov/oppt/nano/index.htm.
    For further information on input EPA has received or solicited 
regarding development of the stewardship program, see the Federal 
Register issues of May 10, 2005 (70 FR 24574-24576) (FRL-7700-7), 
October 4, 2006 (71 FR 58601-58603) (FRL-8070-3), and July 12, 2007 (72 
FR 38083) (FRL-8139-2) and (72 FR 38079) (FRL-8140-2), as well as the 
National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee (NPPTAC) 
Overview Document (Ref.1).

III. Discussion Items for EPA and Stakeholder Consideration

    EPA has identified the following discussion items on material 
characterization for nanoscale materials for which your consideration 
and comment are specifically requested:
    1. Description of nanoscale materials (e.g., types, categories).
    2. Physical-chemical properties of potential interest (e.g., 
particle size/shape/distribution/dimensions, agglomeration, 
aggregation, surface area, etc.).
    3. Design to achieve unique properties (e.g., manufacturing, 
processing, chemical transformations).
    4. Obtaining characterization data for nanoscale materials (e.g., 
analytical methods, models).
    5. Metrology (e.g., methods validation, standards, and 
harmonization).
    6. Prioritization of characterization data and data gaps.
    In addition, EPA is requesting information on characterization or 
methodology currently used for nanoscale materials. The Agency is also 
seeking comment on characterization or methodology that could 
potentially be used for nanoscale materials in the basic or the in-
depth phases of the NMSP that were described in the ``Concept Paper for 
the Nanoscale Materials Program under TSCA,'' including the rationale 
for such use and any relevant issues (Ref. 4).

IV. How Can I Request to Participate in this Meeting?

    You may register for the meeting electronically through EPA's 
website at http://www.epa.gov/oppt/nano on or before August 31, 2007. 
Advance requests will assist in planning adequate seating; however, 
members of the public may attend without prior registration.
    You may submit a request to present oral comments in this meeting 
to the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Do not submit any information in your request that is considered CBI. 
Requests to present oral comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-
HQ-OPPT-2004-0122, must be received on or before August 31, 2007.

V. References

    The following references have been placed in the public docket that 
was established under docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2004-0122 for this 
action as indicated under ADDRESSES.
    1. NPPTAC. November 22, 2005. Overview of Issues for Consideration 
byNPPTAC.
    2. Discussion paper for public meeting on material characterization 
of nanoscale materials.
    3. Agenda for public meeting on material characterization of 
nanoscale materials.
    4. Concept Paper for the Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program 
under TSCA.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances, 
Nanoscale materials.


    Dated: August 2, 2007.
Charles M. Auer,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. E7-15780 Filed 8-10-07; 8:45 am]
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