[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49997-49999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20370]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0068, 2014-0730, 2015-0081, 2015-0491; FRL-9929-31]


Availability of Work Plan Chemical Problem Formulation and 
Initial Assessment and Data Needs Assessment Documents for Flame 
Retardant Clusters; Notice and Public Comment Periods

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability and opening of a 60-day 
public comment period for TSCA Work Plan Chemical problem formulation 
and initial assessment documents for three flame retardant clusters. 
EPA is also making available and opening a 120-day public comment 
period for the TSCA Work Plan Chemical data needs assessment document 
for the Brominated Phthalates flame retardant cluster. Based on 
experience in conducting TSCA Work Plan Chemical assessments and public 
input, starting in 2015 EPA will publish a problem formulation and 
initial assessment, or a data needs assessment, for each TSCA Work Plan 
assessment as a stand-alone document to facilitate public input prior 
to conducting further risk analysis. EPA believes publishing problem 
formulation and initial assessment documents for TSCA Work Plan 
assessments will increase transparency about EPA's thinking and 
analysis process, provide opportunity for the public to comment on 
EPA's approach, and give EPA the opportunity to receive additional 
information/data prior to EPA conducting detailed risk analysis

[[Page 49998]]

and risk characterization. There are three clusters of flame retardant 
on the TSCA Work Plan for which there are problem formulation and 
initial assessment documents: Brominated Bisphenol A, Chlorinated 
Phosphate Esters, and Cyclic Aliphatic Bromides. In addition, there is 
a data needs assessment document for the Brominated Phthalates flame 
retardant cluster. There is a separate docket assigned to each TSCA 
Work Plan Chemical flame retardant cluster.

DATES: Comments on the three problem formulation and initial assessment 
documents (Brominated Bisphenol A (TBBPA), Chlorinated Phosphate Esters 
(CPE), and Cyclic Aliphatic Bromides (HBCD)) must be received on or 
before October 19, 2015. Comments on the data needs assessment document 
for Brominated Phthalates (TBB & TBPH) must be received on or before 
December 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number for the corresponding TSCA Work Plan chemicals as 
identified in this document, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.
     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: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
Stanley Barone, Risk Assessment Division (7403M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 564-1169; email address: [email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email 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 
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including those interested in 
environmental and human health; the chemical industry; chemical users; 
consumer product companies and members of the public interested in the 
assessment of chemical risks. Since others also may be interested, the 
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may 
be affected by this action.

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 email. 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 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 preparing and submitting 
your comments, see the commenting tips at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.

II. What action is the Agency taking?

    EPA is announcing the availability of and opening of a public 
comment period for three problem formulation and initial assessment 
documents, and a data needs assessment document, for the following TSCA 
Work Plan Chemicals: Brominated Bisphenol A; Chlorinated Phosphate 
Esters; Cyclic Aliphatic Bromides; and Brominated Phthalates flame 
retardant clusters. This Federal Register Notice identifies the 
individual Work Plan Chemical problem formulation and initial 
assessment documents and the data needs assessment document by title, 
docket ID number, and chemical or chemicals covered. Use the specific 
docket ID number provided in this Federal Register Notice to locate a 
copy of the chemical-specific document, as well as to submit comments 
via http://www.regulations.gov.

A. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0068

    Title: TSCA Work Plan Chemical Problem Formulation and Initial 
Assessment: Chlorinated Phosphate Esters Cluster.
    Chemicals covered: Ethanol, 2-chloro-, phosphate (3:1) (TCEP) 
(CASRN: 115-96-8); 2-Propanol, 1-chloro-, 2,2',2''-phosphate (TCPP) 
(CASRN: 13674-84-5); and 2-Propanol, 1,3-dichloro-, phosphate (3:1) 
(TDCPP) (CASRN: 13674-87-8).
    Summary: Chlorinated phosphate esters are high production volume 
chemicals that have been used as flame retardants in furniture foams, 
textiles, paints and coatings. EPA initiated scoping and problem 
formulation to determine the feasibility of conducting a quantitative 
risk assessment. During problem formulation, EPA reviewed previous 
assessments by EPA and other organizations and additional published 
studies on the exposure and hazard for members of the CPE cluster. EPA 
examined likely exposure and hazard scenarios based on current 
production, use, and fate information to identify scenarios amenable to 
a risk analysis.

B. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0081

    Title: TSCA Work Plan Chemical Problem Formulation and Initial 
Assessment: Cyclic Aliphatic Bromides Cluster.
    Chemicals covered: Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD, CASRN 25637-99-4); 
1,2,5,6,9,10-Hexabromocyclododecane (CASRN 3194-55-6); and 1,2,5,6-
Tetrabromocyclooctane (CASRN 3194-57-8).
    Summary: Cyclic Aliphatic Bromides have been used as a flame 
retardant in: extruded and expanded polystyrene foams (EPS/XPS), 
polystyrene (PS) products, textiles, paints and coatings. EPA initiated 
scoping and problem formulation to determine the feasibility of 
conducting a quantitative risk assessment. During problem formulation, 
EPA reviewed previous assessments by EPA and other organizations and 
additional published studies on the exposure and hazard for members of 
this flame retardant cluster. EPA examined likely exposure and hazard 
scenarios based on current production, use, and fate information to 
identify scenarios amenable to a risk analysis. During problem 
formulation, EPA identified inhalation, dermal and lifetime exposure 
assessments as data gaps that add uncertainty to EPA's risk

[[Page 49999]]

assessment of HBCD. EPA welcomes comment on addressing these data gaps.

C. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0730

    Title: TSCA Work Plan Chemical Problem Formulation and Initial 
Assessment: Tetrabromobisphenol A and Related Chemicals Cluster.
    Chemicals covered: Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA, CASRN 79-94-7); 
TBBPA-bis(dibromopropyl ether) (CASRN 21850-44-2); TBBPA-bis(ally 
ether) (CASRN 25327-89-3); and TBBPA-bis(methyl ether) (CASRN 37853-61-
5).
    Summary: Tetrabromobisphenol A is a compound commonly used as a 
flame retardant in plastics/printed circuit boards for electronics and 
has been found in children's products and other consumer products. EPA 
initiated scoping and problem formulation to determine the feasibility 
of conducting a quantitative risk assessment. During problem 
formulation, EPA reviewed previous assessments by EPA and other 
organizations and additional published studies on the exposure and 
hazard for members of this flame retardant cluster. EPA examined likely 
exposure and hazard scenarios based on current production, use, and 
fate information to identify scenarios amenable to a risk analysis.

D. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0491

    Title: TSCA Work Plan Chemical Problem Formulation and Data Needs 
Assessment: Brominated Phthalates Cluster.
    Chemicals covered: 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 3,4,5,6-
tetrabromo-, 1,2-bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester (TBPH) (CASRN 26040-51-7); 
Benzoic acid, 2,3,4,5-tetrabromo-, 2-ethylhexyl ester (TBB) (CASRN: 
183658-27-7); 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-, 1-[2-
(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl] 2-(2-hydroxypropyl) ester (CASRN: 20566-35-2); 
1,2-Benzene dicarboxylic acid, 3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-, mixed esters with 
diethylene glycol and propylene glycol (CASRN: 77098-07-8); 1,2-
Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl) ester (CASRN: 
7415-86-3); Chemical A--Chemical Identity claimed confidential by 
manufacturer; Chemical B--Chemical Identity claimed confidential by 
manufacturer.
    Summary: The Brominated Phthalates Cluster is a group of seven 
chemicals at least two of which, TBB and TBPH, are found in commercial 
flame retardant formulations. During problem formulation, EPA reviewed 
previous assessments by EPA and other organizations and additional 
published studies on the exposure and hazard for members of the 
Brominated Phthalates Cluster. This review identified critical data 
gaps and uncertainties that limit EPA's ability to conduct a 
quantitative risk assessment for any of the chemicals in the Brominated 
Phthalates cluster. Specifically, the review identified numerous gaps 
in toxicity data and exposure data, testing conducted on limited 
commercial mixtures but not all constituents of the mixtures, and 
uncertain attribution of toxicity for commercial mixtures. As an 
initial step toward conducting a robust risk assessment, EPA is 
releasing a ``Data Needs Assessment'' for the Brominated Phthalates 
Cluster. This Data Needs Assessment is intended to guide the collection 
of additional data and information to fill the critical data gaps and 
reduce uncertainties identified during problem formulation.
    If you have any questions about any of these problem formulation 
and initial assessment documents and the data needs assessment 
document, or the Agency's programs in general, please contact the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

    Dated: August 12, 2015.
Wendy C. Hamnett,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 2015-20370 Filed 8-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P