[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 82 (Monday, May 1, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20310-20311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08772]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 751

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0387; EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0231; FRL-9961-66]
RIN 2070-AK11 and RIN 2070-AK07


Trichloroethylene; Regulation of Vapor Degreasing Under TSCA 
Section 6(a); Methylene Chloride and N-Methylpyrrolidone; Regulation of 
Certain Uses Under TSCA Section 6(a); Reopening of Comment Periods

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; Reopening of comment periods.

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SUMMARY: In the Federal Register of January 19, 2017, EPA issued two 
proposed rules under section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA). The first action proposed to prohibit the manufacture 
(including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of 
trichloroethylene (TCE) for use in vapor degreasing; to prohibit the 
use of TCE in vapor degreasing; to require manufacturers (including 
importers), processors, and distributors, except for retailers, of TCE 
for any use to provide downstream notification of these prohibitions 
throughout the supply chain; and to require limited recordkeeping. The 
second action proposed to prohibit the manufacture (including import), 
processing, and distribution in commerce of methylene chloride and N-
methylpyrrolidone (NMP) for consumer and most types of commercial paint 
and coating removal; to prohibit the use of methylene chloride and NMP 
in these commercial uses; to require manufacturers (including 
importers), processors, and distributors, except for retailers, of 
methylene chloride and NMP for any use to provide downstream 
notification of these prohibitions throughout the supply chain; and to 
require

[[Page 20311]]

recordkeeping. This document reopens and extends the comment periods 
for each proposed rule for an additional 30 days. Commenters requested 
additional time to submit written comments for the proposed rules.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-
HQ-OPPT-2016-0387 and by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2016-0231 must be received on or before May 19, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions provided under ADDRESSES in 
the Federal Register documents of January 19, 2017, (82 FR 7432) (FRL-
9950-08) or (82 FR 7464) (FRL-9958-57).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For technical information contact: Cindy Wheeler, Chemical Control 
Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 202-566-0484; email 
address: [email protected] or Ana Corado, Chemical Control Division 
(7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: 202-564-0140; 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: This document reopens public comment periods 
established in the two proposed rules issued in the Federal Register of 
January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7432) (FRL-9950-08) and (82 FR 7464) (FRL-9958-
57). In the first action, EPA proposed a rule under section 6 of the 
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prohibit the manufacture 
(including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of 
trichloroethylene (TCE) for use in vapor degreasing; to prohibit the 
use of TCE in vapor degreasing; to require manufacturers (including 
importers), processors, and distributors, except for retailers, of TCE 
for any use to provide downstream notification of these prohibitions 
throughout the supply chain; and to require limited recordkeeping. In 
the second notice, EPA proposed a rule under section 6 of TSCA to 
prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and 
distribution in commerce of methylene chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone 
(NMP) for consumer and most types of commercial paint and coating 
removal; to prohibit the use of methylene chloride and NMP in these 
commercial uses; to require manufacturers (including importers), 
processors, and distributors, except for retailers, of methylene 
chloride and NMP for any use to provide downstream notification of 
these prohibitions throughout the supply chain; and to require 
recordkeeping. EPA is hereby reopening the comment periods for 30 days, 
to May 19, 2017.
    Even though EPA received requests for a lengthier extension of the 
comment periods, the Agency has concluded that a 30-day reopening of 
the comment period is sufficient. EPA has already provided for a 
substantial comment period, now totaling 90 days, for each of the two 
proposals. EPA has already extended the original 60-day comment period 
for the proposed rule in TCE in vapor degreasing for 30 days, from 
March 20, 2017, to April 19, 2017 (82 FR 10732, February 15, 2017). 
This notice provides the second extension of the comment period for 
that proposed rule. EPA proposed the rule on methylene chloride and NMP 
in paint and coating removal with a 90-day comment period, ending on 
April 19, 2017. Additionally, much of the technical bases for the 
proposals has been available to the public since the risk assessments 
for methylene chloride and TCE were published in 2014 and the risk 
assessment for NMP was published in 2015, and the commenters' expressed 
need for further extension was general in nature (e.g., the complexity 
and importance of the subject matter, and prospective commenters' 
desire to continue conferring and reviewing the technical basis for 
EPA's proposal). The Agency, therefore, is extending the comment period 
at its own discretion, in the interest of receiving comprehensive 
public comment for the benefit of the current rules.
    To submit comments, or access a docket, please follow the detailed 
instructions provided under ADDRESSES in the Federal Register documents 
of January 19, 2017, (82 FR 7432) (FRL-9950-08) or (82 FR 7464) (FRL-
9958-57). If you have questions, consult the technical person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 751

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Export notification, Hazardous 
substances, Import certification, Methylene Chloride, N-
Methylpyrrolidone, Trichloroethylene, Recordkeeping.

    Dated: April 18, 2017.
Wendy Cleland-Hamnett,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-08772 Filed 4-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P