[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41256-41258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18420]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0139; FRL-9966-83]


Methylene Chloride in Furniture Refinishing; Workshop

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On September 12, 2017, EPA is holding a workshop on the use of 
methylene chloride in furniture refinishing. In a proposed rule 
published on January 19, 2017, EPA proposed to prohibit manufacture 
(including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of 
methylene chloride in consumer paint and coating removal and most types 
of commercial paint and coating removal, except for

[[Page 41257]]

commercial furniture refinishing. This workshop will help inform EPA's 
understanding of methylene chloride use in furniture refinishing. 
Federal and state governments, industry professionals, furniture 
refinishing experts, non-government organizations, and academic 
experts, among others, will discuss the role of methylene chloride in 
furniture refinishing, potential alternatives, economic impacts, and 
other issues identified in EPA's January 2017 proposed rule on 
methylene chloride, which deferred action on the use of methylene 
chloride in commercial furniture refinishing. This information will 
allow EPA to better understand current work practices and obtain 
additional information on the economic considerations involved in 
selecting chemical products for paint and coating removal in the 
furniture refinishing sector. The meeting also aims to facilitate an 
exchange of information on existing use practices and furniture 
refinishers' experience, in general, with paint removal products and 
methods.

DATES: The meeting will be held in Boston on September 12, 2017, from 
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the 
technical 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.
    Meeting Registration. You may register online (preferred) or in 
person at the meeting. To register online for the meeting, go to: 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/us-epa-public-meeting-on-methylene-chloride-in-furniture-refinishing-tickets-36895406153. Advance 
registration for the meeting must be completed no later than September 
10, 2017. On-site registration will be permitted, but seating and 
speaking priority will be given to those who pre-register by the 
deadline.
    Comments. EPA will hear oral comments at the meeting, and will 
accept written comments and materials submitted to docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0139 at http://www.regulations.gov on or before November 12, 2017. For further 
information about participation and submitting materials, see Unit III: 
How Can I Request to Participate in this Meeting?

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at held at EPA's Region 1 office at 
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02109-3912.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For technical information contact: Ingrid Feustel, Chemical Control 
Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-3199; 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 may be of particular interest to entities that 
manufacture (defined under TSCA to include import), process, distribute 
in commerce, use or dispose of methylene chloride or other chemicals in 
furniture restoration, especially entities identified under North 
American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 811420. Since 
other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to 
describe all the specific entities and corresponding NAICS codes for 
entities that may be interested in or affected by this action.

B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    The docket for this action, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0139 is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics 
Docket (OPPT Docket), Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center 
(EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 
566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is (202) 566-
0280. Please review the visitor instructions and additional information 
about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. Background

    In the Federal Register of January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7464) (FRL-9958-
57), EPA proposed to prohibit manufacture (including import), 
processing, and distribution in commerce of methylene chloride in 
consumer paint and coating removal and in most types of commercial 
paint and coating removal, excluding commercial furniture refinishing. 
In that notice, the Agency announced its intention to hold a public 
meeting to learn more about methylene chloride use in furniture 
refinishing. This workshop will help EPA and all stakeholders better 
understand challenges in commercial furniture refinishing. The workshop 
aims to facilitate an exchange of information on existing use and work 
practices, the needs, and preferences and expertise of craftspeople, 
and the availability and effectiveness of paint and coating removal 
approaches. Federal and state governments, industry professionals, 
furniture restoration experts, non-profit organizations, and academic 
experts, among others, will discuss the role of methylene chloride in 
furniture restoration. The workshop will include presentations by 
subject matter experts, with sessions focused on current use practices, 
the availability of safer alternatives in furniture refinishing, and 
worker protection measures. The workshop will include opportunities for 
public comment.

III. How can I request to participate in this meeting?

A. Registration

    To attend the meeting in person or to receive remote access, you 
must register no later than September 10, 2017, by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/us-epa-public-meeting-on-methylene-chloride-in-furniture-refinishing-tickets-36895406153. While on-site registration 
will be available, seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis, 
with priority given to early registrants, until room capacity is 
reached. For registrants not able to attend in person, the meeting will 
also provide remote access capabilities; registered participants will 
be provided information on how to connect to the meeting prior to its 
start.

B. Submitting Written Materials

    You may submit written information for consideration during or 
after this meeting. Information should be submitted to docket ID number 
EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-139 available at through https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting information or comments. 
Once submitted, this information cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA may 
publish any information received to its public docket. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by 
statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 
accompanied by a written statement or information. Information

[[Page 41258]]

must be received on or before November 12, 2017.

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 2605.

    Dated: August 24, 2017.
Wendy Cleland-Hamnett,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-18420 Filed 8-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P