[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 14, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52674-52675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24633]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 372

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0197; FRL-9968-26]
RIN 2070-AK32


Community Right-to-Know; Adopting 2017 North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) Codes for Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 
Reporting; Withdrawal

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: In the Federal Register of August 17, 2017, EPA published both 
a direct final rule and a proposed rule to update the list of NAICS 
codes subject to reporting under the TRI to reflect the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) 2017 NAICS code revision. As noted in the 
direct final rule, if EPA received relevant adverse comment on the 
proposed update, the Agency would publish a timely withdrawal of the 
direct final rule in the Federal Register informing the public that the 
direct final action will not take effect. The Agency did receive a 
relevant adverse comment on the proposed update, and is therefore 
withdrawing the direct final rule and will instead proceed with a final 
rule based on the proposed rule after considering all public comments.

DATES: Effective November 14, 2017 the direct final rule published in 
the Federal Register of August 17, 2017 (82 FR 39038) (FRL-9964-77) is 
withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
Stephanie Griffin, Toxics Release Inventory Program Division (7410M), 
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; 
telephone number: (202) 564-1463; email address: 
[email protected].
    For general information contact: The Emergency Planning and 
Community Right-to-Know Information Center; telephone number: (800) 
424-9346, TDD (800) 553-7672; Web site: https://www.epa.gov/home/epa-hotlines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Does this action apply to me?

    A list of potentially affected entities is provided in the Federal 
Register of August 17, 2017. If you have questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. What rule is being withdrawn?

    In the August 17, 2017 Federal Register, EPA published both a 
direct final rule (see 82 FR 39038) and a proposed rule (see 82 FR 
39101) pursuant to sections 313(g)(1) and 328 of the Emergency Planning 
and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) for the purpose of updating the 
list of NAICS codes subject to TRI reporting under EPCRA section 313 to 
include OMB's revised 2017 NAICS codes. The action would have also 
modified the list of relevant exceptions and limitations to the covered 
NAICS codes included in the CFR for TRI reporting purposes.
    Since the direct final rule and proposed rule's publication, EPA 
received a public comment supporting the overall update, but noting 
that the direct final rule inadvertently omitted one of the covered 
NAICS codes updated by OMB. As a result of this omission, EPA is 
withdrawing the direct final rule published in the Federal Register on 
August 17, 2017, and will instead proceed with a final rule based on 
the proposed rule after considering (and responding to) all public 
comments received.

III. How do I access the docket?

    To access the docket, please go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
follow the online instructions using the docket identification (ID) 
number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0197. Additional information about the Docket 
Facility is also provided under ADDRESSES in the August 17, 2017 
Federal Register document. If you have questions, consult the technical 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

IV. Good Cause Finding

    EPA finds that there is ``good cause'' under the Administrative 
Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B)) to withdraw the direct 
final rule discussed in this document without prior notice and comment. 
Alongside the direct final rule, EPA published an identical proposed 
rule and gave notice in the Federal Register that the direct final rule 
would be withdrawn if the Agency received adverse comment.
    For this document, notice and comment is impracticable and 
unnecessary because EPA is under a time limit to publish this 
withdrawal before the direct final rule is to take effect to limit 
confusion among Federal agencies and the regulated community. As such, 
EPA has determined that this document is not subject to the 30-day 
delay of effective date generally required by 5 U.S.C. 553(d). This 
withdrawal must become effective prior to the effective date of the 
direct final rule being withdrawn.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This document withdraws regulatory requirements that have not gone 
into effect. As such, the Agency has determined that this withdrawal 
will not have any adverse impacts, economic or otherwise. The statutory 
and Executive Order review requirements applicable to the direct final 
rule being withdrawn were discussed in the August 17, 2017 Federal 
Register document. Those review requirements do not apply to this 
action because it is a withdrawal and does not contain any new or 
amended requirements.

VI. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

    Pursuant to the CRA (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), EPA will submit a 
report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. 
Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General 
of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2). Section 808 of the CRA allows

[[Page 52675]]

the issuing agency to make a rule effective sooner than otherwise 
provided by CRA if the agency makes a good cause finding that notice 
and public procedure is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest. As required by 5 U.S.C. 808(2), this determination is 
supported by a brief statement in Unit IV.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 372

    Environmental protection, Community right-to-know, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Toxic chemicals.

    Dated: November 7, 2017.
E. Scott Pruitt,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-24633 Filed 11-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P