[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6116-6117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01909]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0104; FRL-11588-01-OCSPP]


Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards for 2024; Call for 
Submissions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Safer Choice program in the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) is accepting submissions for its 2024 Safer Choice Partner 
of the Year Awards. EPA developed the Partner of the Year Awards to 
recognize the leadership contributions of Safer Choice partners and 
stakeholders who have shown achievement in the design, manufacture, 
promotion, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals, that 
further outstanding or innovative source reduction. EPA especially 
encourages submission of award applications that show how the 
applicant's work involving products with safer chemical ingredients 
promotes environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of 
climate change, results in cleaner air or water, improves drinking 
water quality, or advances innovation in packaging. Similar achievement 
in the design, manufacture, promotion, selection, and use of Design for 
the Environment (DfE)-certified products will also make an organization 
eligible for the Partner of the Year Awards.

DATES: Submissions are due on or before April 25, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Please submit materials by email to [email protected] and 
copy [email protected]. Candidates interested in 
learning more about the Partner of the Year Awards should refer to the 
Safer Choice website at https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-partner-year-awards. The docket for this action, identified by docket 
information (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0104, is available at https://www.regulations.gov. Additional information about dockets is available 
at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aerin Kirk, Data Gathering and 
Analysis Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 7406M, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-9814; 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be affected by this action if you are a Safer Choice 
program partner or stakeholder. The following list of North American 
Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes is not intended to be 
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide to help readers determine 
whether this document applies to them. Affected entities may include:
     Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325180).
     All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (Primary) 
(NAICS code 325199).
     Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing 
(NAICS code 325320).
     Paint and Coating Manufacturing (NAICS code 325510).
     Adhesive Manufacturing (NAICS code 325520).
     Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325611).
     Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325612).
     Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (Primary) (NAICS code 
325613).
     Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (NAICS code 325620).
     Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, and Chemical 
Manufacturing (NAICS code 325992).
     All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation 
Manufacturing (NAICS code 325998).
     Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant 
Wholesalers (Primary) (NAICS code 423850).
     Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers 
(Primary) (NAICS code 424690).
     Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores 
(Primary) (NAICS code 445110).
     All Other Specialty Food Stores (NAICS code 445299).
     Pharmacies and Drug Stores (NAICS code 446110).
     Office Supplies and Stationery Stores (NAICS code 453210).
     All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Tobacco 
Stores) (Primary) (NAICS code 453998).
     Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses (NAICS code 
454110).
     Research and Development in Biotechnology (except 
Nanobiotechnology) (Primary) (NAICS code 541714).
     Facilities Support Services (NAICS code 561210). 
Janitorial Services (NAICS code 561720).
     Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services (NAICS code 
561740).
     Elementary and Secondary Schools (NAICS code 611110).
     Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (NAICS 
code 611310).
     Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 
with Facilities (NAICS code 711310).
     Drycleaning and Laundry Services (NAICS code 8123).
     Civic and Social Organizations (Primary) (NAICS code 
813410).
     Business Associations (Primary) (NAICS code 813910).
     Other General Government Support (NAICS code 921190).
     Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste 
Management Programs (Primary) (NAICS code 924110).

II. What is the Safer Choice program?

    As part of its environmental mission, the Safer Choice program 
partners with businesses to help consumers and commercial buyers 
identify products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing 
quality or performance. The Safer Choice program certifies products 
containing ingredients that have met the program's specific and 
rigorous human health and environmental toxicological criteria. The 
Safer Choice program allows companies to use its label on certified 
products that contain safer ingredients and perform, as determined by 
expert evaluation. The Safer Choice program certification represents a 
high level of achievement in formulating products that are safer for 
people and the environment. For more information on the Safer Choice 
program, please see: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice.

[[Page 6117]]

III. What is the DfE program?

    The DfE program is a companion program to Safer Choice and 
certifies antimicrobial products. The DfE logo may be used on certified 
products and helps consumers and commercial buyers identify products 
that meet the health and safety standards of the pesticide registration 
process required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA) as well as the Safer Choice program's stringent criteria 
for efficacy and effects on human health and the environment. For more 
information on the DfE program, please see: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-labels/learn-about-design-environment-dfe-certification.

IV. What is the purpose of the award?

    The purpose of the Partner of the Year Awards is to recognize the 
leadership contributions of Safer Choice program partners and 
stakeholders who, over the past year, have shown achievement in the 
design, manufacture, promotion, selection, and use of products with 
safer chemicals, that further outstanding or innovative source 
reduction. EPA especially encourages submission of award applications 
that show how the applicant's work involving products with safer 
chemical ingredients promotes environmental justice, bolsters 
resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or 
water, improves drinking water quality, or advances innovation in 
packaging. Similar achievement in the design, manufacture, promotion, 
selection, and use of Design for the Environment (DfE)-certified 
products will also make an organization eligible for the Partner of the 
Year Awards.

V. How can I participate?

    All Safer Choice stakeholders and program participants in good 
standing are eligible for recognition. Interested parties who would 
like to be considered for this award should submit to EPA an 
application detailing their accomplishments and contributions during 
calendar year 2023. The application form is available on the Safer 
Choice website. Candidates interested in learning more about the 
Partner of the Year Awards should refer to the following link: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-partner-year-awards. EPA will 
recognize award winners at a Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards 
ceremony later in 2024.
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 13103(b)(13) and 15 U.S.C. 2609.

    Dated: January 26, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-01909 Filed 1-30-24; 8:45 am]
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