[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32424-32425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08936]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OGC-2024-0192; FRL-11917-01-OGC]


Proposed Consent Decrees, Toxic Substances Control Act Suit

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed consent decrees; request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is given of proposed consent decrees to address 
lawsuits filed by Community In-Power and Development Association Inc., 
Learning Disabilities Association of America, Louisiana Environmental 
Action Network, Sierra Club, and Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy 
Services (collectively, ``CIDA Plaintiffs'') in the United States 
District Court for the District of Columbia on September 18, 2023: 
Community In-Power and Development Association Inc. v. EPA, Case No. 
1:23-cv-02715 (D.D.C.) (the ``CIDA action'') and by American Chemistry 
Council (``ACC'') in the same court on December 19, 2023: ACC v. EPA, 
Case No. 1:23-cv-03726 (D.D.C.) (the ``ACC action''). The cases were 
consolidated on January 17, 2024. The CIDA Plaintiffs and ACC filed the 
cases pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (``TSCA''), alleging 
that EPA failed to perform non-discretionary duties under TSCA to 
timely complete several risk evaluations. EPA is providing notice of 
the proposed consent decrees, which would resolve all claims in both 
cases by establishing deadlines for EPA to take action on the subject 
risk evaluations.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed consent decrees must be 
received by May 28, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OGC-2024-0192, online at https://www.regulations.gov (EPA's preferred 
method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
number for this action. Comments received may be posted without change 
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Additional Information 
about Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decrees'' heading under the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Schwarz, Pesticides and 
Toxic Substances Law Office, Office of General Counsel, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency; telephone (202) 564-8496; email 
address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Copies of the Proposed Consent Decrees

    The official public docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OGC-2024-0192) contains copies of the proposed consent decrees. The 
official public docket is available for public viewing at the Office of 
Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA 
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The EPA 
Docket Center 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 OEI Docket is (202) 566-1752.
    The electronic version of the public docket for this action 
contains copies of the proposed consent decrees and is available 
through https://www.regulations.gov. You may use https://www.regulations.gov to submit

[[Page 32425]]

or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of 
the official public docket, and access those documents in the public 
docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, key in 
the appropriate docket identification number then select ``search.''

II. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent 
Decrees

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OGC-2024-
0192, via https://www.regulations.gov. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from this docket. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA's docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must 
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered 
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you 
wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, 
cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission 
methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets. For additional information about submitting information 
identified as CBI, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. Note that written 
comments containing CBI and submitted by mail may be delayed and 
deliveries or couriers will be received by scheduled appointment only.
    If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you 
include your name, mailing address, and an email address or other 
contact information in the body of your comment. This ensures that you 
can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to 
contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical 
difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your 
comment. Any identifying or contact information provided in the body of 
a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
official public docket and made available in EPA's electronic public 
docket. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment.
    Use of the https://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments 
to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. 
The electronic public docket system is an ``anonymous access'' system, 
which means EPA will not know your identity, email address, or other 
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    In accordance with the EPA's ``Consent Decrees and Settlement 
Agreements to Resolve Environmental Claims Against the Agency'' (March 
18, 2022), for a period of thirty (30) days following the date of 
publication of this document, the Agency will accept written comments 
relating to a proposed consent decrees for these claims. EPA or the 
Department of Justice may withdraw or withhold consent to the proposed 
consent decrees if the comments disclose facts or considerations that 
indicate that such consent is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate.
    Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified 
comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period 
will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider these late 
comments.

Randolph L. Hill,
Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-08936 Filed 4-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P