Revocation of Significant New Use Rules for Certain Chemical Substances

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is revoking significant new use rules (SNURs) for 2 substances promulgated under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) based on new data. Based on the new data the Agency no longer finds that activities not described in the corresponding TSCA section 5(e) consent order or premanufacture notice (PMN) for these chemical substances may result in significant changes in human or environmental exposure.

DATES:

This rule is effective June 14, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information contact: Barbara Cunningham, Director, Office of Program Management and Evaluation, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7401), Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.

For technical information contact: James Alwood, Chemical Control Division (7405), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 260-1857; e-mail address: alwood.jim@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

You may be potentially affected by this action if you manufacture, import, process, or use the chemical substances contained in this rule. Potentially affected categories and entities may include, but are not limited to:

This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in the table in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether or not this action applies to certain entities. To determine whether you or your business is affected by this action, you should carefully examine the applicability provisions in 40 CFR 721.5. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed under “FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.”

B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and Other Related Documents?

1. Electronically. You may obtain copies of this document, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To access this document, on the Home Page select “Laws and Regulations” and then look up the entry for this document under the “Federal Register-Environmental Documents.” You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.

2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for this action under docket control number OPPTS-50637A. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received during an applicable comment period, and other information related to this action, including any information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment period, is available for inspection in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, North East Mall Rm. B-607, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Center is (202) 260-7099.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

In the Federal Register referenced for each substance, OPPTS-50591C, July 22, 1992 (57 FR 32441) and OPPTS-50615, May 27, 1994 (59 FR 27474) establishing significant new uses for the substances, EPA issued a SNUR. The Agency proposed the revocation of these SNURs in the Federal Register of November 19, 1999 (64 FR 63275) (FRL-6385-8). The comment period closed on December 20, 1999. The Agency received no comments concerning the proposed revocations. Therefore, EPA is revoking these rules.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

During review of the PMNs submitted for the chemical substances that are the subject of this revocation, EPA concluded that regulation was warranted based on available information that indicated activities not described in the TSCA section 5(e) consent order or the PMN might result in significant changes in human or environmental exposure as described in section 5(a)(2) of TSCA. Based on these findings, SNURs were promulgated.

EPA has revoked the TSCA section 5(e) consent order that is the basis for one of the SNURs and no longer finds that activities other than those described in the TSCA section 5(e) consent order or the PMN may result in significant changes in human or environmental exposure. The revocation of SNUR provisions for these substances is consistent with the findings set forth in the preamble to the proposed revocation of each individual SNUR.

Therefore, EPA is revoking the SNUR provisions for these chemical substances. When this revocation is effective, EPA will no longer require notice of intent to manufacture, import, or process these substances. In addition, export notification under section 12(b) of TSCA will no longer be required.

III. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

This rule revokes or eliminates an existing regulatory requirement and does not contain any new or amended requirements. As such, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled “Regulatory Planning and Review” (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993).

Since this rule does not impose any requirements, it does not contain any information collections subject to approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or require any other action under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4).

Nor does it require any prior consultation as specified by Executive Order 12875, entitled “Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership” (58 FR 58093, October 28, 1993), or special considerations as required by Executive Order 12898, entitled “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations” (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) or require OMB review in accordance with Executive Order 13045, entitled “Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks” (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997).

On August 4, 1999, President Clinton issued a new executive order on Federalism, Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), which will take effect on November 2, 1999. In the interim, the current Executive Order 12612 (52 FR 41685, October 30, 1987) on Federalism still applies. This rule will not have a substantial direct effect on States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 12612.

In addition, pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Agency has determined that SNUR revocations, which eliminate requirements without imposing any new ones, have no adverse economic impacts. The Agency's generic certification for SNUR revocations appears on June 2, 1997 (62 FR 29684) (FRL-5597-1) and was provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

IV. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the Agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. 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 rule is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 721

• Environmental protection
• Chemicals
• Hazardous substances
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Therefore, 40 CFR part 721 is amended as follows:

PART 721—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 721 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2604, 2607, and 2625(c).