[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 2822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1539]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-140241; FRL-4995-6]
Access to Confidential Business Information by Contractors;
Extension of Contracts and Access to Confidential Information
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Due to the lack of authorized funding (i.e. a Fiscal Year 1996
Appropriations Bill or Continuing Resolution) and the resultant
furlough of EPA employees, EPA is extending the contracts and access to
confidential business information of four state agencies serving as
contractors to EPA, the State of New York Department of Environmental
Conservation (Contract Number 68-W5-0040), Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (Contract Number 68-W5-0039), Georgia Department of
Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-0038), and Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-0037).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan B. Hazen, Director,
Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. E-545, 401
M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 554-1404, TDD: (202) 554-0551,
e-mail: TSCA-Hotline@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the fall of 1995, the State of New York
Department of Environmental Conservation (Contract Number 68-W5-0040),
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Contract Number 68-W5-0039),
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-0038),
and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Contract Number 68-W5-
0037), each were retained as EPA contractors to review information
directed to EPA under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA), including confidential business information (CBI). The purpose
of the contracts is to have the states determine the value of TSCA
derived information to their respective toxics programs. By the terms
of the contracts, access to TSCA CBI could be as long as 120 days after
the date of contract commencement.
As a result of the furlough of EPA personnel and the closure of the
Federal government for significant portions of the contract period, the
state contractors were not able to access data or secure necessary
Agency personnel assistance so as to adequately perform the contracts.
For this reason, the Agency has determined that access to TSCA CBI
should be extended another 60 days, to insure that the state
contractors have sufficient time to address the issue of the utility of
TSCA data to state programs. Additional information may be secured from
Scott Sherlock, the EPA staffer assigned to this project, at telephone
number (202) 260-1536; e-mail: sherlock.scott@epamail.epa.gov.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Access to confidential businesss
information.
Dated: January 23, 1996.
Linda A. Travers,
Director, Information Management Division, Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 96-1539 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
