96-334. Certain Chemicals; Premanufacture Notices; Extension of Review Periods

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 657-658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-334]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-51845; FRL-4993-9]


Certain Chemicals; Premanufacture Notices; Extension of Review 
Periods

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 a Continuing Resolution), and the resultant 
furlough of the EPA employees, EPA is extending the review periods for 
all premanufacture notices (PMNs), submitted under section 5 of the 
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA; 15 U.S.C. section 2604), received 
by EPA before December 16, 1995, and for which the review period has 
not yet expired as of the date of signature of this notice. This action 
is taken under the authority of TSCA sections 5(c) and 26(c).

DATES: The duration of this extension period will be equivalent to the 
duration of the current furlough, i.e, equivalent to the number of days 
between December 15, 1995, and the date on which the EPA furlough 
terminates and EPA operations resume.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Campanella, Chief, New 
Chemicals Branch, Chemical Control Division (7405), Environmental 
Protection Agency, Rm. E-447, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: [phone], Facsimile: [phone].
*Note: No one will be available at EPA to respond to inquiries until 
the furlough ends and EPA operations resume.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In anticipation of the then impending 
furlough, EPA arranged with the PMN submitters voluntary suspensions, 
pursuant to 40 CFR 720.75(b), of the PMN review periods for any PMNs 
submitted under TSCA section 5(a)(1) and 40 CFR part 720, received by 
EPA before December 16, 1995, and for which the review period had not 
yet expired. Effective December 16, 1995, due to the lack of authorized 
funding (i.e., a Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations Bill or a Continuing 
Resolution), EPA employees have been furloughed and non-excepted work 
operations at the Agency have ceased. No work has been performed on 
reviewing these PMNs since the furlough began. Due to the protracted 
duration of the current furlough, EPA is now extending for an 
additional period of time, pursuant to TSCA sections 5(c) and 26(c) and 
40 CFR 720.75(c), the review periods of all PMNs received before 
December 16, 1995, and for which the review period has not yet expired 
as of the date of signature of this notice.
    There is a possibility that the chemical substances submitted for 
review in these PMNs may be regulated by EPA under TSCA. The Agency 
requires an extension of the review periods to complete its risk 
assessment, to examine its regulatory options, and to prepare the 
necessary documents, should regulatory action be required. Therefore, 
EPA has determined that good cause exists to extend, under TSCA section 
5(c), the review period for each such PMN.
    The duration of this extension period will be equivalent to the 
duration of the current furlough, i.e, equivalent to the number of days 
between December 15, 1995, and the date on which the EPA furlough 
terminates and EPA operations resume. Under TSCA section 5(c), the 
total extensions of the review period for an individual PMN shall in no 
event exceed 90 days. Thus, if the extension described in this notice 
is for less than 90 days, EPA reserves the right to issue additional 
extensions under TSCA section 5(c) in the future for good cause up to a 
total of 90 days.
    After the furlough ends and EPA operations resume, PMNs will be 
available for public inspection in Rm. NE-B607, at the EPA 
headquarters, address given above, from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except legal holidays.


[[Page 658]]

    Dated: January 3, 1996.
Charles M. Auer,
Director, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics.

[FR Doc. 96-334 Filed 1-5-96; 10:28 am]
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