96-31432. Preliminary Assessment Information and Health and Safety Data Reporting; Stay of a Final Rule

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 11, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65186-65187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31432]


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


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 712 and 716

[OPPTS-82049A; FRL-5577-6]


Preliminary Assessment Information and Health and Safety Data 
Reporting; Stay of a Final Rule

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule; stay.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is staying certain provisions of a final rule which was 
published in the Federal Register of October 29, 1996, which added 
chemical substances to two model information gathering rules: the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment 
Information Rule (PAIR) and the TSCA Section 8(d) Health and Safety 
Data Reporting Rule.The TSCA Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) has 
requested that EPA stay certain provisions in the October 29, 1996, 
final rule for nonylphenol ethoxylates in order to avoid ambiguities in 
TSCA section 8(a) and 8(d) reporting resulting from the use of 
alternate CAS numbers cited in the ITC's 38th report.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective December 11, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan B. Hazen, Director, TSCA 
Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Rm. E-543, Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: [phone], TDD: (202) 
554-0551, e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Eighteen nonylphenol ethoxylates were 
recommended in the ITC's 38th Report (61 FR 39832, July 30, 1996) (FRL-
5379-2). Alternate CAS registry numbers were listed for some of these 
nonylphenol ethoxylates. The use of alternate CAS numbers produced some 
ambiguities in the TSCA section 8(a) and 8(d) rules that were 
promulgated for the nonylphenol ethoxylates (61 FR 55872, October 29, 
1996) (FRL-5397-9). The ITC re-examined these alternate CAS registry 
numbers and determined that 5 were not associated with any of the 
listed nonylphenol ethoxylates chemical names. The ITC revised the list 
of nonylphenol ethoxylates by providing 9th Collective Index names for 
all CAS-numbered nonylphenol ethoxylates, including the 5 not 
previously associated with a unique name. This process eliminated the 
need for alternate CAS registry numbers.
    The ITC's 39th Report was delivered to the EPA Administrator on 
November 27, 1996. In its report, the ITC provided more accurate 
information regarding the specific CAS-numbered nonylphenol ethoxylates 
for which there are U.S. government data needs, and requested that EPA 
stay the provisions for nonylphenol ethoxylates in the Agency's October 
29, 1996, final rule for these chemicals (61 FR 55872). To eliminate 
all ambiguities in TSCA section 8(a) and 8(d) reporting resulting from 
the ITC's use of alternate CAS numbers for nonylphenol ethoxylates in 
its 38th report, EPA is issuing this stay. In the near future, EPA will 
publish the

[[Page 65187]]

39th ITC Report in the Federal Register and amend the TSCA section 8(a) 
and 8(d) reporting rules for the nonylphenol ethoxylates in order to 
eliminate any ambiguities in those rules.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Parts 712 and 716

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances, Health 
and safety data, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: December 5, 1996.
Charles M. Auer,
Director, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics.
    Therefore, 40 CFR Chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 712--[AMENDED]

    1. In part 712:
    a. The authority citation for part 712 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2607(a).

Sec. 712.30 [Amended]

    b. In Sec. 712.30, the table in paragraph (e) is amended by staying 
the entire category ``Nonylphenol ethoxylates.''

PART 716--[AMENDED]

    2. In part 716:
    a. The authority citation for part 716 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2607(d).

Sec. 716.120 [Amended]

    b. In Sec. 716.120, the table in paragraph (d) is amended by 
staying the entire category ``Nonylphenol ethoxylates.''

[FR Doc. 96-31432 Filed 12-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F