E8-20130. Access to Confidential Business Information by Industrial Economics, Inc.

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

EPA has authorized its contractor, Industrial Economics, Inc. of Cambridge, MA, to access information which has been submitted to EPA under all sections of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Some of the information may be claimed or determined to be Confidential Business Information (CBI).

DATES:

Access to the confidential data will occur no sooner than September 10, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information contact: Colby Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: [phone]; e-mail address: [e-mail].

For technical information contact: Scott M. Sherlock, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: [phone]; fax number: [phone]; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Notice Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, however, be of interest to you if you are conducting, or may be required to conduct, testing of chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. 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 Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

1. Docket. EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2003-0004. All documents in the docket are listed in the docket's index available at http://www.regulations.gov. Although, listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPPT Docket. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) in Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The A/DC Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room is [phone], and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket Facility is [phone]. Docket visitors are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC badge that must be visible at all times in the building and returned upon departure.

2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA Internet under the “Federal Register” listings at http://www.epa.gov/​fedrgstr.

II. What Action is the Agency Taking?

Under GSA Contract Number GS10F0224J, contractor, Industrial Economics, Inc. of 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, will assist the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) in providing economic analysis support for EPA’s enforcement actions.

In accordance with 40 CFR 2.306(j), EPA has determined that under GSA Contract Number GS10F0224J, Industrial Economics, Inc. will require access to CBI submitted to EPA under all sections of TSCA to perform successfully the duties specified under the contract. Industrial Economics, Inc. personnel will be given access to information submitted to EPA under all sections of TSCA. Some of the information may be claimed or determined to be CBI.

EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters of information under all sections of TSCA that EPA may provide Industrial Economics, Inc. access to these CBI materials on a need-to-know basis only. All access to TSCA CBI under this contract will take place at EPA Headquarters and Industrial Economics, Inc. site in Cambridge, MA.

Industrial Economics, Inc. will be authorized access to TSCA CBI at EPA Headquarters and at the Industrial Economics, Inc. facility, provided they comply with the provisions of the EPA TSCA CBI Protection Manual. Before access to TSCA CBI is authorized at Industrial Economic’s site, EPA will perform the required inspection of the facility and ensure that the facility is in compliance with the Manual.

Access to TSCA data, including CBI, will continue until October 31, 2009. If the contract is extended, this access will also continue for the duration of the extended contract without further notice.

Industrial Economics, Inc. personnel will be required to sign nondisclosure agreements and will be briefed on appropriate security procedures before they are permitted access to TSCA CBI.

List of Subjects

• Environmental Protection
• Confidential Business Information

Dated: August 25, 2008.

Todd S. Holderman,

Acting Director, Information Management Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.