03-9748. Access to Confidential Business Information by Optimus Corporation

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

EPA has authorized prime contractor Optimus Corporation and its subcontractor, Centerscope Technologies of 8601 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD access to information which has been submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 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 submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 of TSCA occurred as a result of an approved waiver dated March 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barbara A. Cunningham, Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; e-mail address: TSCA-Hotline@.epa.gov.

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 those persons who are or may be required to conduct testing of chemical substances under 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Documents?

1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number OPPT-2003-0004. The official public docket consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other information related to this action. Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not include CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials that is available for public viewing at the EPA Docket Center, Rm. B102-Reading Room, EPA West, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The EPA Docket Center Reading Room telephone number is [phone] and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket, which is located in EPA Docket Center, is [phone].

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/​.

An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/​edocket/​ to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. Once in the system, select “search,” then key in the appropriate docket ID number.

II. What Action is the Agency Taking?

Under Contract number 68-W-03-034 Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies, of 8601 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD will assist EPA in processing 12(b) export notices submitted under sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 of TSCA and issuing notification letters to foreign governments.

In accordance with 40 CFR 2.306(j), EPA has determined that under Contract number 68-W-03-034, Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies will require access to CBI submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 of TSCA, to perform successfully the duties specified under the contract.

Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies personnel were given access to information submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 of TSCA. Some of the information may be claimed or determined to be CBI.

Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies were granted a waiver March 31, 2003. This waiver was necessary to allow Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies to assist the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) in the activities listed above.

EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters of information under sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 of TSCA, that the Agency may provide Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies 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 Optimus Corporation's site at 801 Roeder Road, Suite 600, Silver Spring, MD. However, access will not occur at Optimus' Silver Spring, MD facility until after it has been inspected and approved for the storage of TSCA CBI.

Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies personnel will be required to adhere to all provisions of EPA's “TSCA Confidential Business Information Security Manual.”

Clearance for access to TSCA CBI under Contract number 68-W-03-034 may continue until March 31, 2008.

Optimus Corporation and Centerscope Technologies 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: April 14, 2003.

Allan S. Abramson,

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