2014-08328. Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances; Withdrawal

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Partial withdrawal of direct final rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is withdrawing significant new use rules (SNURs) promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for four chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). EPA published these SNURs using direct final rulemaking procedures. EPA received notices of intent to submit adverse comments on these rules. Therefore, the Agency is withdrawing these SNURs, as required under the expedited SNUR rulemaking process. EPA intends to publish in the near future proposed SNURs for these four chemical substances under separate notice and comment procedures.

DATES:

This final rule is effective April 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this action, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0739, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Docket (OPPT Docket), Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is [phone], and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is [phone]. Please review the visitor instructions and additional information about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For technical information contact: Kenneth Moss, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: [phone]; email address: [e-mail].

For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: [phone]; email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does this action apply to me?

A list of potentially affected entities is provided in the Federal Register of February 12, 2014 (79 FR 8273) (FRL-9903-70). If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. What direct final SNURs are being withdrawn?

In the Federal Register of February 12, 2014 (79 FR 8273), EPA issued several direct final SNURs, including SNURs for four chemical substances that are the subject of this withdrawal. These direct final rules were issued pursuant to the procedures in 40 CFR part 721, subpart D. In accordance with § 721.160(c)(3)(ii), EPA is withdrawing the rules issued for the chemical substances generically identified as MDI modified polyalkene glycols; acrylic acid esters polymers, reaction products with polyisocyanate; 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, polymer with 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-dimethyl 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol,dodecanedioic acid, 1,2-ethanediol, hexanedioic acid, 1,6-hexanediol, alkyldiol ester and aromatic isocyanate; and methylene diisocyanate polymer with polypropylene glycol and diols, which were the subject of PMNs P-13-365, P-13-392, P-13-393, and P-13-471, respectively, because the Agency received notices of intent to submit adverse comments. EPA intends to publish proposed SNURs for these chemical substances under separate notice and comment procedures.

For further information regarding EPA's expedited process for issuing SNURs, interested parties are directed to 40 CFR part 721, subpart D, and the Federal Register of July 27, 1989 (54 FR 31314). The record for the direct final SNUR for the chemical substances that are being removed was established at EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0739. That record includes information considered by the Agency in developing this rule and the notice of intent to submit adverse comments.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

This final rule revokes or eliminates an existing regulatory requirement and does not contain any new or amended requirements. As such, the Agency has determined that this withdrawal will not have any adverse impacts, economic or otherwise. The statutory and executive order review requirements applicable to the direct final rule were discussed in the Federal Register of February 12, 2014 (79 FR 8273). Those review requirements do not apply to this action because it is a withdrawal and does not contain any new or amended requirements.

IV. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 9

• Environmental protection
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

40 CFR Part 721

• Environmental protection
• Chemicals
• Hazardous substances
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Dated: April 7, 2014.

Maria J. Doa,

Director, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

Therefore, 40 CFR parts 9 and 721 are amended as follows:

PART 9—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 135 et seq., 136-136y; 15 U.S.C. 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2601-2671; 21 U.S.C. 331j, 346a, 348; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq., 1311, 1313d, 1314, 1318, 1321, 1326, 1330, 1342, 1344, 1345 (d) and (e), 1361; E.O. 11735, 38 FR 21243, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp. p. 973; 42 U.S.C. 241, 242b, 243, 246, 300f, 300g, 300g-1, 300g-2, 300g-3, 300g-4, 300g-5, 300g-6, 300j-1, 300j-2, 300j-3, 300j-4, 300j-9, 1857 et seq., 6901-6992k, 7401-7671q, 7542, 9601-9657, 11023, 11048.

§ 9.1

[Amended]

2. In § 9.1, remove under the undesignated center heading “Significant New Uses of Chemical Substances” §§ 721.10717, 721.10719, 721.10720, and 721.10723.

PART 721—[AMENDED]

3. The authority citation for part 721 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2604, 2607, and 2625(c).

§§ 721.10717, 721.10719, 721.10720, and 721.10723

[Removed]

4. Remove §§ 721.10717, 721.10719, 721.10720, and 721.10723.