2019-05405. Access to Confidential Business Information by Syracuse Research Corporation and Its Identified Subcontractors

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

EPA has authorized its contractor and subcontractors, Syracuse Research Corporation (SRC) of East Syracuse, New York; BeakerTree Corporation of Arlington, VA; Eastern Research Group (ERG) of Chantilly, VA; Essential Software Inc. of Potomac, MD; and Versar Inc. of Springfield, VA, to access information which has been submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 21 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 March 28, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For technical information contact: Recie Reese, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), 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. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, however, be of interest to all who manufacture, process, or distribute industrial chemicals. 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.

B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

The docket for this action, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2003-0004, 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.

II. What action is the Agency taking?

Under EPA contract number (68HERH19D0022) contractor and subcontractors SRC of 5010 Campuswood Drive, East Syracuse, NY; BeakerTree Corporation of 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 475, Arlington, VA; Eastern Research Group ERG of 14555 Avion Pkwy., Chantilly, VA; Essential Software Inc. of 9024 Mistwood Drive, Potomac, MD; and Versar Inc. of 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA will assist the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) by providing support in scientific health and environmental assessments; risk management evaluations; maintenance and enhancement of scientific tools and models; and document processing for new and existing chemicals and products of biotechnology and nanotechnology under TSCA.

In accordance with 40 CFR 2.306(j), EPA has determined that under EPA contract number (68HERH19D0022), SRC and its subcontractors will require access to CBI submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 21 of TSCA to perform successfully the duties specified under the contract. SRC and its subcontractors will be given access to information submitted to EPA under sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 21 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 sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 21 of TSCA that EPA may provide SRC and its subcontractors 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; SRC's sites located in Arlington, VA and East Syracuse, NY; ERG's site located in Chantilly, VA; and Versar's site located in Springfield, VA, in accordance with EPA's TSCA CBI Protection Manual.

Access to TSCA data, including CBI, will continue until December 19, 2023. If the contract is extended, this access will also continue for the duration of the extended contract without further notice.

SRC and its subcontractors' personnel will be required to sign nondisclosure agreements and will be briefed on appropriate security procedures before they are permitted access to TSCA CBI.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

Dated: March 13, 2019.

Pamela Myrick,

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