[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33791-33792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16354]
[[Page 33791]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 372
[OPPTS-400111A; FRL-5727-2]
Addition of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds; Modification of
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Listing; Toxic Chemical Release
Reporting; Community Right-to-Know; Extension of Comment Period and
Docket Control Number Correction
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and docket control
number correction.
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SUMMARY: In the Federal Register of May 7, 1997, EPA issued a proposed
rule to add a chemical category that includes dioxin and 27 dioxin-like
compounds to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting
requirements under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and section 6607 of the Pollution
Prevention Act of 1990. In response to a request, EPA is extending the
comment period by 60 days until September 5, 1997. The comment period
for the proposed rule was scheduled to close on July 7, 1997. In
addition, EPA is correcting the docket control number for the proposed
rule, which was incorrectly identified in two places in the May 7, 1997
proposal as ``OPPTS-400109.'' The correct docket control number is
``OPPTS-400111.''
DATES: Written comments must be received by September 5, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted in triplicate to: OPPT
Docket Clerk, TSCA Document Receipt Office (7407), Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW.,
Rm. G-099, Washington, DC 20460, Attention: Docket Control Number
OPPTS-400111.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by following
the instructions under Unit IV. of this document. No confidential
business information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
Comments containing information claimed as confidential must be
clearly marked as CBI. If CBI is claimed, three additional sanitized
copies must also be submitted. Nonconfidential versions of comments on
the proposed rule will be placed in the rulemaking record and will be
available for public inspection. Comments should include the docket
control number for the proposal, OPPTS-400111, and the name of the EPA
contact for the proposal.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel R. Bushman, Petitions
Coordinator, 202-260-3882, e-mail: bushman.daniel@epamail.epa.gov, for
specific information on this document, or for more information on EPCRA
section 313, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Hotline, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 5101, 401 M St.,
SW., Washington, DC 20460, Toll free: 1-800-535-0202, in Virginia and
Alaska: 703-412-9877 or Toll free TDD: 1-800-553-7672.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
In response to a petition from Communities For A Better Environment
to add dioxin and 27 dioxin-like compounds to the list of chemicals
subject to the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and section
6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA), EPA proposed to add
a category of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds to the list. In
conjunction with that proposed addition, EPA proposed to modify the
current listing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). EPA requested
comment on, but did not at that time propose, the establishment of
lower reporting thresholds for the dioxin and dioxin-like compounds
category. EPA stated that any final action to add a dioxin and dioxin-
like compounds category will not be taken until EPA is ready to take
final action on a rule setting lower reporting thresholds for chemicals
that, like dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, persist in the environment
and bioaccumulate. The proposal was issued in the Federal Register of
May 7, 1997 (62 FR 24887) (FRL-5727-2), with a comment response
deadline of July 7, 1997.
II. Extension of Comment Period
On June 4, 1997, EPA received a request from the Chlorine Chemistry
Council (CCC), a business council of the Chemical Manufacturers
Association, to extend the comment period on the proposed rule for 60
days. The CCC requested the extension because they believe that the
original comment period was too short. Specifically, the CCC believes
that 60 days is insufficient to analyze and comment thoroughly on the
proposed category addition and that additional time is needed to study
the impact of potential lower reporting thresholds for the category.
The CCC also stated that additional time should be provided to allow
the seven new industry groups recently added to the facilities that
must report under EPCRA section 313 to evaluate their reporting
obligations under EPCRA and the possible impact of the proposed
category addition. In addition, the CCC states that since EPA has
stated that the proposed rule would not be finalized until a rule
lowering the reporting thresholds is ready to be finalized, extending
the comment period for the proposed addition will not delay the
submission of any data on the category.
EPA has considered these comments and has determined that extending
the comment period is an appropriate action that will not cause a
significant delay in the evaluation of the proposed category addition.
Therefore, EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule
until September 5, 1997. All comments should be submitted to the
address listed under the ADDRESSES unit at the front of this document.
All comments must be received by September 5, 1997.
III. Docket Number Correction
In the May 7, 1997 proposed rule (62 FR 24887), the docket
established for the proposed rulemaking was incorrectly identified as
``OPPTS-400109'' in 2 of 3 places under the ADDRESSES unit on page
24887, column 3, lines 11 and 40. The correct docket control number is
OPPTS-400111. EPA wants to eliminate any confusion and make it clear
that the correct docket control number to use for submitting comments
on the proposed rule is OPPTS-400111.
IV. Rulemaking Record
The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public
version, has been established for this rulemaking under docket control
number ``OPPTS-400111'' (including comments and data submitted
electronically as described below). A public version of this record,
including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does
not include any information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection
from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
The public record is located in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information
Center, Rm. NE-B607, 401 M St., Washington, DC.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
oppt.ncic@epamail.epa.gov
Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data
will also be accepted on disks in
[[Page 33792]]
WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. All comments and
data in electronic form must be identified by the docket control number
OPPTS-400111. Electronic comments on this proposed rule may be filed
online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
Dated: June 17, 1997.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 97-16354 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
