Release of Draft Brochure on Current Best Practices to Prevent Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers; Notice of Availability, 50060-50062 [E6-14057]
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50060
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 164 / Thursday, August 24, 2006 / Notices
regulations implementing NEPA, no
agency decision on a proposed action
may be made until 30 days after the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
publishes a notice of availability of a
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provide an exception to this rule when
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Additional information about the
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at 1–866–208–FERC (3372) or on the
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esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–14012 Filed 8–23–06; 8:45 am]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2006–0398; FRL–8086–6]
Release of Draft Brochure on Current
Best Practices to Prevent Asbestos
Exposure Among Brake and Clutch
Repair Workers; Notice of Availability
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the release
of a draft brochure entitled, Current Best
Practices for Preventing Asbestos
Exposure Among Brake and Clutch
Repair Workers. This brochure, when
finalized, is intended to provide
information for automotive
professionals and home mechanics on
preventing exposure to brake and clutch
dust that may contain asbestos fibers.
The draft brochure summarizes work
practices that may be used to avoid
asbestos exposure and identifies
pertinent Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA)
regulatory requirements for professional
automotive mechanics, which are found
at 29 CFR 1910.1001, specifically
paragraph (f)(3) and Appendix F. These
same requirements also are contained in
EPA’s Worker Protection Rule, found at
40 CFR part 763, subpart G, which
applies to State and local government
employees who perform brake and
clutch work in States without OSHAapproved State plans. The draft
brochure also provides related
information for home mechanics to
consider. When finalized, this brochure
will update and supercede the existing
document entitled, Guidance for
Preventing Asbestos Disease Among
Auto Mechanics (EPA–560–OPTS–86–
002), commonly referred to as the ‘‘Gold
Book.’’ The public is encouraged to
provide comments to EPA regarding this
draft brochure, which can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before October 23, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2006–0398, by
one of the following methods.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail. Document Control Office
(7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–
0001.
• Hand Delivery: OPPT Document
Control Office (DCO), EPA East, Rm.
PO 00000
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6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID
Number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2006–0398.
The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
DCO is (202) 564–8930. Such deliveries
are only accepted during the DCO’s
normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPPT–
2006–0398. EPA’s policy is that all
comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and
may be made available on-line at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through regulations.gov or email. The regulations.gov website is an
‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an e-mail comment directly
to EPA without going through
regulations.gov, your e-mail address
will be automatically captured and
included as part of the comment that is
placed in the docket and made available
on the Internet. If you submit an
electronic comment, EPA recommends
that you include your name and other
contact information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD ROM
you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form
of encryption, and be free of any defects
or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the regulations.gov index.
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
either electronically at https://
www.regulations.gov, or in hard copy at
the OPPT Docket, EPA Docket Center
(EPA/DC), EPA West, Rm. B102, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The EPA Docket Center Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 164 / Thursday, August 24, 2006 / Notices
number for the Public Reading Room is
(202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the OPPT Docket is (202)
566–0280.
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: (202) 554–1404; e-mail address:
TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
For technical information contact:
Tom Simons, National Program
Chemicals Division (7404T), Office
Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001; telephone number:
(202) 566–0517; e-mail address:
simons.tom@epa.gov or Robert
Courtnage, National Program Chemicals
Division (7404T), Office Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–
0001; telephone number: (202) 566–
1081; e-mail address:
courtnage.robert@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you conduct automotive
repair work. Individuals covered by this
action may include those in the
professional automotive repair industry,
State and local government employees
who perform brake and clutch work in
States without OSHA-approved State
plans, and people performing do-ityourself automotive repair. In addition,
those involved in the manufacture and/
or import of automotive brake and
clutch products that may contain
asbestos, and those involved in
regulatory compliance may be affected
by the notice.
This listing is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
affected by this action. Other types of
entities not listed in this unit could also
be affected. To determine whether you
or your business may be affected by this
action, you should carefully examine
the applicability provisions in 29 CFR
1910.1001, specifically paragraph (f)(3)
and Appendix F or 40 CFR part 763,
subpart G. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this action
to a particular entity, consult either
technical person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
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Jkt 208001
B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare
My Comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through
regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark
the part or all of the information that
you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD ROM that
you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the
disk or CD ROM as CBI and then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD ROM the specific information that is
claimed CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments.
When submitting comments, remember
to:
i. Identify the document by docket ID
number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal
Register date and page number).
ii. Follow directions. The Agency may
ask you to respond to specific questions
or organize comments by referencing a
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part
or section number.
iii. Explain why you agree or disagree;
suggest alternatives and substitute
language for your requested changes.
iv. Describe any assumptions and
provide any technical information and/
or data that you used.
v. If you estimate potential costs or
burdens, explain how you arrived at the
estimate.
vi. Provide specific examples to
illustrate your concerns, and suggested
alternatives.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as
possible, avoiding the use of profanity
or personal threats.
viii. Make sure to submit your
comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. What Action is the Agency Taking?
EPA is announcing the release of a
draft brochure entitled, Current Best
Practices for Preventing Asbestos
Exposure Among Brake and Clutch
Repair Workers. This brochure, when
finalized, will provide information for
automotive professionals, including
State and local government employees
who perform brake and clutch work,
and home mechanics on preventing
exposure to brake and clutch dust that
may contain asbestos fibers. The draft
brochure summarizes work practices
that may be used to avoid asbestos
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50061
exposure and identifies pertinent OSHA
regulatory requirements for professional
automotive mechanics, which are found
at 29 CFR 1910.1001, specifically
paragraph (f)(3) and Appendix F. EPA’s
Worker Protection Rule, found at 40
CFR part 763, subpart G, contains
identical requirements and applies to
State and local government employees
who perform brake and clutch work in
States without OSHA-approved State
plans. The draft brochure also provides
related information specifically for the
consideration of home mechanics, who
are not subject to the OSHA (or EPA)
work practice standards. When
finalized, this brochure will update and
replace the existing document entitled,
Guidance for Preventing Asbestos
Disease Among Auto Mechanics (EPA–
560–OPTS–86–002), commonly referred
to as the ‘‘Gold Book.’’ The public is
encouraged to provide comments to
EPA regarding this draft brochure,
which can be found at https://
www.epa.gov/asbestos.
Asbestos is the common name given
to a number of naturally occurring
mineral fibers that have been used in
manufactured goods due to their high
tensile strength, resistance to heat, and
chemical stability. Because of these
properties, asbestos fibers have been
used in a wide range of manufactured
goods, including roofing shingles,
ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement
products, textiles, and coatings and
friction products such as automobile
clutch, brake, and transmission parts.
Exposure to asbestos is potentially
harmful to human health if microscopic
asbestos fibers, released into the air
when asbestos is disturbed or in poor
condition, are inhaled into the lungs.
Asbestos exposure has been associated
with a number of serious health
problems and diseases, including
asbestosis, lung cancer, and
mesothelioma.
In 2004, EPA contacted nine auto
manufacturers that cumulatively
accounted for over 96% of the light
vehicles sold in the United States and
asked whether they used asbestos brakes
in new vehicles or replacement parts
sold in the United States. All nine
companies responded that they no
longer sold asbestos brakes in new
vehicles or as replacement parts in the
United States. These responses did not
address aftermarket brakes (replacement
parts not supplied by the vehicle
manufacturer). Aftermarket brakes that
contain asbestos may, in some cases,
still be available for purchase in the
United States. Accordingly, while the
use of asbestos in automotive brake and
clutch products appears to be declining
domestically, this remains a source of
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potential asbestos exposure. EPA did
not seek information on clutches
because the Congressional inquiry to
which the Agency was responding when
seeking this information was limited to
brakes. It should be noted that the
aftermarket for clutches is significantly
smaller than the aftermarket for brakes.
This draft brochure contains current
information and, when finalized, will
supersede the currently available
Guidance for Preventing Asbestos
Disease Among Auto Mechanics (EPA–
560–OPTS–86–002). The purpose of the
brochure, once finalized, will be to
provide the public and workers
involved in brake and clutch repair
work with a simple, easy-to-understand
summary of the OSHA work practice
standards, which are mandatory for
certain professional automotive
mechanics. Also discussed in this
brochure is EPA’s Worker Protection
Rule, which contains identical
requirements, and is mandatory for
State and local government employees
who perform brake and clutch work in
States without OSHA-approved State
plans. EPA believes that home
mechanics also may benefit from
information discussed in the brochure
regarding these work practice standards
and additional advice on steps they can
consider taking to prevent possible
asbestos exposure when working with
asbestos-containing friction products.
Neither the draft nor final brochure is
intended to provide comprehensive
technical information regarding work
practices, or a comprehensive
assessment of the possible health effects
from exposure to asbestos in brakes and
clutches. Additionally, neither the draft
nor final brochure is a substitute for any
applicable legal requirements, or a
regulation. Thus, they do not impose
legally binding requirements on any
party, including EPA, States, or the
regulated community. Interested
professional mechanics engaged in
commercial brake and clutch repair are
encouraged to contact OSHA regarding
compliance with the mandatory work
practice standards highlighted in this
draft brochure (https://www.osha.gov).
Similarly, interested State and local
government employees who perform
brake and clutch work in States without
OSHA-approved State plans are
encouraged to contact EPA regarding
compliance with EPA’s Worker
Protection Rule. Finally, home
mechanics may contact EPA with any
specific questions not addressed in the
brochure by visiting the EPA asbestos
website at https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.
EPA is seeking public comment on all
aspects of the new brochure’s design
and content. This includes the tone of
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Jkt 208001
the brochure and the extent to which
the current wording and design tend to
support its effectiveness as an
educational tool. One issue that EPA has
considered is the need to balance
technical accuracy with clarity and
freedom from overly technical
terminology, while still maintaining
consistency with the OSHA mandatory
work practice standards and the
identical requirements contained in
EPA’s Worker Protection Rule. The
extent to which the current draft is clear
and understandable is of primary
concern to the Agency. In designing the
layout of the brochure, EPA has been
aware of the need to develop a dynamic
and engaging document while ensuring
that the brochure can be easily and
inexpensively reprinted. This approach
has led the Agency to incorporate a
layout and illustrations that anchor
many of the brochure’s key points while
providing visual interest. EPA requests
comment on whether the draft images
may be altered in any way to increase
their effectiveness.
EPA welcomes all comments and
suggestions for improving the draft
brochure and will, where appropriate,
incorporate changes to the final
brochure. However, EPA does not plan
to develop or publish a formal
document that summarizes and
responds to the comments received.
EPA will announce the availability of
the final brochure through a future
Federal Register notice and, once
finalized, the brochure will be available
on the EPA asbestos website at https://
www.epa.gov/asbestos.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Asbestos,
Automotive brake and clutch repair,
Health.
Dated: August 17, 2006.
James B. Gulliford,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. E6–14057 Filed 8–23–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[Docket ID No: EPA–R08–OW–2006–0627;
FRL–8212–9]
Public Water System Supervision
Program Revision for the State of Utah
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
provisions of section 1413 of the Safe
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Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 42 U.S.C.
300g–2, and 40 CFR 142.13, public
notice is hereby given that the State of
Utah has revised its Public Water
System Supervision (PWSS) Primacy
Program by adopting Federal regulations
for the Arsenic Rule and Filter
Backwash Recycling Rule, which
corresponds to 40 CFR Parts 141 and
142. The EPA has completed its review
of these revisions in accordance with
SDWA, and proposes to approve Utah’s
primacy revisions for the above stated
Rule(s).
Today’s approval action does not
extend to public water systems in
Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C.
1151. Please see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION, Item B.
DATES: Any member of the public is
invited to request a public hearing on
this determination by September 25,
2006. Please see Supplementary
Information, Item C, for details. Should
no timely and appropriate request for a
hearing be received, and the Regional
Administrator (RA) does not elect to
hold a hearing on his own motion, this
determination shall become effective
September 25, 2006. If a hearing is
granted, then this determination shall
not become effective until such time
following the hearing, as the RA issues
an order affirming or rescinding this
action.
Requests for a public
hearing shall be addressed to: Robert E.
Roberts, Regional Administrator, c/o
Jack Theis (8P–W–DW), U.S. EPA,
Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 300,
Denver, CO 80202–2466.
All documents relating to this
determination are available for
inspection at the following locations: (1)
U.S. EPA, Region 8, Drinking Water
Unit, 999 18th Street (4th Floor),
Denver, CO 80202–2466, (2) Utah
Department of Environment Quality
(DEQ), Division of Drinking Water, 1950
West North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT
84114–4830, and/or (3) online at: https://
www.regulations.gov, with reference to
Docket ID No. EPA–R08–OW–2006–
0627. However, based on sensitivity,
certain materials are available in
hardcopy only. The above Web site is an
‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means that should you submit an
electronic comment, EPA recommends
you provide your identity or contact
information in the body of your
comment. If you e-mail your comment
directly to EPA without going through
www.regulations.gov, your e-mail
address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment(s)
that is placed in the public docket and
made available on the Internet. If your
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50060-50062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14057]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0398; FRL-8086-6]
Release of Draft Brochure on Current Best Practices to Prevent
Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers; Notice of
Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the release of a draft brochure entitled,
Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and
Clutch Repair Workers. This brochure, when finalized, is intended to
provide information for automotive professionals and home mechanics on
preventing exposure to brake and clutch dust that may contain asbestos
fibers. The draft brochure summarizes work practices that may be used
to avoid asbestos exposure and identifies pertinent Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) regulatory requirements for
professional automotive mechanics, which are found at 29 CFR 1910.1001,
specifically paragraph (f)(3) and Appendix F. These same requirements
also are contained in EPA's Worker Protection Rule, found at 40 CFR
part 763, subpart G, which applies to State and local government
employees who perform brake and clutch work in States without OSHA-
approved State plans. The draft brochure also provides related
information for home mechanics to consider. When finalized, this
brochure will update and supercede the existing document entitled,
Guidance for Preventing Asbestos Disease Among Auto Mechanics (EPA-560-
OPTS-86-002), commonly referred to as the ``Gold Book.'' The public is
encouraged to provide comments to EPA regarding this draft brochure,
which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 23, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0398, by one of the following methods.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
Mail. Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
Hand Delivery: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA
East, Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention:
Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0398. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the DCO is (202) 564-8930. Such deliveries are only accepted
during the DCO's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements
should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2006-0398. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available on-line
at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-
mail. The regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov,
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part
of the comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
regulations.gov index. 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 either electronically
at https://www.regulations.gov, or in hard copy at the OPPT Docket, EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Rm. B102, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone
[[Page 50061]]
number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone
number for the OPPT Docket is (202) 566-0280.
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: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: TSCA-
Hotline@epa.gov.
For technical information contact: Tom Simons, National Program
Chemicals Division (7404T), Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 566-0517; e-mail
address: simons.tom@epa.gov or Robert Courtnage, National Program
Chemicals Division (7404T), Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 566-1081; e-mail
address: courtnage.robert@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you conduct
automotive repair work. Individuals covered by this action may include
those in the professional automotive repair industry, State and local
government employees who perform brake and clutch work in States
without OSHA-approved State plans, and people performing do-it-yourself
automotive repair. In addition, those involved in the manufacture and/
or import of automotive brake and clutch products that may contain
asbestos, and those involved in regulatory compliance may be affected
by the notice.
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this
action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be
affected. To determine whether you or your business may be affected by
this action, you should carefully examine the applicability provisions
in 29 CFR 1910.1001, specifically paragraph (f)(3) and Appendix F or 40
CFR part 763, subpart G. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult either
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or
CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the
specific information that is claimed CBI. In addition to one complete
version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy
of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so
marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set
forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments. When submitting comments,
remember to:
i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and
substitute language for your requested changes.
iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information
and/or data that you used.
v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you
arrived at the estimate.
vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and
suggested alternatives.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of
profanity or personal threats.
viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. What Action is the Agency Taking?
EPA is announcing the release of a draft brochure entitled, Current
Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch
Repair Workers. This brochure, when finalized, will provide information
for automotive professionals, including State and local government
employees who perform brake and clutch work, and home mechanics on
preventing exposure to brake and clutch dust that may contain asbestos
fibers. The draft brochure summarizes work practices that may be used
to avoid asbestos exposure and identifies pertinent OSHA regulatory
requirements for professional automotive mechanics, which are found at
29 CFR 1910.1001, specifically paragraph (f)(3) and Appendix F. EPA's
Worker Protection Rule, found at 40 CFR part 763, subpart G, contains
identical requirements and applies to State and local government
employees who perform brake and clutch work in States without OSHA-
approved State plans. The draft brochure also provides related
information specifically for the consideration of home mechanics, who
are not subject to the OSHA (or EPA) work practice standards. When
finalized, this brochure will update and replace the existing document
entitled, Guidance for Preventing Asbestos Disease Among Auto Mechanics
(EPA-560-OPTS-86-002), commonly referred to as the ``Gold Book.'' The
public is encouraged to provide comments to EPA regarding this draft
brochure, which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.
Asbestos is the common name given to a number of naturally
occurring mineral fibers that have been used in manufactured goods due
to their high tensile strength, resistance to heat, and chemical
stability. Because of these properties, asbestos fibers have been used
in a wide range of manufactured goods, including roofing shingles,
ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement products, textiles, and
coatings and friction products such as automobile clutch, brake, and
transmission parts. Exposure to asbestos is potentially harmful to
human health if microscopic asbestos fibers, released into the air when
asbestos is disturbed or in poor condition, are inhaled into the lungs.
Asbestos exposure has been associated with a number of serious health
problems and diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and
mesothelioma.
In 2004, EPA contacted nine auto manufacturers that cumulatively
accounted for over 96% of the light vehicles sold in the United States
and asked whether they used asbestos brakes in new vehicles or
replacement parts sold in the United States. All nine companies
responded that they no longer sold asbestos brakes in new vehicles or
as replacement parts in the United States. These responses did not
address aftermarket brakes (replacement parts not supplied by the
vehicle manufacturer). Aftermarket brakes that contain asbestos may, in
some cases, still be available for purchase in the United States.
Accordingly, while the use of asbestos in automotive brake and clutch
products appears to be declining domestically, this remains a source of
[[Page 50062]]
potential asbestos exposure. EPA did not seek information on clutches
because the Congressional inquiry to which the Agency was responding
when seeking this information was limited to brakes. It should be noted
that the aftermarket for clutches is significantly smaller than the
aftermarket for brakes.
This draft brochure contains current information and, when
finalized, will supersede the currently available Guidance for
Preventing Asbestos Disease Among Auto Mechanics (EPA-560-OPTS-86-002).
The purpose of the brochure, once finalized, will be to provide the
public and workers involved in brake and clutch repair work with a
simple, easy-to-understand summary of the OSHA work practice standards,
which are mandatory for certain professional automotive mechanics. Also
discussed in this brochure is EPA's Worker Protection Rule, which
contains identical requirements, and is mandatory for State and local
government employees who perform brake and clutch work in States
without OSHA-approved State plans. EPA believes that home mechanics
also may benefit from information discussed in the brochure regarding
these work practice standards and additional advice on steps they can
consider taking to prevent possible asbestos exposure when working with
asbestos-containing friction products. Neither the draft nor final
brochure is intended to provide comprehensive technical information
regarding work practices, or a comprehensive assessment of the possible
health effects from exposure to asbestos in brakes and clutches.
Additionally, neither the draft nor final brochure is a substitute for
any applicable legal requirements, or a regulation. Thus, they do not
impose legally binding requirements on any party, including EPA,
States, or the regulated community. Interested professional mechanics
engaged in commercial brake and clutch repair are encouraged to contact
OSHA regarding compliance with the mandatory work practice standards
highlighted in this draft brochure (https://www.osha.gov). Similarly,
interested State and local government employees who perform brake and
clutch work in States without OSHA-approved State plans are encouraged
to contact EPA regarding compliance with EPA's Worker Protection Rule.
Finally, home mechanics may contact EPA with any specific questions not
addressed in the brochure by visiting the EPA asbestos website at
https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.
EPA is seeking public comment on all aspects of the new brochure's
design and content. This includes the tone of the brochure and the
extent to which the current wording and design tend to support its
effectiveness as an educational tool. One issue that EPA has considered
is the need to balance technical accuracy with clarity and freedom from
overly technical terminology, while still maintaining consistency with
the OSHA mandatory work practice standards and the identical
requirements contained in EPA's Worker Protection Rule. The extent to
which the current draft is clear and understandable is of primary
concern to the Agency. In designing the layout of the brochure, EPA has
been aware of the need to develop a dynamic and engaging document while
ensuring that the brochure can be easily and inexpensively reprinted.
This approach has led the Agency to incorporate a layout and
illustrations that anchor many of the brochure's key points while
providing visual interest. EPA requests comment on whether the draft
images may be altered in any way to increase their effectiveness.
EPA welcomes all comments and suggestions for improving the draft
brochure and will, where appropriate, incorporate changes to the final
brochure. However, EPA does not plan to develop or publish a formal
document that summarizes and responds to the comments received. EPA
will announce the availability of the final brochure through a future
Federal Register notice and, once finalized, the brochure will be
available on the EPA asbestos website at https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Asbestos, Automotive brake and clutch
repair, Health.
Dated: August 17, 2006.
James B. Gulliford,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. E6-14057 Filed 8-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S