Notice to Agricultural Facilities About Requirement To Complete Chemical Security Assessment Tool Top-Screen, 1640 [E8-199]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 6 / Wednesday, January 9, 2008 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS–2006–0073]
Notice to Agricultural Facilities About
Requirement To Complete Chemical
Security Assessment Tool Top-Screen
Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: Notice.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS or Department) is
publishing a letter that it issued on
December 21, 2007. Through this letter,
the Department is granting a time
extension for farmers and other
agricultural users who are required to
submit information (known as the
Chemical Security Assessment Tool
Top-Screen) under federal chemical
security regulations.
DATES: Effective December 21, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dennis Deziel, Chemical Security
Compliance Division, Department of
Homeland Security, 703–235–5263.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
550 of the Homeland Security
Appropriations Act of 2007 provided
the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS or Department) with authority to
promulgate ‘‘interim final regulations’’
for the security of certain chemical
facilities in the United States. See Pub.
L. 109–295, sec. 550. On December 28,
2006, the Department issued an
Advance Notice of Rulemaking seeking
comment on the significant issues and
regulatory text (see 71 FR 78276), and
on April 9, 2007, the Department
published an Interim Final Rule
establishing anti-terrorism standards for
certain chemical facilities (see 72 FR
17688). The Interim Final Rule was
effective June 8, 2007.
On November 20, 2007, the
Department issued a Final Rule for
Appendix A to the Chemical Facility
Anti-Terrorism Standards (see 72 FR
65396). Appendix A to 6 CFR Part 27
consists of a List of Chemicals of
Interest (COI) and Screening Threshold
Quantities (STQs) for each chemical.
Any facility that possesses or later
comes into possession of any listed COI
at or above the STQ must complete and
submit a Chemical Security Assessment
Tool Top-Screen to DHS.
This letter grants a time extension, as
specified, to farmers and other
agricultural users of COI for submitting
Top-Screens to DHS. On December 21,
2007, the Department issued this letter
to various interested parties. For
purposes of clarification, this time
extension does not apply to agricultural
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:53 Jan 08, 2008
Jkt 214001
facilities that are required to submit a
Top-Screen, because they possess a COI
(e.g., propane) at or above the applicable
STQ for use as a fuel (e.g., for heating)
at such facilities.
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to notify you that the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is
granting a time extension for certain facilities
required to submit information under federal
chemical security regulations. On April 9,
2007, DHS published the Chemical Facility
Anti-Terrorism Standards Interim Final Rule
(6 CFR Part 27); and on November 20, 2007,
DHS published a final list of chemicals of
interest, known as Appendix A. See 72 FR
17688 and 72 FR 65396. With the publication
of the final Appendix A, all provisions of the
regulations are in effect.
Upon publication of Appendix A, any
facility that possesses any chemical of
interest at or above the screening threshold
quantity specified in Appendix A, was
required to complete and submit
information—called a ‘‘Top-Screen’’—to DHS
by January 22, 2008. See 6 CFR
§§ 27.200(b)(2), 27.210(a)(1)(i).
In the final Appendix A, DHS intended to
limit the coverage of that requirement, as
related to farmers and other agricultural users
of the chemicals of interest, by revising
screening thresholds and counting rules for
certain chemicals. See 72 FR 65406–65407,
65415 (Nov. 20, 2007). Since publication of
the final Appendix A, however, additional
questions and concerns have been raised
regarding the applicability of the Top-Screen
requirement to agricultural facilities and
operations. DHS is gathering more
information about these issues in order to
determine whether any modification of the
Top-Screen requirements might be
warranted.
In addition, the United States Congress has
now passed, and the President has signed,
the Department of Homeland Security
Appropriations Act of 2008, which
authorizes DHS to regulate the sale and
transfer of Ammonium Nitrate. The law
authorizes DHS to develop processes for the
registration of Ammonium Nitrate purchasers
and for the maintenance of relevant records.
Because this law will likely cover many
farmers and other agricultural operations,
DHS may review its approach towards
Chemicals of Interest used in agricultural
operations.
Accordingly, given the nature of these
agricultural operations and the circumstances
described above, I am exercising my
authority under 6 CFR 27.210(c) to extend
the deadline for submitting Top-Screens
under the following conditions:
(1) Until further notice, or unless otherwise
specifically notified in writing by DHS, the
Top-Screens will not be required for any
facility that is required to submit a TopScreen solely because it possesses any
Chemical of Interest, at or above the
applicable screening threshold quantity, for
use—
(a) in preparation for the treatment of
crops, feed, land, livestock (including
poultry) or other areas of an agricultural
production facility; or
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(b) during application to or treatment of
crops, feed, land, livestock (including
poultry) or other areas of an agricultural
production facility;
(2) This extension applies to facilities such
as farms (e.g., crop, fruit, nut, and vegetable);
ranches and rangeland; poultry, dairy, and
equine facilities; turfgrass growers; golf
courses; nurseries; floricultural operations;
and public and private parks.
(3) This extension does not apply to
chemical distribution facilities, or
commercial chemical application services.
If you have any questions about the
extension described above, please contact
Dennis Deziel, Deputy Director, DHS
Compliance Security Compliance Division
(dennis.deziel@dhs.gov) or the CSAT
Helpdesk at 866–323–2957 or csat.dhs.gov.
Robert B. Stephan,
Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure
Protection, Department of Homeland
Security.
[FR Doc. E8–199 Filed 1–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
[USCBP–2007–0099]
Testing of Pressed and Toughened
(Specially Tempered) Glassware
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice; solicitation of
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This document proposes
modifications to the standard applied by
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(‘‘CBP’’) for the testing of pressed and
toughened (specially tempered)
glassware, as set forth in Treasury
Decision (T.D.) 94–26, published in the
Federal Register on March 22, 1994. In
this regard, this document proposes
revised criteria for interpreting the
results obtained from the cutting test for
opaque glassware and sets forth an
interpretation of breakage in that test.
This document also proposes to
reinstate a previously used testing
method, referred to as the center punch
test, and sets forth a description of the
center punch apparatus to be used for
the proposed test. In addition, it is
proposed to provide for the optional use
of additional tests that would be used to
verify the results obtained from the
testing procedures specifically
identified in this document. This
document invites the public to submit
comments to CBP on the proposed
modifications to the standards for the
testing of pressed and toughened
(specially tempered) glassware.
E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM
09JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 1640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-199]
[[Page 1640]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS-2006-0073]
Notice to Agricultural Facilities About Requirement To Complete
Chemical Security Assessment Tool Top-Screen
AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) is
publishing a letter that it issued on December 21, 2007. Through this
letter, the Department is granting a time extension for farmers and
other agricultural users who are required to submit information (known
as the Chemical Security Assessment Tool Top-Screen) under federal
chemical security regulations.
DATES: Effective December 21, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Deziel, Chemical Security
Compliance Division, Department of Homeland Security, 703-235-5263.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 550 of the Homeland Security
Appropriations Act of 2007 provided the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS or Department) with authority to promulgate ``interim final
regulations'' for the security of certain chemical facilities in the
United States. See Pub. L. 109-295, sec. 550. On December 28, 2006, the
Department issued an Advance Notice of Rulemaking seeking comment on
the significant issues and regulatory text (see 71 FR 78276), and on
April 9, 2007, the Department published an Interim Final Rule
establishing anti-terrorism standards for certain chemical facilities
(see 72 FR 17688). The Interim Final Rule was effective June 8, 2007.
On November 20, 2007, the Department issued a Final Rule for
Appendix A to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (see 72 FR
65396). Appendix A to 6 CFR Part 27 consists of a List of Chemicals of
Interest (COI) and Screening Threshold Quantities (STQs) for each
chemical. Any facility that possesses or later comes into possession of
any listed COI at or above the STQ must complete and submit a Chemical
Security Assessment Tool Top-Screen to DHS.
This letter grants a time extension, as specified, to farmers and
other agricultural users of COI for submitting Top-Screens to DHS. On
December 21, 2007, the Department issued this letter to various
interested parties. For purposes of clarification, this time extension
does not apply to agricultural facilities that are required to submit a
Top-Screen, because they possess a COI (e.g., propane) at or above the
applicable STQ for use as a fuel (e.g., for heating) at such
facilities.
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to notify you that the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) is granting a time extension for certain facilities
required to submit information under federal chemical security
regulations. On April 9, 2007, DHS published the Chemical Facility
Anti-Terrorism Standards Interim Final Rule (6 CFR Part 27); and on
November 20, 2007, DHS published a final list of chemicals of
interest, known as Appendix A. See 72 FR 17688 and 72 FR 65396. With
the publication of the final Appendix A, all provisions of the
regulations are in effect.
Upon publication of Appendix A, any facility that possesses any
chemical of interest at or above the screening threshold quantity
specified in Appendix A, was required to complete and submit
information--called a ``Top-Screen''--to DHS by January 22, 2008.
See 6 CFR Sec. Sec. 27.200(b)(2), 27.210(a)(1)(i).
In the final Appendix A, DHS intended to limit the coverage of
that requirement, as related to farmers and other agricultural users
of the chemicals of interest, by revising screening thresholds and
counting rules for certain chemicals. See 72 FR 65406-65407, 65415
(Nov. 20, 2007). Since publication of the final Appendix A, however,
additional questions and concerns have been raised regarding the
applicability of the Top-Screen requirement to agricultural
facilities and operations. DHS is gathering more information about
these issues in order to determine whether any modification of the
Top-Screen requirements might be warranted.
In addition, the United States Congress has now passed, and the
President has signed, the Department of Homeland Security
Appropriations Act of 2008, which authorizes DHS to regulate the
sale and transfer of Ammonium Nitrate. The law authorizes DHS to
develop processes for the registration of Ammonium Nitrate
purchasers and for the maintenance of relevant records. Because this
law will likely cover many farmers and other agricultural
operations, DHS may review its approach towards Chemicals of
Interest used in agricultural operations.
Accordingly, given the nature of these agricultural operations
and the circumstances described above, I am exercising my authority
under 6 CFR 27.210(c) to extend the deadline for submitting Top-
Screens under the following conditions:
(1) Until further notice, or unless otherwise specifically
notified in writing by DHS, the Top-Screens will not be required for
any facility that is required to submit a Top-Screen solely because
it possesses any Chemical of Interest, at or above the applicable
screening threshold quantity, for use--
(a) in preparation for the treatment of crops, feed, land,
livestock (including poultry) or other areas of an agricultural
production facility; or
(b) during application to or treatment of crops, feed, land,
livestock (including poultry) or other areas of an agricultural
production facility;
(2) This extension applies to facilities such as farms (e.g.,
crop, fruit, nut, and vegetable); ranches and rangeland; poultry,
dairy, and equine facilities; turfgrass growers; golf courses;
nurseries; floricultural operations; and public and private parks.
(3) This extension does not apply to chemical distribution
facilities, or commercial chemical application services.
If you have any questions about the extension described above,
please contact Dennis Deziel, Deputy Director, DHS Compliance
Security Compliance Division (dennis.deziel@dhs.gov) or the CSAT
Helpdesk at 866-323-2957 or csat.dhs.gov.
Robert B. Stephan,
Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E8-199 Filed 1-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-P