Designation of Biobased Items for Federal Procurement, 55089-55094 [E9-25756]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Office of Energy Policy and New Uses
• Energy Policy and New Uses Office, Agriculture Department

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55089-55094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25756]



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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 27, 2009 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 55089]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Energy Policy and New Uses

7 CFR Part 2902

RIN 0503-AA33


Designation of Biobased Items for Federal Procurement

AGENCY: Departmental Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending its 
Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, 
to add nine sections to designate items within which biobased products 
will be afforded Federal procurement preference, as provided for under 
section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as 
amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) 
(referred to in this document as ``section 9002''). USDA also is 
establishing a minimum biobased content for each of these items.

DATES: This rule is effective November 27, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Buckhalt, USDA, Office of 
Procurement and Property Management, 342 Reporters Building, 300 7th 
St. SW., Washington, DC 20024; e-mail: biopreferred@usda.gov; phone 
(202) 205-4008. Information regarding the preferred procurement program 
(one part of the BioPreferred Program) is available on the Internet at 
https://www.biopreferred.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this preamble 
is organized as follows:

I. Authority
II. Background
III. Discussion of Public Comments
IV. Regulatory Information
    Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
    Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
    Executive Order 12630: Governmental Actions and Interference 
With Constitutionally Protected Property Rights
    Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform
    Executive Order 13132: Federalism
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    Executive Order 12372: Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs
    Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    E-Government Act Compliance

I. Authority

    These items are designated under the authority of section 9002 of 
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA), as amended 
by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), 7 U.S.C. 8102 
(referred to in this document as ``section 9002'').

II. Background

    As part of the BioPreferred Program, USDA published on October 23, 
2008, a proposed rule in the Federal Register (FR) for the purpose of 
designating a total of nine items for the preferred procurement of 
biobased products by Federal agencies (referred to hereafter in this FR 
notice as the ``preferred procurement program''). This proposed rule 
can be found at 73 FR 63298. This rulemaking is referred to in this 
preamble as Round 5 (RIN 0503-AA33).
    In the proposed rule, USDA proposed designating the following nine 
items for the preferred procurement program: Chain and cable 
lubricants; corrosion preventatives; food cleaners; forming lubricants; 
gear lubricants; general purpose household cleaners; industrial 
cleaners; multipurpose cleaners; and parts wash solutions.
    Today's final rule designates the proposed items within which 
biobased products will be afforded Federal procurement preference. USDA 
has determined that each of the items being designated under today's 
rulemaking meets the necessary statutory requirements; that they are 
being produced with biobased products; and that their procurement will 
carry out the following objectives of section 9002: To improve demand 
for biobased products; to spur development of the industrial base 
through value-added agricultural processing and manufacturing in rural 
communities; and to enhance the Nation's energy security by 
substituting biobased products for products derived from imported oil 
and natural gas.
    When USDA designates by rulemaking an item (a generic grouping of 
products) for preferred procurement under the BioPreferred Program, 
manufacturers of all products under the umbrella of that item that meet 
the requirements to qualify for preferred procurement can claim that 
status for their products. To qualify for preferred procurement, a 
product must be within a designated item and must contain at least the 
minimum biobased content established for the designated item. When the 
designation of specific items is finalized, USDA will invite the 
manufacturers of these qualifying products to post information on the 
product, contacts, and performance testing on its BioPreferred Web 
site, https://www.biopreferred.gov. Procuring agencies will be able to 
utilize this Web site as one tool to determine the availability of 
qualifying biobased products under a designated item. Once USDA 
designates an item, procuring agencies are required generally to 
purchase biobased products within these designated items where the 
purchase price of the procurement item exceeds $10,000 or where the 
quantity of such items or of functionally equivalent items purchased 
over the preceding fiscal year equaled $10,000 or more.
    Subcategorization. Most of the items USDA is considering for 
designation for preferred procurement cover a wide range of products. 
For some items, there are subgroups of products within the item that 
meet different markets and uses and/or different performance 
specifications. Where such subgroups exist, USDA intends to create 
subcategories within the designated items.
    During the development of the proposal, USDA considered the 
appropriateness of creating subcategories within the general purpose 
household cleaners, industrial cleaners, and multipurpose cleaners 
items. At that time, however, USDA did not have sufficient information 
to justify creating subcategories within these items. In the proposed 
rule, USDA requested additional information on the possibility of 
subcategorizing these three items. USDA did not receive any additional 
information on these items

[[Page 55090]]

during the public comment period that could be used to support the 
creation of subcategories at this time. Thus, none of the items being 
designated today have subcategories. USDA will continue to consider 
additional information that may become available to support 
subcategorization of these items in the future.
    Overlap with EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guideline program for 
recovered content products. Some of the products that are biobased 
items designated for preferred procurement may also be items the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated under the EPA's 
Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) for Products Containing 
Recovered Materials. Where that occurs, an EPA-designated recovered 
content product (also known as ``recycled content products'' or ``EPA-
designated products'') has priority in Federal procurement over the 
qualifying biobased product as identified in 7 CFR 2902.2. In 
situations where it believes there may be an overlap, USDA is asking 
manufacturers of qualifying biobased products to provide additional 
product and performance information to Federal agencies to assist them 
in determining whether the biobased products in question are, or are 
not, the same products for the same uses as the recovered content 
products. As this information becomes available, USDA will place it on 
the BioPreferred Web site with its catalog of qualifying biobased 
products.
    In cases where USDA believes an overlap with EPA-designated 
recovered content products may occur, manufacturers are being asked to 
indicate the various suggested uses of their product and the 
performance standards against which a particular product has been 
tested. In addition, depending on the type of biobased product, 
manufacturers are being asked to provide other types of information, 
such as whether the product contains petroleum-based components and 
whether the product contains recovered materials. Federal agencies may 
also ask manufacturers for information on a product's biobased content 
and its profile against environmental and health measures and life-
cycle costs (the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability 
(BEES) analysis or ASTM Standard D7075 for evaluating and reporting on 
environmental performance of biobased products). Such information will 
permit agencies to determine whether or not an overlap occurs.
    Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 
requires a procuring agency purchasing an item designated by EPA 
generally to purchase such items composed of the highest percentage of 
recovered materials content practicable. However, a procuring agency 
may decide not to purchase such an item based on a determination that 
the item fails to meet the reasonable performance standards or 
specifications of the procuring agency. An item with recovered 
materials content may not meet reasonable performance standards or 
specifications, for example, if the use of the item with recovered 
materials content would jeopardize the intended end use of the item.
    Where a biobased item is used for the same purposes and to meet the 
same Federal agency performance requirements as an EPA-designated 
recovered content product, the Federal agency must purchase the 
recovered content product. For example, if a biobased hydraulic fluid 
is to be used as a fluid in hydraulic systems and because ``lubricating 
oils containing re-refined oil'' has already been designated by EPA for 
that purpose, then the Federal agency must purchase the EPA-designated 
recovered content product, ``lubricating oils containing re-refined 
oil.'' If, on the other hand, that biobased hydraulic fluid is to be 
used to address a Federal agency's certain environmental or health 
performance requirements that the EPA-designated recovered content 
product would not meet, then the biobased product should be given 
preference, subject to cost, availability, and performance.
    This final rule designates one item for preferred procurement for 
which there may be overlap with EPA-designated recovered content 
products. This item is gear lubricants. Depending on how they are to be 
used, qualifying products under this item may overlap with the EPA-
designated recovered content products ``lubricating oils containing re-
refined oil.'' EPA provides recovered materials content recommendations 
for this recovered content product in a Recovered Materials Advisory 
Notice (RMAN I). The RMAN recommendations for each of this CPG product 
can be found by accessing EPA's Web site https://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products.htm and then clicking on the appropriate 
product name.
    Minimum Biobased Contents. The minimum biobased contents being 
established with today's rulemaking are based on products for which 
USDA has biobased content test data. In addition to considering the 
biobased content test data for each item, USDA also considers other 
factors when establishing the minimum biobased content. These other 
factors include: Public comments received on the proposed minimum 
biobased contents; product performance information to justify the 
inclusion of products at lower levels of biobased content; and the 
range, groupings, and breaks in the biobased content test data array. 
Consideration of this information allows USDA to establish minimum 
biobased contents on a broad set of factors to assist the Federal 
procurement community in its decision to purchase biobased products.
    USDA makes every effort to obtain biobased content test data on 
multiple products within each item. For most designated items, USDA has 
biobased content test data on more than one product within a designated 
item. However, USDA must rely on biobased product manufacturers to 
voluntarily submit product information and, in some cases, USDA has 
been able to obtain biobased content data for only a single product 
within a designated item. As USDA obtains additional data on the 
biobased contents for products within these nine designated items, USDA 
will evaluate whether the minimum biobased content for a designated 
item will be revised.
    USDA anticipates that the minimum biobased content of an item that 
is based on a single product is more likely to change as additional 
products in those items are identified and tested. In today's 
rulemaking, none of the minimum biobased contents are based on a single 
tested product.
    For all items where additional information indicates that it is 
appropriate to revise a minimum biobased content established under 
today's rulemaking, USDA will propose the change in a notice in the 
Federal Register to allow public comment on the proposed revised 
minimum biobased content. USDA will then consider the public comments 
and issue a final rulemaking on the minimum biobased content.
    Future Designations. In making future designations, USDA will 
continue to conduct market searches to identify manufacturers of 
biobased products within items. USDA will then contact the identified 
manufacturers to solicit samples of their products for voluntary 
submission for biobased content testing or for the BEES analytical 
tool. Based on these results, USDA will then propose new items for 
designation for preferred procurement.
    USDA plans to identify approximately 10-15 items in each future 
rulemaking. USDA has developed a preliminary list of items for future 
designation. This list is available on the BioPreferred Web

[[Page 55091]]

site. While this list presents an initial prioritization of items for 
designation, USDA cannot identify with any certainty which items will 
be presented in each of the future rulemakings. In response to comments 
from other Federal Agencies, USDA intends to give increased priority to 
those items that contain the highest biobased content. In addition, as 
the program matures, manufacturers of biobased products within some 
industry segments have become more responsive to USDA's requests for 
technical information than those in other segments. Thus, items with 
high biobased content and for which sufficient technical information 
can be obtained quickly may be added or moved up on the prioritization 
list. USDA intends to update the list of items for future designation 
on the Biopreferred Web site every six months, or more often if 
significant changes are made to the list.
    Exemptions. In earlier item designation rules, USDA created 
exemptions from the preferred procurement program's requirements for 
procurements involving combat or combat-related missions and for 
spacecraft systems and launch support equipment. Since publication of 
those final rules in the Federal Register, and in response to comments 
from the Department of Defense (DoD), USDA has decided to create 
``blanket'' exemptions for all items used in products or systems 
designed or procured for combat or combat-related missions, which will 
apply to all items designated for the procurement preference. These 
``blanket'' exemptions can be found in subpart A of part 2902. Because 
these blanket exemptions are included in subpart A of part 2902, it is 
unnecessary to repeat them in the individual item designations in this 
final rule.

III. Discussion of Public Comments

    USDA solicited comments on the proposed rule for 60 days ending on 
December 22, 2008. No public comments were received and no additional 
technical information has been collected to justify revising the 
proposed rule. Thus, today's action finalizes the designation of the 
nine items within which biobased products will be afforded Federal 
procurement preference, as proposed. USDA encourages manufacturers, 
vendors, and purchasers of biobased products within these nine 
designated items to continue to submit information relative to products 
available within these items. If sufficient supporting information 
becomes available, USDA will consider amending today's rulemaking by 
creating subcategories within the items, raising (or lowering) the 
minimum biobased content, or other appropriate actions.

IV. Regulatory Information

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review

    This action has been determined significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has been reviewed by the Office 
of Management and Budget. We are not able to quantify the annual 
economic effect associated with this final rule. As discussed in the 
proposed rule, USDA made extensive efforts to obtain information on the 
Federal agencies' usage within the nine designated items. These efforts 
were largely unsuccessful. Therefore attempts to quantify the economic 
impact of this rule would require estimation of the anticipated market 
penetration of biobased products based upon many assumptions. In 
addition, because agencies have the option of not purchasing designated 
items if costs are ``unreasonable,'' the product is not readily 
available, or the product does not demonstrate necessary performance 
characteristics, certain assumptions may not be valid. While facing 
these quantitative challenges, USDA relied upon a qualitative 
assessment to determine the impacts of this rulemaking. This assessment 
was based primarily on the offsetting nature of the program (an 
increase in biobased products purchased with a corresponding decrease 
in petroleum products purchased). Consideration was also given to the 
fact that agencies may choose not procure designated items due to 
unreasonable costs.
1. Summary of Impacts
    This rulemaking is expected to have both positive and negative 
impacts to individual businesses, including small businesses. USDA 
anticipates that the biobased preferred procurement program will 
provide additional opportunities for businesses and manufacturers to 
begin supplying products under the designated biobased items to Federal 
agencies and their contractors. However, other businesses and 
manufacturers that supply only non-qualifying products and do not offer 
biobased alternatives may experience a decrease in demand from Federal 
agencies and their contractors. USDA is unable to determine the number 
of businesses, including small businesses, that may be adversely 
affected by this rule. The rule, however, will not affect existing 
purchase orders, nor will it preclude businesses from modifying their 
product lines to meet new requirements for designated biobased 
products. Because the extent to which procuring agencies will find the 
performance and costs of biobased products acceptable is unknown, it is 
impossible to quantify the actual economic effect of the rule.
2. Benefits of the rule
    The designation of these nine items provides the benefits outlined 
in the objectives of section 9002: To increase domestic demand for many 
agricultural commodities that can serve as feedstocks for production of 
biobased products; to spur development of the industrial base through 
value-added agricultural processing and manufacturing in rural 
communities; and to enhance the Nation's energy security by 
substituting biobased products for products derived from imported oil 
and natural gas. On a national and regional level, this rule can result 
in expanding and strengthening markets for biobased materials used in 
these items.
3. Costs of the rule
    Like the benefits, the costs of this rule have not been quantified. 
Two types of costs are involved: Costs to producers of products that 
will compete with the preferred products and costs to Federal agencies 
to provide procurement preference for the preferred products. Producers 
of competing products may face a decrease in demand for their products 
to the extent Federal agencies refrain from purchasing their products. 
However, it is not known to what extent this may occur. Procurement 
costs for Federal agencies may rise as they evaluate the availability 
and relative cost of preferred products before making a purchase.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    When an agency issues a final rule following a proposed rule, the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA, 5 U.S.C. 601-612) requires the agency 
to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis. 5 U.S.C. 604. 
However, the requirement for a final regulatory flexibility analysis 
does not apply if the head of the agency certifies that the rule will 
not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
    USDA evaluated the potential impacts of its designation of these 
items to determine whether its actions would have a significant impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. Because the preferred 
procurement program established under section 9002 applies only to 
Federal agencies and

[[Page 55092]]

their contractors, small governmental (city, county, etc.) agencies are 
not affected. Thus, this rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on small governmental jurisdictions.
    USDA anticipates that this program will benefit entities, both 
large and small, that manufacture or sell biobased products. For 
example, the designation of items for preferred procurement will 
provide additional opportunities for businesses to manufacture and sell 
biobased products to Federal agencies and their contractors. Similar 
opportunities will be provided for entities that supply biobased 
materials to manufacturers.
    The intent of section 9002 is largely to stimulate the production 
of new biobased products and to energize emerging markets for those 
products. Because the program is still in its infancy, however, it is 
unknown how many businesses will ultimately be affected. While USDA has 
no data on the number of small businesses that may choose to develop 
and market biobased products within the items designated by this 
rulemaking, the number is expected to be small. Because biobased 
products represent a small emerging market, only a small percentage of 
all manufacturers, large or small, are expected to develop and market 
biobased products. Thus, the number of small businesses manufacturing 
biobased products affected by this rulemaking is not expected to be 
substantial.
    The preferred procurement program may decrease opportunities for 
businesses that manufacture or sell non-biobased products or provide 
components for the manufacturing of such products. Most manufacturers 
of non-biobased products within the items being designated for 
preferred procurement in this final rule are expected to be included 
under NAICS codes 324191 (Petroleum lubricating oil and grease 
manufacturing), 325611 (Soap and other detergent manufacturing), or 
325612 (Polish and other sanitation goods manufacturing). USDA obtained 
information on these three NAICS categories from the U.S. Census 
Bureau's Economic Census database. USDA found that the Economic Census 
reports about 1,500 companies within these three NAICS categories and 
that nearly all of these companies (about 1,490) report less than 500 
employees. Thus, nearly all of the businesses fall within the Small 
Business Administration's definition of a small business (less than 500 
employees, in most NAICS categories).
    USDA does not have data on the potential adverse impacts on 
manufacturers of non-biobased products within the items being 
designated, but believes that the impact will not be significant. The 
items being designated in this rulemaking are, in general terms, either 
cleaning products or lubricating products. These products are widely 
used by the general public and by industrial/commercial establishments 
that are not subject to this rulemaking. Thus, USDA believes that the 
number of small businesses manufacturing non-biobased products within 
the items being designated and selling significant quantities of those 
products to government agencies affected by this rulemaking to be 
relatively low. Also, this rule will not affect existing purchase 
orders and it will not preclude procuring agencies from continuing to 
purchase non-biobased items under certain conditions relating to the 
availability, performance, or cost of biobased items. This rule will 
also not preclude businesses from modifying their product lines to meet 
new specifications or solicitation requirements for these products 
containing biobased materials. Thus, the economic impacts of this rule 
are not expected to be significant.
    After considering the economic impacts of this rule on small 
entities, USDA certifies that this action will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    While not a factor relevant to determining whether the rule will 
have a significant impact for RFA purposes, USDA has concluded that the 
effect of the rule will be to provide positive opportunities to 
businesses engaged in the manufacture of these biobased products. 
Purchase and use of these biobased products by procuring agencies 
increase demand for these products and result in private sector 
development of new technologies, creating business and employment 
opportunities that enhance local, regional, and national economies. 
Technological innovation associated with the use of biobased materials 
can translate into economic growth and increased industry 
competitiveness worldwide, thereby, creating opportunities for small 
entities.

C. Executive Order 12630: Governmental Actions and Interference With 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights

    This rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 
12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally 
Protected Property Rights, and does not contain policies that would 
have implications for these rights.

D. Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform

    This rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 
12988, Civil Justice Reform. This rule does not preempt State or local 
laws, is not intended to have retroactive effect, and does not involve 
administrative appeals.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to 
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. Provisions of this 
rule will not have a substantial direct effect on States or their 
political subdivisions or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various government levels.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule contains no Federal mandates under the regulatory 
provisions of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(UMRA), 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, for State, local, and tribal governments, 
or the private sector. Therefore, a statement under section 202 of UMRA 
is not required.

G. Executive Order 12372: Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

    For the reasons set forth in the Final Rule Related Notice for 7 
CFR part 3015, subpart V (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), this program is 
excluded from the scope of the Executive Order 12372, which requires 
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. This 
program does not directly affect State and local governments. Although 
there is no statutory requirement to do so, we believe that, in the 
long term, many State and local governments will implement similar 
purchase programs based on the BioPreferred Program. USDA has been 
charged by Congress to share information on the BioPreferred Program 
with State and local governments.

H. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    Today's rule does not significantly or uniquely affect ``one or 
more Indian tribes,* * * the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or * * * the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.'' 
Thus, no further action is required under Executive Order 13175.

I. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501

[[Page 55093]]

through 3520), the information collection under this rule is currently 
approved under OMB control number 0503-0011.

J. E-Government Act Compliance

    The Office of Procurement and Property Management is committed to 
compliance with the E-Government Act, which requires Government 
agencies in general to provide the public the option of submitting 
information or transacting business electronically to the maximum 
extent possible. USDA is implementing an electronic information system 
for posting information voluntarily submitted by manufacturers or 
vendors on the products they intend to offer for preferred procurement 
under each designated item. For information pertinent to E-Government 
Act compliance related to this rule, please contact Ron Buckhalt at 
(202) 205-4008.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2902

    Biobased products, Procurement.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of Agriculture 
is amending 7 CFR chapter XXIX as follows:

CHAPTER XXIX--OFFICE OF ENERGY POLICY AND NEW USES

PART 2902--GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNATING BIOBASED PRODUCTS FOR FEDERAL 
PROCUREMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 2902 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8102.


0
2. Add Sec. Sec.  2902.43 through 2902.51 to subpart B to read as 
follows:

Sec.
2902.43 Chain and cable lubricants.
2902.44 Corrosion preventatives.
2902.45 Food cleaners.
2902.46 Forming lubricants.
2902.47 Gear lubricants.
2902.48 General purpose household cleaners.
2902.49 Industrial cleaners.
2902.50 Multipurpose cleaners.
2902.51 Parts wash solutions.


Sec.  2902.43  Chain and cable lubricants.

    (a) Definition. Products designed to provide lubrication in such 
applications as bar and roller chains, sprockets, and wire ropes and 
cables. Products may also prevent rust and corrosion in these 
applications.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 77 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased chain and cable 
lubricants. By that date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility 
for drafting or reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall 
ensure that the relevant specifications require the use of biobased 
chain and cable lubricants.


Sec.  2902.44  Corrosion preventatives.

    (a) Definition. Products designed to prevent the deterioration 
(corrosion) of metals.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 53 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased corrosion preventatives. 
By that date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility for 
drafting or reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall 
ensure that the relevant specifications require the use of biobased 
corrosion preventatives.


Sec.  2902.45  Food cleaners.

    (a) Definition. Anti-microbial products designed to clean the outer 
layer of various food products, such as fruit, vegetables, and meats.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 53 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased food cleaners. By that 
date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility for drafting or 
reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall ensure that the 
relevant specifications require the use of biobased food cleaners.


Sec.  2902.46  Forming lubricants.

    (a) Definition. Products designed to provide lubrication during 
metalworking applications that are performed under extreme pressure. 
Such metalworking applications include tube bending, stretch forming, 
press braking, and swaging.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 68 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased forming lubricants. By 
that date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility for drafting 
or reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall ensure that 
the relevant specifications require the use of biobased forming 
lubricants.


Sec.  2902.47  Gear lubricants.

    (a) Definition. Products, such as greases or oils, that are 
designed to reduce friction when applied to a toothed machine part 
(such as a wheel or cylinder) that meshes with another toothed part to 
transmit motion or to change speed or direction.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 58 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased gear lubricants. By that 
date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility for drafting or 
reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall ensure that the 
relevant specifications require the use of gear lubricants.
    (d) Determining overlap with an EPA-designated recovered content 
product. Qualifying biobased products that fall under this item may, in 
some cases, overlap with the following EPA-designated recovered content 
product: Lubricating oils containing re-refined oil. USDA is requesting 
that manufacturers of these qualifying biobased products provide 
information for the BioPreferred Web site of qualifying biobased 
products about the intended uses of the product, information on whether 
or not the product contains any recovered material, in addition to 
biobased ingredients, and performance standards against which the 
product has been tested. This information will assist Federal agencies 
in determining

[[Page 55094]]

whether or not a qualifying biobased product overlaps with EPA-
designated re-refined lubricating oils and which product should be 
afforded the preference in purchasing.

    Note to paragraph (d):  Biobased gear lubricant products within 
this designated item can compete with similar gear lubricant 
products with recycled content. Under the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act of 1976, section 6002, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency designated re-refined lubricating oils containing 
recovered materials as items for which Federal agencies must give 
preference in their purchasing programs. The designation can be 
found in the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline, 40 CFR 247.11.

Sec.  2902.48  General purpose household cleaners.

    (a) Definition. Products designed to clean multiple common 
household surfaces. This designated item does not include products that 
are formulated for use as disinfectants. Task-specific cleaning 
products, such as spot and stain removers, upholstery cleaners, 
bathroom cleaners, glass cleaners, etc., are not included in this item.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 39 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased general purpose 
household cleaners. By that date, Federal agencies that have the 
responsibility for drafting or reviewing specifications for items to be 
procured shall ensure that the relevant specifications require the use 
of biobased general purpose household cleaners.


Sec.  2902.49  Industrial cleaners.

    (a) Definition. Products used to remove contaminants, such as 
adhesives, inks, paint, dirt, soil, and grease, from parts, products, 
tools, machinery, equipment, vessels, floors, walls, and other 
production-related work areas. The cleaning products within this item 
are usually solvents, but may take other forms. They may be used in 
either straight solution or diluted with water in pressure washers, or 
in hand wiping applications in industrial or manufacturing settings, 
such as inside vessels. Task-specific cleaners used in industrial 
settings, such as parts wash solutions, are not included in this 
definition.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 41 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased industrial cleaners. By 
that date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility for drafting 
or reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall ensure that 
the relevant specifications require the use of biobased industrial 
cleaners.


Sec.  2902.50  Multipurpose cleaners.

    (a) Definition. Products used to clean dirt, grease, and grime from 
a variety of items in both industrial and domestic settings. This 
designated item does not include products that are formulated for use 
as disinfectants.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 56 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased multipurpose cleaners. 
By that date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility for 
drafting or reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall 
ensure that the relevant specifications require the use of biobased 
multipurpose cleaners.


Sec.  2902.51  Parts wash solutions.

    (a) Definition. Products that are designed to clean parts in manual 
or automatic cleaning systems. Such systems include, but are not 
limited to, soak vats and tanks, cabinet washers, and ultrasonic 
cleaners.
    (b) Minimum biobased content. The preferred procurement product 
must have a minimum biobased content of at least 65 percent, which 
shall be based on the amount of qualifying biobased carbon in the 
product as a percent of the weight (mass) of the total organic carbon 
in the finished product.
    (c) Preference compliance date. No later than October 27, 2010, 
procuring agencies, in accordance with this part, will give a 
procurement preference for qualifying biobased parts wash solutions. By 
that date, Federal agencies that have the responsibility for drafting 
or reviewing specifications for items to be procured shall ensure that 
the relevant specifications require the use of biobased parts wash 
solutions.

    Dated: October 21, 2009.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. E9-25756 Filed 10-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-GL-P