Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders To Inform the National Framework for Electronics Stewardship, 11243-11245 [2011-4505]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Notices
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
least ten days prior to the meeting, to
give EPA as much time as possible to
process your request.
[FR Doc. 2011–4502 Filed 2–28–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9272–4]
Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities
Committee
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Meeting.
AGENCY:
Under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, Public Law 92–463,
EPA gives notice of a meeting of the
Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities
Committee (FRRCC). The FRRCC is a
policy-oriented committee that provides
policy advice, information, and
recommendations to the EPA
Administrator on a range of
environmental issues and policies that
are of importance to agriculture and
rural communities.
The purpose of this meeting is to
advance discussion of specific topics of
unique relevance to agriculture such as
effective approaches to addressing water
quality issues associated with
agricultural production, in such a way
as to provide thoughtful advice and
useful insights to the Agency as it crafts
environmental policies and programs
that affect and engage agriculture and
rural communities. A copy of the
meeting agenda will be posted at
https://epa.gov/ofacmo/frrcc/
meetings.htm.
SUMMARY:
The Farm, Ranch, and Rural
Communities Committee will hold an
open meeting on Tuesday, March 29,
2011 from 8:30 a.m. (registration at 8
a.m.) until 8 p.m. and on Wednesday,
March 30, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. until 2
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Sheraton National Hotel, 900 South
Orme Street, Arlington, VA 22204,
Telephone: (703) 521–1900. The
meeting is open to the public, with
limited seating on a first-come, firstserved basis.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alicia Kaiser, Designated Federal
Officer, kaiser.alicia@epa.gov, 202–564–
7273, US EPA, Office of the
Administrator (1101A), 1200
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DATES:
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Requests
to make brief oral comments or provide
written statements to the FRRCC should
be sent to Alicia Kaiser, Designated
Federal Officer, at the contact
information above. All requests must be
submitted no later than March 18, 2011.
Meeting Access: For information on
access or services for individuals with
disabilities, please contact Alicia Kaiser
at 202–564–7273 or
kaiser.alicia@epa.gov. To request
accommodation of a disability, please
contact Alicia Kaiser, preferably at least
10 days prior to the meeting, to give
EPA as much time as possible to process
your request.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: February 16, 2011.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board
Staff Office.
Dated: February 10, 2011.
Alicia Kaiser,
Designated Federal Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–4501 Filed 2–28–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–RCRA–2011–0185; FRL–9273–7]
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders
To Inform the National Framework for
Electronics Stewardship
Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), General Services
Administration (GSA), and Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) are
requesting written stakeholder input to
inform the national framework for
electronics stewardship that is being
developed by the Interagency Task
Force on Electronics Stewardship. On
November 15, 2010, President Obama
signed a presidential proclamation
celebrating the strides the country has
made in recycling, while also
highlighting the need for greater
attention on used electronics
management throughout the product
lifecycle. CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley
established an interagency task force on
November 8, 2010 to provide a national
strategy and recommendations for areas
of Federal agency operational and
managerial improvement associated
with electronics stewardship. The Task
Force is scheduled to deliver to CEQ a
national framework for electronics
stewardship by May 6, 2011. By this
notice, the Environmental Protection
Agency, on behalf of the Task Force, is
soliciting public comment from
SUMMARY:
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11243
interested parties regarding the national
framework.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before March 11, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your
comments, identified by EPA–HQ–
RCRA–2011–0185, using one of the
following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments. Note, while this request is
not a federal regulation, input on the
plan can be submitted through this
federal Web site.
E-mail: Comments may be sent by
electronic mail (e-mail) to
rcra.docket@epamail.epa.gov, Attention
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–RCRA–2011–
0185.
Mail: Comments may be submitted by
mail to: OSWER Docket, Office of
Resource Conservation and Recovery,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460,
Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
RCRA–2011–0185. Please include a total
of two copies of your comments.
Hand Delivery: Deliver two copies of
your comments to: EPA Docket Center,
Public Reading Room, Room 3334, EPA
West Building, 1301 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460,
Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
RCRA–2011–0185. Such deliveries are
only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–RCRA–2011–
0185. All comments must be in English
or be accompanied by an English
translation. EPA’s policy is that all
comments received will be included in
the docket without change and may be
made available on-line at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. The
regulations.gov Web site 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Notices
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. For additional information
about EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the docket index available
at https://www.regulations.gov. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, e.g., confidential
business information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the OSWER Docket in the EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460. The Public
Meeting Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the OSWER Docket and the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744.
Docket visitors are required to show
photographic identification, pass
through a metal detector, and sign the
EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are
processed through an X-ray machine
and subject to search. Visitors will be
provided an EPA/DC badge that must be
visible at all times in the building and
returned upon departure.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shayla Powell, Resource Conservation
and Sustainability Division (5306P),
Office of Resource Conservation and
Recovery, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone
number: (703) 308–0319; e-mail
address: powell.shayla@epa.gov or visit
https://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/
materials/ecycling/taskforce/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be interested in providing
input if you manufacture, distribute,
sell, label, certify, verify, refurbish,
recycle, purchase or use consumer,
commercial, or industrial electronics, or
conduct research in any of these areas.
Potentially interested entities may
include, but are not limited to:
• Manufacturing (NAICS code 33).
• Wholesale trade (NAICS code 42).
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18:42 Feb 28, 2011
Jkt 223001
• Electronics and Appliance Stores
(NAICS code 443).
• Consumer Goods Rental (NAICS
code 5322).
• Computer System Design and
Related Services (NAICS code 5415)
• Waste Management and
Remediation Services (NAICS code 562)
• Electronic and Precision Equipment
Repair and Maintenance (NAICS code
8112).
• Public Administration (NAICS code
92).
This listing is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
interested in this action. Other types of
entities not listed in this unit could also
be affected. The North American
Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes have been provided to
assist you and others in determining
whether this applies to certain entities.
If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a
particular entity, consult the technical
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. What should I consider as I prepare
my comments for EPA?
1. 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. Submit all comments in English or
have them be accompanied by an
English translation.
iii. 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.
iv. Explain why you agree or disagree;
suggest alternatives and substitute
language for your requested changes.
v. Describe any assumptions and
provide any technical information and/
or data that you used.
vi. If you estimate potential costs or
burdens, explain how you arrived at
your estimate in sufficient detail to
allow for it to be reproduced.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as
possible.
viii. Make sure to submit your
comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Background
The increased use of electronics and
technology in society brings the
challenge of protecting human health
and the environment from potentially
harmful effects of the improper
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handling and disposal of these products.
Discarded electronics comprise a small,
but rapidly growing part of our
municipal waste.
Currently, there are no federal
mandates that require electronics
recycling or restrict unwanted
electronics equipment from solid waste
landfills in the United States. EPA does,
however, control how cathode ray tube
(CRT) monitors (e.g., from TV and
computers) that are subject to hazardous
waste regulation are managed
domestically and requires notifications
if CRT monitors are exported for
recycling. A growing number of states
are mandating collection and recycling
of used electronics. In addition, there
are now two electronics recycling
standards and accredited certification
programs that address the handling of
used electronics throughout the
recycling chain. (Basel Action Network;
e-Stewards Certification; https://estewards.org/. R2 Solutions; R2
certification; https://
www.r2solutions.org/.)
Unwanted or discarded electronics
not reused or recycled represents a lost
opportunity to reuse functioning
electronic equipment and components,
such as cell phone and computers/
laptops or recover valuable resources,
such as precious metals, plastics or
minerals that are found in scarce or
critical supply. Additionally, used
electronics may be exported to
developing countries that lack capacity
to manage them appropriately and result
in negative impacts to human health
and the environment. The majority of
electronics recyclers in the United
States refurbish, repair, or pre-process
(demanufacture, shred, sort) used
electronics to prepare them for the final
recovery step. Facilities that further
recover raw materials, through smelting
and refining (end-processing), are
mostly located outside the United
States. These facilities convert
electronics scrap into: (1) High grade
copper and precious metals (e.g., gold,
silver, and palladium); (2) new CRTs; or
(3) new plastics, all materials that can
be reused in the marketplace.
To address the problems related to
used electronics both here and abroad,
American businesses, government, and
citizens must work together to manage
these electronics throughout the product
lifecycle—from design and
manufacturing through their use and
eventual recycling, recovery, and
disposal. On November 8, 2010, CEQ
Chair Nancy Sutley established an
interagency working group that is cochaired by EPA, GSA and CEQ to
develop a national strategy and
recommendations for improving Federal
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stewardship of used electronics. By May
6, 2011, the Task Force will deliver to
CEQ a national framework for:
1. Directing Federal agencies to
exercise all appropriate authorities to
achieve the electronic stewardship
goals, consistent with domestic and
international law;
2. Developing a system-based
approach to the long-term design,
management and disposal of Federal
used electronics;
3. Information gathering and tracking,
regulatory options, and best
management practices for used
electronics that can be used by the
Federal agencies and leveraged to the
private sector;
4. Building partnerships in the public
and private sector for sustainable
electronics management nationwide;
5. Reducing exports of used
electronics to developing countries that
lack the capacity to properly manage
them, and assess how federal agencies
can improve their ability to deter these
exports; and,
6. Building capacity within and share
best practices with developing
countries, so they can improve their
ability to safely handle used electronics,
while promoting economic
development.
A. What action is the Agency taking?
EPA and the Interagency Task Force
are soliciting input from individuals
and organizations to inform the
electronics stewardship national
framework. More specifically, EPA and
the Interagency Task Force would
appreciate your individual views
regarding the following questions:
1. What actions should the federal
government take to further encourage
the design, manufacture, procurement,
and use of greener electronics?
2. What are the challenges to
designing and manufacturing products
in which rare and valuable materials are
100% recyclable, and are recycled at
end of product life? What can the
federal government do to help address
those challenges?
3. What are best practices for used
electronics management that the federal
government should adopt? What
examples of best management practices
of used electronics have been
implemented in your community,
organization or institution?
4. How can the amount of electronics
that are recycled in the United States be
increased, while ensuring that they are
managed safely and properly?
5. What additional infrastructure is
needed, and what can be done to
encourage its development, in the
United States to responsibly reuse and
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recycle used electronics from
governments, businesses and private
consumers?
6. What innovations in electronic
design exist that would enable
electronics to be tracked until disposal?
7. What information would be most
helpful to you when deciding how to
dispose of used electronics?
8. What projects, practices or efforts,
are you aware of that addresses the
problem of used electronics from the
United States being exported and being
handled in a way that causes harm to
health and the environment?
9. How could public-private
partnerships help resolve any or all the
questions above?
The framework that is released on
May 6, 2011 will include additional
follow on steps to engage all
stakeholders.
For your convenience the questions
above are also available for viewing at
https://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/
materials/ecycling/taskforce/.
B. What is the Agency’s authority for
taking this action?
Executive Order (E.O.) 13514 specifies
Federal Leadership in Environmental,
Energy, and Economic Performance. An
overall goal of EO 13514 is ‘‘to establish
an integrated strategy towards
sustainability in the Federal
Government.’’ Section 2(i) of E.O. 13514
establishes electronics stewardship
goals. In the spirit of E.O. 13514, the
government will lead by example in this
effort by ensuring that the departments
and agencies of the federal government,
some of the largest consumers of
electronics in the country, are also the
most responsible consumers.
Comments Consideration
The EPA and the Interagency Task
Force on Electronics Stewardship will
consider stakeholder input received
from written comments in developing
the Framework. There will be another
opportunity to comment on the
Framework developed by the Task Force
after it is delivered to the Council on
Environmental Quality.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Electronics
stewardship, Sustainability, E-waste.
Dated: February 23, 2011.
Lisa Feldt,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 2011–4505 Filed 2–28–11; 8:45 am]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9273–3]
Science Advisory Board Staff Office;
Notification of Two Public
Teleconferences of the Science
Advisory Board Ecological Processes
and Effects Committee Augmented for
Ballast Water
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA or Agency) Science
Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office
announces two public teleconferences
of the SAB Ecological Processes and
Effects Committee (EPEC). The SAB
EPEC, augmented with other experts,
will discuss their draft advisory report
about the effectiveness of shipboard
ballast water treatment processes and
ways to improve future assessments of
ballast water treatment systems to
minimize the impacts of invasive
species in vessel ballast water discharge.
DATES: The teleconference dates are
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 from 12 p.m.
to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, March 16,
2011 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Eastern
Time).
SUMMARY:
The public teleconferences
will be conducted by telephone only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Members of the public who wish to
obtain further information about this
meeting may contact Ms. Iris Goodman,
Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Ms.
Goodman may be contacted at the EPA
Science Advisory Board (1400F), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; or via
telephone/voice mail; (202) 564–2164
fax, (202) 265–2098; or e-mail at
goodman.iris@epa.gov. General
information concerning the EPA Science
Advisory Board can be found on the
EPA Web site at https://www.epa.gov/
sab.
ADDRESSES:
The SAB
was established by 42 U.S.C. 4365 to
provide independent scientific and
technical advice to the Administrator on
the technical basis for Agency positions
and regulations. The SAB is a Federal
Advisory Committee chartered under
the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App. 2.
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, Public Law 92–463,
notice is hereby given that the SAB
EPEC augmented with other experts will
hold a public meeting to discuss their
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11243-11245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4505]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-RCRA-2011-0185; FRL-9273-7]
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders To Inform the National
Framework for Electronics Stewardship
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), General Services
Administration (GSA), and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are
requesting written stakeholder input to inform the national framework
for electronics stewardship that is being developed by the Interagency
Task Force on Electronics Stewardship. On November 15, 2010, President
Obama signed a presidential proclamation celebrating the strides the
country has made in recycling, while also highlighting the need for
greater attention on used electronics management throughout the product
lifecycle. CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley established an interagency task force
on November 8, 2010 to provide a national strategy and recommendations
for areas of Federal agency operational and managerial improvement
associated with electronics stewardship. The Task Force is scheduled to
deliver to CEQ a national framework for electronics stewardship by May
6, 2011. By this notice, the Environmental Protection Agency, on behalf
of the Task Force, is soliciting public comment from interested parties
regarding the national framework.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before March 11, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by EPA-HQ-RCRA-
2011-0185, using one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments. Note, while this request is not a federal
regulation, input on the plan can be submitted through this federal Web
site.
E-mail: Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to
rcra.docket@epamail.epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2011-
0185.
Mail: Comments may be submitted by mail to: OSWER Docket, Office of
Resource Conservation and Recovery, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2011-0185. Please include a
total of two copies of your comments.
Hand Delivery: Deliver two copies of your comments to: EPA Docket
Center, Public Reading Room, Room 3334, EPA West Building, 1301
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-RCRA-2011-0185. Such deliveries are only accepted during the
Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays and special arrangements
should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-
2011-0185. All comments must be in English or be accompanied by an
English translation. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be
included in the docket without change and may be made available on-line
at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided. The regulations.gov Web site 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
[[Page 11244]]
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. For additional
information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index
available at https://www.regulations.gov. Although listed in the index,
some information is not publicly available, e.g., confidential business
information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is
not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard
copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either
electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the
OSWER Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. The Public Meeting
Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the OSWER Docket and
the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744. Docket visitors are required
to show photographic identification, pass through a metal detector, and
sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-
ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC
badge that must be visible at all times in the building and returned
upon departure.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shayla Powell, Resource Conservation
and Sustainability Division (5306P), Office of Resource Conservation
and Recovery, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-0319; e-
mail address: powell.shayla@epa.gov or visit https://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/ecycling/taskforce/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be interested in providing input if you manufacture,
distribute, sell, label, certify, verify, refurbish, recycle, purchase
or use consumer, commercial, or industrial electronics, or conduct
research in any of these areas. Potentially interested entities may
include, but are not limited to:
Manufacturing (NAICS code 33).
Wholesale trade (NAICS code 42).
Electronics and Appliance Stores (NAICS code 443).
Consumer Goods Rental (NAICS code 5322).
Computer System Design and Related Services (NAICS code
5415)
Waste Management and Remediation Services (NAICS code 562)
Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
(NAICS code 8112).
Public Administration (NAICS code 92).
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be interested in this
action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining
whether this applies to certain entities. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity,
consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. 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. Submit all comments in English or have them be accompanied by
an English translation.
iii. 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.
iv. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and
substitute language for your requested changes.
v. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information
and/or data that you used.
vi. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be
reproduced.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Background
The increased use of electronics and technology in society brings
the challenge of protecting human health and the environment from
potentially harmful effects of the improper handling and disposal of
these products. Discarded electronics comprise a small, but rapidly
growing part of our municipal waste.
Currently, there are no federal mandates that require electronics
recycling or restrict unwanted electronics equipment from solid waste
landfills in the United States. EPA does, however, control how cathode
ray tube (CRT) monitors (e.g., from TV and computers) that are subject
to hazardous waste regulation are managed domestically and requires
notifications if CRT monitors are exported for recycling. A growing
number of states are mandating collection and recycling of used
electronics. In addition, there are now two electronics recycling
standards and accredited certification programs that address the
handling of used electronics throughout the recycling chain. (Basel
Action Network; e-Stewards Certification; https://e-stewards.org/. R2
Solutions; R2 certification; https://www.r2solutions.org/.)
Unwanted or discarded electronics not reused or recycled represents
a lost opportunity to reuse functioning electronic equipment and
components, such as cell phone and computers/laptops or recover
valuable resources, such as precious metals, plastics or minerals that
are found in scarce or critical supply. Additionally, used electronics
may be exported to developing countries that lack capacity to manage
them appropriately and result in negative impacts to human health and
the environment. The majority of electronics recyclers in the United
States refurbish, repair, or pre-process (demanufacture, shred, sort)
used electronics to prepare them for the final recovery step.
Facilities that further recover raw materials, through smelting and
refining (end-processing), are mostly located outside the United
States. These facilities convert electronics scrap into: (1) High grade
copper and precious metals (e.g., gold, silver, and palladium); (2) new
CRTs; or (3) new plastics, all materials that can be reused in the
marketplace.
To address the problems related to used electronics both here and
abroad, American businesses, government, and citizens must work
together to manage these electronics throughout the product lifecycle--
from design and manufacturing through their use and eventual recycling,
recovery, and disposal. On November 8, 2010, CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley
established an interagency working group that is co-chaired by EPA, GSA
and CEQ to develop a national strategy and recommendations for
improving Federal
[[Page 11245]]
stewardship of used electronics. By May 6, 2011, the Task Force will
deliver to CEQ a national framework for:
1. Directing Federal agencies to exercise all appropriate
authorities to achieve the electronic stewardship goals, consistent
with domestic and international law;
2. Developing a system-based approach to the long-term design,
management and disposal of Federal used electronics;
3. Information gathering and tracking, regulatory options, and best
management practices for used electronics that can be used by the
Federal agencies and leveraged to the private sector;
4. Building partnerships in the public and private sector for
sustainable electronics management nationwide;
5. Reducing exports of used electronics to developing countries
that lack the capacity to properly manage them, and assess how federal
agencies can improve their ability to deter these exports; and,
6. Building capacity within and share best practices with
developing countries, so they can improve their ability to safely
handle used electronics, while promoting economic development.
A. What action is the Agency taking?
EPA and the Interagency Task Force are soliciting input from
individuals and organizations to inform the electronics stewardship
national framework. More specifically, EPA and the Interagency Task
Force would appreciate your individual views regarding the following
questions:
1. What actions should the federal government take to further
encourage the design, manufacture, procurement, and use of greener
electronics?
2. What are the challenges to designing and manufacturing products
in which rare and valuable materials are 100% recyclable, and are
recycled at end of product life? What can the federal government do to
help address those challenges?
3. What are best practices for used electronics management that the
federal government should adopt? What examples of best management
practices of used electronics have been implemented in your community,
organization or institution?
4. How can the amount of electronics that are recycled in the
United States be increased, while ensuring that they are managed safely
and properly?
5. What additional infrastructure is needed, and what can be done
to encourage its development, in the United States to responsibly reuse
and recycle used electronics from governments, businesses and private
consumers?
6. What innovations in electronic design exist that would enable
electronics to be tracked until disposal?
7. What information would be most helpful to you when deciding how
to dispose of used electronics?
8. What projects, practices or efforts, are you aware of that
addresses the problem of used electronics from the United States being
exported and being handled in a way that causes harm to health and the
environment?
9. How could public-private partnerships help resolve any or all
the questions above?
The framework that is released on May 6, 2011 will include
additional follow on steps to engage all stakeholders.
For your convenience the questions above are also available for
viewing at https://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/ecycling/taskforce/.
B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?
Executive Order (E.O.) 13514 specifies Federal Leadership in
Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance. An overall goal of EO
13514 is ``to establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability
in the Federal Government.'' Section 2(i) of E.O. 13514 establishes
electronics stewardship goals. In the spirit of E.O. 13514, the
government will lead by example in this effort by ensuring that the
departments and agencies of the federal government, some of the largest
consumers of electronics in the country, are also the most responsible
consumers.
Comments Consideration
The EPA and the Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship
will consider stakeholder input received from written comments in
developing the Framework. There will be another opportunity to comment
on the Framework developed by the Task Force after it is delivered to
the Council on Environmental Quality.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Electronics stewardship, Sustainability,
E-waste.
Dated: February 23, 2011.
Lisa Feldt,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response.
[FR Doc. 2011-4505 Filed 2-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
