Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; Final Policies and Procedures for Screening Safe Drinking Water Act Chemicals, 35909-35922 [2013-14228]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2013 / Notices
35909
TABLE II—53 NOCS RECEIVED FROM 3/11/13 TO 4/19/13—Continued
Case No.
Received date
Commencement notice
end date
Chemical
P–11–0550 .....
3/14/2013
1/15/2013
P–11–0551 .....
3/14/2013
1/15/2013
P–11–0653
P–12–0031
P–12–0042
P–12–0080
P–12–0117
P–12–0145
P–12–0256
P–12–0380
P–12–0411
P–12–0440
P–12–0461
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4/3/2013
4/12/2013
3/21/2013
4/12/2013
4/3/2013
4/8/2013
4/9/2013
4/17/2013
4/9/2013
3/13/2013
3/12/2013
3/26/2013
3/27/2013
1/24/2013
4/8/2013
3/21/2013
12/18/2012
4/6/2013
3/21/2013
3/21/2013
2/28/2013
2/22/2013
P–12–0474
P–12–0484
P–12–0530
P–12–0545
P–12–0546
P–12–0551
P–12–0584
P–13–0013
P–13–0031
P–13–0032
P–13–0039
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4/11/2013
3/27/2013
4/12/2013
4/9/2013
4/9/2013
4/9/2013
3/20/2013
4/12/2013
3/26/2013
3/19/2013
4/2/2013
4/10/2013
3/8/2013
3/18/2013
3/11/2013
3/11/2013
4/3/2013
3/15/2013
3/26/2013
3/20/2013
3/18/2013
3/25/2013
P–13–0094
P–13–0108
P–13–0109
P–13–0119
P–13–0121
P–13–0137
P–13–0170
P–13–0174
P–13–0177
P–13–0178
P–13–0179
P–13–0194
P–13–0222
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3/25/2013
3/20/2013
4/15/2013
4/4/2013
3/20/2013
3/20/2013
3/27/2013
4/2/2013
3/28/2013
4/8/2013
4/16/2013
4/11/2013
4/16/2013
2/21/2013
2/25/2013
3/28/2013
3/22/2013
2/20/2013
3/4/2013
3/19/2013
3/24/2013
3/20/2013
3/31/2013
3/26/2013
4/9/2013
4/15/2013
If you are interested in information
that is not included in these tables, you
may contact EPA as described in Unit II.
to access additional non-CBI
information that may be available.
List of Subjects
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Environmental protection, Chemicals,
Hazardous substances, Imports, Notice
of commencement, Premanufacturer,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Test marketing
exemptions.
Dated: June 3, 2013.
Chandler Sirmons,
Acting Director, Information Management
Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics.
[FR Doc. 2013–14196 Filed 6–13–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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(G) N-coco alkyltrimethylene0-, polymers with bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin and amodified aliphatic amine.
(G) N-coco alkyltrimethylenedi-, polymer with bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin and modified aliphatic amine.
(G) Perfluoroalkylethyl methacrylate copolymer.
(G) Modified fluorinated acrylate.
(G) Polyurethane aqueous dispersion.
(G) Fluoroethylene-vinylether copolymer.
(G) Substituted pyridinium salt.
(G) Styrene acryl copolymer.
(G) Dialkyldithiophosphate salt.
(G) Monoazo compound.
(G) Alkenedioic acid dialkyl ester, reaction products with diamine alkenoic acid alkyl esters.
(G) Phenol capped urethane prepolymer.
(S) Hexandioic acid, polymer wih 1,3-diethyl propanediote, oxybis[propanol] and 1,2propanediol, mono[2-hydroxy-3-[(1-oxoneodecyl)oxy]propyl] ester, 3-oxobutanoate.
(G) Ultra violet curable acrylate.
(G) Polyester polyol based upon glycerin.
(G) Amine acetate.
(G) Aromatic amido-amine-modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resin.
(G) Aromatic amido-amine-modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resin.
(G) Aromatic hydrocarbon mixture.
(G) Alkyl phosphonate.
(G) Polyurethane polymer.
(G) Isocyanate terminated polyester/polyether/mdi polymer.
(G) Alkenoic acid, ester with alkylpolyol, polymer with disubsituted alkane.
(S) D-glycopyranose, oligomeric, C10-16-alkyl decyl octyl glycosides, 2-hydroxy-3(trimethylammonio) propyl ethers, chlorides, polymers with 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol.
(G) Acrylic ester functionalized polyether polymer.
(S) Bromine, manufacturer of, by-products from, distant residues.
(S) Alkanes, C24-28, chloro.
(S) D-glucitol, 1,3:2,4-bis-o-[(4-ethylphenyl)methylene](G) Substituted polymeric aromatic amine azo colorant.
(S) Butanedioic acid, 2-(2-octen-1-yl)(G) Phosphoric acid, mixed esters.
(G) Substituted carbomoncycles, polymer with alkyldiol.
(G) Polyxiloxane acrylic resin.
(S) Cyclopentanol, 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-, 1-propanoate.
(G) Alkyl-substituted thiophosphoric acid triamide.
(G) Silylated polyazamide.
(G) Synthetic crude oil.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2007–1080; FRL–9375–7]
Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program; Final Policies and
Procedures for Screening Safe
Drinking Water Act Chemicals
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This document describes
EPA’s final policies and procedures for
requiring Tier 1 screening under the
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program
(EDSP) of chemicals for which EPA may
issue EDSP test orders pursuant to
section 1457 of the Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA) and section 408(p) of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA). Section 408(p) of the FFDCA
directed EPA to develop a chemical
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screening program using appropriate
validated test systems and other
scientifically relevant information
(OSRI) to determine whether certain
chemicals may have hormonal effects.
These final policies and procedures
supplement the EDSP policies and
procedures that were published in the
Federal Register on April 15, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For technical information contact:
Mike Mattheisen, Chemical Information
and Testing Branch (7405M), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001; telephone number:
(202) 564–3077; email address:
mattheisen.mike@epa.gov or Pat West,
Office of Science Coordination and
Policy (7203M), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001;
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2013 / Notices
telephone number: (202) 564–1656;
email address: west.pat@epa.gov.
For general information contact: The
TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422
South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY
14620; telephone number: (202) 554–
1404; email address: TSCAHotline@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Public Reading Room is
(202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the OPPT Docket is (202)
566–0280. Please review the visitor
instructions and additional information
about the docket available at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
I. General Information
A. What action is the agency taking?
II. Background
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A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be affected by this action if
you produce, manufacture, use, or
import chemicals (including pesticide
chemicals) that may be found in sources
of drinking water; if you manufacture or
import chemicals that degrade to
chemicals found in sources of drinking
water; or if you are, or may otherwise
be, involved in the testing of chemicals
for potential endocrine effects. The
following list of North American
Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
to help readers determine whether this
document applies to them. Potentially
affected entities may include:
• Chemical manufacturers, importers,
and processors (NAICS code 325), e.g.,
persons who manufacture, import, or
process chemicals.
• Pesticide, fertilizer, and other
agricultural chemical manufacturers,
importers, and processors (NAICS code
3253), e.g., persons who manufacture,
import, or process pesticide; fertilizer;
or agricultural chemicals.
• Scientific research and
development services (NAICS code
5417), e.g., persons who conduct testing
of chemicals for endocrine effects.
To determine whether you or your
business may be affected by this action,
you should carefully examine the
applicability provisions in Unit III.C.,
and examine FFDCA section 408(p). 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.
The Agency is publishing final
policies and procedures for issuing
EDSP test orders for chemicals pursuant
to the Agency’s authority under SDWA
section 1457 (i.e., ‘‘SDWA chemicals’’).
Section 1457 of the SDWA authorizes
EPA to issue EDSP test orders to
manufacturers and importers of
chemicals that may be found in sources
of drinking water and to which a
substantial population may be exposed
(42 U.S.C. 300j–17). SDWA chemicals
encompass a wide variety of chemicals,
including industrial and pesticide
chemicals, ingredients in
pharmaceuticals and personal care
products, and degradates.
These SDWA/FFDCA policies and
procedures supplement the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA)/FFDCA policies and
procedures that were published in the
Federal Register issue of April 15, 2009
(FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures) (Ref. 1). The FIFRA/FFDCA
policies and procedures (Ref. 1) were
developed primarily for the issuance of
EDSP test orders on pesticide active and
inert ingredients, which were the
chemicals comprising the first EDSP
chemical list (first list). Consequently,
some of the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1) reflect issues
uniquely associated with the pesticide
market and the specific regulatory
context under which EPA regulates
pesticide chemicals. In this document,
EPA describes the policies and
procedures associated with the
screening of SDWA chemicals, which
include certain modifications to the
FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures
B. How can I get copies of this document that are intended to address issues that
are unique to SDWA chemicals, or to
and other related information?
address the circumstances where other
The docket for this action, identified
competing considerations for SDWA
by docket identification (ID) number
chemicals warrant a modification of the
EPA–HQ–OPPT–2007–1080, is available
FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures.
at https://www.regulations.gov or at the
This document discusses the policy
Office of Pollution Prevention and
considerations for SDWA chemicals in
Toxics Docket (OPPT Docket),
the following areas:
Environmental Protection Agency
• Who would receive EDSP test
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West
Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. orders for SDWA chemicals? Unit VI.A.
• How will recipients of EDSP test
NW., Washington, DC. The Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to orders for SDWA chemicals be notified?
Unit VI.B.
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
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• How will the public know who has
received an EDSP test order for a SDWA
chemical or who has supplied data?
Unit VI.C.
• How will the agency minimize
duplicative testing? Unit VI.D.
• What are the potential responses to
EDSP test orders for SDWA chemicals?
Unit VI.E.
• How can an EDSP test order
responses and data be submitted
electronically? Unit VI.F.
• How will EPA facilitate joint data
development, cost sharing, and data
compensation for SDWA chemicals?
Unit VI.G.
• What procedures can EPA apply for
handling Confidential Business
Information (CBI) for SDWA chemicals?
Unit VI.H.
• What is the process for contesting
an EDSP test order or consequences for
failure to respond or comply with an
EDSP test order? Unit VI.I.
• What is the informal administrative
review procedure? Unit VI.J.
• What are the adverse effects
reporting requirements? Unit VI.K.
While the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1) remain relevant,
SDWA chemical EDSP test order
recipients are encouraged to refer to this
document to fully understand all of the
relevant policies and procedures. In
addition, a new EDSP test order
template for issuance of EDSP test
orders under SDWA section 1457 and
FFDCA section 408(p)(5) is available in
the docket for this document (Ref. 2).
EPA is publishing two related notices
elsewhere in this Federal Register issue.
One announces the final second EDSP
chemical list (second list), which
includes both SDWA chemicals and
pesticide active ingredients (PAIs). The
other announces the submission to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) of the final Information
Collection Request (ICR) Addendum
that describes the estimated paperwork
burden and costs associated with the
second list.
B. What are the statutory authorities for
the policies discussed in this document?
SDWA is the primary Federal law that
ensures the quality of Americans’
drinking water. Under SDWA, EPA sets
standards for drinking water and works
closely with States, localities, and water
suppliers to implement these standards.
SDWA authorizes EPA to set national
standards for drinking water to protect
against both naturally occurring and
man-made contaminants that may be
found in drinking water (42 U.S.C.
300g–1).
Section 1457 of SDWA authorizes
EPA to require testing, under FFDCA
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section 408(p) (21 U.S.C. 346(a)(p)), of
any chemical that may be found in
sources of drinking water if the EPA
Administrator determines that a
substantial population may be exposed
to such chemical (42 U.S.C. 300j–17).
Section 408(p)(1) of FFDCA requires
EPA ‘‘to develop a screening program,
using appropriate validated test systems
and other scientifically relevant
information, to determine whether
certain substances may have an effect in
humans that is similar to an effect
produced by a naturally occurring
estrogen, or such other effects as [EPA]
may designate’’ (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)(1)).
Section 408(p)(3) of FFDCA expressly
requires that EPA ‘‘shall provide for the
testing of all pesticide chemicals’’ (21
U.S.C. 346a(p)(3)). Section 201 of
FFDCA defines ‘‘pesticide chemical’’ as
‘‘any substance that is a pesticide within
the meaning of [FIFRA], including all
active and pesticide inert ingredients of
such pesticide’’ (21 U.S.C. 231(q)(1)).
Section 408(p)(5)(A) of FFDCA
provides that the EPA Administrator
‘‘shall issue an order to a registrant of
a substance for which testing is required
under [FFDCA section 408(p)], or to a
person who manufactures or imports a
substance for which testing is required
under [FFDCA section 408(p)], to
conduct testing in accordance with the
screening program . . ., and submit
information obtained from the testing to
the Administrator, within a reasonable
time period that the [Agency]
determines is sufficient for the
generation of the information’’ (21
U.S.C. 346a(p)(5)(A)).
The statutes discussed in this unit
provide EPA with the discretion to
require testing of a pesticide chemical
under FFDCA alone, or in any
combination of the various authorities
(e.g., FIFRA/FFDCA, SDWA/FFDCA, or
FIFRA/SDWA/FFDCA).
Section 408(p)(5)(B) of FFDCA
requires that, ‘‘to the extent practicable,
the Administrator shall minimize
duplicative testing of the same
substance for the same endocrine effect,
develop, as appropriate, procedures for
fair and equitable sharing of test costs,
and develop, as necessary, procedures
for handling of confidential business
information’’ (21 U.S.C. 346a (p)(5)(B)).
Section 408(p)(5)(D) of FFDCA
provides that any person (other than a
registrant) who fails to comply with a
FFDCA section 408(p)(5) test order shall
be liable for the same penalties and
sanctions as are provided for under
section 16 of the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) (21 U.S.C. 346a
(p)(5)(D)). Such penalties and sanctions
shall be assessed and imposed in the
same manner as provided in TSCA
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section 16. Under TSCA section 16, civil
penalties of up to $37,500 per day may
be assessed, after notice and an
administrative hearing held on the
record in accordance with section 554 of
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
(15 U.S.C. 2615(a)(1)–(2)(A)).
In addition, Congress’s House
Appropriations Committee Report (H.
Rept.) for EPA’s FY 2010 appropriations
(Ref. 3), directed EPA ‘‘to publish
within 1 year of enactment a second list
of no less than 100 chemicals for
screening that includes drinking water
contaminants, such as halogenated
organic chemicals, dioxins, flame
retardants (PBDEs, PCBs, PFCs), plastics
(BPA), pharmaceuticals and personal
care products, and issue 25 orders per
year for the testing of these chemicals.’’
C. Does this document contain binding
requirements?
While the requirements in the statutes
and in any EDSP test orders ultimately
issued under FFDCA section 408(p) are
binding, the policies and procedures
outlined in this document are not. The
policies and procedures outlined in this
document merely represent the general
procedures and statutory interpretations
on which EPA may rely to implement
the existing goals of the statutory
program. However, neither EPA nor any
outside party is bound by any of the
policies and procedures outlined in this
document. Accordingly, these policies
and procedures may be modified at any
time by EPA and the Agency may depart
from these policies and procedures
where circumstances warrant and
without prior notice.
III. Background on EDSP
A. What is EDSP?
EPA developed EDSP in response to
a Congressional mandate in FFDCA ‘‘to
determine whether certain substances
may have an effect in humans that is
similar to an effect produced by
naturally occurring estrogen, or such
other endocrine effect as [EPA] may
designate’’ (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)). As part
of EDSP, EPA issues orders to collect
certain test data on selected chemicals.
In general, EPA intends to use the data
collected under EDSP, along with other
information, to determine if a pesticide
chemical, or other chemicals, may pose
a risk to human health or the
environment due to disruption of the
endocrine system. The determination of
whether a chemical has the potential to
interact with the endocrine system will
be made on a weight of evidence basis
taking into account data from the Tier
1 assays and/or OSRI. Chemicals that go
through Tier 1 screening and are found
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35911
to have the potential to interact with the
estrogen, androgen, or thyroid hormone
systems will proceed to the next stage
of EDSP where EPA will determine
which, if any, of the Tier 2 tests are
necessary based on the available data.
Tier 2 testing is designed to identify any
adverse endocrine-related effects caused
by the chemical, and establish a
quantitative relationship between the
dose and that endocrine effect. Further
information regarding EDSP and
requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 can
be found on the Agency’s EDSP Web
site (Ref. 4). EPA is aware of no issue
specific to the chemicals in the second
list that would warrant any modification
to the existing testing scheme, and is not
proposing to adopt any.
B. Why is EPA publishing additional
policies and procedures for EDSP Tier 1
screening?
As stated in the FIFRA/FFDCA
policies and procedures (Ref. 1), EPA
intended to develop EDSP policies and
procedures that could be used in
subsequent data collection efforts,
including those under SDWA, but
indicated that EPA may make
modifications as appropriate. The
Agency now believes that modifications
are needed to address issues that are
specific to the larger universe of
chemicals that are potentially subject to
EDSP testing under SDWA.
The FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1) were originally
developed for screening of pesticide
chemicals and relied, in part, on a
regulatory context that is specific to
pesticide chemicals. The presumptions
applicable in that context are not
necessarily applicable to this larger
universe of chemicals.
For example, much of the data that
would be generated in response to an
EDSP test order (particularly for
pesticide active ingredients) would be
entitled to the data compensation
protections available under FIFRA (7
U.S.C. 136a(c)(1)(F)) and FFDCA (21
U.S.C. 346a(i)). Additionally, FIFRA
section 10 prohibits EPA from releasing
study data on pesticide chemicals
unless the person seeking access to the
information certifies that he is not an
agent or employee of any multinational
pesticide company (7 U.S.C. 136h(g)).
Because FFDCA section 408(p) did not
authorize EPA to modify these FIFRA
requirements, EPA needs to ensure that
the policies and procedures adopted to
implement FFDCA section 408(p) would
operate in a manner that would be
consistent with EPA’s existing FIFRA
mandates. Moreover, EPA could rely on
the existing FIFRA mechanisms to
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effectively minimize duplicative testing,
and to promote cost-sharing.
By contrast, these considerations are
generally not applicable to the majority
of chemicals that may be subject to
EDSP screening under SDWA, such as
chemicals used in pharmaceuticals and
personal-care products, among others.
In addition, the statutory authority for
imposing testing of SDWA chemicals,
the sources of SDWA chemicals, and
EPA’s ability to identify manufacturers
and importers, and other considerations
unique to SDWA chemicals, create a
need for policies and procedures
specific to EDSP screening under
SDWA/FFDCA authority. For example,
some registered pesticide ingredients
have additional uses that account for a
much larger percentage of total
manufacture and import. In such cases,
the Agency seeks to be able to identify,
and issue orders to, all relevant
manufacturers and importers in a
manner that creates a fair and level
playing field for complying with the
order.
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C. When do these policies and
procedures apply?
EPA has the discretion to issue EDSP
test orders under the authorities of
SDWA section 1457 and FFDCA section
408(p) for all chemicals, including PAIs,
for which the Agency can make the
requisite factual findings. As described
in this document, however, EPA
generally intends to use SDWA
authority to require EDSP testing of
SDWA chemicals that are not PAIs and
FIFRA authority to require EDSP testing
of PAIs and pesticide inerts, even if the
PAIs and inerts have non-pesticide uses.
EPA may issue SDWA/FFDCA EDSP
test orders for PAIs and inerts that have
non-pesticide uses, except, when PAI
registrants avoid EDSP testing by
canceling their registrations and leaving
the market. This approach will preserve
familiar data compensation and
confidentiality protections established
in FIFRA sections 3(c)(1)(F) and 12, as
well as FFDCA section 408(i), for
pesticide registrants.
IV. EDSP Policies and Procedures
Considerations for SDWA Chemicals
The Agency used the following
policies and procedures considerations
to guide development of policies and
procedures for issuing Tier 1 EDSP test
orders on SDWA chemicals:
• A core part of EPA’s mission is to
promote public understanding of the
potential risks posed by chemicals in
commerce.
• The basis for an order with respect
to SDWA chemicals is that a chemical
may be found in sources of drinking
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water and a determination that a
substantial population may be exposed
to such chemical. Thus, SDWA/FFDCA
policies and procedures should not be
unnecessarily tied to the use of the
chemical in any given market and
should instead focus on obtaining data
from companies that might be expected
to contribute to a chemical’s presence in
drinking water.
• For simplicity, policies and
procedures for SDWA chemicals should
be consistent with FIFRA/FFDCA
policies and procedures (Ref. 1) unless
there is a reason for modifying them
(e.g., different statutory requirements),
though for clarity EPA has written these
SDWA/FFDCA policies and procedures
as a complete, stand alone document.
• Procedures for EDSP testing of
SDWA chemicals should strive to
minimize duplicative testing and
promote fair and equitable sharing of
test costs, as described in FFDCA
section 408(p)(5)(B).
• The Agency expects to issue
SDWA/FFDCA EDSP test orders for
pesticide inert ingredients that are listed
for EDSP screening with a SDWA
section 1457 finding; it has also been
the Agency’s experience that pesticide
inerts generally have a much larger
market than solely as ingredients in
pesticide formulations. For these
reasons EPA believes it is reasonable
and equitable to initially issue SDWA/
FFDCA EDSP test orders on SDWA
chemicals that are not PAIs.
• As noted previously, EPA intends
to require EDSP testing pursuant to
FIFRA and FFDCA for registrants of a
pesticide chemical, even if the chemical
has non-pesticide uses. If, however,
recipients of such EDSP test orders fail
to provide the required information by
dropping out of the pesticide market to
avoid EDSP testing, EPA may choose to
reissue EDSP test orders under SDWA/
FFDCA authority if the SDWA criteria
are met. EPA would then rely on the
policies and procedures established in
this document.
V. Discussion of Final SDWA/FFDCA
Policies and Procedures and Response
to Comments
This document adopts the proposed
SDWA/FFDCA policies and procedures
published in the Federal Register issue
of November 17, 2010 (Ref. 5), with
minor revisions. The Agency reviewed
and considered all of the comments that
were received on the proposed SDWA/
FFDCA policies and procedures. All of
the comments received are available in
the docket for this document, and a
response-to-comments document (Ref.
6) that summarizes and responds to all
of the comments received on the
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proposed SDWA/FFDCA policies and
procedures is also available in the same
docket. The Agency specifically
requested comments on five topics:
Response option to cease manufacture;
persistence; catch-up orders and data
compensation; orphan chemicals; and
electronic notification. The Agency’s
consideration of such comments is
described in this unit and the Agency’s
response to comments document (Ref.
6).
A. Response Option To Cease
Manufacture
EPA sought comment on whether a
company could satisfy the EDSP test
order simply by committing to stop
manufacturing or importing a SDWA
chemical, because, in ceasing to
manufacture the chemical, the company
thereby stops contributing to the
presence of the chemical in the source
of drinking water and reduces potential
exposure. Alternatively, EPA sought
comment on whether the company
should be required to conduct the EDSP
testing nevertheless, on the grounds that
the company should not be able to
evade responsibility for providing the
data necessary to evaluate the existing
water contamination to which their
manufacturing activities had
contributed.
Multiple commenters (the American
Petroleum Institute (API), the American
Chemistry Council (ACC), Bayer
CropScience LP (BCS), Croplife America
(CLA), and the Chemical Producers and
Distributors Association (CPDA)) agreed
with EPA’s proposal to allow a EDSP
test order recipient for the second list to
comply with an EDSP test order by
ceasing all manufacturing of the listed
chemical, because former manufacturers
will not receive any new income from
the chemical to pay for the new EDSP
testing requirement and language in the
statute refers to manufacture and
production in the present tense. The
San Francisco REACH Team (SFRT)
requested that EPA’s EDSP test order
procedures be revised to include a clear
timeline for when the production must
cease.
EPA intends to allow a SDWA EDSP
test order recipient for the second list to
comply with the test order by ceasing all
manufacturing, including
manufacturing for export only, and
importing of the listed chemical. EPA
considers this approach to be consistent
with the language of the statute and
with the decision to accept pesticide
cancellation as an acceptable response
to an EDSP test order issued under
FIFRA. EPA will require recipients to
provide a timeline for the cessation of
production as part of the explanation
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and documentation supporting the
claim. Rather than specifying a single
timeline, the Agency will take
individual circumstances into account,
essentially using the same procedure it
applies to accepting pesticide
cancellations as an acceptable response
to an EDSP test order on a pesticide
active ingredient.
The American Water Works
Association (AWWA) commented that
an EDSP test order recipient should not
be allowed to respond by ceasing
manufacture, observing that this would
not absolve them from having
contributed to the presence of the
chemical in the environment, and that
it might persist in the environment.
While the comment has merit, EPA
has decided that, in this instance, the
equities weigh in favor of allowing
companies to satisfy the order by
entirely ceasing to manufacture the
chemical. As discussed in the draft
SDWA/FFDCA policies and procedures
(Ref. 5), a number of considerations
weigh against requiring manufacturers
who choose to cease manufacture of the
chemical to nevertheless conduct EDSP
testing. Specifically, if an EDSP test
order recipient stops manufacturing and
importing a chemical, it will ultimately
lead to less exposure to the chemical in
sources of drinking water. (The decline
will happen at different rates,
depending on the chemical and whether
the chemical is found in surface water
or ground water.) Moreover, an order
recipient who ceases to manufacture or
import a chemical that is subject to
EDSP testing will no longer receive any
economic benefit from the sale of the
chemical with which to defray the cost
of testing. This approach will effectively
focus the costs on those companies that
can best bear the costs of testing.
Further, as discussed in this unit, EPA
has been unable to develop an effective
mechanism for issuing EDSP test orders
to past registrants, manufacturers, and
importers given the practical, legal, and
equitable difficulties of identifying and
assessing the contributions of past
participants. However, if EPA is unable
to obtain information on most chemicals
for which there is continued and
ongoing significant exposures, EPA may
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B. Persistence
EPA sought comment on whether, and
how, to factor chemical persistence into
EDSP policies and procedures to
account for the contribution associated
with past registrants, manufacturers and
importers, to the presence of a chemical
in a source of drinking water, given that
the Agency’s policy has been to only
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issue orders to current registrants,
manufacturers, and importers.
Multiple commenters (API, People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA) and the Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), ACC,
BCS, and CLA and the Endocrine Policy
Forum (EPF)) indicated that EPA should
not consider a chemical’s persistence in
the environment when implementing
EDSP, noting among other things that
‘‘persistence’’ does not appear in the
language of the FFDCA and asserting
that it is subject to differing
interpretations. Commenters observed
that the issue of persistence is most
likely to arise only for chemicals that
have not been manufactured and used
by anyone for a significant period of
time (i.e., ‘‘legacy chemicals’’). Some
commenters observed EPA would have
to develop a legal and equitable process
for identifying those chemicals along
with all past manufacturers and
importers, many of whom may not have
manufactured or imported the chemical
for decades.
Two commenters (SFRT and AWWA)
advocated that EPA should hold
accountable all past registrants,
manufacturers, and importers that have
contributed to health and environmental
impacts from past production activities,
even if they are no longer actively
manufacturing or importing a particular
chemical, because chemicals persist in
the environment, the consequences
often become apparent decades after the
cessation of exposure to a chemical, and
companies should share the cost of
generating data.
Under SDWA, EPA issues an EDSP
test order based upon a finding that a
chemical ‘‘may be found in sources of
drinking water’’ and ‘‘that a substantial
population may be exposed.’’ While
EPA believes that persistence can be
defined (persistence is a factor in a
variety of EPA’s water and toxics
programs; e.g., 40 CFR 125.122, 141.24,
711.6, 792.3, 795.70, 796.1050,
798.2250, and 799.5075), SDWA does
not explicitly address how to factor in
the possible presence of a chemical in
a source of drinking water from past
manufacturing and importing. And,
although, EPA believes that the
potential long term impacts of a
persistent chemical in sources of
drinking water is an important
consideration, EPA has not been able to
develop an effective mechanism for
issuing EDSP test orders to past
registrants, manufacturers, and
importers given the practical, legal, and
equitable difficulties of identifying and
assessing the contributions of past
participants. Accordingly, EPA does not
intend at this time to issue test orders
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to entities other than current registrants,
manufacturers, and importers.
For more information on how EPA
addresses commenters’ concerns about
chemical persistence, see the comment
response document for the second list of
chemicals (Ref. 7).
C. Catch-Up Orders and Data
Compensation
EPA sought comment on ‘‘whether 5
years is the appropriate length of time
that the Agency should continue to
issue SDWA/FFDCA catch-up orders as
a means to ensure equitable sharing of
test costs.’’ (Five years is the length of
time that data compensation is available
for test rules issued under TSCA section
4. (See 40 CFR part 791.))
The Methanol Institute argued that
SDWA chemicals should be entitled to
the same 15-year compensation period
as pesticide chemicals, stating there was
no logical reason to distinguish between
SDWA chemicals and pesticide
chemicals since both categories of
chemicals are being subjected to the
same testing requirements pursuant to
the same legislative enactment. The
SFRT and the ACC took similar
positions. In addition, the 15-year
compensation period applies to
industrial chemicals used as inerts in
pesticides as well.
After carefully considering these
comments and the equities involved,
EPA has concluded that the most
appropriate length of time to issue
SDWA/FFDCA catch-up orders is in fact
the same 15-year compensation period
as for active and inert pesticide
chemicals because it will provide a
consistent standard across the entire
EDSP. Neither SDWA nor the FFDCA
authorized EPA to identify
manufacturers or importers of SDWA
chemicals through mandatory
registration provisions, such as those
that apply to pesticide registrants.
Furthermore, an inconsistency would
develop if SDWA chemicals are not
entitled to the same 15-year
compensation period as the first list of
chemicals, pesticides, particularly if
they are mandates to the same testing
requirements pursuant to the same
legislative enactments.
D. Orphan Chemicals
EPA sought comment on the
mechanisms available for testing
chemicals for which EDSP test orders do
not generate the necessary data.
AWWA asserted that water utilities
are not manufacturers that can be
required to test under FIFRA or TSCA,
so disinfection byproducts and arsenic
and other naturally occurring chemicals
should be considered orphan chemicals
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and EPA should screen and test those
chemicals itself.
The BCS, PETA, and PCRM
interpreted orphan chemicals as those
chemicals no longer being produced or
imported and reasoned that as
environmental exposures to such
chemicals would decrease over time,
testing of such chemicals should not be
required and resources to conduct
testing should not be expended either
by private parties or by the Agency
without a documented rationale for why
potentially harmful endocrine effects
might be anticipated.
Exposure to chemicals that are no
longer being produced or imported may
not decrease over time if the chemicals
occur naturally or are persistent and
bioaccumulative. However, exposure
also will not increase from any
continuing manmade contribution to
environmental loading. As discussed in
Unit V.A., EPA has not been able to
develop an effective mechanism for
issuing EDSP test orders to past
registrants, manufacturers, and
importers, and has, therefore, concluded
not to issue test orders for chemicals
that are no longer being manufactured
or imported (see Unit V.B.). In addition,
without reaching any conclusion with
respect to whether water utilities can
ever be manufacturers, EPA has not
sought to require the testing of
disinfection byproducts and arsenic or
other naturally occurring chemicals as
part of this second list of chemicals, but
this issue warrants additional
consideration.
E. Electronic Notification
EPA sought comment on whether
companies that already have a Central
Data Exchange (CDX) account with EPA
would prefer to receive an EDSP
notification electronically as opposed to
notification by means of the U.S. Postal
Service, either as a standard procedure
or by request, and on mechanisms by
which EPA could accurately document
the receipt of orders through electronic
reporting mechanisms.
API commented that it generally
supported electronic reporting but, for
EDSP, recommended that electronic
notification be optional, since there
have been technical problems with
electronic reporting in other EPA
programs.
Electronic reporting has become the
standard mode of operation in business
and government and provides
overwhelming advantages over paper
submissions. The OPPT’s
premanufacture notice (PMN) and
Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rules
(formerly known as the Inventory
Update Reporting (IUR) rule) already
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require use of the Internet to
electronically report. OPPT has also
proposed additional electronic reporting
requirements (Ref. 8).
Electronic reporting requires use of
EPA’s CDX, the point of entry on the
Environmental Information Exchange
Network for environmental data
submissions to the Agency. Currently,
CDX has provided stakeholders with the
ability to:
1. Submit data through one
centralized point of access and fill out
a single electronic form which can be
submitted instantaneously instead of
mailing multiple paper forms.
2. Receive Agency confirmation when
submissions are received.
3. Reduce costs associated with
submitting and processing data
submissions.
4. Pay fees through https://
www.pay.gov.
5. Utilize publishing services to share
information collected by EPA with other
stakeholders.
In an effort to streamline the reporting
process, reduce the administrative costs,
and maintain consistency with other
electronic reporting of information
submissions and recordkeeping (Ref. 8),
EPA will require EDSP test order
information to be submitted
electronically. EPA will continue to
issue EDSP test orders by U.S. Postal
Service for the second list of chemicals.
F. Identification of EDSP Test Order
Recipients
Though EPA did not specifically
request comment on the identification
of EDSP test order recipients, some
comments were received.
API agreed with EPA that the CDR
rule is the appropriate source for
identifying current chemical
manufacturers and importers, but
recommended that EPA only use the
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) as a last
resort, because TRI was less specific.
AWWA commented that EPA should
clarify what entities the EDSP test
orders apply to by defining all terms
describing potentially affected entities.
The ACC commented that EPA should
pay close attention to manufacturing
and other activities that contribute to
the occurrence of chemicals in drinking
water to which a substantial population
may be exposed, with an emphasis on
the equitable sharing of the cost of
testing.
EPA believes it is ‘‘important to
identify and issue orders to all
significant manufacturers and importers
of a listed chemical’’ and the Agency
intends to rely on the CDR rule, which
periodically requires manufacturers and
importers to report chemical production
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information to EPA for chemicals
manufactured (including imported) in
amounts of 25,000 lb or more at a single
site. EPA considers the CDR rule to be
a reliable means of identifying
manufacturers and importers of nonpesticide, industrial chemicals and
believes that the CDR rule generally
accounts for most of such chemicals in
commerce. EPA intends to use other,
publicly available databases, such as,
but not limited to, TRI, to identify
possible EDSP test order recipients. EPA
disagrees that the TRI data are
imprecise. TRI data are reported
annually and reporters must indicate if
they manufacture, including import, a
listed chemical as well as more specific
information on the manufacture of the
chemical. EPA is aware that any given
database, including CDR and TRI, is
imperfect and has limitations. On the
whole, however, EPA believes that CDR
and TRI constitute comprehensive and
generally reliable databases. Moreover,
no commenter disagreed with EPA’s
assessment or submitted any
information to rebut EPA’s conclusions.
In addition, EPA believes that relying
on these databases effectively addresses
the AWWA request that EPA clarify the
entities that will be subject to EDSP test
orders, and for a definition of all terms
describing potentially affected entities.
The rules that establish the reporting
requirements for these databases (40
CFR parts 372 and 711) already include
definitions of all of the necessary terms
and should be already familiar to the
regulated community. Nonetheless, EPA
asked for, and continues to be interested
in learning about, any other credible
source or method that may be used to
identify EDSP test order recipients. In
the final analysis, the objective is to
identify responsible manufacturers and
importers of relevant chemicals, and not
to apportion responsibility. EDSP test
order recipients may combine in
consortia to conduct the required testing
on whatever basis they find most
suitable.
SFRT asked that EPA ‘‘incorporate a
system which takes into account the
location of chemical manufacturers and
potential disproportionate burden on
neighboring communities, in addition to
production volume, when issuing test
orders’’ in order to ‘‘account for the
unequal geographic distribution of
manufacturing locations of these
chemicals and the potential impact of
neighboring communities from a
chemical’s presence in the drinking
water among other sources.’’ SFRT also
recommended that, in order to ‘‘avoid
disproportionate burdens and promote
equitable responsibility among
manufacturers,’’ EPA issue EDSP test
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order to ‘‘all manufacturers of listed
chemicals . . . with the exception of
manufacturers using small quantities of
the listed chemical (reported in grams
instead of lbs.) for research and
development purposes only.’’
EPA believes it is ‘‘important to
identify and issue orders to all
significant manufacturers and importers
of a listed chemical.’’ The Agency
intends to rely on the CDR rule, as well
as TRI, both of which periodically
require manufacturers and importers to
report chemical production information
to EPA for chemicals manufactured
(including imported) in amounts of
25,000 lb or more at a single site. EPA
considers the CDR rule to be the most
reliable means of identifying
‘‘significant’’ manufacturers and
importers of non-pesticide, industrial
chemicals and believes that the CDR
rule generally accounts for most of such
chemicals in commerce. It is unclear
what the commenter intends by
requesting that EPA require selfdisclosure in this context, as the only
vehicle for requirements relating to
EDSP testing in this context will be the
EDSP test orders, and EPA can only
issue the orders to those manufacturers
it can identify. Nonetheless, EPA is
interested in finding other existing
sources for reliably identifying EDSP
test order recipients and will consider
issuing EDSP test orders to other
significant manufacturers and importers
that are identified. EPA, however, does
not intend to issue test orders to
companies that only manufacture and/
or import a chemical in small amounts
for research and development or in
amounts more appropriately measured
in grams rather than thousands of
pounds. Issuing EDSP test orders based
on the geographic distribution of
manufacturing locations and potential
impact of chemicals on neighboring
communities is, at least, not an express
part of the basic requirement that EPA
identify and issue EDSP test orders to
chemical manufacturers and importers
and would add another complex and
potentially burdensome requirement to
the issuance of EDSP test orders that
appears unnecessary and unlikely to
achieve the primary goal of the program:
To obtain the necessary data to evaluate
the endocrine potential of pesticide
chemicals and drinking water
contaminants.
G. Other Topics
1. Cost sharing. ACC, CLA, EPF, and
CPDA stated that EPA had developed a
workable data compensation and cost
sharing plan and agreed with EPA’s
decision to issue catch-up orders to
require cost sharing by manufacturers
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and importers who enter the market
after initial orders are issued (but
suggested that such orders be issued for
10 instead of 5 years), but recommended
that EPA develop new procedures in the
form of explicit, legally enforceable
compensation rights to ensure fair and
equitable sharing of test costs.
Section 408(p) of FFDCA only
authorizes EPA to create procedures that
operate within the confines of existing
statutory authority and to develop
procedures to facilitate joint data
generation. EPA, however, is authorized
to determine what actions comply with
a FFDCA section 408(p) test order and
intends to use this discretion to create
strong incentives for companies to
jointly volunteer to develop EDSP test
data under the circumstances
enumerated in Unit VI.G.
2. Minimizing duplicative testing.
PETA and the PRCM commented that
EPA should mandate, and create
incentives to form testing consortia.
EPA does not have the authority to
compel EDSP test order recipients to
join testing consortia to minimize
testing, but may develop procedures to
facilitate joint data generation. In
particular, EPA has the discretion to
determine what constitutes compliance
with an EDSP test order and can
exercise that discretion to allow cost
sharing and the joint electronic
submission of data by EDSP test order
recipients, in appropriate
circumstances, to reduce costs and
duplicative testing. EPA intends to
continue to list other manufacturers and
contact information in each EDSP test
order as well as providing such
information on the Agency’s EDSP Web
site.
3. CBI. SFRT commented that EPA
should strictly disallow CBI claims. The
ACC, CLA, and EPF commented that
FFDCA authorized, and EPA should
provide, EDSP-specific CBI protection,
which was critical to protect industry’s
legitimate intellectual property
interests.
FFDCA does not authorize EPA to
either create new rights or to modify
existing rights to confidentiality. Rather,
FFDCA only directs EPA to apply the
confidentiality provisions in existing
statutory authorities: FIFRA, the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and
the Trade Secret Act (TSA), as
applicable. SDWA, in particular, only
authorizes EPA to apply CBI protection
under the TSA. Data submitted to EPA
in response to an order issued under
SDWA/FFDCA for non-pesticide
chemicals, for example, would only
have the protections provided under
FOIA and TSA.
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4. Adverse effects reporting. ACC
commented that EPA has not, but
should, give clear guidance on the
significance of positive Tier 1 test
results for TSCA section 8(e) and FIFRA
section 6(a)(2) reporting purposes.
EPA made a considered decision not
to reinterpret the existing requirements
for Tier 1 data, nor to otherwise take
steps to amend the existing
requirements. Rather, EPA referenced
the existing regulatory provisions of 40
CFR part 159 and existing
interpretations of TSCA section 8(e). In
general, EPA does not believe that data
from a single Tier 1 assay that provides
some evidence that a chemical may
have the potential to interact with the
endocrine system necessarily meets the
standard for information that must be
reported in accordance with FIFRA
section 6(a)(2) or TSCA section 8(e) in
all cases. In addition, EPA believes that
it has not yet accumulated adequate
experience with the Tier 1 results to be
able to provide general guidance as to
the significance of positive results from
Tier 1 assays for purposes of the
reporting requirements under FIFRA
section 6(a)(2) or TSCA section 8(e).
Under existing procedures, the
determination to report is to be made by
the company in the first instance, on a
case-by-case basis, taking into account
all circumstances, and EPA is not aware
of any reason to change that with
respect to EDSP data. Accordingly, to
the extent that Tier 1 information meets
the standards laid out in EPA’s
regulations (40 CFR part 159), or falls
within the categories described in EPA’s
past statements regarding TSCA section
8(e) (Ref. 9), that information should
continue to be reported, consistent with
those requirements.
Any information previously
submitted to EPA under FIFRA section
6(a)(2), TSCA section 8(c), or TSCA
section 8(e) need not be resubmitted to
EPA in response to an EDSP test order,
because EPA would already have the
data.
5. Public availability of information.
SFRT commented that the EDSP test
data on SDWA chemicals should be
made publicly available on EPA’s Web
site.
EPA intends to make all nonconfidential EDSP data publicly
available on the Agency’s EDSP Web
site. However, TSA and FOIA may
apply and provide some protections
against disclosure and it may not be
possible to publicly post all available
data. Nonetheless, EPA expects that
confidential data will be limited, and
health and safety data for chemicals on
the non-confidential TSCA Chemical
Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory)
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of existing chemicals, which all of the
SDWA chemicals are, may not be
entitled to confidential treatment.
6. OSRI and Weight-of-Evidence
(WoE). ACC, CLA, EPF, and CPDA
commented that EPA’s offer to accept
OSRI in lieu of EDSP test data was
justified, but that EPA had not clearly
articulated a basis for evaluating OSRI.
ACC, CLA, EPF, and CPDA also
commented that EPA needed to develop
meaningful WoE guidelines for
assessing voluminous Tier 1 EDSP data
to determine whether a chemical
interacts with the endocrine system and
publish peer reviewed guidance for
conducting WoE evaluations.
EPA issued guidance on OSRI for Tier
1 test orders in 2009 (Ref. 10) and on
WoE approach evaluating Tier 1
screening results in 2011 (Ref. 11).
7. Communications: Consistent use of
language and definitions. API, ACC,
CLA, and EPF commented that, given
the sensitivity of the issue of endocrine
disruption, EPA should be careful to use
clear and accurate definitions for all
important EDSP terms and to
communicate clearly, accurately, and
consistently to the public and within
the Agency in order to avoid confusion
and misunderstanding.
EPA generally agrees with these
comments and has made every effort to
be as clear, concise, and unambiguous
as possible. EPA has, for example,
generally adhered to widely accepted
definitions, such as the World Health
Organization’s (WHO) definition of
‘‘endocrine disruptor’’ as ‘‘an exogenous
substance or mixture that alters
function(s) of the endocrine system and
consequently causes adverse health
effects in an intact organism’’ (Ref. 12).
EPA has also repeatedly cautioned that
the public should not presume that the
listing of a chemical or substance
indicates in any way that EPA currently
suspects that such chemical or
substance interferes with the endocrine
systems of humans or other species.
EPA plans on maintaining these
communications in future EDSP
documents. See also EPA’s response to
comments documents (Refs. 7 and 13).
8. Schedule. API, SFRT, ACC, BCS,
CLA, EPF, and CPDA commented that
EPA should not issue EDSP orders for
the second list of chemicals or for Tier
2 testing until the data from the first list
had been evaluated and the Tier 1
assays had been examined in light of
those data.
The Agency intends to complete
review of the Tier 1 data from the EDSP
test orders issued for the first list of
EDSP chemicals before issuing Tier 1
test orders for the second list of EDSP
chemicals. EPA intends to continue to
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rely on the available validated methods
and to follow the recommendations in
the 1999 report from the joint meeting
of the Agency’s Science Advisory Board
(SAB) and FIFRA Scientific Advisory
Panel (SAP) (Ref. 14). The steps for this
process are described in the EDSP
Comprehensive Management Plan
issued in 2012 (Ref. 15). With these
recommendations, the Agency improves
the validating screening and testing
methods to develop complete
information on chemicals being tested.
In continuing with this process of
developing efficiency, the Agency does
not intend to release any finalized EDSP
Tier 1 WoE decisions until the EDSP
Tier 2 protocols are available.
9. Enforcement. SFRT commented
that EPA should enact a system of
graduated penalties for noncompliance
with testing requirements based on the
length of delay in complying with
requirements.
EPA agrees that graduated penalties
are generally appropriate, and has
generally exercised its discretion
consistent with that policy. For nonpesticides, failure to comply with an
EDSP order carries the same civil and
criminal penalties set out in TSCA
section 16, under which each new day
of continued noncompliance is another
violation, so graduated penalties based
on the length of delay are already built
into the law. For pesticide chemicals,
the FFDCA imposes more specific
requirements with respect to the penalty
for non-compliance, although they are
generally consistent with the concept
that penalties should be tied to the
period of non-compliance. FFDCA
section 408(p)(5)(C) requires the
suspension of the pesticide registration
for the period of non-compliance, and
specifies that the suspension shall be
terminated upon a determination that
the registrant is no longer out of
compliance.
10. Other comments. EPA also
received comments on topics that do not
address aspects of the policies and
procedures for issuing EDSP test orders,
e.g., the use of SDWA authority to issue
orders, the basis of SDWA chemical
selection, and the second list of
chemicals. The comments related to
SDWA and the second list of chemicals
are addressed in EPA’s response to
comments document prepared for the
second list of chemicals (Ref. 7).
VI. Final Procedures for EDSP Tier 1
Screening Pursuant to SDWA
For purposes of discussing the EDSP
policies and procedures in this
document, SDWA chemicals can be
described as either currently registered
PAIs (SDWA PAIs) or ‘‘Other SDWA
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Chemicals’’ (including inert ingredients
in currently registered pesticide
products). EPA generally intends to
issue FIFRA/FFDCA orders to
manufacturers and registrants of PAIs,
but would retain the discretion to issue
an SDWA/FFDCA test order to any
chemical that meets the statutory
criteria in SDWA section 1457.
Consequently, for any pesticide
chemical that also has non-pesticidal
uses, in the event that no FIFRA/FFDCA
test order recipient generates the
required data because all order
recipients opt out of the pesticide
market, EPA may decide to issue EDSP
testing orders based on the SDWA
authority in order to obtain the data. In
such instances, the policies and
procedures outlined in this document
would be applicable.
By contrast, for SDWA chemicals that
are not PAIs, (i.e., ‘‘Other SDWA
Chemicals’’), EPA generally intends to
rely on SDWA section 1457 and/or
FFDCA section 408(p)(5) to issue EDSP
test orders. The Other SDWA Chemicals
are very similar to the non-food use
inert ingredients discussed in the
FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures
(Ref. 1), and the similarities are reflected
in the policies that EPA has adopted in
this document. Unit VI. describes the
policies and procedures that relate to
EDSP test orders issued under SDWA/
FFDCA authority.
A. Who would receive EDSP test orders
on SDWA chemicals?
EPA believes it is important to
identify and issue orders to all
significant manufacturers and importers
of a listed chemical. Under FFDCA
section 408(p)(5)(A), EPA ‘‘shall issue’’
EDSP test orders ‘‘to a registrant of a
substance for which testing is required
. . . or to a person who manufactures or
imports a substance for which testing is
required . . .’’ (21 U.S.C.
346(a)(p)(5)(A). The process EPA
generally intends to use to issue EDSP
test orders for SDWA chemicals
depends on whether the chemical is a
SDWA PAI or an Other SDWA
Chemical. A chart depicting the process
for issuing EDSP test orders on SDWA
chemicals is included in the docket
(Ref. 16).
As noted, the Agency generally
intends to issue orders under FIFRA/
FFDCA for SDWA PAIs, and to rely on
the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1). As described in that
document, EPA intends to use internal
databases—principally the Office of
Pesticide Program’s Information
Network (OPPIN)—to identify technical
registrants with a current pesticide
registration containing a SDWA
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chemical as the active ingredient, and
anticipates issuing a FIFRA/FFDCA test
order to all identified technical
registrants.
For Other SDWA Chemicals, EPA
generally intends to rely on information
reported to the Agency under the TSCA
CDR rule (Ref. 17) and TRI to identify
the initial SDWA/FFDCA test order
recipients. The CDR rule and TRI
require manufacturers and importers of
certain chemicals included on the TSCA
Inventory to report site and
manufacturing information for
chemicals manufactured (including
imported) in amounts of 25,000 lb. or
more at a single site, or, for TRI, other
lower thresholds as specified. The
Agency believes that this information is
an appropriate source for identifying
EDSP test order recipients. It has been
EPA’s experience that relying on
companies that have reported to the
CDR is the most reliable mechanism for
identifying manufacturers and importers
of (non-pesticide) industrial chemicals.
Such manufacturers and importers are
required, by regulation, to report under
the CDR rule. Companies that report
under the CDR rule generally account
for most of a chemical in commerce
(therefore, in many instances, these
companies can be expected to account
for most of a chemical when it is found
in drinking water), which is the basis for
listing a chemical under SDWA
authority (see Unit II.B.). As relatively
large manufacturers and importers, EPA
also believes that companies reporting
under CDR comprise the majority of the
volume associated with the chemical;
these companies are more likely to be
able to afford the cost of EDSP testing
than companies manufacturing volumes
below the CDR reporting threshold. EPA
believes that, in general, these
manufacturers are analogous to the
technical registrants, who received
orders in the first round of EDSP
screening. Finally, using the CDR
information to identify order recipients
will facilitate joint data development, as
reporters for these chemicals are
generally publicly known and not
numerous.
If there are no companies reporting in
response to the CDR rule for a given
chemical, EPA intends to use other
publicly available databases, such as the
TRI, to identify other major EDSP test
order recipients. For Other SDWA
Chemicals that are regulated or tracked
by another agency (e.g., pharmaceuticals
by the Food and Drug Administration),
EPA may also consult with that agency
as appropriate to identify main
manufacturers and importers. In
addition to using CDR, TRI, and other
Federal agency databases, EPA also
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generally intends to issue orders to
manufacturers and importers who are
subsequently identified as such. The
Agency will follow up on any new
information it receives to this effect and
issue orders accordingly. EPA, however,
does not generally intend at this time to
issue orders to companies that
manufacture or import a chemical for
research and development purposes
only, or who otherwise manufacture or
import quantities of a chemical that are
more appropriately measured in grams
(e.g., as impurities, contaminants, or
byproducts, which are not expected to
be released into the environment in
significant amounts).
The Agency intends to issue catch-up
orders to manufacturers or importers
who begin to manufacture or import an
EDSP SDWA chemical within 15 years
of the issuance of a SDWA/FFDCA test
order. The EDSP SDWA chemical catchup order process will be similar to the
catch-up order process described in the
FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures
(Ref. 1), except that EPA generally
expects that the source of information
for identifying such manufacturers will
primarily come from the public, because
there is no industrial chemical
registration process comparable to the
pesticide registration process that would
provide a mechanism for EPA to
independently identify such entities. A
recipient of such catch-up orders would
have the same options for compliance as
an initial order recipient: independently
generate the data or participate in the
cost sharing by making a good faith offer
to participate, if it wishes to rely on data
developed or submitted by another
recipient or consortium to satisfy its
EDSP test order obligation.
If, at the end of this process, all EDSP
test order recipients have ceased to
manufacture a SDWA chemical without
submitting the required data, the
Agency generally intends to treat the
SDWA chemical as an ‘‘orphan.’’
B. How will recipients of orders on
SDWA chemicals be notified?
Order recipients will receive an EDSP
test order in one of two ways: By
registered mail or electronically. In
addition to the EDSP test order, EPA
will send each recipient a packet that
contains the instructions, background
materials, and sample forms needed to
comply electronically with the EDSP
test order via CDX or will provide
directions as to the location of such
materials in an electronic format.
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C. How will the public know who has
received a test order on a SDWA
chemical or who has supplied data?
EPA intends to provide the list of all
EDSP test order recipients on the
Agency’s EDSP Web site (Ref. 4). EPA
invites the submission of information
(with proper substantiation) identifying
additional entities—including entities
who manufacture for export only—who
should have received a test order.
Commenters could either identify
themselves or another person as
additional candidates for the receipt of
an EDSP test order.
D. How will the Agency minimize
duplicative testing?
As described in greater detail in this
unit, EPA generally intends to continue
to rely on its existing procedures to
minimize duplicative EDSP testing for
SDWA chemicals, including continuing
to allow companies to voluntarily
develop data jointly, and, as described
in Unit VI.G., continuing to apply the
policies that facilitate joint data
development, as well as to accept OSRI
in satisfaction of the order.
In addition, the Agency intends to
provide the status of the EDSP test
orders, including recipients’ responses,
on the Agency’s EDSP Web site so that
both order recipients and the public can
determine the status of responses (see
for example Ref. 18). EPA will make
such information available to enable test
order recipients to identify and join
other order recipients to develop the
data in response to the order, thereby
helping to achieve EPA’s goals of
minimizing duplicative testing and
promoting fair and equitable sharing of
EDSP test costs.
E. What are the potential responses to
test orders on SDWA chemicals?
The options for responding to a
SDWA/FFDCA test order are similar to
those established in the FIFRA/FFDCA
policies and procedures (Ref. 1), except
that the option of exiting the pesticide
market will not be available. The basis
for a SDWA/FFDCA order is that a
chemical may be found in sources of
drinking water to which a substantial
population may be exposed. Exiting any
given market (e.g., the pesticide market)
is not sufficient if the SDWA chemical
is manufactured or imported for other
uses because the chemical may still be
found in sources of drinking water. If
sufficient data on a SDWA chemical that
is a pesticide is not generated in
response to a FIFRA/FFDCA order (e.g.,
all FIFRA/FFDCA order recipients exit
the pesticide market), EPA may issue a
follow-up SDWA/FFDCA order for such
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chemicals if they have non-pesticide
uses.
EDSP test order recipients provide
their initial responses electronically
referencing the options on a sample
Initial Response Form for Individual
Order Recipients (Initial Response
Form) (Ref. 19). Response options that
EPA anticipates including in SDWA/
FFDCA test orders are as follows:
Option 1: Recipient indicates that it
intends to generate data. If the EDSP
test order recipient decides to generate
new data for each test specified in the
order, the recipient would then comply
with the procedures prescribed in the
EDSP test order. In general, this option
would be identical to the option
discussed in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies
and procedures (Ref. 1). EPA has not
identified any changes that would be
necessary to accommodate SDWA
chemicals. Data generated and
submitted would need to comply with
the existing requirements for Good
Laboratory Practices (GLP), as
applicable. GLPs have been set out both
in FIFRA for pesticides in 40 CFR part
160 and for TSCA chemicals in 40 CFR
part 792. EDSP test order recipients
would need to follow any appropriate
GLPs, protocol requirements identified
in the EDSP test order, and procedures
described in EDSP test orders for
submitting the data.
Option 2: Recipient indicates that it is
submitting or citing existing data or
OSRI. The recipient would choose this
option to indicate that it is submitting
or citing existing data (including data
previously submitted to the Agency)
that it believes is relevant to one or
more of the requests in the test order.
The recipient’s initial response would
include either the data or a reference to
the data for each assay specified in the
order. In submitting or citing existing
data, the order recipient should follow,
as appropriate, relevant format
guidelines described in the EDSP test
order and provide an explanation of the
relevance of the data to the order,
including, where appropriate, a cogent
and complete rationale for why it
believes the information is or is not
sufficient to satisfy part or all of the Tier
1 test order.
Data compensation procedures may
apply to data previously submitted to
the Agency. If the data cited or
submitted are from a study that was not
conducted exactly as specified in the
protocols referenced in the EDSP test
order or in accordance with accepted
scientific methodology or protocol,
including but not limited to those
presented in EPA’s harmonized test
guideline compendium (Ref. 20), the
recipient would also identify the
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deviations from the applicable
protocol(s), along with an explanation
for the deviations, including an
explanation as to why, notwithstanding
the deviations, the protocol used for
developing the cited or submitted data
should still be considered as providing
an accepted scientific methodology or
protocol, and any other information
relevant to a decision to accept the data
as satisfaction of the order.
EPA would review any existing
relevant information submitted or cited
(including OSRI) to determine whether
the information is acceptable (e.g., the
study was not rejected by the Agency for
any reason related to completeness or
quality) and satisfies the order.
Decisions about whether the
information satisfies part or all of the
Tier 1 test order will be based on WoE
from all relevant information available.
The Agency would notify the recipient
of its determination.
If the Agency determines that the
information cited or submitted as part of
the initial response received from an
order recipient satisfies the Tier 1 test
order the electronic Initial Response
Form is the only response required.
If, however, EPA determines that the
information cited or submitted as part of
the initial response is insufficient to
satisfy the Tier 1 test order, in whole or
in part, the recipient would still need to
satisfy any order requirements EPA had
determined had not been met. EPA
intends to use a WoE approach as
described in the EDSP WoE guidance
document (Ref. 11) which takes into
account data from the Tier 1 assays and
any other scientifically relevant
information available, to determine
whether the chemical has the potential
to interact with the endocrine system.
Chemicals that go through Tier 1
screening and are found to have the
potential to interact with the estrogen,
androgen, or thyroid hormone systems
will proceed to the next stage of the
EDSP where EPA will determine which,
if any, of the Tier 2 tests are necessary.
Option 3: Recipient indicates that it
intends to enter (or offer to enter) into
an agreement to form a consortium to
provide the data. The recipient may
choose to join or form a consortium to
share the cost of producing the required
data. All participants of the consortium
must submit their own electronic Initial
Response Form for Individual Order
Recipients, providing the name of the
party who will be submitting the data
on the recipient’s behalf.
Under this option, the designated lead
for the consortium would complete their
Initial Responses electronically
(Consortium Response Form) (Ref. 21)
for the consortium to provide the
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primary contact for the consortium, the
list of participants, and an indication of
the consortium’s planned response for
each assay, along with documentation of
its formation (such as a copy of the joint
agreement or a written statement by all
the parties that an agreement exists).
The joint agreement to produce the data
would not need to specify all of the
terms of the final arrangement between
the parties or the mechanism to resolve
the terms. The designated lead for the
consortium would be responsible for
submitting the consortium’s initial
response and accompanying
information to EPA by the due date for
the consortium’s response, consistent
with any mailing instructions indicated
in the EDSP test order.
Once the consortium submits the data
electronically and EPA has completed
its initial review, EPA would notify the
contact of the consortium indicating
whether the order has been satisfied. If
satisfied, such an action would satisfy
EDSP test order obligations for each of
the consortium participants.
If the consortium fails to submit the
data or meet the requirements of the
order in a timely and adequate manner,
each recipient would be subject to
penalties of up to $37,500 per day,
unless the recipient were to commit to
submit, and then did submit, the
required data by the dates originally
specified in the order. The Agency has
typically granted very few, if any, time
extensions for the submission of EDSP
data.
The Agency intends to provide to
every EDSP test order recipient a list of
the other manufacturers and/or
importers (to the extent permitted by
confidentiality requirements) that have
also received an EDSP order for the
specified SDWA chemical. This list
would be intended to help order
recipients identify other companies
with whom they could form agreements
to develop data jointly, or otherwise
collaborate on a response to satisfy the
requirements in the order. If the identity
of a company subject to the SDWA/
FFDCA test order is claimed as CBI,
EPA intends to offer the company an
opportunity to identify an agent who
would act on their behalf in all matters
relating to the EDSP program. For any
company that chooses to designate an
agent, the Agency intends to make the
name of the agent (instead of the
company) public by including it on the
list of recipients of SDWA/FFDCA test
orders. This name use would be similar
to the process used for FIFRA/FFDCA
test orders and presented in the FIFRA/
FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1).
If the identity of a company subject to
the EDSP test order is claimed as CBI,
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and yet the company does not name an
agent, that company’s ability to obtain
data compensation from other parties
(or rely on compensable data submitted
by other parties) would likely be
affected. EPA intends to make available
the list of EDSP test order recipients on
the Agency’s EDSP Web site (Ref. 4).
EPA intends to update the list with
subsequent publication(s) and posting(s)
as appropriate. For example, the Agency
intends to post the status of the EDSP
test orders, including the recipient’s
response, on the Agency’s EDSP Web
site so that both EDSP test order
recipients and the public can check on
the status of responses to the EDSP test
orders. This public listing is intended to
also facilitate the formation of consortia
to develop data jointly since recipients
would know all other entities required
to generate the same data.
Option 4: Recipient claims that it is
not subject to the EDSP test order.
Under this option, a recipient would
claim that it is not subject to the order
because it does not manufacture or
import the chemical identified for EDSP
testing, or because it believes the order
was otherwise erroneously sent. This
option would be essentially the same as
the option discussed in the original
policies and procedures for
manufacturers of inert ingredients. EPA
has not identified any issues unique to
SDWA chemicals that would warrant a
change in policy on this point. An
explanation of the basis for the claim,
along with appropriate information to
allow the Agency to substantiate the
claim, would accompany the Initial
Response. The Agency intends to
evaluate the claim and respond to any
request within 90 days of receipt. If EPA
were unable to verify the claim, the
original requirements and deadlines in
the order would be expected to remain.
If EPA were able to verify the claim,
such a response would satisfy the order
and no further response would be
necessary.
Option 5: Recipient intends to
discontinue the manufacture or import
of the chemical. Under this option, the
recipient would indicate it has or is in
the process of discontinuing all
manufacture and import of the
chemical. As noted in Unit V.A., in
order to take advantage of this option,
a recipient would need to also cease
manufacture of the chemical, including
for the purposes of export. In addition,
the recipient would be required to
provide an electronic initial response
via CDX that includes a verifiable
explanation and documentation
supporting its claim. If EPA verifies the
claim, the electronic Initial Response
Form is all that would be required to
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satisfy the EDSP test order. If EPA could
not verify the claim, the recipient’s
obligation to comply with the EDSP test
order would remain.
Unlike the FIFRA/FFDCA policies
and procedures (Ref. 1), which enable a
manufacturer or importer of a pesticide
inert ingredient to comply with the
FIFRA/FFDCA test order by
discontinuing the sale of the chemical
into the pesticide market, SDWA/
FFDCA test orders cannot be satisfied in
this manner. A chemical manufacturer
or importer that receives a SDWA/
FFDCA test order would need to cease
all manufacture and import of that
chemical. Simply exiting the pesticide
market would not address the
chemical’s potential presence in
‘‘sources of drinking water to which a
substantial population may be exposed’’
and it would therefore be inappropriate
to allow companies to satisfy a test
order with such a response.
Option 6: Recipient responds
according to one of three other response
options. As part of the Initial Response,
a recipient may also ask EPA to
reconsider some or all of the EDSP
testing specified in the order if:
a. The recipient can demonstrate
(supported by appropriate data) that the
chemical is an endocrine disruptor and
that additional EDSP Tier 1 screening is
unnecessary.
b. The recipient can demonstrate
(supported by appropriate data) that the
chemical meets the standard for an
exemption under FFDCA section
408(p)(4) (i.e., ‘‘that the substance is not
anticipated to produce any effect in
humans similar to an effect produced by
a naturally occurring estrogen’’).
c. The chemical was used by EPA as
a ‘‘positive control’’ to validate one or
more of the screening assays. In the last
data collection, chemicals used by EPA
as a ‘‘positive control’’ to validate one
or more of the screening assays were
only required to submit the assays for
which the chemical did not serve as a
positive control (e.g., if the chemical
served as a positive control in the
validation of two assays, the EDSP test
order recipient would not be required to
generate additional data for those two
assays). EPA generally expects that it
would continue this policy.
For more information on the response
options discussed in this unit, see the
FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures
(Ref. 1).
The Agency intends to make a
determination on any claim and
respond to the recipient within 90 days
of receipt. If EPA cannot verify the
claim, the original requirements and
deadlines in the order would remain. If
EPA were to verify the claim, EPA
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would consider the response to fully
satisfy the order and no further response
would be required.
F. How to submit order responses and
data electronically?
EPA has developed an electronic
submission system for data submitted in
response to SDWA/FFDCA test orders
following the general process
established for TSCA Section 5
Premanufacture Notices and for other
TSCA reporting, including TSCA
Section 8 CDR. The EDSP order
electronic reporting system will allow
order recipients to use the Agency’s
CDX to respond to an order and to
submit test data via the Internet. See
https://www.epa.gov/cdx for additional
information about CDX (Ref. 22). If not
already registered with CDX, recipients
will need to complete a simple
registration process in order to use this
system for electronic submissions of
EDSP test order data, thereby
establishing a secure log-on to CDX.
Specific requirements associated with
these EDSP test orders will be provided
directly to the order recipients, and are
expected to include:
• Registration with CDX, resulting in
the establishment of an electronic
signature usable for electronically
submitting EDSP test order responses.
• Access to a web-based response
form, including the ability to attach PDF
files.
• Encrypted submission to EPA via
CDX.
Each EDSP test order would contain
specific, updated information regarding
the most current process to use to
respond to the EDSP test order.
G. How will EPA facilitate joint data
development and cost sharing for SDWA
chemicals?
As described in the FIFRA/FFDCA
policies and procedures (Ref. 1), the
Agency believes that FFDCA section
408(p)(5) does not provide the authority
to create requirements for joint data
development, including a requirement
to use binding arbitration to resolve
disputes, as does FIFRA section 3. In
EPA’s view, FFDCA section 408(p)(5)(B)
merely establishes a qualified direction
that the Agency ‘‘[t]o the extent
practicable . . . minimize duplicative
testing . . .’’ This, standing alone, does
not create new authority to compel
companies to use arbitration to resolve
disputes arising from an effort to
develop data jointly, nor does it even
authorize EPA to impose a requirement
for joint data development. Rather, EPA
believes that this provision directs the
Agency to create procedures that
operate within the confines of existing
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statutory authorities. While FFDCA
section 408(p) does not allow EPA to
impose requirements identical to those
authorized by FIFRA section 3, EPA has
the authority under FFDCA section
408(p) to develop Agency procedures
that would facilitate joint data
generation and electronic submission.
Specifically, the Agency has discretion
to determine what actions constitute
compliance with a FFDCA section
408(p) test order, and EPA intends to
apply this discretion in a manner that
creates strong incentives for companies
to voluntarily develop data jointly.
Section 408(p) of FFDCA confers
adequate discretion for EPA to consider
whether a recipient has fulfilled its
obligation to provide data when the
recipient individually or jointly submits
results from the required studies, or
when EPA judges that it would be
equitable to allow the recipient to rely
on, or cite, results of studies submitted
by another person.
At the same time, however, each
recipient of an order under FFDCA
section 408(p) has a separate obligation
to satisfy the Tier 1 test order that it
received. EPA thinks that FFDCA
section 408(p) confers adequate
discretion to consider that a recipient
has fulfilled its obligation to provide
data when:
• The recipient individually or jointly
submits results from the required
assays.
• EPA judges that it would be
equitable to allow the recipient to rely
on, or cite, results of studies submitted
by another person.
The determination of whether it
would be equitable to allow citation to
another recipient’s data will be
necessarily based on a case-by-case
review of the specifics of the individual
circumstances. However, the Agency
believes that it would generally be
equitable to allow a recipient of a
FFDCA section 408(p) test order to rely
on the results of studies submitted by
another person where:
• The data generator has given
permission to the recipient to cite the
results, or
• Within a reasonable period after
receiving the FFDCA section 408(p) test
order, the recipient has made an offer to
commence negotiations regarding the
amount and terms of paying a
reasonable share of the cost of testing;
has included an offer to resolve any
dispute over the recipients’ shares of the
test costs by submitting the dispute to
a neutral third party with authority to
bind the parties (e.g., through binding
arbitration); and, if arbitration is
requested, participates in the arbitration
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proceeding and complies with the terms
of any arbitration award.
The Agency believes this approach to
minimizing duplicative EDSP testing,
which parallels that used under FIFRA
section 3(c)(2)(B), provides all recipients
of FFDCA section 408(p) test orders
adequate incentives to develop data
jointly. In the first instance, where the
data generator had granted permission
for another party to cite its data, the
equities are clear, and EPA has no
reason for refusing to allow it. In the
second instance, where the data
generator received an offer to commence
negotiations regarding the amount and
terms of compensation and to go to a
neutral decisionmaker with authority to
bind the parties failing successful
negotiations, EPA believes that the
company has demonstrated a good faith
effort to develop data jointly, and
consequently would typically consider
that the order recipient had complied
with the order. Based on EPA’s
experience under FIFRA, there would
be little or no reason for a data generator
to decline such an offer. Moreover, if
EPA did not adopt such an approach,
the end result would effectively confer
the sort of ‘‘exclusive use’’ property
rights established under FIFRA section
3(c)(1)(F), on a broad category of data,
and EPA does not believe that FFDCA
section 408(p)(5) creates such rights, or
provides EPA with the authority to
create such rights. These conditions
would also apply to recipients of any
‘‘catch-up’’ FFDCA § 408(p) orders, who
enter the market after the data have been
submitted.
H. What procedures can EPA apply for
handling CBI for SDWA chemicals?
As stated in the FIFRA/FFDCA
policies and procedures (Ref. 1), FFDCA
does not authorize EPA to either create
new rights or to modify existing rights
to confidentiality, but directs the
Agency to create procedures that
operate within the existing confines of
FIFRA, FOIA, and TSA. SDWA has no
provisions that authorize EPA to extend
protections for handling CBI beyond
those established by TSA. Thus data
submitted in response to SDWA/FFDCA
orders would only be subject to the
protections under FOIA and TSA, with
the notable exception of data generated
on pesticide chemicals. Manufacturers
of a food use inert ingredient that is also
identified as a SDWA chemical should
generally expect to receive SDWA/
FFDCA test orders; however, all CBI and
data compensation provisions
established in FIFRA would still apply.
In addition, under certain
circumstances, data generated on nonfood use inert ingredients may be
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entitled to FIFRA CBI and data
compensation protections. Test order
recipients for the food use-inert, or a
pesticide with a food tolerance or
exemption, should consult the FIFRA/
FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1)
for a more detailed explanation of the
FIFRA provisions that apply.
The identities of chemicals on the
non-confidential portion TSCA
Inventory (i.e., the chemical identity of
the chemical substance is publicly
known), contained in health and safety
data subject to TSCA may not be
entitled to confidential treatment (Ref.
23). In addition, because the chemical
identity is public for all SDWA
chemicals on the second EDSP chemical
list, EPA expects that there would be no
need to claim submitted information as
confidential. EPA also believes that it
would be particularly difficult to
substantiate such a claim, given that the
information would already be publicly
available.
As described in Unit V.E. under
Option 3, when the identity of a
company subject to the SDWA/FFDCA
test order is claimed as CBI, EPA
intends to offer the company an
opportunity to identify an agent who
would act on their behalf in all matters
relating to EDSP. For any company that
chooses to designate an agent, the
Agency intends to make the name of the
agent (instead of the company) public
by including it on the list of recipients
of SDWA/FFDCA test orders.
I. What is the process for contesting a
test order or consequences for failure to
respond or comply with a test order?
EPA generally intends to rely on the
existing interpretations and policies
relating to pre-enforcement challenges
to and enforcement of a test order. Order
recipients are encouraged to consult the
FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures
(Ref. 1) for further details on these
policies.
J. What is the informal administrative
review procedure?
EPA generally intends to continue to
include the informal administrative
review provisions in SDWA/FFDCA test
orders by which recipients could raise
any questions or challenges concerning
the issuance of the order, that were
included in the orders issued for the
first list of chemicals. As explained in
the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1), because the mere
filing of the objection (or indeed, the
filing of a judicial challenge) would not
extend the deadline for submission of
the studies, in order for this process to
be completed in a timely fashion, EPA
expects order recipients who file a
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challenge to present their objections
with sufficient specificity and detail to
allow the Agency to effectively evaluate
the issue(s) presented. EPA would
review the issues presented and respond
within a reasonable amount of time. The
Agency understands that it will need to
respond to such objections within
sufficient time for the order recipient to
comply with the orders, or to pursue
judicial review.
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K. What are the adverse effects reporting
requirements?
EPA is not modifying any of its
existing reporting requirements or any
of the policies with respect to how the
adverse effects reporting requirements
relate to EDSP data.
Adverse effects reporting
requirements for pesticide chemicals in
registered products are established in
FIFRA section 6(a)(2) and can be found
in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1). In addition to
requirements under FIFRA, TSCA
section 8(c) allows EPA to request that
companies record, retain and/or report
‘‘allegation of significant adverse
reactions’’ to a chemical substance or
mixture that the company produces,
imports, processes or distributes (15
U.S.C. 2607(c)). Additional information
can be found in 40 CFR part 717.
Chemical substance is defined in TSCA
(15 U.S.C. 2602(2)).
Under TSCA section 8(e), U.S.
chemical manufacturers, importers,
processors, and distributors are required
to notify EPA within 30 days of new
unpublished information regarding their
chemical if the information may lead to
a conclusion that the chemical poses
substantial risk to human health or the
environment (15 U.S.C. 2607(e)).
‘‘Substantial risk’’ information is
information that offers reasonable
support for a conclusion that the subject
chemical substance or mixture poses a
substantial risk of injury to health or the
environment. The information need not,
and typically does not, establish
conclusively that a substantial risk
exists.
Any information that has been
previously submitted under FIFRA
section 6(a)(2), TSCA section 8(c), or
TSCA section 8(e), to the extent the
EDSP test order recipient believes that
it is responsive to the EDSP test order,
need not be resubmitted to satisfy the
FFDCA section 408(p) test orders. The
EDSP test order recipient need only cite
the previously submitted information in
lieu of resubmission.
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VII. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Regulatory Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866,
entitled ‘‘Regulatory Planning and
Review’’ (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993),
this policy statement is not considered
to be a ‘‘significant guidance document’’
under the terms of the Executive Order
because this policy statement does not
raise novel legacy or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
set forth in the Executive Order. As
indicated in this unit, this policy
statement only makes a few
modifications that are necessary to
address procedural differences that
apply to SDWA chemicals.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection
requirements described in this
document have been submitted to OMB
for review under PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq. Elsewhere in this Federal Register
issue is a separate document prepared
by EPA that announces the availability
of the ICR document. The docket ID
number for this ICR submission is EPA–
HQ–OPPT–2013–0275. An Agency may
not concur or sponsor, and a person is
not required to respond to a collection
of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
The OMB control numbers are
displayed either by publication in the
Federal Register or by other appropriate
means, such as on the related collection
instrument or form, if applicable. The
display of OMB control numbers in
certain EPA regulations is consolidated
in 40 CFR part 9. As a new ICR, the
Agency does not yet have an OMB
control number for this information
collection activity. Once assigned, EPA
will announce the OMB control number
for this information collection in the
Federal Register, and will add it to any
related collection instruments or forms
used. Burden is defined in 5 CFR
1320.3(b).
VIII. References
As indicated under ADDRESSES, a
docket has been established for this
notice under docket ID number EPA–
HQ–OPPT–2007–1080. The following is
a listing of the documents that are
specifically referenced in this action.
The docket includes these documents
and other information considered by
EPA, including documents that are
referenced within the documents that
are included in the docket, even if the
referenced document is not physically
located in the docket. For assistance in
locating these other documents, please
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35921
consult the technical person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
1. EPA. Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program; Policies and Procedures for
Initial Screening; Notice. Federal
Register (74 FR 17560, April 15, 2009)
(FRL–8399–9).
2. EPA. Order Template: ‘‘FFDCA § 408(p)
Order Template for SDWA § 1457
Chemicals.’’ April 15, 2013. Available in
Attachment C(3) to the ICR in Docket ID
Number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2013–0275.
3. U.S. Congress. House Resolution 2996, H.
Rept. 111–180.
4. EPA. Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program Web site at https://www.epa.gov/
endo.
5. EPA. Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program; Draft Policies and Procedures
for Screening Safe Drinking Water Act
Chemicals; Notice. Federal Register (75
FR 70558, November 17, 2010) (FRL–
8848–9).
6. EPA. Response-to-Comments Document for
the Notice on the Endocrine Disruptor
Screening Program’s Draft Policies and
Procedures for Screening Safe Drinking
Water Act Chemicals that published in
the Federal Register on November 17,
2010 at 75 FR 70558. March 7, 2013.
7. EPA. Comment Response Document for the
Second List of Chemicals and Substances
for Tier 1 Screening under the Endocrine
Disruptor Screening Program
(Categorized Public Comments).
February 1, 2013. Available in Docket ID
Number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2009–0477.
8. EPA. Electronic Reporting Under the Toxic
Substances Control Act; Proposed rule.
Federal Register (77 FR 22707, April 17,
2012) (FRL–9337–5).
9. EPA. TSCA section 8(e); Notification of
Substantial Risk; Policy Clarification and
Reporting Guidance. Federal Register
(68 FR 33129, June 3, 2003) (FRL–7287–
4).
10. EPA. EPA’s Approach for Considering
Other Scientifically Relevant Information
(OSRI) under the Endocrine Disruptor
Screening Program (EDSP). March 26,
2009. Document ID Number EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2007–1080–0032.
11. EPA. Weight-of-Evidence: Evaluating
Results of EDSP Tier 1 Screening to
Identify the Need for Tier 2 Testing.
September 14, 2011. Document ID
Number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2010–0877–
0021.
12. EPA. Universe of Chemicals and General
Validation Principles. November 2012.
Available at https://www.epa.gov/endo/
pubs/edsp_chemical_universe_and_
general_validations_white_paper_11_
12.pdf.
13. EPA. Response to Comments on the
Public Review Draft of the Information
Collection Request (ICR) entitled
‘‘Addendum for the Second List of
Chemicals; Tier 1 Screening of Certain
Chemicals Under the Endocrine
Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP).’’
Available in Docket ID Number EPA–
HQ–OPPT–2013–0275.
14. EPA. SAB. Review of the EPA’s Proposed
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2013 / Notices
Environmental Endocrine Disruptor
Screening Program; Review of the
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program
by a Joint Subcommittee of the Science
Advisory Board and Scientific Advisory
Panel. July 1999. EPA publication
number EPA–SAB–EC–99–013.
Available at https://www.epa.gov/endo/
pubs/sab_sap_report.pdf.
15. EPA. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program Comprehensive Management
Plan. June 2012. Available at https://
www.epa.gov/endo/pubs/EDSPcomprehensive-management-plan.pdf.
16. EPA. At a Glance: Issuing EDSP Second
List Orders. (March 28, 2013).
17. EPA. Chemical Data Reporting Web site
at https://www.epa.gov/oppt/cdr.
18. EPA. Status of EDSP Orders/DCIs as of
Wednesday, January 2, 2013.
19. EPA. Sample Form: ‘‘FFDCA § 408(p)
Order for SDWA § 1457 Chemicals—
Initial Response Form for Individual
Order Recipients’’ (EPA Form No. 6300–
06). March 27, 2013. Available in
Attachment D(3) to the ICR in Docket ID
Number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2013–0275.
20. EPA. OCSPP Harmonized Test Guidelines
Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ocspp/
pubs/frs/home/testmeth.htm.
21. EPA. Sample Form: ‘‘FFDCA § 408(p)
Order for SDWA § 1457 Chemicals—
Initial Response Form for Consortium’’
(EPA Form No. 6300–06–C). March 27,
2013. Available in Attachment D(4) to
the ICR in Docket ID Number EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2013–0275.
22. EPA. Central Data Exchange Web site at
https://www.epa.gov/cdx.
23. EPA. Claims of Confidentiality of Certain
Chemical Identities Submitted under
Section 8(e) of the Toxic Substances
Control Act; Notice. Federal Register (75
FR 3462, January 21, 2010) (FRL–8807–
9).
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals,
Endocrine disruptors, Pesticides and
pests, Safe drinking water, Reporting
and recordkeeping.
Dated: May 29, 2013.
James Jones,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of
Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013–14228 Filed 6–13–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2009–0477; FRL–9375–8]
Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program; Final Second List of
Chemicals and Substances for Tier 1
Screening
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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17:03 Jun 13, 2013
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SUMMARY: This document announces the
final second list of 109 chemicals
identified for Tier 1 screening under the
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program
(EDSP). The EDSP is established under
section 408(p) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which
requires EPA to develop a chemical
screening program using appropriate
validated test systems and other
scientifically relevant information to
determine whether certain substances
may have hormonal effects.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
technical information contact: Hannah
Holsinger, Office of Water, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001 (MC–4607M); telephone
number: (202) 564–0403, email address:
holsinger.hannah@epa.gov, or Pat West,
Office of Science Coordination and
Policy, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460–0001 (MC–
7201M); telephone number: (202) 564–
1656, email address: west.pat@epa.gov.
For general information contact: The
TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422
South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY
14620; telephone number: (202) 554–
1404; email address: TSCAHotline@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you produce, manufacture,
use, or import chemicals (including
pesticide chemicals) that may be found
in sources of drinking water; if you
manufacture or import chemicals that
degrade to chemicals found in sources
of drinking water; or if you are, or may
otherwise be, involved in the testing of
chemicals for potential endocrine
effects. The following list of North
American Industrial Classification
System (NAICS) codes is not intended
to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide to help readers determine whether
this document applies to them.
Potentially affected entities may
include:
• Chemical manufacturers, importers
and processors (NAICS code 325), e.g.,
persons who manufacture, import or
process chemical substances.
• Pesticide, fertilizer, and other
agricultural chemical manufacturers
(NAICS code 3253), e.g., persons who
manufacture, import or process
pesticide, fertilizer and agricultural
chemicals.
• Scientific research and
development services (NAICS code
5417), e.g., persons who conduct testing
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of chemical substances for endocrine
effects.
B. How can I get copies of this document
and other related information?
The docket for this action, identified
by docket identification (ID) number
EPA–HQ–OPPT–2009–0477, is available
at https://www.regulations.gov or at the
Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics Docket (OPPT Docket),
Environmental Protection Agency
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West
Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.
NW., Washington, DC. The Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Public Reading Room is
(202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the OPPT Docket is (202)
566–0280. Please review the visitor
instructions and additional information
about the docket available at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
II. Background
A. What action is the agency taking?
This document announces the final
second list of 109 chemicals identified
for Tier 1 screening under the Endocrine
Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP).
The EDSP is established under section
408(p) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which requires
EPA to develop a chemical screening
program using appropriate validated test
systems and other scientifically relevant
information to determine whether
certain substances may have hormonal
effects. After considering comments
received on the draft second list of
chemicals and substances published in
the Federal Register notice of November
17, 2010 (75 FR 70248) (FRL–8848–7)
(Ref. 1), EPA is announcing the final list
of the second group of chemicals that
will be subject to screening based on the
approach described in the notice—
‘‘Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program; Final Policies and Procedures
for Screening Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA) Chemicals,’’ published
elsewhere in today’s Federal Register.
The EDSP consists of a two-tiered
approach to screen and test chemicals
for potential endocrine disrupting
effects. The purpose of Tier 1 screening
is to identify substances that have the
potential to interact with the endocrine
system (specifically the estrogen,
androgen, or thyroid hormone systems)
using a battery of assays. Substances
that have the potential to interact with
estrogen, androgen or thyroid systems
may proceed to Tier 2, which is
designed to identify any adverse
endocrine-related effects caused by the
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35909-35922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14228]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-1080; FRL-9375-7]
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; Final Policies and
Procedures for Screening Safe Drinking Water Act Chemicals
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document describes EPA's final policies and procedures
for requiring Tier 1 screening under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program (EDSP) of chemicals for which EPA may issue EDSP test orders
pursuant to section 1457 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and
section 408(p) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
Section 408(p) of the FFDCA directed EPA to develop a chemical
screening program using appropriate validated test systems and other
scientifically relevant information (OSRI) to determine whether certain
chemicals may have hormonal effects. These final policies and
procedures supplement the EDSP policies and procedures that were
published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For technical information contact: Mike Mattheisen, Chemical
Information and Testing Branch (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-3077; email
address: mattheisen.mike@epa.gov or Pat West, Office of Science
Coordination and Policy (7203M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001;
[[Page 35910]]
telephone number: (202) 564-1656; email address: west.pat@epa.gov.
For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill,
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202)
554-1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be affected by this action if you produce, manufacture,
use, or import chemicals (including pesticide chemicals) that may be
found in sources of drinking water; if you manufacture or import
chemicals that degrade to chemicals found in sources of drinking water;
or if you are, or may otherwise be, involved in the testing of
chemicals for potential endocrine effects. The following list of North
American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes is not intended
to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide to help readers determine
whether this document applies to them. Potentially affected entities
may include:
Chemical manufacturers, importers, and processors (NAICS
code 325), e.g., persons who manufacture, import, or process chemicals.
Pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemical
manufacturers, importers, and processors (NAICS code 3253), e.g.,
persons who manufacture, import, or process pesticide; fertilizer; or
agricultural chemicals.
Scientific research and development services (NAICS code
5417), e.g., persons who conduct testing of chemicals for endocrine
effects.
To determine whether you or your business may be affected by this
action, you should carefully examine the applicability provisions in
Unit III.C., and examine FFDCA section 408(p). 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. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?
The docket for this action, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-1080, is available at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Docket (OPPT Docket), Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center
(EPA/DC), EPA West Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone
number for the OPPT Docket is (202) 566-0280. Please review the visitor
instructions and additional information about the docket available at
https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
II. Background
A. What action is the agency taking?
The Agency is publishing final policies and procedures for issuing
EDSP test orders for chemicals pursuant to the Agency's authority under
SDWA section 1457 (i.e., ``SDWA chemicals''). Section 1457 of the SDWA
authorizes EPA to issue EDSP test orders to manufacturers and importers
of chemicals that may be found in sources of drinking water and to
which a substantial population may be exposed (42 U.S.C. 300j-17). SDWA
chemicals encompass a wide variety of chemicals, including industrial
and pesticide chemicals, ingredients in pharmaceuticals and personal
care products, and degradates.
These SDWA/FFDCA policies and procedures supplement the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)/FFDCA policies and
procedures that were published in the Federal Register issue of April
15, 2009 (FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures) (Ref. 1). The FIFRA/
FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1) were developed primarily for the
issuance of EDSP test orders on pesticide active and inert ingredients,
which were the chemicals comprising the first EDSP chemical list (first
list). Consequently, some of the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures
(Ref. 1) reflect issues uniquely associated with the pesticide market
and the specific regulatory context under which EPA regulates pesticide
chemicals. In this document, EPA describes the policies and procedures
associated with the screening of SDWA chemicals, which include certain
modifications to the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures that are
intended to address issues that are unique to SDWA chemicals, or to
address the circumstances where other competing considerations for SDWA
chemicals warrant a modification of the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures.
This document discusses the policy considerations for SDWA
chemicals in the following areas:
Who would receive EDSP test orders for SDWA chemicals?
Unit VI.A.
How will recipients of EDSP test orders for SDWA chemicals
be notified? Unit VI.B.
How will the public know who has received an EDSP test
order for a SDWA chemical or who has supplied data? Unit VI.C.
How will the agency minimize duplicative testing? Unit
VI.D.
What are the potential responses to EDSP test orders for
SDWA chemicals? Unit VI.E.
How can an EDSP test order responses and data be submitted
electronically? Unit VI.F.
How will EPA facilitate joint data development, cost
sharing, and data compensation for SDWA chemicals? Unit VI.G.
What procedures can EPA apply for handling Confidential
Business Information (CBI) for SDWA chemicals? Unit VI.H.
What is the process for contesting an EDSP test order or
consequences for failure to respond or comply with an EDSP test order?
Unit VI.I.
What is the informal administrative review procedure? Unit
VI.J.
What are the adverse effects reporting requirements? Unit
VI.K.
While the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1) remain
relevant, SDWA chemical EDSP test order recipients are encouraged to
refer to this document to fully understand all of the relevant policies
and procedures. In addition, a new EDSP test order template for
issuance of EDSP test orders under SDWA section 1457 and FFDCA section
408(p)(5) is available in the docket for this document (Ref. 2).
EPA is publishing two related notices elsewhere in this Federal
Register issue. One announces the final second EDSP chemical list
(second list), which includes both SDWA chemicals and pesticide active
ingredients (PAIs). The other announces the submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) of the final Information Collection Request
(ICR) Addendum that describes the estimated paperwork burden and costs
associated with the second list.
B. What are the statutory authorities for the policies discussed in
this document?
SDWA is the primary Federal law that ensures the quality of
Americans' drinking water. Under SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking
water and works closely with States, localities, and water suppliers to
implement these standards. SDWA authorizes EPA to set national
standards for drinking water to protect against both naturally
occurring and man-made contaminants that may be found in drinking water
(42 U.S.C. 300g-1).
Section 1457 of SDWA authorizes EPA to require testing, under FFDCA
[[Page 35911]]
section 408(p) (21 U.S.C. 346(a)(p)), of any chemical that may be found
in sources of drinking water if the EPA Administrator determines that a
substantial population may be exposed to such chemical (42 U.S.C. 300j-
17).
Section 408(p)(1) of FFDCA requires EPA ``to develop a screening
program, using appropriate validated test systems and other
scientifically relevant information, to determine whether certain
substances may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect
produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other effects as
[EPA] may designate'' (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)(1)).
Section 408(p)(3) of FFDCA expressly requires that EPA ``shall
provide for the testing of all pesticide chemicals'' (21 U.S.C.
346a(p)(3)). Section 201 of FFDCA defines ``pesticide chemical'' as
``any substance that is a pesticide within the meaning of [FIFRA],
including all active and pesticide inert ingredients of such
pesticide'' (21 U.S.C. 231(q)(1)).
Section 408(p)(5)(A) of FFDCA provides that the EPA Administrator
``shall issue an order to a registrant of a substance for which testing
is required under [FFDCA section 408(p)], or to a person who
manufactures or imports a substance for which testing is required under
[FFDCA section 408(p)], to conduct testing in accordance with the
screening program . . ., and submit information obtained from the
testing to the Administrator, within a reasonable time period that the
[Agency] determines is sufficient for the generation of the
information'' (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)(5)(A)).
The statutes discussed in this unit provide EPA with the discretion
to require testing of a pesticide chemical under FFDCA alone, or in any
combination of the various authorities (e.g., FIFRA/FFDCA, SDWA/FFDCA,
or FIFRA/SDWA/FFDCA).
Section 408(p)(5)(B) of FFDCA requires that, ``to the extent
practicable, the Administrator shall minimize duplicative testing of
the same substance for the same endocrine effect, develop, as
appropriate, procedures for fair and equitable sharing of test costs,
and develop, as necessary, procedures for handling of confidential
business information'' (21 U.S.C. 346a (p)(5)(B)).
Section 408(p)(5)(D) of FFDCA provides that any person (other than
a registrant) who fails to comply with a FFDCA section 408(p)(5) test
order shall be liable for the same penalties and sanctions as are
provided for under section 16 of the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) (21 U.S.C. 346a (p)(5)(D)). Such penalties and sanctions shall
be assessed and imposed in the same manner as provided in TSCA section
16. Under TSCA section 16, civil penalties of up to $37,500 per day may
be assessed, after notice and an administrative hearing held on the
record in accordance with section 554 of the Administrative Procedure
Act (APA) (15 U.S.C. 2615(a)(1)-(2)(A)).
In addition, Congress's House Appropriations Committee Report (H.
Rept.) for EPA's FY 2010 appropriations (Ref. 3), directed EPA ``to
publish within 1 year of enactment a second list of no less than 100
chemicals for screening that includes drinking water contaminants, such
as halogenated organic chemicals, dioxins, flame retardants (PBDEs,
PCBs, PFCs), plastics (BPA), pharmaceuticals and personal care
products, and issue 25 orders per year for the testing of these
chemicals.''
C. Does this document contain binding requirements?
While the requirements in the statutes and in any EDSP test orders
ultimately issued under FFDCA section 408(p) are binding, the policies
and procedures outlined in this document are not. The policies and
procedures outlined in this document merely represent the general
procedures and statutory interpretations on which EPA may rely to
implement the existing goals of the statutory program. However, neither
EPA nor any outside party is bound by any of the policies and
procedures outlined in this document. Accordingly, these policies and
procedures may be modified at any time by EPA and the Agency may depart
from these policies and procedures where circumstances warrant and
without prior notice.
III. Background on EDSP
A. What is EDSP?
EPA developed EDSP in response to a Congressional mandate in FFDCA
``to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans
that is similar to an effect produced by naturally occurring estrogen,
or such other endocrine effect as [EPA] may designate'' (21 U.S.C.
346a(p)). As part of EDSP, EPA issues orders to collect certain test
data on selected chemicals. In general, EPA intends to use the data
collected under EDSP, along with other information, to determine if a
pesticide chemical, or other chemicals, may pose a risk to human health
or the environment due to disruption of the endocrine system. The
determination of whether a chemical has the potential to interact with
the endocrine system will be made on a weight of evidence basis taking
into account data from the Tier 1 assays and/or OSRI. Chemicals that go
through Tier 1 screening and are found to have the potential to
interact with the estrogen, androgen, or thyroid hormone systems will
proceed to the next stage of EDSP where EPA will determine which, if
any, of the Tier 2 tests are necessary based on the available data.
Tier 2 testing is designed to identify any adverse endocrine-related
effects caused by the chemical, and establish a quantitative
relationship between the dose and that endocrine effect. Further
information regarding EDSP and requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 can
be found on the Agency's EDSP Web site (Ref. 4). EPA is aware of no
issue specific to the chemicals in the second list that would warrant
any modification to the existing testing scheme, and is not proposing
to adopt any.
B. Why is EPA publishing additional policies and procedures for EDSP
Tier 1 screening?
As stated in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1), EPA
intended to develop EDSP policies and procedures that could be used in
subsequent data collection efforts, including those under SDWA, but
indicated that EPA may make modifications as appropriate. The Agency
now believes that modifications are needed to address issues that are
specific to the larger universe of chemicals that are potentially
subject to EDSP testing under SDWA.
The FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1) were originally
developed for screening of pesticide chemicals and relied, in part, on
a regulatory context that is specific to pesticide chemicals. The
presumptions applicable in that context are not necessarily applicable
to this larger universe of chemicals.
For example, much of the data that would be generated in response
to an EDSP test order (particularly for pesticide active ingredients)
would be entitled to the data compensation protections available under
FIFRA (7 U.S.C. 136a(c)(1)(F)) and FFDCA (21 U.S.C. 346a(i)).
Additionally, FIFRA section 10 prohibits EPA from releasing study data
on pesticide chemicals unless the person seeking access to the
information certifies that he is not an agent or employee of any
multinational pesticide company (7 U.S.C. 136h(g)). Because FFDCA
section 408(p) did not authorize EPA to modify these FIFRA
requirements, EPA needs to ensure that the policies and procedures
adopted to implement FFDCA section 408(p) would operate in a manner
that would be consistent with EPA's existing FIFRA mandates. Moreover,
EPA could rely on the existing FIFRA mechanisms to
[[Page 35912]]
effectively minimize duplicative testing, and to promote cost-sharing.
By contrast, these considerations are generally not applicable to
the majority of chemicals that may be subject to EDSP screening under
SDWA, such as chemicals used in pharmaceuticals and personal-care
products, among others.
In addition, the statutory authority for imposing testing of SDWA
chemicals, the sources of SDWA chemicals, and EPA's ability to identify
manufacturers and importers, and other considerations unique to SDWA
chemicals, create a need for policies and procedures specific to EDSP
screening under SDWA/FFDCA authority. For example, some registered
pesticide ingredients have additional uses that account for a much
larger percentage of total manufacture and import. In such cases, the
Agency seeks to be able to identify, and issue orders to, all relevant
manufacturers and importers in a manner that creates a fair and level
playing field for complying with the order.
C. When do these policies and procedures apply?
EPA has the discretion to issue EDSP test orders under the
authorities of SDWA section 1457 and FFDCA section 408(p) for all
chemicals, including PAIs, for which the Agency can make the requisite
factual findings. As described in this document, however, EPA generally
intends to use SDWA authority to require EDSP testing of SDWA chemicals
that are not PAIs and FIFRA authority to require EDSP testing of PAIs
and pesticide inerts, even if the PAIs and inerts have non-pesticide
uses. EPA may issue SDWA/FFDCA EDSP test orders for PAIs and inerts
that have non-pesticide uses, except, when PAI registrants avoid EDSP
testing by canceling their registrations and leaving the market. This
approach will preserve familiar data compensation and confidentiality
protections established in FIFRA sections 3(c)(1)(F) and 12, as well as
FFDCA section 408(i), for pesticide registrants.
IV. EDSP Policies and Procedures Considerations for SDWA Chemicals
The Agency used the following policies and procedures
considerations to guide development of policies and procedures for
issuing Tier 1 EDSP test orders on SDWA chemicals:
A core part of EPA's mission is to promote public
understanding of the potential risks posed by chemicals in commerce.
The basis for an order with respect to SDWA chemicals is
that a chemical may be found in sources of drinking water and a
determination that a substantial population may be exposed to such
chemical. Thus, SDWA/FFDCA policies and procedures should not be
unnecessarily tied to the use of the chemical in any given market and
should instead focus on obtaining data from companies that might be
expected to contribute to a chemical's presence in drinking water.
For simplicity, policies and procedures for SDWA chemicals
should be consistent with FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1)
unless there is a reason for modifying them (e.g., different statutory
requirements), though for clarity EPA has written these SDWA/FFDCA
policies and procedures as a complete, stand alone document.
Procedures for EDSP testing of SDWA chemicals should
strive to minimize duplicative testing and promote fair and equitable
sharing of test costs, as described in FFDCA section 408(p)(5)(B).
The Agency expects to issue SDWA/FFDCA EDSP test orders
for pesticide inert ingredients that are listed for EDSP screening with
a SDWA section 1457 finding; it has also been the Agency's experience
that pesticide inerts generally have a much larger market than solely
as ingredients in pesticide formulations. For these reasons EPA
believes it is reasonable and equitable to initially issue SDWA/FFDCA
EDSP test orders on SDWA chemicals that are not PAIs.
As noted previously, EPA intends to require EDSP testing
pursuant to FIFRA and FFDCA for registrants of a pesticide chemical,
even if the chemical has non-pesticide uses. If, however, recipients of
such EDSP test orders fail to provide the required information by
dropping out of the pesticide market to avoid EDSP testing, EPA may
choose to reissue EDSP test orders under SDWA/FFDCA authority if the
SDWA criteria are met. EPA would then rely on the policies and
procedures established in this document.
V. Discussion of Final SDWA/FFDCA Policies and Procedures and Response
to Comments
This document adopts the proposed SDWA/FFDCA policies and
procedures published in the Federal Register issue of November 17, 2010
(Ref. 5), with minor revisions. The Agency reviewed and considered all
of the comments that were received on the proposed SDWA/FFDCA policies
and procedures. All of the comments received are available in the
docket for this document, and a response-to-comments document (Ref. 6)
that summarizes and responds to all of the comments received on the
proposed SDWA/FFDCA policies and procedures is also available in the
same docket. The Agency specifically requested comments on five topics:
Response option to cease manufacture; persistence; catch-up orders and
data compensation; orphan chemicals; and electronic notification. The
Agency's consideration of such comments is described in this unit and
the Agency's response to comments document (Ref. 6).
A. Response Option To Cease Manufacture
EPA sought comment on whether a company could satisfy the EDSP test
order simply by committing to stop manufacturing or importing a SDWA
chemical, because, in ceasing to manufacture the chemical, the company
thereby stops contributing to the presence of the chemical in the
source of drinking water and reduces potential exposure. Alternatively,
EPA sought comment on whether the company should be required to conduct
the EDSP testing nevertheless, on the grounds that the company should
not be able to evade responsibility for providing the data necessary to
evaluate the existing water contamination to which their manufacturing
activities had contributed.
Multiple commenters (the American Petroleum Institute (API), the
American Chemistry Council (ACC), Bayer CropScience LP (BCS), Croplife
America (CLA), and the Chemical Producers and Distributors Association
(CPDA)) agreed with EPA's proposal to allow a EDSP test order recipient
for the second list to comply with an EDSP test order by ceasing all
manufacturing of the listed chemical, because former manufacturers will
not receive any new income from the chemical to pay for the new EDSP
testing requirement and language in the statute refers to manufacture
and production in the present tense. The San Francisco REACH Team
(SFRT) requested that EPA's EDSP test order procedures be revised to
include a clear timeline for when the production must cease.
EPA intends to allow a SDWA EDSP test order recipient for the
second list to comply with the test order by ceasing all manufacturing,
including manufacturing for export only, and importing of the listed
chemical. EPA considers this approach to be consistent with the
language of the statute and with the decision to accept pesticide
cancellation as an acceptable response to an EDSP test order issued
under FIFRA. EPA will require recipients to provide a timeline for the
cessation of production as part of the explanation
[[Page 35913]]
and documentation supporting the claim. Rather than specifying a single
timeline, the Agency will take individual circumstances into account,
essentially using the same procedure it applies to accepting pesticide
cancellations as an acceptable response to an EDSP test order on a
pesticide active ingredient.
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) commented that an EDSP
test order recipient should not be allowed to respond by ceasing
manufacture, observing that this would not absolve them from having
contributed to the presence of the chemical in the environment, and
that it might persist in the environment.
While the comment has merit, EPA has decided that, in this
instance, the equities weigh in favor of allowing companies to satisfy
the order by entirely ceasing to manufacture the chemical. As discussed
in the draft SDWA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 5), a number of
considerations weigh against requiring manufacturers who choose to
cease manufacture of the chemical to nevertheless conduct EDSP testing.
Specifically, if an EDSP test order recipient stops manufacturing and
importing a chemical, it will ultimately lead to less exposure to the
chemical in sources of drinking water. (The decline will happen at
different rates, depending on the chemical and whether the chemical is
found in surface water or ground water.) Moreover, an order recipient
who ceases to manufacture or import a chemical that is subject to EDSP
testing will no longer receive any economic benefit from the sale of
the chemical with which to defray the cost of testing. This approach
will effectively focus the costs on those companies that can best bear
the costs of testing. Further, as discussed in this unit, EPA has been
unable to develop an effective mechanism for issuing EDSP test orders
to past registrants, manufacturers, and importers given the practical,
legal, and equitable difficulties of identifying and assessing the
contributions of past participants. However, if EPA is unable to obtain
information on most chemicals for which there is continued and ongoing
significant exposures, EPA may revisit the issue.
B. Persistence
EPA sought comment on whether, and how, to factor chemical
persistence into EDSP policies and procedures to account for the
contribution associated with past registrants, manufacturers and
importers, to the presence of a chemical in a source of drinking water,
given that the Agency's policy has been to only issue orders to current
registrants, manufacturers, and importers.
Multiple commenters (API, People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA) and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
(PCRM), ACC, BCS, and CLA and the Endocrine Policy Forum (EPF))
indicated that EPA should not consider a chemical's persistence in the
environment when implementing EDSP, noting among other things that
``persistence'' does not appear in the language of the FFDCA and
asserting that it is subject to differing interpretations. Commenters
observed that the issue of persistence is most likely to arise only for
chemicals that have not been manufactured and used by anyone for a
significant period of time (i.e., ``legacy chemicals''). Some
commenters observed EPA would have to develop a legal and equitable
process for identifying those chemicals along with all past
manufacturers and importers, many of whom may not have manufactured or
imported the chemical for decades.
Two commenters (SFRT and AWWA) advocated that EPA should hold
accountable all past registrants, manufacturers, and importers that
have contributed to health and environmental impacts from past
production activities, even if they are no longer actively
manufacturing or importing a particular chemical, because chemicals
persist in the environment, the consequences often become apparent
decades after the cessation of exposure to a chemical, and companies
should share the cost of generating data.
Under SDWA, EPA issues an EDSP test order based upon a finding that
a chemical ``may be found in sources of drinking water'' and ``that a
substantial population may be exposed.'' While EPA believes that
persistence can be defined (persistence is a factor in a variety of
EPA's water and toxics programs; e.g., 40 CFR 125.122, 141.24, 711.6,
792.3, 795.70, 796.1050, 798.2250, and 799.5075), SDWA does not
explicitly address how to factor in the possible presence of a chemical
in a source of drinking water from past manufacturing and importing.
And, although, EPA believes that the potential long term impacts of a
persistent chemical in sources of drinking water is an important
consideration, EPA has not been able to develop an effective mechanism
for issuing EDSP test orders to past registrants, manufacturers, and
importers given the practical, legal, and equitable difficulties of
identifying and assessing the contributions of past participants.
Accordingly, EPA does not intend at this time to issue test orders to
entities other than current registrants, manufacturers, and importers.
For more information on how EPA addresses commenters' concerns
about chemical persistence, see the comment response document for the
second list of chemicals (Ref. 7).
C. Catch-Up Orders and Data Compensation
EPA sought comment on ``whether 5 years is the appropriate length
of time that the Agency should continue to issue SDWA/FFDCA catch-up
orders as a means to ensure equitable sharing of test costs.'' (Five
years is the length of time that data compensation is available for
test rules issued under TSCA section 4. (See 40 CFR part 791.))
The Methanol Institute argued that SDWA chemicals should be
entitled to the same 15-year compensation period as pesticide
chemicals, stating there was no logical reason to distinguish between
SDWA chemicals and pesticide chemicals since both categories of
chemicals are being subjected to the same testing requirements pursuant
to the same legislative enactment. The SFRT and the ACC took similar
positions. In addition, the 15-year compensation period applies to
industrial chemicals used as inerts in pesticides as well.
After carefully considering these comments and the equities
involved, EPA has concluded that the most appropriate length of time to
issue SDWA/FFDCA catch-up orders is in fact the same 15-year
compensation period as for active and inert pesticide chemicals because
it will provide a consistent standard across the entire EDSP. Neither
SDWA nor the FFDCA authorized EPA to identify manufacturers or
importers of SDWA chemicals through mandatory registration provisions,
such as those that apply to pesticide registrants. Furthermore, an
inconsistency would develop if SDWA chemicals are not entitled to the
same 15-year compensation period as the first list of chemicals,
pesticides, particularly if they are mandates to the same testing
requirements pursuant to the same legislative enactments.
D. Orphan Chemicals
EPA sought comment on the mechanisms available for testing
chemicals for which EDSP test orders do not generate the necessary
data.
AWWA asserted that water utilities are not manufacturers that can
be required to test under FIFRA or TSCA, so disinfection byproducts and
arsenic and other naturally occurring chemicals should be considered
orphan chemicals
[[Page 35914]]
and EPA should screen and test those chemicals itself.
The BCS, PETA, and PCRM interpreted orphan chemicals as those
chemicals no longer being produced or imported and reasoned that as
environmental exposures to such chemicals would decrease over time,
testing of such chemicals should not be required and resources to
conduct testing should not be expended either by private parties or by
the Agency without a documented rationale for why potentially harmful
endocrine effects might be anticipated.
Exposure to chemicals that are no longer being produced or imported
may not decrease over time if the chemicals occur naturally or are
persistent and bioaccumulative. However, exposure also will not
increase from any continuing manmade contribution to environmental
loading. As discussed in Unit V.A., EPA has not been able to develop an
effective mechanism for issuing EDSP test orders to past registrants,
manufacturers, and importers, and has, therefore, concluded not to
issue test orders for chemicals that are no longer being manufactured
or imported (see Unit V.B.). In addition, without reaching any
conclusion with respect to whether water utilities can ever be
manufacturers, EPA has not sought to require the testing of
disinfection byproducts and arsenic or other naturally occurring
chemicals as part of this second list of chemicals, but this issue
warrants additional consideration.
E. Electronic Notification
EPA sought comment on whether companies that already have a Central
Data Exchange (CDX) account with EPA would prefer to receive an EDSP
notification electronically as opposed to notification by means of the
U.S. Postal Service, either as a standard procedure or by request, and
on mechanisms by which EPA could accurately document the receipt of
orders through electronic reporting mechanisms.
API commented that it generally supported electronic reporting but,
for EDSP, recommended that electronic notification be optional, since
there have been technical problems with electronic reporting in other
EPA programs.
Electronic reporting has become the standard mode of operation in
business and government and provides overwhelming advantages over paper
submissions. The OPPT's premanufacture notice (PMN) and Chemical Data
Reporting (CDR) rules (formerly known as the Inventory Update Reporting
(IUR) rule) already require use of the Internet to electronically
report. OPPT has also proposed additional electronic reporting
requirements (Ref. 8).
Electronic reporting requires use of EPA's CDX, the point of entry
on the Environmental Information Exchange Network for environmental
data submissions to the Agency. Currently, CDX has provided
stakeholders with the ability to:
1. Submit data through one centralized point of access and fill out
a single electronic form which can be submitted instantaneously instead
of mailing multiple paper forms.
2. Receive Agency confirmation when submissions are received.
3. Reduce costs associated with submitting and processing data
submissions.
4. Pay fees through https://www.pay.gov.
5. Utilize publishing services to share information collected by
EPA with other stakeholders.
In an effort to streamline the reporting process, reduce the
administrative costs, and maintain consistency with other electronic
reporting of information submissions and recordkeeping (Ref. 8), EPA
will require EDSP test order information to be submitted
electronically. EPA will continue to issue EDSP test orders by U.S.
Postal Service for the second list of chemicals.
F. Identification of EDSP Test Order Recipients
Though EPA did not specifically request comment on the
identification of EDSP test order recipients, some comments were
received.
API agreed with EPA that the CDR rule is the appropriate source for
identifying current chemical manufacturers and importers, but
recommended that EPA only use the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) as a
last resort, because TRI was less specific. AWWA commented that EPA
should clarify what entities the EDSP test orders apply to by defining
all terms describing potentially affected entities. The ACC commented
that EPA should pay close attention to manufacturing and other
activities that contribute to the occurrence of chemicals in drinking
water to which a substantial population may be exposed, with an
emphasis on the equitable sharing of the cost of testing.
EPA believes it is ``important to identify and issue orders to all
significant manufacturers and importers of a listed chemical'' and the
Agency intends to rely on the CDR rule, which periodically requires
manufacturers and importers to report chemical production information
to EPA for chemicals manufactured (including imported) in amounts of
25,000 lb or more at a single site. EPA considers the CDR rule to be a
reliable means of identifying manufacturers and importers of non-
pesticide, industrial chemicals and believes that the CDR rule
generally accounts for most of such chemicals in commerce. EPA intends
to use other, publicly available databases, such as, but not limited
to, TRI, to identify possible EDSP test order recipients. EPA disagrees
that the TRI data are imprecise. TRI data are reported annually and
reporters must indicate if they manufacture, including import, a listed
chemical as well as more specific information on the manufacture of the
chemical. EPA is aware that any given database, including CDR and TRI,
is imperfect and has limitations. On the whole, however, EPA believes
that CDR and TRI constitute comprehensive and generally reliable
databases. Moreover, no commenter disagreed with EPA's assessment or
submitted any information to rebut EPA's conclusions.
In addition, EPA believes that relying on these databases
effectively addresses the AWWA request that EPA clarify the entities
that will be subject to EDSP test orders, and for a definition of all
terms describing potentially affected entities. The rules that
establish the reporting requirements for these databases (40 CFR parts
372 and 711) already include definitions of all of the necessary terms
and should be already familiar to the regulated community. Nonetheless,
EPA asked for, and continues to be interested in learning about, any
other credible source or method that may be used to identify EDSP test
order recipients. In the final analysis, the objective is to identify
responsible manufacturers and importers of relevant chemicals, and not
to apportion responsibility. EDSP test order recipients may combine in
consortia to conduct the required testing on whatever basis they find
most suitable.
SFRT asked that EPA ``incorporate a system which takes into account
the location of chemical manufacturers and potential disproportionate
burden on neighboring communities, in addition to production volume,
when issuing test orders'' in order to ``account for the unequal
geographic distribution of manufacturing locations of these chemicals
and the potential impact of neighboring communities from a chemical's
presence in the drinking water among other sources.'' SFRT also
recommended that, in order to ``avoid disproportionate burdens and
promote equitable responsibility among manufacturers,'' EPA issue EDSP
test
[[Page 35915]]
order to ``all manufacturers of listed chemicals . . . with the
exception of manufacturers using small quantities of the listed
chemical (reported in grams instead of lbs.) for research and
development purposes only.''
EPA believes it is ``important to identify and issue orders to all
significant manufacturers and importers of a listed chemical.'' The
Agency intends to rely on the CDR rule, as well as TRI, both of which
periodically require manufacturers and importers to report chemical
production information to EPA for chemicals manufactured (including
imported) in amounts of 25,000 lb or more at a single site. EPA
considers the CDR rule to be the most reliable means of identifying
``significant'' manufacturers and importers of non-pesticide,
industrial chemicals and believes that the CDR rule generally accounts
for most of such chemicals in commerce. It is unclear what the
commenter intends by requesting that EPA require self-disclosure in
this context, as the only vehicle for requirements relating to EDSP
testing in this context will be the EDSP test orders, and EPA can only
issue the orders to those manufacturers it can identify. Nonetheless,
EPA is interested in finding other existing sources for reliably
identifying EDSP test order recipients and will consider issuing EDSP
test orders to other significant manufacturers and importers that are
identified. EPA, however, does not intend to issue test orders to
companies that only manufacture and/or import a chemical in small
amounts for research and development or in amounts more appropriately
measured in grams rather than thousands of pounds. Issuing EDSP test
orders based on the geographic distribution of manufacturing locations
and potential impact of chemicals on neighboring communities is, at
least, not an express part of the basic requirement that EPA identify
and issue EDSP test orders to chemical manufacturers and importers and
would add another complex and potentially burdensome requirement to the
issuance of EDSP test orders that appears unnecessary and unlikely to
achieve the primary goal of the program: To obtain the necessary data
to evaluate the endocrine potential of pesticide chemicals and drinking
water contaminants.
G. Other Topics
1. Cost sharing. ACC, CLA, EPF, and CPDA stated that EPA had
developed a workable data compensation and cost sharing plan and agreed
with EPA's decision to issue catch-up orders to require cost sharing by
manufacturers and importers who enter the market after initial orders
are issued (but suggested that such orders be issued for 10 instead of
5 years), but recommended that EPA develop new procedures in the form
of explicit, legally enforceable compensation rights to ensure fair and
equitable sharing of test costs.
Section 408(p) of FFDCA only authorizes EPA to create procedures
that operate within the confines of existing statutory authority and to
develop procedures to facilitate joint data generation. EPA, however,
is authorized to determine what actions comply with a FFDCA section
408(p) test order and intends to use this discretion to create strong
incentives for companies to jointly volunteer to develop EDSP test data
under the circumstances enumerated in Unit VI.G.
2. Minimizing duplicative testing. PETA and the PRCM commented that
EPA should mandate, and create incentives to form testing consortia.
EPA does not have the authority to compel EDSP test order
recipients to join testing consortia to minimize testing, but may
develop procedures to facilitate joint data generation. In particular,
EPA has the discretion to determine what constitutes compliance with an
EDSP test order and can exercise that discretion to allow cost sharing
and the joint electronic submission of data by EDSP test order
recipients, in appropriate circumstances, to reduce costs and
duplicative testing. EPA intends to continue to list other
manufacturers and contact information in each EDSP test order as well
as providing such information on the Agency's EDSP Web site.
3. CBI. SFRT commented that EPA should strictly disallow CBI
claims. The ACC, CLA, and EPF commented that FFDCA authorized, and EPA
should provide, EDSP-specific CBI protection, which was critical to
protect industry's legitimate intellectual property interests.
FFDCA does not authorize EPA to either create new rights or to
modify existing rights to confidentiality. Rather, FFDCA only directs
EPA to apply the confidentiality provisions in existing statutory
authorities: FIFRA, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the
Trade Secret Act (TSA), as applicable. SDWA, in particular, only
authorizes EPA to apply CBI protection under the TSA. Data submitted to
EPA in response to an order issued under SDWA/FFDCA for non-pesticide
chemicals, for example, would only have the protections provided under
FOIA and TSA.
4. Adverse effects reporting. ACC commented that EPA has not, but
should, give clear guidance on the significance of positive Tier 1 test
results for TSCA section 8(e) and FIFRA section 6(a)(2) reporting
purposes.
EPA made a considered decision not to reinterpret the existing
requirements for Tier 1 data, nor to otherwise take steps to amend the
existing requirements. Rather, EPA referenced the existing regulatory
provisions of 40 CFR part 159 and existing interpretations of TSCA
section 8(e). In general, EPA does not believe that data from a single
Tier 1 assay that provides some evidence that a chemical may have the
potential to interact with the endocrine system necessarily meets the
standard for information that must be reported in accordance with FIFRA
section 6(a)(2) or TSCA section 8(e) in all cases. In addition, EPA
believes that it has not yet accumulated adequate experience with the
Tier 1 results to be able to provide general guidance as to the
significance of positive results from Tier 1 assays for purposes of the
reporting requirements under FIFRA section 6(a)(2) or TSCA section
8(e). Under existing procedures, the determination to report is to be
made by the company in the first instance, on a case-by-case basis,
taking into account all circumstances, and EPA is not aware of any
reason to change that with respect to EDSP data. Accordingly, to the
extent that Tier 1 information meets the standards laid out in EPA's
regulations (40 CFR part 159), or falls within the categories described
in EPA's past statements regarding TSCA section 8(e) (Ref. 9), that
information should continue to be reported, consistent with those
requirements.
Any information previously submitted to EPA under FIFRA section
6(a)(2), TSCA section 8(c), or TSCA section 8(e) need not be
resubmitted to EPA in response to an EDSP test order, because EPA would
already have the data.
5. Public availability of information. SFRT commented that the EDSP
test data on SDWA chemicals should be made publicly available on EPA's
Web site.
EPA intends to make all non-confidential EDSP data publicly
available on the Agency's EDSP Web site. However, TSA and FOIA may
apply and provide some protections against disclosure and it may not be
possible to publicly post all available data. Nonetheless, EPA expects
that confidential data will be limited, and health and safety data for
chemicals on the non-confidential TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
(TSCA Inventory)
[[Page 35916]]
of existing chemicals, which all of the SDWA chemicals are, may not be
entitled to confidential treatment.
6. OSRI and Weight-of-Evidence (WoE). ACC, CLA, EPF, and CPDA
commented that EPA's offer to accept OSRI in lieu of EDSP test data was
justified, but that EPA had not clearly articulated a basis for
evaluating OSRI. ACC, CLA, EPF, and CPDA also commented that EPA needed
to develop meaningful WoE guidelines for assessing voluminous Tier 1
EDSP data to determine whether a chemical interacts with the endocrine
system and publish peer reviewed guidance for conducting WoE
evaluations.
EPA issued guidance on OSRI for Tier 1 test orders in 2009 (Ref.
10) and on WoE approach evaluating Tier 1 screening results in 2011
(Ref. 11).
7. Communications: Consistent use of language and definitions. API,
ACC, CLA, and EPF commented that, given the sensitivity of the issue of
endocrine disruption, EPA should be careful to use clear and accurate
definitions for all important EDSP terms and to communicate clearly,
accurately, and consistently to the public and within the Agency in
order to avoid confusion and misunderstanding.
EPA generally agrees with these comments and has made every effort
to be as clear, concise, and unambiguous as possible. EPA has, for
example, generally adhered to widely accepted definitions, such as the
World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of ``endocrine disruptor''
as ``an exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of the
endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an
intact organism'' (Ref. 12). EPA has also repeatedly cautioned that the
public should not presume that the listing of a chemical or substance
indicates in any way that EPA currently suspects that such chemical or
substance interferes with the endocrine systems of humans or other
species. EPA plans on maintaining these communications in future EDSP
documents. See also EPA's response to comments documents (Refs. 7 and
13).
8. Schedule. API, SFRT, ACC, BCS, CLA, EPF, and CPDA commented that
EPA should not issue EDSP orders for the second list of chemicals or
for Tier 2 testing until the data from the first list had been
evaluated and the Tier 1 assays had been examined in light of those
data.
The Agency intends to complete review of the Tier 1 data from the
EDSP test orders issued for the first list of EDSP chemicals before
issuing Tier 1 test orders for the second list of EDSP chemicals. EPA
intends to continue to rely on the available validated methods and to
follow the recommendations in the 1999 report from the joint meeting of
the Agency's Science Advisory Board (SAB) and FIFRA Scientific Advisory
Panel (SAP) (Ref. 14). The steps for this process are described in the
EDSP Comprehensive Management Plan issued in 2012 (Ref. 15). With these
recommendations, the Agency improves the validating screening and
testing methods to develop complete information on chemicals being
tested. In continuing with this process of developing efficiency, the
Agency does not intend to release any finalized EDSP Tier 1 WoE
decisions until the EDSP Tier 2 protocols are available.
9. Enforcement. SFRT commented that EPA should enact a system of
graduated penalties for noncompliance with testing requirements based
on the length of delay in complying with requirements.
EPA agrees that graduated penalties are generally appropriate, and
has generally exercised its discretion consistent with that policy. For
non-pesticides, failure to comply with an EDSP order carries the same
civil and criminal penalties set out in TSCA section 16, under which
each new day of continued noncompliance is another violation, so
graduated penalties based on the length of delay are already built into
the law. For pesticide chemicals, the FFDCA imposes more specific
requirements with respect to the penalty for non-compliance, although
they are generally consistent with the concept that penalties should be
tied to the period of non-compliance. FFDCA section 408(p)(5)(C)
requires the suspension of the pesticide registration for the period of
non-compliance, and specifies that the suspension shall be terminated
upon a determination that the registrant is no longer out of
compliance.
10. Other comments. EPA also received comments on topics that do
not address aspects of the policies and procedures for issuing EDSP
test orders, e.g., the use of SDWA authority to issue orders, the basis
of SDWA chemical selection, and the second list of chemicals. The
comments related to SDWA and the second list of chemicals are addressed
in EPA's response to comments document prepared for the second list of
chemicals (Ref. 7).
VI. Final Procedures for EDSP Tier 1 Screening Pursuant to SDWA
For purposes of discussing the EDSP policies and procedures in this
document, SDWA chemicals can be described as either currently
registered PAIs (SDWA PAIs) or ``Other SDWA Chemicals'' (including
inert ingredients in currently registered pesticide products). EPA
generally intends to issue FIFRA/FFDCA orders to manufacturers and
registrants of PAIs, but would retain the discretion to issue an SDWA/
FFDCA test order to any chemical that meets the statutory criteria in
SDWA section 1457. Consequently, for any pesticide chemical that also
has non-pesticidal uses, in the event that no FIFRA/FFDCA test order
recipient generates the required data because all order recipients opt
out of the pesticide market, EPA may decide to issue EDSP testing
orders based on the SDWA authority in order to obtain the data. In such
instances, the policies and procedures outlined in this document would
be applicable.
By contrast, for SDWA chemicals that are not PAIs, (i.e., ``Other
SDWA Chemicals''), EPA generally intends to rely on SDWA section 1457
and/or FFDCA section 408(p)(5) to issue EDSP test orders. The Other
SDWA Chemicals are very similar to the non-food use inert ingredients
discussed in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1), and the
similarities are reflected in the policies that EPA has adopted in this
document. Unit VI. describes the policies and procedures that relate to
EDSP test orders issued under SDWA/FFDCA authority.
A. Who would receive EDSP test orders on SDWA chemicals?
EPA believes it is important to identify and issue orders to all
significant manufacturers and importers of a listed chemical. Under
FFDCA section 408(p)(5)(A), EPA ``shall issue'' EDSP test orders ``to a
registrant of a substance for which testing is required . . . or to a
person who manufactures or imports a substance for which testing is
required . . .'' (21 U.S.C. 346(a)(p)(5)(A). The process EPA generally
intends to use to issue EDSP test orders for SDWA chemicals depends on
whether the chemical is a SDWA PAI or an Other SDWA Chemical. A chart
depicting the process for issuing EDSP test orders on SDWA chemicals is
included in the docket (Ref. 16).
As noted, the Agency generally intends to issue orders under FIFRA/
FFDCA for SDWA PAIs, and to rely on the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1). As described in that document, EPA intends to use
internal databases--principally the Office of Pesticide Program's
Information Network (OPPIN)--to identify technical registrants with a
current pesticide registration containing a SDWA
[[Page 35917]]
chemical as the active ingredient, and anticipates issuing a FIFRA/
FFDCA test order to all identified technical registrants.
For Other SDWA Chemicals, EPA generally intends to rely on
information reported to the Agency under the TSCA CDR rule (Ref. 17)
and TRI to identify the initial SDWA/FFDCA test order recipients. The
CDR rule and TRI require manufacturers and importers of certain
chemicals included on the TSCA Inventory to report site and
manufacturing information for chemicals manufactured (including
imported) in amounts of 25,000 lb. or more at a single site, or, for
TRI, other lower thresholds as specified. The Agency believes that this
information is an appropriate source for identifying EDSP test order
recipients. It has been EPA's experience that relying on companies that
have reported to the CDR is the most reliable mechanism for identifying
manufacturers and importers of (non-pesticide) industrial chemicals.
Such manufacturers and importers are required, by regulation, to report
under the CDR rule. Companies that report under the CDR rule generally
account for most of a chemical in commerce (therefore, in many
instances, these companies can be expected to account for most of a
chemical when it is found in drinking water), which is the basis for
listing a chemical under SDWA authority (see Unit II.B.). As relatively
large manufacturers and importers, EPA also believes that companies
reporting under CDR comprise the majority of the volume associated with
the chemical; these companies are more likely to be able to afford the
cost of EDSP testing than companies manufacturing volumes below the CDR
reporting threshold. EPA believes that, in general, these manufacturers
are analogous to the technical registrants, who received orders in the
first round of EDSP screening. Finally, using the CDR information to
identify order recipients will facilitate joint data development, as
reporters for these chemicals are generally publicly known and not
numerous.
If there are no companies reporting in response to the CDR rule for
a given chemical, EPA intends to use other publicly available
databases, such as the TRI, to identify other major EDSP test order
recipients. For Other SDWA Chemicals that are regulated or tracked by
another agency (e.g., pharmaceuticals by the Food and Drug
Administration), EPA may also consult with that agency as appropriate
to identify main manufacturers and importers. In addition to using CDR,
TRI, and other Federal agency databases, EPA also generally intends to
issue orders to manufacturers and importers who are subsequently
identified as such. The Agency will follow up on any new information it
receives to this effect and issue orders accordingly. EPA, however,
does not generally intend at this time to issue orders to companies
that manufacture or import a chemical for research and development
purposes only, or who otherwise manufacture or import quantities of a
chemical that are more appropriately measured in grams (e.g., as
impurities, contaminants, or byproducts, which are not expected to be
released into the environment in significant amounts).
The Agency intends to issue catch-up orders to manufacturers or
importers who begin to manufacture or import an EDSP SDWA chemical
within 15 years of the issuance of a SDWA/FFDCA test order. The EDSP
SDWA chemical catch-up order process will be similar to the catch-up
order process described in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures
(Ref. 1), except that EPA generally expects that the source of
information for identifying such manufacturers will primarily come from
the public, because there is no industrial chemical registration
process comparable to the pesticide registration process that would
provide a mechanism for EPA to independently identify such entities. A
recipient of such catch-up orders would have the same options for
compliance as an initial order recipient: independently generate the
data or participate in the cost sharing by making a good faith offer to
participate, if it wishes to rely on data developed or submitted by
another recipient or consortium to satisfy its EDSP test order
obligation.
If, at the end of this process, all EDSP test order recipients have
ceased to manufacture a SDWA chemical without submitting the required
data, the Agency generally intends to treat the SDWA chemical as an
``orphan.''
B. How will recipients of orders on SDWA chemicals be notified?
Order recipients will receive an EDSP test order in one of two
ways: By registered mail or electronically. In addition to the EDSP
test order, EPA will send each recipient a packet that contains the
instructions, background materials, and sample forms needed to comply
electronically with the EDSP test order via CDX or will provide
directions as to the location of such materials in an electronic
format.
C. How will the public know who has received a test order on a SDWA
chemical or who has supplied data?
EPA intends to provide the list of all EDSP test order recipients
on the Agency's EDSP Web site (Ref. 4). EPA invites the submission of
information (with proper substantiation) identifying additional
entities--including entities who manufacture for export only--who
should have received a test order. Commenters could either identify
themselves or another person as additional candidates for the receipt
of an EDSP test order.
D. How will the Agency minimize duplicative testing?
As described in greater detail in this unit, EPA generally intends
to continue to rely on its existing procedures to minimize duplicative
EDSP testing for SDWA chemicals, including continuing to allow
companies to voluntarily develop data jointly, and, as described in
Unit VI.G., continuing to apply the policies that facilitate joint data
development, as well as to accept OSRI in satisfaction of the order.
In addition, the Agency intends to provide the status of the EDSP
test orders, including recipients' responses, on the Agency's EDSP Web
site so that both order recipients and the public can determine the
status of responses (see for example Ref. 18). EPA will make such
information available to enable test order recipients to identify and
join other order recipients to develop the data in response to the
order, thereby helping to achieve EPA's goals of minimizing duplicative
testing and promoting fair and equitable sharing of EDSP test costs.
E. What are the potential responses to test orders on SDWA chemicals?
The options for responding to a SDWA/FFDCA test order are similar
to those established in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref.
1), except that the option of exiting the pesticide market will not be
available. The basis for a SDWA/FFDCA order is that a chemical may be
found in sources of drinking water to which a substantial population
may be exposed. Exiting any given market (e.g., the pesticide market)
is not sufficient if the SDWA chemical is manufactured or imported for
other uses because the chemical may still be found in sources of
drinking water. If sufficient data on a SDWA chemical that is a
pesticide is not generated in response to a FIFRA/FFDCA order (e.g.,
all FIFRA/FFDCA order recipients exit the pesticide market), EPA may
issue a follow-up SDWA/FFDCA order for such
[[Page 35918]]
chemicals if they have non-pesticide uses.
EDSP test order recipients provide their initial responses
electronically referencing the options on a sample Initial Response
Form for Individual Order Recipients (Initial Response Form) (Ref. 19).
Response options that EPA anticipates including in SDWA/FFDCA test
orders are as follows:
Option 1: Recipient indicates that it intends to generate data. If
the EDSP test order recipient decides to generate new data for each
test specified in the order, the recipient would then comply with the
procedures prescribed in the EDSP test order. In general, this option
would be identical to the option discussed in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies
and procedures (Ref. 1). EPA has not identified any changes that would
be necessary to accommodate SDWA chemicals. Data generated and
submitted would need to comply with the existing requirements for Good
Laboratory Practices (GLP), as applicable. GLPs have been set out both
in FIFRA for pesticides in 40 CFR part 160 and for TSCA chemicals in 40
CFR part 792. EDSP test order recipients would need to follow any
appropriate GLPs, protocol requirements identified in the EDSP test
order, and procedures described in EDSP test orders for submitting the
data.
Option 2: Recipient indicates that it is submitting or citing
existing data or OSRI. The recipient would choose this option to
indicate that it is submitting or citing existing data (including data
previously submitted to the Agency) that it believes is relevant to one
or more of the requests in the test order. The recipient's initial
response would include either the data or a reference to the data for
each assay specified in the order. In submitting or citing existing
data, the order recipient should follow, as appropriate, relevant
format guidelines described in the EDSP test order and provide an
explanation of the relevance of the data to the order, including, where
appropriate, a cogent and complete rationale for why it believes the
information is or is not sufficient to satisfy part or all of the Tier
1 test order.
Data compensation procedures may apply to data previously submitted
to the Agency. If the data cited or submitted are from a study that was
not conducted exactly as specified in the protocols referenced in the
EDSP test order or in accordance with accepted scientific methodology
or protocol, including but not limited to those presented in EPA's
harmonized test guideline compendium (Ref. 20), the recipient would
also identify the deviations from the applicable protocol(s), along
with an explanation for the deviations, including an explanation as to
why, notwithstanding the deviations, the protocol used for developing
the cited or submitted data should still be considered as providing an
accepted scientific methodology or protocol, and any other information
relevant to a decision to accept the data as satisfaction of the order.
EPA would review any existing relevant information submitted or
cited (including OSRI) to determine whether the information is
acceptable (e.g., the study was not rejected by the Agency for any
reason related to completeness or quality) and satisfies the order.
Decisions about whether the information satisfies part or all of the
Tier 1 test order will be based on WoE from all relevant information
available. The Agency would notify the recipient of its determination.
If the Agency determines that the information cited or submitted as
part of the initial response received from an order recipient satisfies
the Tier 1 test order the electronic Initial Response Form is the only
response required.
If, however, EPA determines that the information cited or submitted
as part of the initial response is insufficient to satisfy the Tier 1
test order, in whole or in part, the recipient would still need to
satisfy any order requirements EPA had determined had not been met. EPA
intends to use a WoE approach as described in the EDSP WoE guidance
document (Ref. 11) which takes into account data from the Tier 1 assays
and any other scientifically relevant information available, to
determine whether the chemical has the potential to interact with the
endocrine system. Chemicals that go through Tier 1 screening and are
found to have the potential to interact with the estrogen, androgen, or
thyroid hormone systems will proceed to the next stage of the EDSP
where EPA will determine which, if any, of the Tier 2 tests are
necessary.
Option 3: Recipient indicates that it intends to enter (or offer to
enter) into an agreement to form a consortium to provide the data. The
recipient may choose to join or form a consortium to share the cost of
producing the required data. All participants of the consortium must
submit their own electronic Initial Response Form for Individual Order
Recipients, providing the name of the party who will be submitting the
data on the recipient's behalf.
Under this option, the designated lead for the consortium would
complete their Initial Responses electronically (Consortium Response
Form) (Ref. 21) for the consortium to provide the primary contact for
the consortium, the list of participants, and an indication of the
consortium's planned response for each assay, along with documentation
of its formation (such as a copy of the joint agreement or a written
statement by all the parties that an agreement exists). The joint
agreement to produce the data would not need to specify all of the
terms of the final arrangement between the parties or the mechanism to
resolve the terms. The designated lead for the consortium would be
responsible for submitting the consortium's initial response and
accompanying information to EPA by the due date for the consortium's
response, consistent with any mailing instructions indicated in the
EDSP test order.
Once the consortium submits the data electronically and EPA has
completed its initial review, EPA would notify the contact of the
consortium indicating whether the order has been satisfied. If
satisfied, such an action would satisfy EDSP test order obligations for
each of the consortium participants.
If the consortium fails to submit the data or meet the requirements
of the order in a timely and adequate manner, each recipient would be
subject to penalties of up to $37,500 per day, unless the recipient
were to commit to submit, and then did submit, the required data by the
dates originally specified in the order. The Agency has typically
granted very few, if any, time extensions for the submission of EDSP
data.
The Agency intends to provide to every EDSP test order recipient a
list of the other manufacturers and/or importers (to the extent
permitted by confidentiality requirements) that have also received an
EDSP order for the specified SDWA chemical. This list would be intended
to help order recipients identify other companies with whom they could
form agreements to develop data jointly, or otherwise collaborate on a
response to satisfy the requirements in the order. If the identity of a
company subject to the SDWA/FFDCA test order is claimed as CBI, EPA
intends to offer the company an opportunity to identify an agent who
would act on their behalf in all matters relating to the EDSP program.
For any company that chooses to designate an agent, the Agency intends
to make the name of the agent (instead of the company) public by
including it on the list of recipients of SDWA/FFDCA test orders. This
name use would be similar to the process used for FIFRA/FFDCA test
orders and presented in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref.
1). If the identity of a company subject to the EDSP test order is
claimed as CBI,
[[Page 35919]]
and yet the company does not name an agent, that company's ability to
obtain data compensation from other parties (or rely on compensable
data submitted by other parties) would likely be affected. EPA intends
to make available the list of EDSP test order recipients on the
Agency's EDSP Web site (Ref. 4). EPA intends to update the list with
subsequent publication(s) and posting(s) as appropriate. For example,
the Agency intends to post the status of the EDSP test orders,
including the recipient's response, on the Agency's EDSP Web site so
that both EDSP test order recipients and the public can check on the
status of responses to the EDSP test orders. This public listing is
intended to also facilitate the formation of consortia to develop data
jointly since recipients would know all other entities required to
generate the same data.
Option 4: Recipient claims that it is not subject to the EDSP test
order. Under this option, a recipient would claim that it is not
subject to the order because it does not manufacture or import the
chemical identified for EDSP testing, or because it believes the order
was otherwise erroneously sent. This option would be essentially the
same as the option discussed in the original policies and procedures
for manufacturers of inert ingredients. EPA has not identified any
issues unique to SDWA chemicals that would warrant a change in policy
on this point. An explanation of the basis for the claim, along with
appropriate information to allow the Agency to substantiate the claim,
would accompany the Initial Response. The Agency intends to evaluate
the claim and respond to any request within 90 days of receipt. If EPA
were unable to verify the claim, the original requirements and
deadlines in the order would be expected to remain. If EPA were able to
verify the claim, such a response would satisfy the order and no
further response would be necessary.
Option 5: Recipient intends to discontinue the manufacture or
import of the chemical. Under this option, the recipient would indicate
it has or is in the process of discontinuing all manufacture and import
of the chemical. As noted in Unit V.A., in order to take advantage of
this option, a recipient would need to also cease manufacture of the
chemical, including for the purposes of export. In addition, the
recipient would be required to provide an electronic initial response
via CDX that includes a verifiable explanation and documentation
supporting its claim. If EPA verifies the claim, the electronic Initial
Response Form is all that would be required to satisfy the EDSP test
order. If EPA could not verify the claim, the recipient's obligation to
comply with the EDSP test order would remain.
Unlike the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1), which
enable a manufacturer or importer of a pesticide inert ingredient to
comply with the FIFRA/FFDCA test order by discontinuing the sale of the
chemical into the pesticide market, SDWA/FFDCA test orders cannot be
satisfied in this manner. A chemical manufacturer or importer that
receives a SDWA/FFDCA test order would need to cease all manufacture
and import of that chemical. Simply exiting the pesticide market would
not address the chemical's potential presence in ``sources of drinking
water to which a substantial population may be exposed'' and it would
therefore be inappropriate to allow companies to satisfy a test order
with such a response.
Option 6: Recipient responds according to one of three other
response options. As part of the Initial Response, a recipient may also
ask EPA to reconsider some or all of the EDSP testing specified in the
order if:
a. The recipient can demonstrate (supported by appropriate data)
that the chemical is an endocrine disruptor and that additional EDSP
Tier 1 screening is unnecessary.
b. The recipient can demonstrate (supported by appropriate data)
that the chemical meets the standard for an exemption under FFDCA
section 408(p)(4) (i.e., ``that the substance is not anticipated to
produce any effect in humans similar to an effect produced by a
naturally occurring estrogen'').
c. The chemical was used by EPA as a ``positive control'' to
validate one or more of the screening assays. In the last data
collection, chemicals used by EPA as a ``positive control'' to validate
one or more of the screening assays were only required to submit the
assays for which the chemical did not serve as a positive control
(e.g., if the chemical served as a positive control in the validation
of two assays, the EDSP test order recipient would not be required to
generate additional data for those two assays). EPA generally expects
that it would continue this policy.
For more information on the response options discussed in this
unit, see the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1).
The Agency intends to make a determination on any claim and respond
to the recipient within 90 days of receipt. If EPA cannot verify the
claim, the original requirements and deadlines in the order would
remain. If EPA were to verify the claim, EPA would consider the
response to fully satisfy the order and no further response would be
required.
F. How to submit order responses and data electronically?
EPA has developed an electronic submission system for data
submitted in response to SDWA/FFDCA test orders following the general
process established for TSCA Section 5 Premanufacture Notices and for
other TSCA reporting, including TSCA Section 8 CDR. The EDSP order
electronic reporting system will allow order recipients to use the
Agency's CDX to respond to an order and to submit test data via the
Internet. See https://www.epa.gov/cdx for additional information about
CDX (Ref. 22). If not already registered with CDX, recipients will need
to complete a simple registration process in order to use this system
for electronic submissions of EDSP test order data, thereby
establishing a secure log-on to CDX. Specific requirements associated
with these EDSP test orders will be provided directly to the order
recipients, and are expected to include:
Registration with CDX, resulting in the establishment of
an electronic signature usable for electronically submitting EDSP test
order responses.
Access to a web-based response form, including the ability
to attach PDF files.
Encrypted submission to EPA via CDX.
Each EDSP test order would contain specific, updated information
regarding the most current process to use to respond to the EDSP test
order.
G. How will EPA facilitate joint data development and cost sharing for
SDWA chemicals?
As described in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1),
the Agency believes that FFDCA section 408(p)(5) does not provide the
authority to create requirements for joint data development, including
a requirement to use binding arbitration to resolve disputes, as does
FIFRA section 3. In EPA's view, FFDCA section 408(p)(5)(B) merely
establishes a qualified direction that the Agency ``[t]o the extent
practicable . . . minimize duplicative testing . . .'' This, standing
alone, does not create new authority to compel companies to use
arbitration to resolve disputes arising from an effort to develop data
jointly, nor does it even authorize EPA to impose a requirement for
joint data development. Rather, EPA believes that this provision
directs the Agency to create procedures that operate within the
confines of existing
[[Page 35920]]
statutory authorities. While FFDCA section 408(p) does not allow EPA to
impose requirements identical to those authorized by FIFRA section 3,
EPA has the authority under FFDCA section 408(p) to develop Agency
procedures that would facilitate joint data generation and electronic
submission. Specifically, the Agency has discretion to determine what
actions constitute compliance with a FFDCA section 408(p) test order,
and EPA intends to apply this discretion in a manner that creates
strong incentives for companies to voluntarily develop data jointly.
Section 408(p) of FFDCA confers adequate discretion for EPA to consider
whether a recipient has fulfilled its obligation to provide data when
the recipient individually or jointly submits results from the required
studies, or when EPA judges that it would be equitable to allow the
recipient to rely on, or cite, results of studies submitted by another
person.
At the same time, however, each recipient of an order under FFDCA
section 408(p) has a separate obligation to satisfy the Tier 1 test
order that it received. EPA thinks that FFDCA section 408(p) confers
adequate discretion to consider that a recipient has fulfilled its
obligation to provide data when:
The recipient individually or jointly submits results from
the required assays.
EPA judges that it would be equitable to allow the
recipient to rely on, or cite, results of studies submitted by another
person.
The determination of whether it would be equitable to allow
citation to another recipient's data will be necessarily based on a
case-by-case review of the specifics of the individual circumstances.
However, the Agency believes that it would generally be equitable to
allow a recipient of a FFDCA section 408(p) test order to rely on the
results of studies submitted by another person where:
The data generator has given permission to the recipient
to cite the results, or
Within a reasonable period after receiving the FFDCA
section 408(p) test order, the recipient has made an offer to commence
negotiations regarding the amount and terms of paying a reasonable
share of the cost of testing; has included an offer to resolve any
dispute over the recipients' shares of the test costs by submitting the
dispute to a neutral third party with authority to bind the parties
(e.g., through binding arbitration); and, if arbitration is requested,
participates in the arbitration proceeding and complies with the terms
of any arbitration award.
The Agency believes this approach to minimizing duplicative EDSP
testing, which parallels that used under FIFRA section 3(c)(2)(B),
provides all recipients of FFDCA section 408(p) test orders adequate
incentives to develop data jointly. In the first instance, where the
data generator had granted permission for another party to cite its
data, the equities are clear, and EPA has no reason for refusing to
allow it. In the second instance, where the data generator received an
offer to commence negotiations regarding the amount and terms of
compensation and to go to a neutral decisionmaker with authority to
bind the parties failing successful negotiations, EPA believes that the
company has demonstrated a good faith effort to develop data jointly,
and consequently would typically consider that the order recipient had
complied with the order. Based on EPA's experience under FIFRA, there
would be little or no reason for a data generator to decline such an
offer. Moreover, if EPA did not adopt such an approach, the end result
would effectively confer the sort of ``exclusive use'' property rights
established under FIFRA section 3(c)(1)(F), on a broad category of
data, and EPA does not believe that FFDCA section 408(p)(5) creates
such rights, or provides EPA with the authority to create such rights.
These conditions would also apply to recipients of any ``catch-up''
FFDCA Sec. 408(p) orders, who enter the market after the data have
been submitted.
H. What procedures can EPA apply for handling CBI for SDWA chemicals?
As stated in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1),
FFDCA does not authorize EPA to either create new rights or to modify
existing rights to confidentiality, but directs the Agency to create
procedures that operate within the existing confines of FIFRA, FOIA,
and TSA. SDWA has no provisions that authorize EPA to extend
protections for handling CBI beyond those established by TSA. Thus data
submitted in response to SDWA/FFDCA orders would only be subject to the
protections under FOIA and TSA, with the notable exception of data
generated on pesticide chemicals. Manufacturers of a food use inert
ingredient that is also identified as a SDWA chemical should generally
expect to receive SDWA/FFDCA test orders; however, all CBI and data
compensation provisions established in FIFRA would still apply. In
addition, under certain circumstances, data generated on non-food use
inert ingredients may be entitled to FIFRA CBI and data compensation
protections. Test order recipients for the food use-inert, or a
pesticide with a food tolerance or exemption, should consult the FIFRA/
FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1) for a more detailed explanation
of the FIFRA provisions that apply.
The identities of chemicals on the non-confidential portion TSCA
Inventory (i.e., the chemical identity of the chemical substance is
publicly known), contained in health and safety data subject to TSCA
may not be entitled to confidential treatment (Ref. 23). In addition,
because the chemical identity is public for all SDWA chemicals on the
second EDSP chemical list, EPA expects that there would be no need to
claim submitted information as confidential. EPA also believes that it
would be particularly difficult to substantiate such a claim, given
that the information would already be publicly available.
As described in Unit V.E. under Option 3, when the identity of a
company subject to the SDWA/FFDCA test order is claimed as CBI, EPA
intends to offer the company an opportunity to identify an agent who
would act on their behalf in all matters relating to EDSP. For any
company that chooses to designate an agent, the Agency intends to make
the name of the agent (instead of the company) public by including it
on the list of recipients of SDWA/FFDCA test orders.
I. What is the process for contesting a test order or consequences for
failure to respond or comply with a test order?
EPA generally intends to rely on the existing interpretations and
policies relating to pre-enforcement challenges to and enforcement of a
test order. Order recipients are encouraged to consult the FIFRA/FFDCA
policies and procedures (Ref. 1) for further details on these policies.
J. What is the informal administrative review procedure?
EPA generally intends to continue to include the informal
administrative review provisions in SDWA/FFDCA test orders by which
recipients could raise any questions or challenges concerning the
issuance of the order, that were included in the orders issued for the
first list of chemicals. As explained in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and
procedures (Ref. 1), because the mere filing of the objection (or
indeed, the filing of a judicial challenge) would not extend the
deadline for submission of the studies, in order for this process to be
completed in a timely fashion, EPA expects order recipients who file a
[[Page 35921]]
challenge to present their objections with sufficient specificity and
detail to allow the Agency to effectively evaluate the issue(s)
presented. EPA would review the issues presented and respond within a
reasonable amount of time. The Agency understands that it will need to
respond to such objections within sufficient time for the order
recipient to comply with the orders, or to pursue judicial review.
K. What are the adverse effects reporting requirements?
EPA is not modifying any of its existing reporting requirements or
any of the policies with respect to how the adverse effects reporting
requirements relate to EDSP data.
Adverse effects reporting requirements for pesticide chemicals in
registered products are established in FIFRA section 6(a)(2) and can be
found in the FIFRA/FFDCA policies and procedures (Ref. 1). In addition
to requirements under FIFRA, TSCA section 8(c) allows EPA to request
that companies record, retain and/or report ``allegation of significant
adverse reactions'' to a chemical substance or mixture that the company
produces, imports, processes or distributes (15 U.S.C. 2607(c)).
Additional information can be found in 40 CFR part 717. Chemical
substance is defined in TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2602(2)).
Under TSCA section 8(e), U.S. chemical manufacturers, importers,
processors, and distributors are required to notify EPA within 30 days
of new unpublished information regarding their chemical if the
information may lead to a conclusion that the chemical poses
substantial risk to human health or the environment (15 U.S.C.
2607(e)). ``Substantial risk'' information is information that offers
reasonable support for a conclusion that the subject chemical substance
or mixture poses a substantial risk of injury to health or the
environment. The information need not, and typically does not,
establish conclusively that a substantial risk exists.
Any information that has been previously submitted under FIFRA
section 6(a)(2), TSCA section 8(c), or TSCA section 8(e), to the extent
the EDSP test order recipient believes that it is responsive to the
EDSP test order, need not be resubmitted to satisfy the FFDCA section
408(p) test orders. The EDSP test order recipient need only cite the
previously submitted information in lieu of resubmission.
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Regulatory Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and
Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this policy statement is not
considered to be a ``significant guidance document'' under the terms of
the Executive Order because this policy statement does not raise novel
legacy or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's
priorities, or the principles set forth in the Executive Order. As
indicated in this unit, this policy statement only makes a few
modifications that are necessary to address procedural differences that
apply to SDWA chemicals.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection requirements described in this document
have been submitted to OMB for review under PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
Elsewhere in this Federal Register issue is a separate document
prepared by EPA that announces the availability of the ICR document.
The docket ID number for this ICR submission is EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0275.
An Agency may not concur or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers are displayed either
by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means,
such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable.
The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9. As a new ICR, the Agency does not yet
have an OMB control number for this information collection activity.
Once assigned, EPA will announce the OMB control number for this
information collection in the Federal Register, and will add it to any
related collection instruments or forms used. Burden is defined in 5
CFR 1320.3(b).
VIII. References
As indicated under ADDRESSES, a docket has been established for
this notice under docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-1080. The following
is a listing of the documents that are specifically referenced in this
action. The docket includes these documents and other information
considered by EPA, including documents that are referenced within the
documents that are included in the docket, even if the referenced
document is not physically located in the docket. For assistance in
locating these other documents, please consult the technical person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
1. EPA. Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; Policies and
Procedures for Initial Screening; Notice. Federal Register (74 FR
17560, April 15, 2009) (FRL-8399-9).
2. EPA. Order Template: ``FFDCA Sec. 408(p) Order Template for SDWA
Sec. 1457 Chemicals.'' April 15, 2013. Available in Attachment C(3)
to the ICR in Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0275.
3. U.S. Congress. House Resolution 2996, H. Rept. 111-180.
4. EPA. Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Web site at https://www.epa.gov/endo.
5. EPA. Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; Draft Policies and
Procedures for Screening Safe Drinking Water Act Chemicals; Notice.
Federal Register (75 FR 70558, November 17, 2010) (FRL-8848-9).
6. EPA. Response-to-Comments Document for the Notice on the
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program's Draft Policies and
Procedures for Screening Safe Drinking Water Act Chemicals that
published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2010 at 75 FR
70558. March 7, 2013.
7. EPA. Comment Response Document for the Second List of Chemicals
and Substances for Tier 1 Screening under the Endocrine Disruptor
Screening Program (Categorized Public Comments). February 1, 2013.
Available in Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-0477.
8. EPA. Electronic Reporting Under the Toxic Substances Control Act;
Proposed rule. Federal Register (77 FR 22707, April 17, 2012) (FRL-
9337-5).
9. EPA. TSCA section 8(e); Notification of Substantial Risk; Policy
Clarification and Reporting Guidance. Federal Register (68 FR 33129,
June 3, 2003) (FRL-7287-4).
10. EPA. EPA's Approach for Considering Other Scientifically
Relevant Information (OSRI) under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening
Program (EDSP). March 26, 2009. Document ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-
1080-0032.
11. EPA. Weight-of-Evidence: Evaluating Results of EDSP Tier 1
Screening to Identify the Need for Tier 2 Testing. September 14,
2011. Document ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2010-0877-0021.
12. EPA. Universe of Chemicals and General Validation Principles.
November 2012. Available at https://www.epa.gov/endo/pubs/edsp_chemical_universe_and_general_validations_white_paper_11_12.pdf.
13. EPA. Response to Comments on the Public Review Draft of the
Information Collection Request (ICR) entitled ``Addendum for the
Second List of Chemicals; Tier 1 Screening of Certain Chemicals
Under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP).'' Available
in Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0275.
14. EPA. SAB. Review of the EPA's Proposed
[[Page 35922]]
Environmental Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; Review of the
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program by a Joint Subcommittee of the
Science Advisory Board and Scientific Advisory Panel. July 1999. EPA
publication number EPA-SAB-EC-99-013. Available at https://www.epa.gov/endo/pubs/sab_sap_report.pdf.
15. EPA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Endocrine Disruptor
Screening Program Comprehensive Management Plan. June 2012.
Available at https://www.epa.gov/endo/pubs/EDSP-comprehensive-management-plan.pdf.
16. EPA. At a Glance: Issuing EDSP Second List Orders. (March 28,
2013).
17. EPA. Chemical Data Reporting Web site at https://www.epa.gov/oppt/cdr.
18. EPA. Status of EDSP Orders/DCIs as of Wednesday, January 2,
2013.
19. EPA. Sample Form: ``FFDCA Sec. 408(p) Order for SDWA Sec. 1457
Chemicals--Initial Response Form for Individual Order Recipients''
(EPA Form No. 6300-06). March 27, 2013. Available in Attachment D(3)
to the ICR in Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0275.
20. EPA. OCSPP Harmonized Test Guidelines Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ocspp/pubs/frs/home/testmeth.htm.
21. EPA. Sample Form: ``FFDCA Sec. 408(p) Order for SDWA Sec. 1457
Chemicals--Initial Response Form for Consortium'' (EPA Form No.
6300-06-C). March 27, 2013. Available in Attachment D(4) to the ICR
in Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0275.
22. EPA. Central Data Exchange Web site at https://www.epa.gov/cdx.
23. EPA. Claims of Confidentiality of Certain Chemical Identities
Submitted under Section 8(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act;
Notice. Federal Register (75 FR 3462, January 21, 2010) (FRL-8807-
9).
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Endocrine disruptors,
Pesticides and pests, Safe drinking water, Reporting and recordkeeping.
Dated: May 29, 2013.
James Jones,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-14228 Filed 6-13-13; 8:45 am]
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