TSCA Alternative Testing Methods Draft Strategic Plan; Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting, 10717-10719 [2018-04938]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 48 / Monday, March 12, 2018 / Notices [Docket No. AD18–9–000] locating the EQR Users Group Meeting on the Calendar, and clicking on the link to the webcast. The webcast will allow persons to listen to the technical conference and they can email questions during the meeting to EQRUsersGroup@ ferc.gov. Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1–866–208–3372 (voice) or 202–502–8659 (TTY), or send a FAX to 202–208–2106 with the required accommodations. For more information about the EQR Users Group meeting, please contact Jeff Sanders of the Commission’s Office of Enforcement at (202) 502–6455, or send an email to EQRUsersGroup@ferc.gov. Electric Quarterly Report Users Group Meeting; Notice of Electric Quarterly Report Users Group Meeting Dated: March 6, 2018. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Dated: March 6, 2018. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–04855 Filed 3–9–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Take notice that on June 5, 2018, staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) will hold the fifth biannual Electric Quarterly Report (EQR) Users Group meeting. The meeting will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST) in the Commission Meeting Room at 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. All interested persons are invited to attend. For those unable to attend in person, access to the meeting will be available via webcast. This meeting provides a forum for dialogue between Commission staff and EQR users to discuss potential improvements to the EQR program and the EQR filing process. Recent meetings have focused on issues pertaining primarily to EQR filers. However, in the upcoming meeting, staff will also include sessions for those accessing and using EQR data. Prior to the meeting, staff would like input on discussion topics. Individuals may suggest agenda topics for consideration by April 16, 2018, by emailing EQRUsersGroup@ ferc.gov. Please note that matters pending before the Commission and subject to ex parte limitations cannot be discussed at this meeting. An agenda of the meeting will be provided in a subsequent notice. Due to the nature of the discussion, those interested in participating are encouraged to attend in person. All interested persons (whether attending in person or via webcast) are asked to register online at https://www.ferc.gov/ whats-new/registration/06-05-18form.asp. There is no registration fee. Anyone with internet access can listen to the meeting by navigating to www.ferc.gov’s Calendar of Events, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Mar 09, 2018 Jkt 244001 [FR Doc. 2018–04853 Filed 3–9–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0559; FRL–9974–13] TSCA Alternative Testing Methods Draft Strategic Plan; Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: As required by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act in June 2016, EPA is developing, pursuant to TSCA section 4(h)(2)(A), a Strategic Plan to promote the development and implementation of alternative test methods and strategies to reduce, refine or replace vertebrate animal testing. The draft Strategic Plan will be available for comment until April 26, 2018 and information obtained will be considered in the Agency’s development of the final Strategic Plan which is required to be completed and published in June of 2018. EPA is also holding a public meeting to obtain input on the Agency’s draft Strategic Plan. Information obtained during this meeting will be considered in the Agency’s development of the final Strategic Plan due in June of 2018. DATES: The public meeting will be held on April 10, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 10717 Members of the public must register to make oral comments at the public meeting on or before April 3, 2018. Online requests to participate in the meeting must be received on or before April 3, 2018. On-site registration will be permitted, but seating and speaking priority will be given to those who preregister by the deadline. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the meetings logistics person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. EPA will accept written comments and materials submitted to the docket EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0559. The docket will remain open to receive comments and materials until April 26, 2018. When submitting comments to the docket, please be as specific as possible, and please include any supporting data or other information. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Ronald Reagan Building 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The meeting will also be available by remote access for registered participants. For further information, see Unit I under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To participate in the meeting on April 10, 2018, you may register online (preferred) or in person at the meeting. To register online, go to https:// www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managingchemicals-under-tsca/alternative-testmethods-and-strategies-reduce. Written comments, identified by the docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPPT– 2017–0559 can be submitted by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. • Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001. • Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the instructions at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets in general is available at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\12MRN1.SGM 12MRN1 10718 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 48 / Monday, March 12, 2018 / Notices For technical information contact: Louis Scarano, Risk Assessment Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (202) 564–2851, email address: scarano.louis@epa.gov. In addition, progress on this activity will be periodically updated at the following page on the OPPT website at https:// www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managingchemicals-under-tsca. For meeting logistics or registration contact: Klara Zimmerman, Abt Associates; telephone number: (301) 634–1722; email address: klara_ zimmerman@abtassoc.com. 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 amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES A. Does this action apply to me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are required to conduct testing of chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. 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: • Basic Chemical Manufacturers (NAICS code 3251); • Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filament Manufacturers (NAICS code 3252); • Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturers (NAICS code 3255); • Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturers (NAICS code 3255); • Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturers (NAICS code 3259); and Petroleum Refineries (NAICS code 32411). • Animal Welfare Groups • Environmental non-governmental organizations • Toxicity testing laboratories (contract labs) • Academic/non-profit groups involved in developing and using alternative toxicity test methods VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Mar 09, 2018 Jkt 244001 B. How can I get copies of this document III. Meeting and other related information? A. Remote Access The docket for this action, identified The meeting will be accessible by docket identification (ID) number remotely for registered participants. EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0559, is available Registered participants will receive at https://www.regulations.gov or at the information on how to connect to the Office of Pollution Prevention and meeting prior to its start. Toxics Docket (OPPT Docket), B. Public Participation at the Meeting Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Members of the public may register to Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 attend the public meeting and may also Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. register to provide oral comments, in The Public Reading Room is open from person or remotely, on the day of the 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through meeting, using one of the registration Friday, excluding legal holidays. The methods described under ADDRESSES. A telephone number for the Public registered speaker is encouraged to Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and focus on issues directly relevant to the the telephone number for the OPPT meeting’s subject matter. Depending on Docket is (202) 566–0280. Please review time and number of people registered to the visitor instructions and additional speak, each speaker may be limited to information about the docket available no more than five minutes. A speaker at https://www.epa.gov/dockets. must be registered in order to provide Meeting materials for the April 10, oral comments. To accommodate as 2018 public meeting will be made many registered speakers as possible, available in the docket. (https:// speakers may present oral comments www.regulations.gov; docket number without visual aids or written material. EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0559). Persons registered to speak (as well as others) may submit written materials to II. Background the docket as described under On June 22, 2016, the Frank R. ADDRESSES. An Agenda for the meeting Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st and supporting materials will be made Century Act, which amended the Toxic available in the docket and on EPA’s Substances Control Act (TSCA), the website in advance of the meeting. nation’s primary chemicals management IV. How can I request to participate in law, was signed into law. Along with this meeting? new requirements and deadlines for actions related to the regulation of new A. Registration and existing chemicals in the U.S., the To attend the meeting in person or to new law includes changes to TSCA receive remote access, you must register section 4 (Testing of Chemical online no later than April 3, 2018, using Substances and Mixtures). Specifically, one of the methods described under a new section (4(h)) has been added ADDRESSES. While on-site registration entitled Reduction of Testing on will be available, seating will be on a Vertebrates. first-come, first-served basis, with TSCA section 4 (h)(2)(A) states that priority given to early registrants, until EPA must ‘‘. . . develop a strategic plan room capacity is reached. For registrants to promote the development and not able to attend in person, the meeting implementation of alternative test will also provide remote access methods and strategies to reduce, refine, capabilities; registered participants will or replace vertebrate animal testing and be provided information on how to provide information of equivalent or connect to the meetings prior to its start. better scientific quality and relevance B. Required Registration Information for assessing risks of injury to health or the environment . . .’’. Members of the public may register to The Strategic Plan must be completed attend as observers or to speak if by June 22, 2018. OPPT hosted a public planning to offer oral comments during meeting on November 2, 2017 in which the scheduled public comment period. a conceptual approach to this Plan was To register for the meeting online, you presented. The meeting materials and must provide your full name, public comments received through organization or affiliation, and contact January 10, 2018, when the comment information. period associated with the November 2, 2017 meeting closed, are available in the V. What action is the Agency taking? docket. (https://www.regulations.gov; EPA is publishing a draft strategic docket number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017– plan, and taking comments until April 0559). Meeting materials for the April 26, 2018, to promote the use and 10, 2018 public meeting will be made development of alternative test methods available in the docket as well. and strategies to reduce, refine or PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12MRN1.SGM 12MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 48 / Monday, March 12, 2018 / Notices replace vertebrate animal testing, which includes a list of new approach methodologies (NAMs) that are ‘‘scientifically reliable, relevant, and capable of providing information of equivalent or better scientific reliability and quality to that which would be obtained from vertebrate animal testing’’ along with criteria ‘‘for considering scientific reliability and relevance’’ of NAMs. See TSCA sections 4(h)(2)(C) and (D). EPA is also holding a public meeting to obtain input on the Agency’s draft Strategic Plan. Information obtained during this meeting will be considered in the Agency’s development of the final Strategic Plan due in June of 2018. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. Dated: March 5, 2018. Charlotte Bertrand, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. [FR Doc. 2018–04938 Filed 3–9–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0652; FRL–9975–24] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed New Collection (EPA ICR No. 2570.01); Comment Request SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES I. What information is EPA particularly interested in? In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: ‘‘Guidance on Expanded Access to TSCA Confidential Business Information’’ and identified by EPA ICR No. 2570.01 and OMB Control No. 2070—[new], represents a new request. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment. DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 11, 2018. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0652, by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Mar 09, 2018 Jkt 244001 instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. • Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001. • Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the instructions at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is available at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: Jessica Barkas, Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (202) 250–8880; email address: barkas.jessica@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. Pursuant to PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to: 1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility. 2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency’s estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. 3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. 4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from very small businesses (those that PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 10719 employ less than 25) on examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this collection. II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply to? Title: Guidance on Expanded Access to TSCA Confidential Business Information ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2570.01. OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070—[new]. ICR status: This ICR addresses a new information collection activity. Under the PRA, an Agency may not conduct 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 for EPA’s regulations in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, 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 for certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9. Abstract: This ICR addresses the content and form of the statements of need and agreements required under TSCA section 14(d)(4), (5), and (6), which are described in the three draft guidance documents that have been developed to implement the new authorities in TSCA section 14(d)(4), (5), and (6), and include some basic logistical information on where and how to submit requests to EPA. Making a request for access to TSCA CBI is a voluntary activity, but is required in order to gain such access under TSCA section 14(d). Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 14.8 hours and cost about $868 per response. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b). The ICR, which is available in the docket along with other related materials, provides a detailed explanation of the collection activities and the burden estimate that is only briefly summarized here: Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this ICR are mainly government employees (federal, state, local, tribal), as well as medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses. Estimated total number of potential respondents: 6. Frequency of response: On occasion. E:\FR\FM\12MRN1.SGM 12MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10717-10719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04938]


=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0559; FRL-9974-13]


TSCA Alternative Testing Methods Draft Strategic Plan; Notice of 
Availability and Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: As required by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as 
amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century 
Act in June 2016, EPA is developing, pursuant to TSCA section 
4(h)(2)(A), a Strategic Plan to promote the development and 
implementation of alternative test methods and strategies to reduce, 
refine or replace vertebrate animal testing. The draft Strategic Plan 
will be available for comment until April 26, 2018 and information 
obtained will be considered in the Agency's development of the final 
Strategic Plan which is required to be completed and published in June 
of 2018.
    EPA is also holding a public meeting to obtain input on the 
Agency's draft Strategic Plan. Information obtained during this meeting 
will be considered in the Agency's development of the final Strategic 
Plan due in June of 2018.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on April 10, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. 
to 5:00 p.m.
    Members of the public must register to make oral comments at the 
public meeting on or before April 3, 2018. Online requests to 
participate in the meeting must be received on or before April 3, 2018. 
On-site registration will be permitted, but seating and speaking 
priority will be given to those who pre-register by the deadline.
    To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the 
meetings logistics person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, 
preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much 
time as possible to process your request.
    EPA will accept written comments and materials submitted to the 
docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0559. The docket will remain open to receive 
comments and materials until April 26, 2018. When submitting comments 
to the docket, please be as specific as possible, and please include 
any supporting data or other information.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Ronald Reagan Building 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The meeting will also be 
available by remote access for registered participants. For further 
information, see Unit I under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    To participate in the meeting on April 10, 2018, you may register 
online (preferred) or in person at the meeting. To register online, go 
to https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/alternative-test-methods-and-strategies-reduce.
    Written comments, identified by the docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2017-0559 can be submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets in general is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

[[Page 10718]]

    For technical information contact: Louis Scarano, Risk Assessment 
Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 564-2851, email address: 
[email protected]. In addition, progress on this activity will be 
periodically updated at the following page on the OPPT website at 
https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca.
    For meeting logistics or registration contact: Klara Zimmerman, Abt 
Associates; telephone number: (301) 634-1722; email address: 
[email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are required 
to conduct testing of chemical substances under the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA). Since other entities may also be interested, the 
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may 
be affected by this action. 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:
     Basic Chemical Manufacturers (NAICS code 3251);
     Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers 
and Filament Manufacturers (NAICS code 3252);
     Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical 
Manufacturers (NAICS code 3255);
     Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturers (NAICS code 
3255);
     Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturers 
(NAICS code 3259); and Petroleum Refineries (NAICS code 32411).
     Animal Welfare Groups
     Environmental non-governmental organizations
     Toxicity testing laboratories (contract labs)
     Academic/non-profit groups involved in developing and 
using alternative toxicity test methods

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-2017-0559, 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), West William Jefferson Clinton 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.
    Meeting materials for the April 10, 2018 public meeting will be 
made available in the docket. (https://www.regulations.gov; docket 
number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0559).

II. Background

    On June 22, 2016, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 
21st Century Act, which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), the nation's primary chemicals management law, was signed into 
law. Along with new requirements and deadlines for actions related to 
the regulation of new and existing chemicals in the U.S., the new law 
includes changes to TSCA section 4 (Testing of Chemical Substances and 
Mixtures). Specifically, a new section (4(h)) has been added entitled 
Reduction of Testing on Vertebrates.
    TSCA section 4 (h)(2)(A) states that EPA must ``. . . develop a 
strategic plan to promote the development and implementation of 
alternative test methods and strategies to reduce, refine, or replace 
vertebrate animal testing and provide information of equivalent or 
better scientific quality and relevance for assessing risks of injury 
to health or the environment . . .''.
    The Strategic Plan must be completed by June 22, 2018. OPPT hosted 
a public meeting on November 2, 2017 in which a conceptual approach to 
this Plan was presented. The meeting materials and public comments 
received through January 10, 2018, when the comment period associated 
with the November 2, 2017 meeting closed, are available in the docket. 
(https://www.regulations.gov; docket number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0559). 
Meeting materials for the April 10, 2018 public meeting will be made 
available in the docket as well.

III. Meeting

A. Remote Access

    The meeting will be accessible remotely for registered 
participants. Registered participants will receive information on how 
to connect to the meeting prior to its start.

B. Public Participation at the Meeting

    Members of the public may register to attend the public meeting and 
may also register to provide oral comments, in person or remotely, on 
the day of the meeting, using one of the registration methods described 
under ADDRESSES. A registered speaker is encouraged to focus on issues 
directly relevant to the meeting's subject matter. Depending on time 
and number of people registered to speak, each speaker may be limited 
to no more than five minutes. A speaker must be registered in order to 
provide oral comments. To accommodate as many registered speakers as 
possible, speakers may present oral comments without visual aids or 
written material. Persons registered to speak (as well as others) may 
submit written materials to the docket as described under ADDRESSES. An 
Agenda for the meeting and supporting materials will be made available 
in the docket and on EPA's website in advance of the meeting.

IV. How can I request to participate in this meeting?

A. Registration

    To attend the meeting in person or to receive remote access, you 
must register online no later than April 3, 2018, using one of the 
methods described under ADDRESSES. While on-site registration will be 
available, seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with 
priority given to early registrants, until room capacity is reached. 
For registrants not able to attend in person, the meeting will also 
provide remote access capabilities; registered participants will be 
provided information on how to connect to the meetings prior to its 
start.

B. Required Registration Information

    Members of the public may register to attend as observers or to 
speak if planning to offer oral comments during the scheduled public 
comment period. To register for the meeting online, you must provide 
your full name, organization or affiliation, and contact information.

V. What action is the Agency taking?

    EPA is publishing a draft strategic plan, and taking comments until 
April 26, 2018, to promote the use and development of alternative test 
methods and strategies to reduce, refine or

[[Page 10719]]

replace vertebrate animal testing, which includes a list of new 
approach methodologies (NAMs) that are ``scientifically reliable, 
relevant, and capable of providing information of equivalent or better 
scientific reliability and quality to that which would be obtained from 
vertebrate animal testing'' along with criteria ``for considering 
scientific reliability and relevance'' of NAMs. See TSCA sections 
4(h)(2)(C) and (D).
    EPA is also holding a public meeting to obtain input on the 
Agency's draft Strategic Plan. Information obtained during this meeting 
will be considered in the Agency's development of the final Strategic 
Plan due in June of 2018.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

    Dated: March 5, 2018.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-04938 Filed 3-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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