Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Contractor Access to Confidential Business Information, 15167 [2020-05514]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 15167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05514]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL--10006-57-OLEM]


Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Contractor Access 
to Confidential Business Information

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Contractor/Subcontractor Access to Data and Request 
for Comments.

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SUMMARY: EPA intends to authorize its contractors, Plateau, and their 
subcontractor, Eastern Research Group (ERG) as well as SRA 
International, Inc. to access Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
which has been submitted to EPA under the authority of all sections of 
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, as amended. 
EPA has issued regulations that outline business confidentiality 
provisions for the Agency and require all EPA offices that receive 
information designated by the submitter as CBI to abide by these 
provisions.

DATES: Comments on this notice are due March 27, 2020. Comments may be 
sent to LaShan Haynes, Document Control Officer, Office of Resource 
Conservation and Recovery, (5305P), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LaShan Haynes, Document Control 
Officer, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, (5305P), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; 703-605-0516.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Access to Confidential Business Information (CBI)

    The EPA has issued regulations at 40 CFR part 2, subpart B that 
outline business confidentiality provisions for the Agency and require 
all EPA offices that receive information designated by the submitter as 
CBI to abide by these provisions. Specifically, 40 CFR 2.305 governs 
information obtained under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, 
including amendments made by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. In accordance with the 
provisions of 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, policies and procedures for 
handling information collected from industry, under the authority of 
RCRA, have been established, including the RCRA CBI Security Manual.
    Pursuant to 40 CFR 2.305(h)(2)-(3), EPA is giving notice that it 
has entered into a contract with Plateau, Contract GS-35F-0166V, 
entitled ``Smart Mobile Tools for Field Inspectors'', located in 
Fairfax, Virginia. To assist in fulfilling this contract, Plateau has 
entered into a subcontract with the Eastern Research Group (ERG), 
located in Lexington, Massachusetts. Additionally, SRA International, 
Inc. is the prime contractor for the EPA Task Order entitled 
``Infrastructure Support and Applications Hosting'', Task Order No. 
GSQ0017AJ0037, which includes a work scope for the Smart Tools project. 
SRA International, Inc. is located in Chantilly, Virginia. Plateau/ERG 
and SRA International, Inc. will assist the Office of Enforcement and 
Compliance Assurance, as well as EPA regional offices, in the 
electronic storage of information gathered during inspections conducted 
under the authority of RCRA; some of which may contain RCRA CBI. The 
Plateau/ERG contract period is from April 30, 2019 to April 29, 2021. 
The SRA International, Inc. contract period is from March 29, 2017 to 
March 28, 2022. Plateau/ERG and SRA International, Inc. shall protect 
from unauthorized disclosure all information designated as confidential 
and shall abide by all RCRA CBI requirements, including procedures 
outlined in the RCRA CBI Security Manual.
    All EPA contractor and subcontractor personnel are bound by the 
requirements and sanctions contained in their contracts with EPA and in 
EPA's CBI regulations found at 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. Plateau/ERG 
will adhere to an EPA-approved security plan which describes procedures 
to protect CBI. Plateau/ERG will apply the procedures in this plan to 
CBI previously gathered by EPA and to CBI that may be gathered in the 
future. The security plan specifies that contractor personnel are 
required to sign non-disclosure agreements and are briefed on 
appropriate security procedures before they are permitted access to 
CBI. No person is automatically granted access to CBI: A need to know 
must exist.

    Dated: February 28, 2020.
Kathleen Salyer,
Acting Office Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.
[FR Doc. 2020-05514 Filed 3-16-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P