Perchloroethylene (PCE); Final Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk Evaluation; Notice of Availability, 82474-82476 [2020-27880]
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[FR Doc. 2020–27888 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2019–0502; FRL–10017–
44]
Dated: December 14, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
Perchloroethylene (PCE); Final Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk
Evaluation; Notice of Availability
[FR Doc. 2020–27932 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
[ER–FRL–9054–4]
SUMMARY:
AGENCY:
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Environmental Impact Statements;
Notice of Availability
Responsible Agency: Office of Federal
Activities, General Information 202–
564–5632 or https://www.epa.gov/nepa.
Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact
Statements (EIS)
Filed December 7, 2020 10 a.m. EST
Through December 14, 2020 10 a.m.
EST
Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9.
Notice: Section 309(a) of the Clean Air
Act requires that EPA make public its
comments on EISs issued by other
Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters
on EISs are available at: https://
cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/
action/eis/search.
EIS No. 20200260, Final Supplement,
BR, CA, B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and
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The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is announcing the
availability of the final Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk
evaluation of perchloroethylene (PCE).
The purpose of conducting risk
evaluations under TSCA is to determine
whether a chemical substance presents
an unreasonable risk of injury to health
or the environment under the
conditions of use, including an
unreasonable risk to a relevant
potentially exposed or susceptible
subpopulation, without consideration of
costs or other nonrisk factors. EPA has
determined that specific conditions of
use of PCE present an unreasonable risk
of injury to health or the environment.
For those conditions of use for which
EPA has found an unreasonable risk,
EPA must move to address that
unreasonable risk through risk
management measures enumerated in
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TSCA. EPA has also determined that
specific conditions of use do not present
unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment. For those conditions
of use for which EPA has found no
unreasonable risk to health or the
environment, the Agency’s
determination is a final Agency action
and is issued via order in the risk
evaluation.
The docket for this action,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2019–0502, is
available online at https://
www.regulations.gov or in-person 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.
Due to the public health concerns
related to COVID–19, the EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is
closed to visitors with limited
exceptions. The staff continues to
provide remote customer service via
email, phone, and webform. For the
latest status information on EPA/DC
services and docket access, visit https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
technical information contact: Yvette
Selby-Mohamadu, Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001;
telephone number: (202) 564–5245;
email address: selby-mohamadu.yvette@
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.
ADDRESSES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public
in general. This action may be of
interest to persons who are or may be
interested in risk evaluations of
chemical substances under TSCA, 15
U.S.C. 2601 et seq. Since other entities
may also be interested in this final risk
evaluation, the EPA has not attempted
to describe all the specific entities that
may be affected by this action.
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B. What is the Agency’s authority for
taking this action?
TSCA section 6, 15 U.S.C. 2605,
requires EPA to conduct risk
evaluations to ‘‘determine whether a
chemical substance presents an
unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment, without consideration
of costs or other nonrisk factors,
including an unreasonable risk to a
potentially exposed or susceptible
subpopulation identified as relevant to
the risk evaluation by the
Administrator, under the conditions of
use.’’ 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(A). TSCA
sections 6(b)(4)(A) through (H)
enumerate the deadlines and minimum
requirements applicable to this process,
including provisions that provide
instruction on chemical substances that
must undergo evaluation, the minimum
components of a TSCA risk evaluation,
and the timelines for public comment
and completion of the risk evaluation.
TSCA also requires that EPA operate in
a manner that is consistent with the best
available science, make decisions based
on the weight of the scientific evidence
and consider reasonably available
information. 15 U.S.C. 2625(h), (i), and
(k). TSCA section 6(i) directs that a
determination of ‘‘no unreasonable risk’’
shall be issued by order and considered
to be a final Agency action, while a
determination of ‘‘unreasonable risk’’ is
not considered to be a final Agency
action. 15 U.S.C. 2605(i).
The statute identifies the minimum
components for all chemical substance
risk evaluations. For each risk
evaluation, EPA must publish a
document that outlines the scope of the
risk evaluation to be conducted, which
includes the hazards, exposures,
conditions of use, and the potentially
exposed or susceptible subpopulations
that EPA expects to consider. 15 U.S.C.
2605(b)(4)(D). The statute further
provides that each risk evaluation must
also: (1) integrate and assess available
information on hazards and exposures
for the conditions of use of the chemical
substance, including information that is
relevant to specific risks of injury to
health or the environment and
information on relevant potentially
exposed or susceptible subpopulations;
(2) describe whether aggregate or
sentinel exposures were considered and
the basis for that consideration; (3) take
into account, where relevant, the likely
duration, intensity, frequency, and
number of exposures under the
conditions of use; and (4) describe the
weight of the scientific evidence for the
identified hazards and exposures. 15
U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(F)(i) through (ii) and
(iv) through (v). Each risk evaluation
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must not consider costs or other nonrisk
factors. 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(F)(iii).
The statute requires that the risk
evaluation process be completed within
a specified timeframe and provide an
opportunity for public comment on a
draft risk evaluation prior to publishing
a final risk evaluation. 15 U.S.C.
2605(b)(4).
Subsection 5.4.1 of the final risk
evaluation for PCE constitutes the order
required under TSCA section 6(i)(1),
and the ‘‘no unreasonable risk’’
determinations in that subsection are
considered to be a final Agency action
effective on the date of issuance of the
order. In conducting risk evaluations,
‘‘EPA will determine whether the
chemical substance presents an
unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment under each condition
of use within the scope of the risk
evaluation. . ..’’ 40 CFR 702.47. Under
EPA’s implementing regulations, ‘‘[a]
determination by EPA that the chemical
substance, under one or more of the
conditions of use within the scope of
the risk evaluation, does not present an
unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment will be issued by order
and considered to be a final Agency
action, effective on the date of issuance
of the order.’’ 40 CFR 702.49(d). For
purposes of TSCA section 19(a)(1)(A),
the date of issuance of the TSCA section
6(i)(1) order for PCE shall be at 1:00
p.m. Eastern time (standard or daylight,
as appropriate) on the date that is two
weeks after the date when this notice is
published in the Federal Register,
which is in accordance with 40 CFR
23.5.
C. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is announcing the availability of
the risk evaluation of the chemical
substance identified in Unit II. In this
risk evaluation EPA has made
unreasonable risk determinations on
some of the conditions of use within the
scope of the risk evaluation for this
chemical. For those conditions of use
for which EPA has found an
unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment, EPA must initiate
regulatory action to address those risks
through risk management measures
enumerated in 15 U.S.C. 2605(a).
EPA also is announcing the
availability of the information required
to be provided publicly with each risk
evaluation, which is available online at
https://www.regulations.gov in the
dockets identified. 40 CFR 702.51.
Specifically, EPA has provided:
• The scope document and problem
formulation (in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2016–0732);
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• Draft risk evaluation and final risk
evaluation (in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2019–0502);
• All notices, determinations,
findings, consent agreements, and
orders (in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2019–0502);
• Any information required to be
provided to the Agency under 15 U.S.C.
2603 (in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OPPT–
2016–0732 and Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2019–0502);
• A nontechnical summary of the risk
evaluation (in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2019–0502);
• A list of the studies, with the results
of the studies, considered in carrying
out each risk evaluation (Risk
Evaluation for Perchloroethylene
(Ethene, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloro-)) in Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OPPT–2019–0502);
• The final peer review report,
including the response to peer review
and public comments received during
peer review (in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2019–0502); and
• Response to public comments
received on the draft scope and the draft
risk evaluation (in Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OPPT–2019–0502).
II. TSCA Risk Evaluation
A. What is EPA’s risk evaluation process
for existing chemicals under TSCA?
The risk evaluation process is the
second step in EPA’s existing chemical
process under TSCA, following
prioritization and before risk
management. As this chemical is one of
the first ten chemical substances
undergoing risk evaluation, the
chemical substance was not required to
go through prioritization (81 FR 91927,
December 19, 2016) (FRL–9956–47). The
purpose of conducting risk evaluations
is to determine whether a chemical
substance presents an unreasonable risk
of injury to health or the environment
under the conditions of use, including
an unreasonable risk to a relevant
potentially exposed or susceptible
subpopulation. As part of this process,
EPA must evaluate both hazard and
exposure, not consider costs or other
nonrisk factors, use reasonably available
information and approaches in a
manner that is consistent with the
requirements in TSCA for the use of the
best available science, and ensure
decisions are based on the weight of the
scientific evidence.
The specific risk evaluation process
that EPA has established by rule to
implement the statutory process is set
out in 40 CFR part 702 and summarized
on EPA’s website at https://
www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managingchemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluations-
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existing-chemicals-under-tsca. As
explained in the preamble to EPA’s final
rule on procedures for risk evaluation
(82 FR 33726, July 20, 2017) (FRL–
9964–38), the specific regulatory
process set out in 40 CFR part 702,
subpart B will be followed for the first
ten chemical substances undergoing risk
evaluation to the maximum extent
practicable.
Prior to the publication of this final
risk evaluation, a draft risk evaluation
was subject to peer review and public
comment. EPA reviewed the peer
review report from the Science Advisory
Committee on Chemicals (SACC) and
public comments and has supplemented
the risk evaluation in response to these
comments as appropriate. The public
comments and peer review report are in
Docket EPA–HQ–OPPT–2019–0502 at
www.regulations.gov. Prior to the
publication of the draft risk evaluation,
EPA made available the scope and
problem formulation, and solicited
public input on uses and exposure.
EPA’s documents and the public
comments are in Docket EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2019–0502. Additionally,
information about the scope, problem
formulation, and draft risk evaluation
phases of the TSCA risk evaluation for
this chemical is available at https://
www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managingchemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluationperchloroethylene.
B. What is Perchloroethylene?
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Perchloroethylene is currently
manufactured, processed, distributed,
used, and disposed of as part of a wide
range of industrial, commercial, and
consumer conditions of use, including
production of fluorinated compounds,
and as a solvent in dry cleaning and
vapor degreasing. Consumer and
commercial products that contain
perchloroethylene include adhesives
(arts and crafts, as well as light repairs),
aerosol degreasing, brake cleaners,
aerosol lubricants, sealants, stone
polish, stainless steel polish and other
cleaners used for wiping surfaces. The
yearly aggregate production volume for
perchloroethylene ranged from 388 to
324 million pounds between 2012 and
2015 according to CDR data.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
Andrew Wheeler,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020–27880 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
minute requests will be accepted but
may not be possible to fill.
[FRS 17305]
Federal Communications Commission.
Ronald T. Repasi,
Acting Chief, Office of Engineering and
Technology.
Federal Advisory Committee Act;
Technological Advisory Council
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
[FR Doc. 2020–27832 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am]
In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, this
notice advises interested persons that
the Federal Communications
Commission’s (FCC) Technological
Advisory Council will hold a meeting
on Thursday January 14, 2021 via
conference call and available to the
public via the internet at https://
www.fcc.gov/live, from 10:00 a.m. to
12:30 p.m.
DATES: Thursday January 14, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Ha, Deputy Chief, Policy and
Rules Division 202–418–2099;
michael.ha@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the
January 14th meeting, the TAC will
consider and vote on a white paper
prepared by the Artificial Intelligence
working group and recommendations
from its four working groups: 5G/IOT/
V–RAN, Future of Unlicensed
Operations, Artificial Intelligence, and
5G Radio Access Network Technology.
This agenda may be modified at the
discretion of the TAC Chair and the
Designated Federal Officer (DFO).
Meetings are broadcast live with open
captioning over the internet from the
FCC Live web page at https://
www.fcc.gov/live/. The public may
submit written comments before the
meeting to Michael Ha, the FCC’s
Designated Federal Officer for
Technological Advisory Council by
email: michael.ha@fcc.gov or U.S. Postal
Service Mail (Michael Ha, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554).
Open captioning will be provided for
this event. Other reasonable
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disabilities are available upon request.
Requests for such accommodations
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fcc504@fcc.gov or by calling the Office
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418–2470 (voice), (202) 418–1944 (fax).
Such requests should include a detailed
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needed. In addition, please include your
contact information. Please allow at
least five days advance notice; last
FEDERAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
EXAMINATION COUNCIL
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
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BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
[Docket No. AS20–14]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Renewal of an Approved
Information Collection: Reporting
information for the AMC Registry
Appraisal Subcommittee of the
Federal Financial Institutions
Examination Council (ASC)
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
ASC invites public comments on our
intention to request the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
approval to renew an information
collection request entitled ‘‘Reporting
information for the AMC Registry.’’
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before February 16, 2021
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Commenters are encouraged
to submit comments by the Federal
eRulemaking Portal or email, if possible.
You may submit comments, identified
by Docket Number AS20–14, by any of
the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.Regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting
comments. Click on the ‘‘Help’’ tab on
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information on using Regulations.gov,
including instructions for submitting
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• E-Mail: webmaster@asc.gov. Include
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the message.
• Fax: (202) 289–4101. Include the
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• Mail: Address to Appraisal
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• Hand Delivery/Courier: 1325 G
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In general, the ASC will enter all
comments received into the docket and
publish those comments on the
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change, including any business or
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 244 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82474-82476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27880]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502; FRL-10017-44]
Perchloroethylene (PCE); Final Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) Risk Evaluation; Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the
availability of the final Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk
evaluation of perchloroethylene (PCE). The purpose of conducting risk
evaluations under TSCA is to determine whether a chemical substance
presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment
under the conditions of use, including an unreasonable risk to a
relevant potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation, without
consideration of costs or other nonrisk factors. EPA has determined
that specific conditions of use of PCE present an unreasonable risk of
injury to health or the environment. For those conditions of use for
which EPA has found an unreasonable risk, EPA must move to address that
unreasonable risk through risk management measures enumerated in TSCA.
EPA has also determined that specific conditions of use do not present
unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. For those
conditions of use for which EPA has found no unreasonable risk to
health or the environment, the Agency's determination is a final Agency
action and is issued via order in the risk evaluation.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502, is available online
at https://www.regulations.gov or in-person 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.
Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is closed to visitors with
limited exceptions. The staff continues to provide remote customer
service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status
information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact:
Yvette Selby-Mohamadu, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-5245; 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?
This action is directed to the public in general. This action may
be of interest to persons who are or may be interested in risk
evaluations of chemical substances under TSCA, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
Since other entities may also be interested in this final risk
evaluation, the EPA has not attempted to describe all the specific
entities that may be affected by this action.
[[Page 82475]]
B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?
TSCA section 6, 15 U.S.C. 2605, requires EPA to conduct risk
evaluations to ``determine whether a chemical substance presents an
unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without
consideration of costs or other nonrisk factors, including an
unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation
identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by the Administrator,
under the conditions of use.'' 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(A). TSCA sections
6(b)(4)(A) through (H) enumerate the deadlines and minimum requirements
applicable to this process, including provisions that provide
instruction on chemical substances that must undergo evaluation, the
minimum components of a TSCA risk evaluation, and the timelines for
public comment and completion of the risk evaluation. TSCA also
requires that EPA operate in a manner that is consistent with the best
available science, make decisions based on the weight of the scientific
evidence and consider reasonably available information. 15 U.S.C.
2625(h), (i), and (k). TSCA section 6(i) directs that a determination
of ``no unreasonable risk'' shall be issued by order and considered to
be a final Agency action, while a determination of ``unreasonable
risk'' is not considered to be a final Agency action. 15 U.S.C.
2605(i).
The statute identifies the minimum components for all chemical
substance risk evaluations. For each risk evaluation, EPA must publish
a document that outlines the scope of the risk evaluation to be
conducted, which includes the hazards, exposures, conditions of use,
and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations that EPA
expects to consider. 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(D). The statute further
provides that each risk evaluation must also: (1) integrate and assess
available information on hazards and exposures for the conditions of
use of the chemical substance, including information that is relevant
to specific risks of injury to health or the environment and
information on relevant potentially exposed or susceptible
subpopulations; (2) describe whether aggregate or sentinel exposures
were considered and the basis for that consideration; (3) take into
account, where relevant, the likely duration, intensity, frequency, and
number of exposures under the conditions of use; and (4) describe the
weight of the scientific evidence for the identified hazards and
exposures. 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(F)(i) through (ii) and (iv) through
(v). Each risk evaluation must not consider costs or other nonrisk
factors. 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(F)(iii).
The statute requires that the risk evaluation process be completed
within a specified timeframe and provide an opportunity for public
comment on a draft risk evaluation prior to publishing a final risk
evaluation. 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4).
Subsection 5.4.1 of the final risk evaluation for PCE constitutes
the order required under TSCA section 6(i)(1), and the ``no
unreasonable risk'' determinations in that subsection are considered to
be a final Agency action effective on the date of issuance of the
order. In conducting risk evaluations, ``EPA will determine whether the
chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment under each condition of use within the scope of the
risk evaluation. . ..'' 40 CFR 702.47. Under EPA's implementing
regulations, ``[a] determination by EPA that the chemical substance,
under one or more of the conditions of use within the scope of the risk
evaluation, does not present an unreasonable risk of injury to health
or the environment will be issued by order and considered to be a final
Agency action, effective on the date of issuance of the order.'' 40 CFR
702.49(d). For purposes of TSCA section 19(a)(1)(A), the date of
issuance of the TSCA section 6(i)(1) order for PCE shall be at 1:00
p.m. Eastern time (standard or daylight, as appropriate) on the date
that is two weeks after the date when this notice is published in the
Federal Register, which is in accordance with 40 CFR 23.5.
C. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is announcing the availability of the risk evaluation of the
chemical substance identified in Unit II. In this risk evaluation EPA
has made unreasonable risk determinations on some of the conditions of
use within the scope of the risk evaluation for this chemical. For
those conditions of use for which EPA has found an unreasonable risk of
injury to health or the environment, EPA must initiate regulatory
action to address those risks through risk management measures
enumerated in 15 U.S.C. 2605(a).
EPA also is announcing the availability of the information required
to be provided publicly with each risk evaluation, which is available
online at https://www.regulations.gov in the dockets identified. 40 CFR
702.51. Specifically, EPA has provided:
The scope document and problem formulation (in Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0732);
Draft risk evaluation and final risk evaluation (in Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502);
All notices, determinations, findings, consent agreements,
and orders (in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502);
Any information required to be provided to the Agency
under 15 U.S.C. 2603 (in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0732 and Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502);
A nontechnical summary of the risk evaluation (in Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502);
A list of the studies, with the results of the studies,
considered in carrying out each risk evaluation (Risk Evaluation for
Perchloroethylene (Ethene, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloro-)) in Docket ID No. EPA-
HQ-OPPT-2019-0502);
The final peer review report, including the response to
peer review and public comments received during peer review (in Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502); and
Response to public comments received on the draft scope
and the draft risk evaluation (in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502).
II. TSCA Risk Evaluation
A. What is EPA's risk evaluation process for existing chemicals under
TSCA?
The risk evaluation process is the second step in EPA's existing
chemical process under TSCA, following prioritization and before risk
management. As this chemical is one of the first ten chemical
substances undergoing risk evaluation, the chemical substance was not
required to go through prioritization (81 FR 91927, December 19, 2016)
(FRL-9956-47). The purpose of conducting risk evaluations is to
determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of
injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use,
including an unreasonable risk to a relevant potentially exposed or
susceptible subpopulation. As part of this process, EPA must evaluate
both hazard and exposure, not consider costs or other nonrisk factors,
use reasonably available information and approaches in a manner that is
consistent with the requirements in TSCA for the use of the best
available science, and ensure decisions are based on the weight of the
scientific evidence.
The specific risk evaluation process that EPA has established by
rule to implement the statutory process is set out in 40 CFR part 702
and summarized on EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-
managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluations-
[[Page 82476]]
existing-chemicals-under-tsca. As explained in the preamble to EPA's
final rule on procedures for risk evaluation (82 FR 33726, July 20,
2017) (FRL-9964-38), the specific regulatory process set out in 40 CFR
part 702, subpart B will be followed for the first ten chemical
substances undergoing risk evaluation to the maximum extent
practicable.
Prior to the publication of this final risk evaluation, a draft
risk evaluation was subject to peer review and public comment. EPA
reviewed the peer review report from the Science Advisory Committee on
Chemicals (SACC) and public comments and has supplemented the risk
evaluation in response to these comments as appropriate. The public
comments and peer review report are in Docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502 at
www.regulations.gov. Prior to the publication of the draft risk
evaluation, EPA made available the scope and problem formulation, and
solicited public input on uses and exposure. EPA's documents and the
public comments are in Docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0502. Additionally,
information about the scope, problem formulation, and draft risk
evaluation phases of the TSCA risk evaluation for this chemical is
available at https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluation-perchloroethylene.
B. What is Perchloroethylene?
Perchloroethylene is currently manufactured, processed,
distributed, used, and disposed of as part of a wide range of
industrial, commercial, and consumer conditions of use, including
production of fluorinated compounds, and as a solvent in dry cleaning
and vapor degreasing. Consumer and commercial products that contain
perchloroethylene include adhesives (arts and crafts, as well as light
repairs), aerosol degreasing, brake cleaners, aerosol lubricants,
sealants, stone polish, stainless steel polish and other cleaners used
for wiping surfaces. The yearly aggregate production volume for
perchloroethylene ranged from 388 to 324 million pounds between 2012
and 2015 according to CDR data.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
Andrew Wheeler,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-27880 Filed 12-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P