Ortho-Phthalaldehyde; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment, 58265-58266 [2023-18389]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 164 / Friday, August 25, 2023 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 not part of the prior review, and that have been published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The Agency is interested in obtaining newly available information, particularly concerning toxicological studies of effects of controlled exposure to O3 in laboratory animals, humans, and in vitro systems; epidemiologic (observational) studies of health effects associated with ambient O3 exposures in human populations; studies examining populations and life stages that may be at increased risk of O3-related health effects.. For studies examining effects on welfare or the environment, studies that address or provide new information on terrestrial biota are of particular interest, including effects of O3 on vegetation; communities and populations of plants and associated biota, as well as exposure-response relationships between O3 in ambient air and specific welfare effects. The EPA also seeks recent information in other areas of O3 research such as atmospheric chemistry and physics, sources and emissions, analytical methodology, transport and transformation in the environment, and ambient concentrations. The Agency also seeks information regarding the design and scope of the review of the air quality criteria to ensure that it addresses key policyrelevant issues and considers the new science that is relevant to informing our understanding of these issues. The Agency seeks new scientific information that may address key uncertainties identified in the last O3 NAAQS review, which are provided in section 3.6 of the 2020 Policy Assessment (EPA–452/R– 20–001, May 2020).3 The Agency also seeks new scientific information or data that may address scientific and technical issues raised in two more recent letters from CASAC: one dated November 22, 2022 (EPA–CASAC–23– 001) 4 and the other dated June 9, 2023 (EPA–CASAC–23–002).5 Other 3 The 2020 Policy Assessment for the Review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards is available at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/ files/2020-05/documents/o3-final_pa-05-2920compressed.pdf. 4 Letter from Elizabeth A. Sheppard, Chair, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, to Administrator Michael S. Regan. Re: CASAC Review of the EPA’s Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (Final Report—April 2020). November 22, 2022. EPA–CASAC–23–001. Available at: https:// casac.epa.gov/ords/sab/f?p=105:18: 8476900499267:::RP,18:P18_ID:2614. 5 Letter from Elizabeth A. Sheppard, Chair, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, to Administrator Michael S. Regan. Re: CASAC Review of the EPA’s Policy Assessment (PA) for the Reconsideration of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (External Review Draft Version 2) (June 9, 2023) (EPA–CASAC–23–002). Available at VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:23 Aug 24, 2023 Jkt 259001 opportunities for submission of new peer-reviewed, published (or in-press) papers will be possible as part of public comment on the draft ISA that will be reviewed by the CASAC. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at www.regulations.gov Submit your materials identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2023– 0435 by one of the following methods: • www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • Email: ord.docket@epa.gov. • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Office of Research and Development Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202– 566–1752. • Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center’s hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). If you provide materials by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of these materials. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the materials, and submit an unbound original and three copies. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2023– 0435. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked ‘‘late,’’ and may only be considered if time permits. It is EPA’s policy to include all materials it receives in the public docket without change and to make the materials available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless materials include information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov website is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the materials that are placed in the public https://casac.epa.gov/ords/sab/f?p=113:18: 7093179574667:::RP,18:P18_ID:2636#meeting. PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58265 docket and made available on the internet. If you submit electronic materials, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your materials and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your materials due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider the materials you submit. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket visit EPA’s Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/ dockets. Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in EPA’s Headquarters Docket Center. Wayne Cascio, Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. 2023–18335 Filed 8–24–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPP–2023–0404; FRL–11284–01– OCSPP] Ortho-Phthalaldehyde; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use the pesticide orthophthalaldehyde (OPA, CAS No. 643–79– 8) to treat the coolant fluid of the internal active thermal control system of the International Space Station to control aerobic/microaerophilic bacteria in the aqueous coolant. The applicant proposes the use of a new chemical which has not been registered by EPA. Therefore, in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, EPA is soliciting public comment before making the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25AUN1.SGM 25AUN1 58266 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 164 / Friday, August 25, 2023 / Notices decision whether to grant the exemption. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 11, 2023. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPP–2023–0404, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 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. Additional instructions on commenting and visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Smith, Director Registration Division (7505T), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001; main telephone number: (202) 566–1030; email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 A. Does this action apply to me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are a pesticide manufacturer, North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) (Code 32532) or involved with the International Space Station. This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. Other types of entities not listed could also be affected. B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA? 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD–ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD–ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD–ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting your VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:23 Aug 24, 2023 Jkt 259001 comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ commenting-epa-dockets. 3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group, including minority and/or low-income populations, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the pesticide(s) discussed in this document, compared to the general population. II. What action is the Agency taking? Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the EPA Administrator, a Federal or State agency may be exempted from any provision of FIFRA if the EPA Administrator determines that emergency conditions exist which require the exemption. NASA has requested the EPA Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use of ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) in the coolant of the internal active thermal control system (IATCS) of the International Space Station (ISS) to control aerobic/microaerophilic bacteria in the aqueous coolant. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request. As part of this request, the applicant asserted that it has considered the registered biocide alternatives and has concluded that OPA is the most effective biocide that meets the requisite criteria including: The need for safe, non-intrusive implementation and operation in a functioning system; the ability to control existing planktonic and biofilm-residing micro-organisms; a negligible impact on system wetted materials of construction; and a negligible reactivity with existing coolant additives. The ISS would not have an adequate long-term solution for controlling the micro-organisms in the IATCS coolant without the use of OPA. The OPA is incorporated into a porous resin material contained in a stainlesssteel canister. The canister containing the OPA-incorporated resin is inserted into a coolant system loop, using flexible hose and quick disconnects and is placed in line for 8 hours to deliver the OPA into the fluid. As the coolant fluid flows through the cannister, the PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 OPA elutes from the resin material into the coolant fluid. The total volume of the circulatory loops of the IATCS is 829 liters. The maximum concentration would be 350 milligrams (mg) of OPA per liter of coolant fluid. A total of 290,150 mg would be needed for the entire system. The OPA is incorporated into the resin at 210 mg OPA per cm3 resin, resulting in a potential total use of 1,382 cm3 of the OPA-containing resin. The level of OPA in the coolant is monitored periodically, and because OPA degrades over time, the concentration decreases to a level that is no longer effective in about 1 to 2 years. At this point, replenishment with new OPA-containing canisters is required. EPA has authorized similar emergency exemptions for this use since 2011. With the decision to extend the mission of the ISS to 2030, the need for this use is expected to continue for the duration of the program. This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the application itself. The regulations governing FIFRA section 18 require publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific exemption proposing the use of a new chemical (i.e., an active ingredient) which has not been registered by EPA. The notice provides an opportunity for public comment on the application. The Agency will review and consider all comments received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the specific exemption requested by the NASA. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. Dated: August 21, 2023. Charles Smith, Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. 2023–18389 Filed 8–24–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060–0027, 3060–0029, 3060–0850; FR ID 165823] Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25AUN1.SGM 25AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58265-58266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18389]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0404; FRL-11284-01-OCSPP]


Ortho-Phthalaldehyde; Receipt of Application for Emergency 
Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use the 
pesticide ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA, CAS No. 643-79-8) to treat the 
coolant fluid of the internal active thermal control system of the 
International Space Station to control aerobic/microaerophilic bacteria 
in the aqueous coolant. The applicant proposes the use of a new 
chemical which has not been registered by EPA. Therefore, in accordance 
with the Code of Federal Regulations, EPA is soliciting public comment 
before making the

[[Page 58266]]

decision whether to grant the exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0404, through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at 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. Additional 
instructions on commenting and visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Smith, Director Registration 
Division (7505T), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-
0001; main telephone number: (202) 566-1030; 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 a 
pesticide manufacturer, North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) (Code 32532) or involved with the International Space Station. 
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Other types of entities not listed could also be affected.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the 
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or 
CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as 
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as 
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting 
your comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
    3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental 
justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group, 
including minority and/or low-income populations, in the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the 
Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population 
who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other 
factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human 
health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the 
pesticide(s) discussed in this document, compared to the general 
population.

II. What action is the Agency taking?

    Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the EPA 
Administrator, a Federal or State agency may be exempted from any 
provision of FIFRA if the EPA Administrator determines that emergency 
conditions exist which require the exemption. NASA has requested the 
EPA Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use of ortho-
phthalaldehyde (OPA) in the coolant of the internal active thermal 
control system (IATCS) of the International Space Station (ISS) to 
control aerobic/microaerophilic bacteria in the aqueous coolant. 
Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of 
this request.
    As part of this request, the applicant asserted that it has 
considered the registered biocide alternatives and has concluded that 
OPA is the most effective biocide that meets the requisite criteria 
including: The need for safe, non-intrusive implementation and 
operation in a functioning system; the ability to control existing 
planktonic and biofilm-residing micro-organisms; a negligible impact on 
system wetted materials of construction; and a negligible reactivity 
with existing coolant additives. The ISS would not have an adequate 
long-term solution for controlling the micro-organisms in the IATCS 
coolant without the use of OPA. The OPA is incorporated into a porous 
resin material contained in a stainless-steel canister. The canister 
containing the OPA-incorporated resin is inserted into a coolant system 
loop, using flexible hose and quick disconnects and is placed in line 
for 8 hours to deliver the OPA into the fluid. As the coolant fluid 
flows through the cannister, the OPA elutes from the resin material 
into the coolant fluid. The total volume of the circulatory loops of 
the IATCS is 829 liters. The maximum concentration would be 350 
milligrams (mg) of OPA per liter of coolant fluid. A total of 290,150 
mg would be needed for the entire system. The OPA is incorporated into 
the resin at 210 mg OPA per cm\3\ resin, resulting in a potential total 
use of 1,382 cm\3\ of the OPA-containing resin. The level of OPA in the 
coolant is monitored periodically, and because OPA degrades over time, 
the concentration decreases to a level that is no longer effective in 
about 1 to 2 years. At this point, replenishment with new OPA-
containing canisters is required. EPA has authorized similar emergency 
exemptions for this use since 2011. With the decision to extend the 
mission of the ISS to 2030, the need for this use is expected to 
continue for the duration of the program.
    This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application itself. The regulations governing FIFRA section 18 require 
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific 
exemption proposing the use of a new chemical (i.e., an active 
ingredient) which has not been registered by EPA.
    The notice provides an opportunity for public comment on the 
application. The Agency will review and consider all comments received 
during the comment period in determining whether to issue the specific 
exemption requested by the NASA.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

    Dated: August 21, 2023.
Charles Smith,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-18389 Filed 8-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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