Environmental Protection Agency April 2, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to take action on a petition from the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to import foreign-manufactured polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). For purposes of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), ``manufacture'' is defined to include the import of chemical substances into the customs territory of the United States. With certain exceptions, section 6(e)(3) of TSCA bans the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of PCBs. One of these exceptions is TSCA section 6(e)(3)(B), which gives EPA authority to grant petitions to import PCBs into the customs territory of the United States for a period of up to 12 months, provided EPA can make certain findings by rule. On April 23, 2013, EPA received a petition from DLA, a component of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), to import foreign-manufactured PCBs that DOD currently owns in Japan for disposal in the United States. EPA is proposing to grant DLA's petition as of July 1, 2014. This proposal to grant the petition, if finalized, would allow DLA to manufacture (i.e., import) certain PCBs for disposal. EPA has granted two previous exemptions in 2003 and 2007 to DLA for similar petitions to import PCBs for disposal. Without an exemption granted by EPA, DLA would not be allowed to import the PCB waste to the U.S. for proper disposal. In fact, if the exemption is not granted, it is very likely that DLA will not be able to find any country willing to accept and properly dispose of the PCB waste.

EPA is announcing its receipt of test data submitted pursuant to a test rule issued by EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). As required by TSCA, this document identifies each chemical substance and/or mixture for which test data have been received; the uses or intended uses of such chemical substance and/or mixture; and describes the nature of the test data received. Each chemical substance and/or mixture related to this announcement is identified in Unit I. under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 27, 2014, that made technical and editorial corrections for source testing of emissions and operations. The revisions will improve data quality and provide additional flexibility by allowing the use of newly approved alternative procedures. The purpose of this action is to correct an omission to Method 202.

EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively, the Services), are holding a one day workshop to provide a forum for stakeholders to offer scientific and technical feedback on the interim approaches that were issued in November 2013 by the EPA, USDA, and the Services in response to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report entitled, ``Assessing Risks to Endangered and Threatened Species from Pesticides''. The workshop is an opportunity for stakeholders and agencies to continue their dialogue on the technical aspects of implementing the NAS recommendations, building upon public meetings held in November and December 2013 and the implementation of the enhanced stakeholder engagement process that was finalized in March 2013. The workshop is not designed to, or intended to be a decision-making forum; consensus will not be sought or developed at the meeting. This public meeting furthers the agencies' goal of developing a consultation process for pesticide impacts on listed species that is efficient, inclusive, and transparent.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of clomazone in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. In addition, this regulation removes an existing tolerance on ``cabbage'' that is superseded by this action. The Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).