Environmental Protection Agency October 31, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of [alpha]-alkyl (minimum C6 linear, branched, saturated and/or unsaturated)-[omega]-hydroxypolyoxyethylene polymer with or without polyoxypropylene, mixture of di- and monohydrogen phosphate esters and the corresponding ammonium, calcium, magnesium, monoethanolamine, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts of the phosphate esters; minimum oxyethylene content is 2 moles; minimum oxypropylene content is 0 moles, herein referred to as alkyl alcohol alkoxylate phosphate derivatives (AAAPD) and [alpha]- alkyl(C6- C15)-[omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene)sulfate, and its ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts, poly(oxyethylene) content averages 2-4 moles, herein referred to alkyl alcohol alkoxylate sulfate derivatives (AAASD) to include Chemical Abstract Service Registry Numbers listed in the Supplementary Information when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Spring Trading Company, LLC., on behalf of Croda Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of alkyl alcohol alkoxylate phosphate and sulfate derivatives on food or feed commodities.

This document announces the availability of EPA's response to a petition it received under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The TSCA section 21 petition was received from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) on July 29, 2014. The petitioner requested that EPA initiate rulemaking under TSCA to address risks related to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl chloride, and phthalates used as plasticizers. The petitioner alternatively requested that EPA initiate rulemaking under TSCA to require additional toxicity testing of these chemical substances. After careful consideration, EPA has denied the TSCA section 21 petition for the reasons discussed in this document. The TSCA section 21 petition was accompanied by an independent petition for EPA to take action under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA continues to review the petitioner's requests for action under RCRA.

The State of Arkansas has applied to the EPA for final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for Final authorization, and is authorizing the State's changes through this direct final action. The EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the changes without a prior proposal because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. Unless we receive written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize Arkansas' changes to its hazardous waste program will take effect. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes effect, and a separate document in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register will serve as a proposal to authorize the changes.