[Federal Register: June 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 112)]
[Notices]
[Page 39982-39983]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jn02-72]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2002-0107; FRL-6799-3]
Minor Changes to OPPTS Harmonized Test Guidelines, Series 830
Product Properties; Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: EPA has established a unified library for test guidelines
issued by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances
(OPPTS) for use in testing chemical substances to develop data for
submission to EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), or the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The Agency is
announcing minor changes to the Series 830--Product Properties Test
Guidelines of these OPPTS harmonized test guidelines. The availability
of final guidelines in this series was announced in the Federal
Register on August 28, 1996 (61 FR 44308) (FRL-5390-7) and minor
editorial revisions were announced in the Federal Register on March 18,
1998 (63 FR 13254) (FRL-5761-6). The Agency periodically announces in
the Federal Register the availability of new and changed test
guidelines.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact:
TSCA information contact: TSCA Hotline at TAIS/7408, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
FIFRA information contact: Communications Services Branch, Field
and External Affairs Division, Office of Pesticide Programs (7506C),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 305-5017; fax number:
(703) 305-5558.
For technical information contact: Harold Podall, Office of
Pesticide Programs, Registration Division (7505C), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (703) 308-9373; e-mail address:
podall.harold@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general. Although this
action may be of particular interest to those persons who are or may be
required to conduct
[[Page 39983]]
testing of chemical substances under TSCA, FFDCA, or FIFRA, the Agency
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this
Document or Other Related Documents?
You may obtain electronic copies of this document, and certain
other related documents that might be available electronically, from
the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To access this
document, on the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations,''
``Regulations and Proposed Rules,'' and then look up the entry for this
document under the ``Federal Register--Environmental Documents.'' You
can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://
www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. You may also obtain electronic copies of the
OPPTS harmonized test guidelines from the EPA Internet Home Page at
http://www.epa.gov/opptsfrs/home/guidelin.htm.
III. What Action is EPA Taking?
EPA is announcing minor changes to the following Series 830 OPPTS
harmonized test guidelines. These changes are minor or editorial in
nature and do not amend the existing requirements under FIFRA or the
TSCA section 4 test rules. Explicit test requirements for registration
are set out in 40 CFR parts 158 and 796 and the test guidelines contain
standards for and examples of acceptable testing.
1. OPPTS 830.6317 Storage stability. Paragraphs (b)(2)(ii) and
(b)(2)(iii) addressing frequency at which chemical analysis for the
concentration(s) of the active ingredient(s) is conducted over the 1
year test duration have been changed to include an analysis at the 9-
month point. This change will enable better definition of the slope of
the degradation curve and permit improved extrapolation of the
degradation curve past the 12-month point. Additionally, the change
provides guidance for frequency of testing for storage stability
studies continued beyond 1 year. The final guideline was reviewed by
the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) at its September 27, 1995
meeting and the revised guideline contains no new scientific issues
that the Agency believes warrant review by the SAP.
2. OPPTS 830.7300 Density/relative density/bulk density. Paragraph
(c), Test procedures, has been changed to correct a typographical error
in a citation by replacing the words ``ASTM D-727'' with ``ASTM D-
729.'' This is a minor editorial change.
IV. Are there Any Applicable Voluntary Consensus Standards that EPA
Should Consider?
This notice of availability does not involve a proposed regulatory
action that would require the Agency to consider voluntary consensus
standards pursuant to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer
and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d)
(15 U.S.C. 272 note). Section 12(d) directs EPA to use voluntary
consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would
be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary
consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., materials
specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business
practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies. The NTTAA requires EPA to provide an explanation to
Congress, through Office of Management and Budget (OMB), when the
Agency decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus
standards when the NTTAA directs the Agency to do so.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemical testing, Test guideline.
Dated: May 30, 2002.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 02-14637 Filed 6-10-02; 8:45 am]
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