[Federal Register: July 23, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 141)]
[Notices]
[Page 48177-48178]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jy02-751]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPT-2002-0042; FRL-6819-1]
Final National Action Plan for Alkyl-lead; Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On August 25, 2000, EPA issued a proposed National Action
Plan on alkyl-lead for public review and comment. This Plan is intended
to promote further voluntary reductions of use and exposure to alkyl-
lead compounds. Alkyl-lead is used as a fuel additive to reduce
``knock'' in certain combustion engines. These compounds also help
lubricate internal engine components and protect intake and exhaust
valves against recession. Currently, the largest uses of alkyl-lead
compounds are in aviation gasoline for general aviation (piston-engine)
aircraft, and racing gasoline. Six comments were submitted to the
Agency concerning this plan. The Agency has reviewed these comments and
has revised the Plan accordingly. This Notice announces the
finalization and availability of the Alkyl-lead National Action Plan.
This plan was developed pursuant to the Agency's Multimedia Strategy
for Priority Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Pollutants.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact:
Barbara Cunningham, Director, Office of Program Management and
Evaluation, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7401),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address:
TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
For technical information contact: Paul Matthai, Pollution
Prevention Division, Mail Code 7409M, Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-8839; e-mail
address: matthai.paul@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general. This action may,
however, be of interest to persons who make, distribute, or use racing
and aviation gasoline. Since other entities may also be interested, 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.
B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this
Document or Other Related Documents?
1. Electronically. 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/
pbt. To access this document, on the PBT Home Page select ``Strategy
and Action Plans.''
2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for
this action under docket control number OPPT-2002-0042. The official
record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this
action, any public comments received during an applicable comment
period, and other information related to this action, including any
information claimed as confidential business information (CBI). This
official record includes the documents that are physically located in
the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those
documents. The public version of the official record does not include
any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official
record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic
comments submitted during an applicable comment period, is available
for inspection in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, North
East Mall Rm. B-607, Waterside Mall, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Center
is (202) 260-7099.
II. What Action is the Agency Taking?
On November 16, 1998, EPA released its Agency-wide Multimedia
Strategy for Priority Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT)
Pollutants (PBT Strategy). The goal of the PBT Strategy is to identify
and reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and
future exposure to priority PBT pollutants. This document serves as the
Final National Action Plan for alkyl-lead, one of the 12 Level 1
priority PBT pollutants identified for the initial focus of action in
the PBT Strategy.
Alkyl-lead compounds are man-made compounds in which a carbon atom
of one or more organic molecules is bound to a lead atom.
Tetraethyllead (TEL) and tetramethyllead (TML) compounds are the most
common alkyl-lead compounds that have been used in the past and are
still in use today in the United States. These two alkyl-lead compounds
are the focus of this National Action Plan. Alkyl-lead is used as a
fuel additive to reduce ``knock`` in combustion engines, help lubricate
internal engine components and protect intake and exhaust valves
against recession. Currently, the largest uses of alkyl-lead are in
aviation gasoline for general aviation (piston-engine) aircraft, and
racing gasoline. Neither of these uses are subject to any of the
regulations that restrict leaded motor gasoline use.
In the human body, alkyl-lead compounds are distributed through the
blood to ``soft tissues'' particularly the liver, kidneys, muscles, and
brain. Initial symptoms of alkyl-lead poisoning include, among others:
anorexia, insomnia, tremor, weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting,
mood shifts such as aggression or depression, and impairment of memory.
In the case of acute alkyl-lead poisoning, possible health effects
include mania, convulsions, delirium, fever, coma, and in some cases
even death.
The ultimate goal of this alkyl-lead Plan is to identify and reduce
risks to human health and the environment from current and future
exposure to alkyl-lead. EPA believes that, with the regulatory actions
it has taken to date, this goal is within reach. However, the Agency is
concerned about any sub-populations that may remain at risk, for
example, individuals exposed at racetracks or general aviation
airports. The Agency also recognizes that these remaining risks should
not be taken lightly. EPA does not have the authority under the Clean
Air Act to regulate the use of leaded gasoline for the racing industry,
and the authority to regulate aircraft fuel lies with the Federal
Aviation Administration. Therefore, the
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Agency has chosen to address the risks that remain for alkyl-lead
through voluntary efforts under its PBT pollutants program. It is
likely that further reductions in exposures to these chemicals will
come only through product substitution and voluntary measures.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Alkyl-lead, PBT.
Dated: June 10, 2002.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 02-18588 Filed 7-22-02 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S