WEDNESDAY December 23, 1992 Part VI Environmental Protection Agency 1992 Master Testing List; Notice of Availability (This reprint was prepared from the electronic file that accompanied the original signed documents transmitted to the Office of the Federal Register. This file was certified to be a true copy of the original.) (This document appeared at 57 FR 61239 - 61240.) Federal Register / Vol. 57, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 1992 / Notices ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPPTS - 42052L FRL 4178 - 1] RIN: 2070 - AC30 1992 Master Testing List; Notice of Availability AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of the 1992 Master Testing List (MTL), an important component of the Existing Chemicals Program in the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics in EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. EPA's Existing Chemicals Program is responsible for assessing and managing human health and environmental risks that may be posed by existing chemicals. EPA has been using the MTL since 1990 to set the Agency's chemical testing agenda under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request copies of the 1992 MTL contact: Susan B. Hazen, Director, Environmental Assistance Division (TS - 799), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 554 - 1404, TDD (202) 554 - 0551. ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the MTL should be sent in triplicate, to: TSCA Public Docket (TS - 793), Attn: TSCA Section 4 Master Testing List, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Availability: This document, along with the 1992 MTL itself, is available as an electronic file on the Federal Bulletin Board at 9:00 a.m. on the date of publication in the Federal Register. By modem dial (202) 512 - 1387 or call (202) 512 - 1530 for disks or paper copies. This file is also available in Postscript, Wordperfect and ASCII. The 1992 MTL is available in Wordperfect and ASCII. 1992 Master Testing List Under section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA has the authority to require chemical manufacturers and processors to test chemicals. Specifically, EPA has the authority to require testing after finding that (1) a chemical substance may present an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment, or the chemical is produced in substantial quantities which could result in significant or substantial human or environmental exposure, and (2) available data to evaluate the chemical substance are inadequate, and (3) testing is needed to develop the necessary data. EPA's Chemical Testing Program also continues to work with industry to develop needed test data by way of consent orders and voluntary testing agreements. This notice announces the availability of the 1992 MTL. The major purposes of EPA's MTL are to: 1. Identify the chemical testing needs of the Federal Government (including EPA) and international programs of interest to the United States. 2. Focus limited EPA resources on the highest priority chemical testing needs. 3. Identify and publicize EPA's testing priorities for industrial chemicals. 4. Obtain broad public comment on EPA's Chemical Testing Program and its priorities. 5. Encourage initiatives by industry to provide EPA with the priority data needs identified on the MTL. Since 1990, EPA has (1) added 222 specific chemicals and 9 categories to the MTL, (2) deleted 45 chemicals from the MTL, (3) proposed testing for 113 chemicals via proposed rulemaking under TSCA section 4; (4) required testing for 6 chemicals and 1 category via final TSCA section 4 test rules, negotiated consent orders or voluntary testing agreements, and (5) made risk assessment and/or management decisions on 41 chemicals based on final TSCA section 4 test results received. In addition, 159 chemical substances that are listed on the MTL are now being tested under the Screening Information Data Set (SIDS) program, an international voluntary testing program developed under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Members of the U.S. chemical industry have agreed to test 39 of these chemical substances while other OECD member countries are testing the remainder. This cooperative voluntary effort addresses the testing needs for international high production volume chemicals. The MTL now contains over 320 specific chemicals and 9 categories and presents the EPA Chemical Testing Program's 1992 - 1994 priorities. EPA invites written comments from persons interested in development of the MTL. In particular, EPA is interested in comments on the approach it takes to identify priority testing needs. EPA is also interested in comments on the categories of chemicals described in the MTL. Comments in this regard may affect how the categories are ranked and may influence how EPA proceeds to obtain needed toxicity and/or exposure data on chemicals within those categories. EPA is also interested in identifying other categories of chemicals that may deserve further evaluation. Dated: December 16, 1992. Joseph S. Carra, Acting Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. 92 - 31149 Filed 12 - 22 - 92; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560 - 50 - F