### 70443 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2011 / Notices

Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant

040801 ..................................................... Tchefuncte River and Tributaries—Headwaters to confluence with Bogue Falaya River (Scenic). Mercury.

040905 ..................................................... Bayou Liberty—Headwaters to LA Hwy 433 .............................. .............................. Mercury. 040906 ..................................................... Bayou Liberty—LA Hwy 433 to confluence with Bayou Bonfouca (Estuarin e) ....... Mercury.

EPA requests the public provide to EPA any water quality related data and information that may be relevant to the
calculations for the 28 TMDLs. EPA will
review all data and information submitted during the public comment period and will revise the TMDLs where appropriate. EPA will then forward the TMDLs to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). The LDEQ will incorporate the TMDLs into its current water quality management plan.

Dated: November 3, 2011. Troy Hill, Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.

[FR Doc. 2011–29302 Filed 11–10–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION**
**AGENCY**

**[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2011–0793; FRL–9327–4]**

**Decision on Waiver Application From**
**3M**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  EPA conditionally granted the request from 3M for a waiver from testing tetrabromobisphenol A (CASRN 79–94–7). Regulations issued by EPA
under section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act require that specified
chemical substances be tested to determine if they are contaminated with halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins (HDDs) or halogenated dibenzofurans (HDFs), and that results be reported to EPA. However, the regulations allow for
exclusion and waiver from these requirements if an appropriate application is submitted to EPA and is approved. EPA received such a request for a waiver from these testing requirements from 3M.

**DATES :**  EPA conditionally granted the 3M waiver on November 7, 2011.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For technical information contact: Rebecca Edelstein, National Program Chemicals Division, Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7404T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (202) 564–8566; Email address: edelstein.rebecca@epa.gov.

For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 554– 1404; email address: TSCAHotline@epa.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

This action is directed to the public in general. As such, the Agency has not attempted to describe the specific entities that this action may apply to. Although others may be affected, this action applies directly to the submitter of the request for waiver, 3M. 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 copies of this document and other related information?

EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2011–0793.
All documents in the docket are listed
in the docket index available at http:// www.regulations.gov. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPPT
Docket. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) at Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is (202) 566–0280. Docket visitors are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC badge that must be visible at all times in the building and returned upon departure.

II. What action is the agency taking?

This notice announces the conditional granting of the request from 3M for a waiver from testing under 40 CFR 766.32(a)(2)(i) for tetrabromobisphenol A (CASRN 79–94–7). This waiver is conditional on 3M manufacturing (including importing) no more than 100 kilograms (kg) of the chemical substance per year, and on its doing so solely for research and development purposes.

III. What is the agency’s authority for taking this action?

Under 40 CFR part 766, EPA requires testing of certain chemical substances to determine whether they may be
contaminated with HDDs and HDFs. Under 40 CFR 766.32(a)(2)(i), a waiver may be granted if a responsible company official certifies that the chemical substance is produced only in quantities of 100 kg or less per year, and only for research and development

purposes.

Under 40 CFR 766.32(b), a request for a waiver must be made 60 days before resumption of manufacture or importation of a chemical substance not being manufactured, imported, or processed as of June 5, 1987.

On September 14, 2011, EPA received a waiver request from 3M under 40 CFR 766.32(a)(2)(i). EPA announced receipt of the 3M waiver request and requested public comment in the Federal Register issue of September 27, 2011 (76 FR 59699)

(FRL–8890–4). The waiver request
from 3M indicates that 3M intends to import less than 100 kg of tetrabromobisphenol A (CASRN 79–94– 7), a chemical substance subject to testing under 40 CFR part 766, as part of an experimental formulation for research and development purposes. In a subsequent email message, dated September 27, 2011, 3M confirmed that the chemical substance will solely be used for research and development

purposes.

EPA has determined that 3M qualifies for a research and development waiver from testing for tetrabromobisphenol A, conditional on 3M manufacturing (including importing) no more than 100


### 70444 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2011 / Notices

kg of the chemical substance per year, and on its doing so solely for research and development purposes.

EPA received an anonymous comment on 3M’s waiver request stating that EPA should deny the waiver request; however, the commenter did not provide any rationale for why EPA should deny 3M’s request.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Dibenzofurans, Dioxins, Hazardous substances, Tetrabromobisphenol A.

Dated: November 7, 2011. Wendy C. Hamnett, Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and

Toxics.

[FR Doc. 2011–29301 Filed 11–10–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION**
**AGENCY**

**[FRL–9491–7]**

**Environmental Economics Advisory Committee Augmented for the** 
**Consideration of the Value of Water to the U.S. Economy** 

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the augmented SAB Environmental Economics Advisory Committee to provide early advice on the value of water to the United States (U.S.) Economy. The SAB Staff Office also announces the availability of
information on committee members and the opportunity for public comment.

**DATES :**  The teleconference will be held on December 5, 2011 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time).

**ADDRESSES :**  The public teleconference will be conducted by telephone only.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Any member of the public wishing further information regarding this teleconference may contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff Office, by telephone/ voice mail at (202) 564–48853 or via
email at carpenter.thomas@epa.gov. General information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found at
the EPA SAB Web site at http:// www.epa.gov/sab.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Background: The SAB was established pursuant to the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDAA) codified at 42 U.S.C. 4365, to provide independent scientific and technical peer review, advice, consultation, and recommendations to
the EPA Administrator on the technical
basis for EPA actions. As a Federal Advisory Committee, the SAB conducts
business in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. app. 2) and related regulations. Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy, notice is hereby given that the Environmental Economics Advisory Committee Augmented for the
Consideration of the Value of Water to the U.S. Economy will hold a public teleconference to provide early advice to assist EPA scope, plan and develop a report on water’s contribution to the U.S. economy. The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.

EPA’s Office of Water requested SAB provide a consultation on the data, information, and analytical methodology to evaluate the value of water to the U.S. economy and provide a resource for future decision-making. EPA plans to develop a report on the importance of clean water to the U.S. economy. The Agency is seeking advice and comment on topics such as how the availability of clean water may affect patterns of economic development, advantages clean water may provide to different sectors of the economy (i.e., tourism, farming and food production, fishing, manufacturing, infrastructure, housing and energy), and what data are available or needed to support strategic choices. EPA anticipates this effort,
when combined with EPA research on
the value of water in the United States from nonmarket values ( e.g., nonuse values, recreation, etc. ), will integrate
market and nonmarket economic value information that is critical to support decision-making at multiple scales ( e.g., EPA, state, regional, watershed, or local).

Availability of the review materials: The agendas and materials in support of this meeting will be placed on the EPA
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of the meeting. For technical questions and information concerning EPA’s approach, please contact Mr. John Powers at (202) 564–5776 or powers.john@epa.gov.

Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public comment for consideration by EPA’s federal advisory committees and panels has a different purpose from public comment provided to EPA program offices. Therefore, the process for submitting comments to a federal advisory committee is different from the process used to submit comments to an EPA program office.

Federal advisory committees and panels, including scientific advisory committees, provide independent advice to EPA. Members of the public

can submit relevant comments pertaining to the group conducting this advisory activity, EPA’s charge, or meeting materials. Input from the public to the SAB will have the most impact if it consists of comments that provide specific scientific or technical information or analysis for the SAB to consider. Members of the public wishing to provide comment should contact the Designated Federal Officer for the relevant advisory committee directly.

Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation at this public meeting will be limited to five minutes per speaker. Interested parties should contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter, DFO, in writing (preferably via email), at the contact information noted above, by November 30, 2011 to be placed on the list of public speakers for the meeting. Written

Statements: Written statements should be received in the SAB Staff Office by November 30, 2011 so that the information may be made available to

the SAB Panel for their consideration. Written statements should be supplied

to the DFO in electronic format via email (acceptable file formats: Adobe Acrobat PDF, WordPerfect, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM–PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). It is the SAB Staff Office general policy to post written comments on the Web page for the advisory meeting or teleconference. Submitters are requested to provide an unsigned version of each

document because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents with signatures on its Web sites. Members of the public should be aware that their personal contact information, if included in any written comments, may be posted to the SAB Web site. Copyrighted material will not be posted without explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Accessibility: For information on

access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Mr. Carpenter at the phone number or email address noted above, preferably at least ten days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process
your request.