### 29344 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices

business information. Any information on Worksheet 6 shall not be considered confidential and will not be treated as such by the Agency. EPA will place a copy of Worksheet 6 in the public domain. Please note, claiming business confidentiality may delay EPA’s ability to review your application. II. What is the legal authority for the critical use exemption?
A. What is the Clean Air Act (CAA) authority for the critical use exemption?

In October 1998, Congress amended the Clean Air Act to require EPA to conform the U.S. phaseout schedule for methyl bromide to the provisions of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer for industrialized countries and to allow EPA to provide a critical use exemption. These amendments were codified in Section 604 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7671c. Under EPA implementing regulations, the production and consumption of methyl bromide was phased out as of January 1, 2005. Section 604(d)(6), as added in 1998, allows EPA to exempt the production and import of methyl bromide from the phaseout for critical uses, to the extent consistent with the Montreal Protocol.

EPA regulations at 40 CFR 82.4 prohibit the production and import of methyl bromide in excess of the amount of unexpended critical use allowances held by the producer or importer, unless authorized under a separate exemption. Methyl bromide produced or imported by expending critical use allowances may be used only for the appropriate category of approved critical uses as listed in Appendix L to the regulations (40 CFR 82.4(p)(2)). The use of methyl bromide that was produced or imported through the expenditure of production or consumption allowances prior to 2005 is not confined to critical uses under EPA’s phaseout regulations; however, other restrictions may apply.

B. What is the Montreal Protocol authority for the critical use exemption?

The Montreal Protocol provides that the Parties may exempt ‘‘the level of production or consumption that is necessary to satisfy uses agreed by them to be critical uses’’ (Art. 2H para 5). The Parties to the Protocol included this language in the treaty’s methyl bromide phaseout provisions in recognition that alternatives might not be available by 2005 for certain uses of methyl bromide agreed by the Parties to be ‘‘critical uses.’’

In their Ninth Meeting (1997), the Parties to the Protocol agreed to Decision IX/6, setting forth the following criteria for a ‘‘critical use’’ determination and an exemption from the production and consumption phaseout:

(a) That a use of methyl bromide should qualify as ‘‘critical’’ only if the nominating Party determines that:

(i) The specific use is critical because the lack of availability of methyl bromide for that use would result in a significant market disruption; and

(ii) There are no technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes available to the user that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health and are suitable to the crops and circumstances of the nomination.

(b) That production and consumption, if any, of methyl bromide for a critical use should be permitted only if:

(i) All technically and economically feasible steps have been taken to minimize the critical use and any associated emission of methyl bromide;

(ii) Methyl bromide is not available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled methyl bromide, also bearing in mind the developing countries’ need for methyl bromide;

(iii) It is demonstrated that an appropriate effort is being made to evaluate, commercialize and secure national regulatory approval of alternatives and substitutes, taking into consideration the circumstances of theparticular nomination. * * * NonArticle 5 Parties [e.g., developed countries, including the U.S.] must demonstrate that research programs are in place to develop and deploy alternatives and substitutes. * * *

EPA has defined ‘‘critical use’’ in its regulations at 40 CFR 82.3 in a manner similar to Decision IX/6 paragraph (a). C. What is the timing for applications for the 2015 control period?

There is both a domestic and international component to the critical use exemption process. The projected timeline for the process for the 2015 critical use exemption is as follows:

May 17, 2012: Solicit applications for the methyl bromide critical use exemption for 2015.

August 15, 2012: Deadline for submitting critical use exemption applications to EPA.

Fall 2012: U.S. Government (EPA, Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other interested Federal agencies) prepares U.S. Critical Use Nomination package.

January 24, 2013: Deadline for U.S. Government to submit U.S. nomination package to the Protocol Parties. Early 2013: Technical and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) and Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MBTOC) review the nominations for critical use exemptions.

Mid 2013: Parties consider TEAP/ MBTOC recommendations.

November 2013: Parties decide whether to authorize critical use exemptions for methyl bromide for production and consumption in 2015.

Mid 2014: EPA publishes proposed rule for allocating critical use exemptions in the U.S. for 2015.

Late 2014: EPA publishes final rule allocating critical use exemptions in the U.S. for 2015.

January 1, 2015: Critical use exemption permits the limited production and import of methyl bromide for specified uses for the 2015 control period.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7601, 7671– 7671q.

Dated: May 8, 2012. Sarah Dunham, Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012–11842 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES** 

**Economic Impact Policy**

This notice is to inform the public that the Export-Import Bank of the United States has received an application for a $4.3 billion direct loan to support the export of approximately $3.3 billion in U.S. equipment and services to establish a new petrochemical facility in Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. exports will enable the facility to produce approximately: 750,000 metric tons of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE); 350,000 metric tons of linear density polyethylene (LDPE); 250,000 metric tons of elastomers; 200,000 metric tons of glycol ethers; 70,000 metric tons of propylene glycol (MPG); 208,000 metric tons of ethanolamines and ethyleneamines; 400,000 metric tons of polyether polyols; 200,000 metric tons of toluene diisocyanate (TDI); and 400,000 metric tons of polymeric methyl diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI). Initial production at this facility is expected to be phased in from 2016 to 2018.

Available information indicates the Saudi petrochemical producer plans to sell its products as follows: The majority of LDPE, LLDPE and glycol ethers will be sold primarily in the Asia-Pacific market, and the balance will be sold in the Europe, Middle East and Africa


### 29345 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices

markets; the majority of elastomers, TDI, PMDI, and polyether polyols will be sold primarily in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa markets and minority will be sold in the North and Latin America; approximately equal volumes of MPG will be sold primarily in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa markets; and approximately equal volumes of ethanolamines and ethyleneamines will be sold globally.

Interested parties may submit comments on this transaction by email
to economic.impact@exim.gov or by mail to 811 Vermont Avenue NW., Room 947, Washington, DC 20571, within 14 days of the date this notice appears in the Federal Register

. Angela Mariana Freyre,
Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2012–11953 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6690–01–P**

**FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION** 

**Sunshine Act Meeting**

Pursuant to the provisions of the ‘‘Government in the Sunshine Act’’ (5 U.S.C. 552b), notice is hereby given that at 10:03 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation met in closed session to consider matters related to the Corporation’s supervision, corporate, and resolution activities.

In calling the meeting, the Board determined, on motion of Director Jeremiah O. Norton (Appointive), seconded by Director Thomas M. Hoenig (Appointive), concurred in by Director Thomas J. Curry (Comptroller of the Currency), Director Richard Cordray (Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) and Acting Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg, that Corporation business required its consideration of the matters which were to be the subject of this meeting on less than seven days’ notice to the public; that no earlier notice of the meeting was practicable; that the public interest did not require consideration of the matters in a meeting open to public observation; and that the matters could be considered in a closed meeting by authority of subsections (c)(2), (c)(4), (c)(6), (c)(8), (c)(9)(A)(ii), (c)(9)(B), and (c)(10) of the ‘‘Government in the Sunshine Act’’ (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(2), (c)(4), (c)(6), (c)(8), (c)(9)(A)(ii), (c)(9)(B), and (c)(10)).

The meeting was held in the Board Room of the FDIC Building located at 550–17th Street NW., Washington, DC.

Dated: May 15, 2012. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012–12089 Filed 5–15–12; 4:15 pm]

**BILLING CODE P**

**FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION**

**Sunshine Act Meeting**

**AGENCY :**  Federal Election Commission.

**DATE** & **TIME :**  Tuesday May 22, 2012 at
10:00 a.m.

**PLACE :**  999 E Street NW., Washington, DC.

**STATUS :**  This meeting will be closed to the public.

Items To Be Discussed Compliance matters pursuant to 2

U.S.C. 437g. Audits conducted pursuant to 2 U.S.C.

437g, 438(b), and Title 26, U.S.C. Matters concerning participation in civil

actions or proceedings or arbitration. Internal personnel rules and procedures

or matters affecting a particular employee. Investigatory records compiled for law

enforcement purposes, or information which if written would be contained in such records. Information the premature disclosure of

which would be likely to have a considerable adverse effect on the implementation of a proposed Commission action.

**PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION :**  Judith Ingram, Press Officer, Telephone: (202) 694–1220.

Shelley E. Garr, Deputy Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2012–12114 Filed 5–15–12; 4:15 pm]

**BILLING CODE 6715–01–P**

**FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM**

**Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment**  **Request**

**AGENCY :**  Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board).

**ACTION :**  Notice and request for comment.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) (collectively, the agencies) may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies are members, has approved the agencies’ publication for public comment of a proposal to extend, without revision, the Country Exposure Report for U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks (FFIEC 019), which is a currently approved information collection. The Board is publishing this proposal on behalf of the agencies. At the end of the comment period, the comments and recommendations received will be analyzed to determine the extent to which the FFIEC and the agencies should modify the reports. The Board will then submit the report to OMB for review and approval.

**DATES :**  Comments must be submitted on or before July 16, 2012.

**ADDRESSES :**  Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to the agency listed below. All comments, which should refer to the OMB control number, will be shared among the agencies.

You may submit comments, identified by FFIEC 019 (7100–0213), by any of the following methods:

• Agency Web Site: www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the www.federalreserve.gov/ generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Email: regs.comments@federalreserve.gov. Include the OMB control number in the subject line of the message.

• FAX: 202–452–3819 or 202–452–
3102.

• Mail: Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20551.

All public comments are available from the Board’s Web site at www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/ foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, except as necessary for technical reasons. Accordingly, your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper in Room MP– 500 of the Board’s Martin Building (20th and C Streets NW.) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Additionally, commenters may send a copy of their comments to the OMB desk officer for the agencies by mail to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Office of Management and