31008 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Notices 

estimated their cost at $28 billion in 

capital costs plus an additional $2.7 

billion dollars per year in perpetuity for 

operating and maintenance costs (Blue 

Ribbon Panel 2004). The watershed 

states of New York, Pennsylvania, 

Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and 

Maryland, as well as the District of 

Columbia, have developed Watershed 

Implementation Plans (WIPs) detailing 

the steps each will take to meet its 

obligations under the TMDLs. EPA has 

begun a new study to estimate costs of 

compliance with the TMDLs. While 

these costs may prove high, a multitude 

of benefits may also be anticipated to 

arise from restoring the Chesapeake Bay. 

It is important to put cost estimates in 

perspective by estimating corresponding 

benefits. 

EPA’s National Center for 

Environmental Economics (NCEE) is 

undertaking a benefits analysis of 

improvements in Bay water quality 

under the TMDLs, as well as of ancillary 

benefits that might arise from terrestrial 

measures taken to improve water 

quality. As part of this analysis, NCEE 

plans to conduct a broad-based inquiry 

into benefits using a state-of-the-art 

stated preference survey. Benefits from 

the TMDLs for the Chesapeake will 

accrue to those who live on or near the 

Bay and its tributaries, as well as to 

those who live further away and may 

never visit the Bay but have a general 

concern for the environment. The latter 

category of benefits is typically called 

‘‘non-use values’’ and estimating the 

monetary value can only be achieved 

through a stated preference survey. 

In addition, a stated preference survey 

is able to estimate ‘‘use values,’’ those 

benefits that accrue to individuals who 

choose to live on or near the Bay or 

recreate in the watershed. Stated 

preference surveys allow the analyst to 

define a specific object of choice or suite 

of choices such that benefits are defined 

in as precise a manner as feasible. While 

use benefits of water quality 

improvements in the Chesapeake Bay 

watershed will also be estimated 

through other revealed preference 

methods, the stated preference survey 

allows for careful specification of the 

choice scenarios and will complement 

estimates found using other methods. 

Participation in the survey will be 

voluntary and the identity of the 

participants will be kept confidential. 

Burden Statement: The annual public 

reporting and recordkeeping burden for 

this collection of information is 

estimated to average 0.5 hours per 

response. Burden means the total time, 

effort, or financial resources expended 

by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 

or disclose or provide information to or 

for a Federal agency. This includes the 

time needed to review instructions; 

develop, acquire, install, and utilize 

technology and systems for the purposes 

of collecting, validating, and verifying 

information, processing and 

maintaining information, and disclosing 

and providing information; adjust the 

existing ways to comply with any 

previously applicable instructions and 

requirements which have subsequently 

changed; train personnel to be able to 

respond to a collection of information; 

search data sources; complete and 

review the collection of information; 

and transmit or otherwise disclose the 

information. 

The ICR provides a detailed 

explanation of the Agency’s estimate, 

which is only briefly summarized here: 

Estimated total number of potential 

respondents: 1500. 

Frequency of response: once. 

Estimated total average number of 

responses for each respondent: 1. 

Estimated total annual burden hours: 

750 hours. 

Estimated total annual costs: $ 

15,975. This includes estimated 

respondent burden costs only as there 

are no capital costs or operating and 

maintenance costs associated with this 

collection of information. 

What is the next step in the process for 

this ICR? 

EPA will consider the comments 

received and amend the ICR as 

appropriate. The final ICR package will 

then be submitted to OMB for review 

and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 

1320.12. At that time, EPA will issue 

another Federal Register notice 

pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to 

announce the submission of the ICR to 

OMB and the opportunity to submit 

additional comments to OMB. If you 

have any questions about this ICR or the 

approval process, please contact the 

technical person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 

Dated: May 2, 2012. 

Al McGartland, 

Office Director, National Center for 

Environmental Economics. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12298 Filed 5–23–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2012–0209; FRL–9351–1] 

Enforceable Consent Agreement 

Development for Two Cyclic Siloxanes; 

Solicitation of Interested Parties and 

Notice of Public Meeting 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: EPA is giving notice of a 

public meeting to negotiate an 

enforceable consent agreement (ECA) to 

collect certain environmental 

monitoring data on 

octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and 

decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5). A 

private organization has submitted a 

proposed ECA to EPA. EPA has 

evaluated the proposal and believes that 

proceeding with the negotiation of a 

consent agreement is an efficient means 

of developing the data, and now solicits 

additional persons with an interest in 

participating in the negotiations to 

notify EPA and announces a public 

meeting to initiate negotiations. 

DATES: The meeting to initiate ECA 

negotiations for D4 and D5 

environmental monitoring will be held 

on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 from 

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

While this meeting is open to the 

public, you must notify EPA in writing 

on or before June 25, 2012, if you wish 

to be considered an ‘‘interested party’’ 

and participate in the ECA negotiations 

for D4 and D5 environmental 

monitoring. 

To request accommodation of a 

disability, please contact the technical 

person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 

10 days prior to the meeting, to give 

EPA as much time as possible to process 

your request. 

ADDRESSES: Your written notification 

that you wish to participate in the ECA 

negotiation must be submitted to the 

technical person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 

The public meeting to initiate 

negotiations on an ECA for D4 and D5 

will be held at the Environmental 

Protection Agency, EPA East, Room 

1117A, 1201 Constitution Ave. NW., 

Washington, DC 20460. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

technical information contact: Robert 

Jones, Chemical Control Division 

(7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention 

and Toxics, Environmental Protection 

Agency, East Building, 1200 

Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 

4328G, Washington, DC 20460–0001; 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Notices 31009 

telephone number: (202) 564–8161, fax 

number: (202) 564–4765; email address: 

jones.robert@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 

Does this action apply to me? 

This action is directed to the public 

in general, and may be of particular 

interest to manufacturers, importers, 

processors, exporters, distributors, and 

users of D4 and D5. Because 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 completion of the ECA or 

the availability of the proposal for this 

effort, consult the technical contact 

listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT. 

II. Background 

Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) 

(CASR No. 566–67–2) and 

decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) 

(CASR No. 541–02–6) are high 

production volume chemicals having a 

wide variety of industrial, commercial, 

and consumer uses. D4 and D5 are 

highly persistent in sediment and highly 

bioaccumulative in benthic and aquatic 

species. Data show D4 to be toxic to 

aquatic and sediment-dwelling species. 

EPA has concerns regarding the 

environmental effects of D4 and D5. 

Environmental monitoring could help 

develop a better understanding of the 

potential effects of these chemicals in 

the environment. 

D4 is an intermediate for silicone 

copolymers. It is used commercially and 

has consumer uses in polishes, 

sanitation, soaps, detergents, adhesives, 

sealants, and rubber and plastic 

products. D4 is also used in processing 

applications such as coupling, blocking 

or release agents, and synthesis 

reagents. 

D5 is commonly used in personal care 

products, paints, coatings, paper and 

textiles, defoamers, release agents, 

surfactants in cleaning products, and 

adhesives. It is used as a processing 

solvent in chemical, resin, and synthetic 

rubber manufacture and as a chemical 

intermediate, lubricant, and dry 

cleaning agent. 

Further information on D4 and D5, 

including existing test data and a 

product stewardship program developed 

by Dow Corning, can be found in the 

public docket for this notice. 

III. Solicitation of Interested Parties 

EPA is soliciting interested parties to 

monitor or participate in testing 

negotiations for an ECA concerning D4 

and D5 environmental monitoring. The 

Silicone Environmental Health and 

Safety Council (SEHSC), the submitter 

of the ECA proposal for the 

environmental monitoring of D4 and D5, 

is already considered an interested party 

and does not need to respond to this 

notice. 

In accordance with 40 CFR 790.22(b), 

any other person who notifies EPA in 

writing on or before June 25, 2012 of 

his/her interest in participating in the 

negotiations will be given the status of 

‘‘interested party’’ and will be permitted 

to participate in the negotiation process 

(other members of the public may attend 

the negotiation meeting(s), but will not 

be permitted to participate in the 

negotiation). Persons who wish to be 

designated an ‘‘interested party’’ must 

submit written notice to the technical 

contact person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

IV. Public Participation in Negotiations 

The procedural rule for ECAs (40 CFR 

790.22, Procedures for developing 

consent agreements) contains provisions 

to ensure that the public is afforded a 

chance to participate in ECA 

negotiations, and that the views of 

interested parties are taken into account 

during the ECA negotiation process. All 

negotiating meetings for the 

development of this ECA will be open 

to the public and minutes of each 

meeting will be prepared by EPA and 

placed in the docket for this notice. 

EPA will advise interested parties and 

the public of meeting dates and make 

available meeting minutes, the proposed 

consent agreement, background 

documents, and other materials 

distributed at negotiation meetings. The 

negotiation time schedule will be 

established at the first negotiation 

meeting and will not exceed a period of 

6 months from the initial meeting. If an 

ECA is not final within 6 months from 

the initial meeting and EPA does not 

choose to extend the negotiation time 

period, negotiations will be terminated 

and any unmet data needs may be 

pursued via a test rule promulgated 

under TSCA section 4. 

EPA will circulate a draft of the ECA 

to all interested parties if EPA 

concludes that such draft is likely to 

achieve final agreement, and 30 days 

will be provided for submitting 

comments or written objections. EPA 

will enter into consent agreements only 

where there is a consensus among the 

agency, one or more manufacturers and/ 

or processors who agree to conduct or 

sponsor the testing, and all other 

interested parties who identify 

themselves in accordance with 40 CFR 

790.22(b)(2). Details on the procedures 

for developing consent agreements can 

be found in 40 CFR 790.22. Details on 

what an ECA must include can be found 

in 40 CFR 790.60. 

V. Supporting Documentation 

Meeting minutes, the proposed 

consent agreement(s), background 

documents, and other materials 

distributed at negotiation meetings will 

be placed in an Internet-accessible 

public docket identified by docket 

number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2012–0209, 

available online at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. The docket for 

this notice contains the following: 

1. SEHSC. Environmental Monitoring 

Proposal for Certain Cyclic Siloxanes—D4 

and D5. Power Point Presentation. March 1, 

2012. 

2. USEPA Testing Consent Order for 

Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane. Final Rule. 54 

FR 818, January 10, 1989. 

3. SEHSC. Memorandum from Karluss 

Thomas. Executive Director, SEHSC to Maria 

J. Doa, Director, Chemical Control Division, 

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Re: 

Proposed Terms of Environmental 

Monitoring Proposal for Certain Cyclic 

Siloxanes. March 1, 2012. 

4. SEHSC. Attachment 1. Proposed Terms 

of Enforceable Consent Agreement for D4 and 

D5 Environmental Monitoring Program. 

March 1, 2012. 

5. SEHSC Attachment 2. Draft Project 

Charter: Proposed 5–year monitoring plan for 

cyclic volatile methylsiloxane (cVMS) 

materials in surface sediment and aquatic 

biota of the Inner Oslo Fiord, Norway. March 

7, 2012. 

6. USEPA. Product Stewardship Program 

for Six Siloxanes Conducted Under a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 

Signed by EPA and the Dow Corning 

Corporation; Notice of Receipt and 

Availability of the MOU Data. 74 FR 38013, 

July 30, 2009. 

List of Subjects 

Environmental protection, Chemicals, 

Hazardous substances, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

Dated: May 17, 2012. 

Jim Jones, 

Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of 

Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12626 Filed 5–23–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 


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