74940 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2024 / Notices 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL OP–OFA–143] 

Environmental Impact Statements; 

Notice of Availability 

Responsible Agency: Office of Federal 

Activities, General Information 202– 

564–5632 or https://www.epa.gov/nepa. 

Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact 

Statements (EIS) 

Filed August 30, 2024 10 a.m. EST 

Through September 9, 2024 10 a.m. 

EST 

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9. 

Notice 

Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act 

requires that EPA make public its 

comments on EISs issued by other 

Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters 

on EISs are available at: https://

cdxapps.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-II/public/ 

action/eis/search. 

EIS No. 20240162, Draft, BLM, NV, 

Greenlink North Transmission 

Project, Comment Period Ends: 12/11/ 

2024, Contact: Brian L. Buttazoni 

775–861–6491. 

Dated: September 9, 2024. 

Timothy Witman, 

Acting Director, NEPA Compliance Division, 

Office of Federal Activities. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20825 Filed 9–12–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2022–0835; FRL–10293– 

02–OCSPP] 

Update to EPA’s Recommendations of 

Specifications, Standards and 

Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing; 

Notice of Availability and Request for 

Comment 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In November 2022, the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 

or Agency) announced the expansion of 

the Recommendations of Specifications, 

Standards and Ecolabels for Federal 

Purchasing (Recommendations) and 

invited managers of standards 

development organizations, ecolabel 

programs, and associated conformity 

assessment bodies to apply for potential 

assessment against EPA’s Framework for 

the Assessment of Environmental 

Performance Standards and Ecolabels. 

In August 2023, EPA announced the 

first five purchase categories chosen for 

assessment. With this document, EPA is 

announcing the availability of and 

seeking feedback on the proposed 

additions to the Recommendations 

based on assessments against the 

Framework, as well as the proposed 

removals of standards/ecolabels already 

included in the Recommendations 

based on implementation of new 

eligibility criteria. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before October 15, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by docket identification (ID) 

number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2022–0835, 

through the Federal eRulemaking Portal 

at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 

the online instructions for submitting 

comments. Do not submit electronically 

any information you consider to be 

Confidential Business Information (CBI) 

or other information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Additional 

instructions on commenting and visiting 

the docket, along with more information 

about dockets generally, is available at 

https://www.epa.gov/ dockets. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jenna Larkin, Environmental Protection 

Specialist, Environmentally Preferable 

Purchasing Program (7409M), Office of 

Chemical Safety and Pollution 

Prevention, Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 

Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone 

number: (202) 564–3395; email address: 

larkin.jenna@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Executive Summary 

A. Does this action apply to me? 

These updates may be of specific 

interest to those who represent or use 

sustainability standards and ecolabels, 

including institutional or governmental 

purchasers, manufacturers seeking 

certification, and standards 

development organizations. 

B. What action is the Agency taking? 

EPA has completed the assessment of 

the standards and ecolabels that 

volunteered to be assessed in November 

2022 against the Framework for the 

Assessment of Environmental 

Performance Standards and Ecolabels in 

the following product and service 

categories: 

• Healthcare; 

• Laboratories; 

• Uniforms & Clothing; 

• Food Service Ware (e.g., containers, 

cutlery and dishware); and 

• Professional Services. 

Based on these assessments, EPA is 

now seeking feedback on the proposed 

additions of specifications, standards, 

and ecolabels in the above categories. 

EPA is also seeking feedback on the 

proposed removals of standards and 

ecolabels in already existing purchase 

categories. 

C. What is the Agency’s authority for 

taking this action? 

Executive Order 14057, entitled 

‘‘Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and 

Jobs Through Federal Sustainability’’ 

(86 FR 70935, December 13, 2021), and 

associated implementing instructions 

direct EPA to consider expanding the 

Recommendations to facilitate net-zero 

emissions procurement and other 

related sustainable purchasing goals. In 

addition, Executive Order 14057 directs 

Federal purchasers to prioritize 

products and services that address 

multiple environmental impacts. After 

meeting applicable statutory mandates 

(BioPreferred, SNAP, CPG, ENERGY 

STAR/FEMP), agencies are directed to 

buy products and services that meet one 

or more of the applicable EPA 

purchasing programs, including those 

meeting the specifications, standards, 

and ecolabels included in the 

Recommendations. 

Executive Order 14008, entitled 

‘‘Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home 

and Abroad’’ (86 FR 7619, February 1, 

2021), directs the Federal Government 

to lead by example and leverage its 

buying power to ‘‘catalyze private sector 

investment into, and accelerate the 

advancement of America’s industrial 

capacity to supply domestic clean 

energy, buildings, vehicles, and other 

necessary products and materials.’’ The 

expansion of the Recommendations will 

help to spur this market demand for 

more sustainable products and services. 

Section 12(d) of the National 

Technology Transfer and Advancement 

Act (NTTAA), 15 U.S.C. 272 note, as 

well as mandates from the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

identified as Circular A–119, entitled 

‘‘Federal Participation in the 

Development and Use of Voluntary 

Consensus Standards and in Conformity 

Assessment Activities,’’ direct Federal 

agencies to use voluntary consensus 

standards (VCS) in lieu of governmentunique standards as a means to carry 

out policy and procurement objectives, 

except where inconsistent with 

applicable law or otherwise impractical. 

Section 6604(b)(11) of the Pollution 

Prevention Act (PPA), 42 U.S.C. 

13103(b)(11), directs EPA to identify 

opportunities to use Federal 

procurement to encourage pollution 

prevention. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2024 / Notices 74941 

D. What should I consider as I prepare 

my comments? 

1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit CBI 

to EPA through email or https://

www.regulations.gov. If you wish to 

include CBI in your comment, please 

follow the applicable instructions at 

https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ 

commenting-epa-dockets#rules and 

clearly mark the information that you 

claim to be CBI. Information so marked 

will not be disclosed except in 

accordance with procedures set forth in 

40 CFR parts 2 and 703, as applicable. 

2. Tips for preparing your comments. 

When preparing and submitting your 

comments, see the commenting tips at 

https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ 

commenting-epa-dockets. 

II. Background 

The Recommendations of 

Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels 

help Federal purchasers identify and 

procure environmentally preferable 

products and services. Federal 

purchasers are directed in the 

implementing instructions issued by the 

Council on Environmental Quality, 

entitled ‘‘Implementing Instructions for 

Executive Order 14057, Catalyzing 

Clean Energy Industries and Jobs 

Through Federal Sustainability’’ (2022) 

and 48 CFR 23.108 of the Federal 

Acquisition Regulation to procure 

products and services meeting the 

Recommendations to meet net-zero 

emissions procurement and other 

sustainability goals. In November 2022, 

EPA announced the expansion of the 

Recommendations and invited managers 

of standards development organizations, 

ecolabel programs, and associated 

conformity assessment bodies to apply 

for potential assessment against the 

Framework (87 FR 66176, November 2, 

2022 (FRL–10293–01–OCSPP)). In 

August 2023, EPA announced the first 

five purchase categories chosen for 

assessment via a listserv announcement 

available at https://www.epa.gov/ 

chemicals-under-tsca/epa-announcesfirst-product-categories-expansionecolabel-recommendations. EPA then 

began the process to assess the 

standards and ecolabels that 

volunteered to be assessed in those five 

categories and is now seeking feedback 

on proposed additions to the 

Recommendations, along with other 

updates. 

In April 2022, the standard/ecolabel 

organizations included in the 

Recommendations were notified of new 

eligibility criteria to be implemented in 

2023. These criteria ensure consistency 

with U.S. Federal Government 

standards policy and assists with 

implementation into General Services 

Administration (GSA) procurement 

tools and contracts. Standards/ecolabels 

were given until December 31, 2023, to 

demonstrate that they meet the 

eligibility criteria. Those that were not 

able to meet the criteria, are being 

proposed for removal from the 

Recommendations. 

• There must be a publicly available 

and current (i.e., updated in the last 3 

months) directory/registry of products/ 

services conformant to the standard or 

ecolabel. 

• All standards and ecolabels are 

required to demonstrate that they have 

a competent certification program— 

either via accreditation or the 

alternative pathway provided in Section 

III of EPA’s Framework for the 

Assessment of Environmental 

Performance Standards and Ecolabels. 

A. What are the recommendations of 

specifications, standards, and ecolabels 

for Federal purchasing? 

The Recommendations help 

purchasers easily identify credible and 

effective environmental performance 

standards/ecolabels/certifications by 

product/service category for 

incorporation into Federal procurement 

activities (e.g., contracts and eprocurement systems). They currently 

include over 30 product and service 

categories and more than 40 private 

sector environmental performance 

standards and ecolabels. The 

Recommendations give preference to 

multi-attribute/lifecycle-based standards 

and ecolabels that address key impact 

areas (AKA hotspots) and where 

product conformance is determined by 

a competent third-party certification 

body. 

B. What is the framework for the 

assessment of environmental 

performance standards and ecolabels? 

The Framework, available at https://

www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/ 

framework-assessment-environmentalperformance-standards-and-ecolabelsfederal, provides a transparent, fair, and 

consistent approach to evaluate product 

and service environmental performance 

standards and ecolabels for inclusion in 

EPA’s Recommendations. EPA began 

developing the Framework (formerly 

known as the Guidelines) in 2011 via a 

multi-stakeholder process, including 

several public comment opportunities. 

The Framework was then piloted in 

2015–2016 in three product categories: 

Furniture, flooring (includes carpet), 

and paints/coatings. Based on lessons 

learned from the pilot, additional minor 

edits were made to clarify and 

streamline the criteria within the 

Framework and make it applicable to 

services. An updated version of the 

Framework was announced and posted 

to the EPA website in February 2022. 

That announcement also included 

details about EPA’s intentions to use the 

Framework to expand the 

Recommendations into additional 

product and service categories. More 

details on the Framework development 

process are available at https://

www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/ 

framework-development-overview. 

The Framework includes: 

• Scoping Questions: Assist EPA in 

planning and budgeting; confirm 

eligibility and scope before proceeding 

with full assessment against applicable 

sections of the Framework. 

The four sections of Assessment 

Criteria include: 

• Section I: Process for Developing 

the Standard—Assesses the procedures 

used to develop, maintain, and update 

an environmental performance 

standard, including whether a standard 

is considered a voluntary consensus 

standard. 

• Section II: Environmental 

Effectiveness of the Standard—Assesses 

the criteria in the environmental 

performance standard or ecolabel that 

support the claim of environmental 

preferability. 

• Section III: Conformity 

Assessment—Assesses the procedures 

and practices by which products or 

services are assessed for conformity to 

the requirements specified by standards 

and ecolabeling programs. 

• Section IV: Management of 

Ecolabeling Programs—Assesses the 

organizational and management 

practices of an ecolabeling program. 

III. Request for Public Comment 

A. What feedback is sought on the 

addition of certain standards and 

ecolabels? 

EPA is seeking public input on the 

addition of the following standards and 

ecolabels in the following product 

categories. Standards and ecolabels 

listed below meet all applicable baseline 

criteria in the Framework and are being 

proposed to be added to the 

Recommendations. 

1. Healthcare 

• Medical Devices [Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) Class I and II]: 

—Greenscreen Certified® Standard for 

Medical Supplies and Devices 

—Greenhealth Approved for Medical 

Equipment 

• Medical Supplies: 

—Greenscreen Certified® Standard for 

Medical Supplies and Devices 


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74942 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2024 / Notices 

—Greenhealth Approved for Medical 

Equipment 

—Nordic Ecolabelling for Sanitary 

Products 

2. Laboratories 

• Laboratory Operations: 

—My Green Lab Certification 

• Laboratory Equipment & Supplies: 

—ACT Ecolabel from My Green Lab 

3. Clothing and Uniforms 

• Finished Clothing: 

—Nordic Ecolabelling for Textiles, 

Hides/Skins, and Leathers 

—Cradle to Cradle Certified Product 

Standard 

—Global Organic Textile Standard 

—European Union (EU) Ecolabel for 

Textile Products [Pending]. Note: EPA 

designed the Framework principally 

for the assessment of standards and 

ecolabels developed by the private 

sector. Because the EU Ecolabel has 

been developed and is operated by the 

European Union, the U.S. and the 

European Commission Services are 

discussing whether and how to 

include it in the Recommendations. 

EPA has marked the ecolabel as 

‘‘pending’’ while those deliberations 

continue. 

• Clothing Textiles/Fabrics: 

—Nordic Ecolabelling for Textiles, 

Hides/Skins, and Leathers 

—Cradle to Cradle Certified Product 

Standard 

—OEKO–TEX Made in Green 

—OEKO–TEX Standard 100 

—Global Organic Textile Standard 

—GreenScreen Certified® Standard for 

Furniture and Fabrics 

4. Cafeteria and Food Service 

• Reusable Food Service Ware: 

—GreenScreen Certified® Standard for 

Reusable Food Packaging, Food 

Service Ware, & Cookware 

—Cradle to Cradle Certified Product 

Standard 

• Certified Compostable Food Service 

Ware: 

—GreenScreen Certified® Standard for 

Single-Use Food Service Ware & 

Thermal Paper 

—Cradle to Cradle Certified Product 

Standard (Platinum Level in Product 

Circularity) 

—BPI Commercial Compostability 

Certification Scheme 

• Certified Recyclable Food Service 

Ware: 

—GreenScreen Certified® Standard for 

Single-Use Food Service Ware & 

Thermal Paper 

—Cradle to Cradle Certified Product 

Standard (Platinum Level in Product 

Circularity). Note: The environmental 

benefits associated with these 

standards and ecolabels are 

contingent upon the availability and 

use of applicable end-of-life/waste 

management services. EPA provides 

current best practices for the 

procurement of Food Service Ware 

sub-categories available at https://

www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/ 

identifying-greener-food-service-andfood-service-ware. 

5. Professional Services 

• None. 

B. What feedback is sought on the 

removal of certain standards and 

ecolabels? 

EPA is also seeking public input on 

the removal of the following standards 

and ecolabels in the following 

categories, including the reason for 

removal. 

1. Ecologo/UL 2771 Standard for 

Sustainable Paper Products 

• Product Category: Copy Paper— 

Reason for removal: standard retired in 

2023. 

2. Sustainable Furnishings Council 

Exemplary 

• Product Category: Furniture— 

Reason for removal: ecolabel 

discontinued in 2021. 

3. Sustainable Materials Rating 

Technology (SMaRT) 

• Product Category: Carpet, Flooring, 

Furniture, Interior Latex Paint—Reason 

for removal: Product registry has not 

been updated within the past 3 months; 

Unable to demonstrate the existence of 

a competent third-party certification 

program. 

4. Clear Roads Qualified Products 

• Product Category: De-icer—Reason 

for removal: Unable to demonstrate the 

existence of a competent third-party 

certification program. 

5. International Living Futures Institute: 

Declare 

• Product Category: Carpet, Flooring, 

Furniture, Interior Latex Paint, Other 

Miscellaneous Building Finishes— 

Reason for removal: Unable to 

demonstrate the existence of a 

competent third-party certification 

program. 

6. International Living Futures Institute: 

Living Product Challenge 

• Product Category: Carpet, Flooring, 

Furniture, Interior Latex Paint, Other 

Miscellaneous Building Finishes— 

Reason for removal: Unable to 

demonstrate the existence of a 

competent third-party certification 

program. 

7. EPEAT Registered (Criteria for the 

Sustainability Assessment of Network 

Equipment for the Global Electronics 

Council EPEAT® Ecolabel and the TU ̈ V 

Rheinland Green Product Mark) 

• Product Category: Network 

Equipment and Cloud Services—Reason 

for removal: This ecolabel was 

originally added to the 

Recommendations based on a previous 

requirement in the Federal Acquisition 

Regulation (FAR) that required Federal 

agencies to procure EPEAT registered 

electronic products. The FAR was 

recently updated and no longer contains 

that requirement. 

C. What information should be included 

in your comment? 

EPA is particularly interested in 

receiving comments that include the 

following: 

• Name of person or organization 

submitting the comments; 

• Product or service category that 

pertains to your comments; 

• Reasons for the support or 

opposition of the proposed updates; 

• Impacts the updates may have on 

your organization; 

• Input on new product category 

naming and sub-product category 

naming; and 

• Product or service categories you 

would like EPA to consider performing 

assessments in during the next update 

cycle. This may include product/service 

categories already included in the 

Recommendations. 

• If your standard or ecolabel 

organization is interested in being 

assessed in the next update cycle, please 

provide the name of the standard or 

ecolabel, the product or service 

category(ies) that it covers, and a link to 

the publicly available website. 

EPA is not seeking comments on the 

Framework tool used to assess standards 

and ecolabels. The Framework went 

through a separate multi-stakeholder 

development process that included 

several public comment opportunities. 

See https://www.epa.gov/ 

greenerproducts/frameworkdevelopment-overview. 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1310. 

Dated: September 9, 2024. 

Michal Freedhoff, 

Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 

Safety and Pollution Prevention. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20820 Filed 9–12–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 


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