[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25212-25213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12169]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 98F-0290]


The Dow Chemical Company; Filing of Food Additive Petition

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that The 
Dow Chemical Co., has filed a petition proposing that the food additive 
regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of certain olefin 
basic copolymers, derived from ethylene and alpha monomers with eight 
or fewer carbon atoms, as articles or as components of articles 
intended for use in contact with food.

DATES: Written comments on the petitioner's environmental assessment by 
June 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch 
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 1-23, 
Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hortense S. Macon, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-205), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-418-3086.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (sec. 409(b)(5) (21 U.S.C. 348(b)(5))), notice is given that a food 
additive petition (FAP 8B4586) has been filed by the Dow Chemical Co., 
2030 Dow Center, Midland, MI 48674. The petition proposes to amend the 
food additive regulations in Sec. 177.1520 Olefin polymers (21 CFR 
177.1520) to provide for the safe use of certain olefin basic 
copolymers derived from ethylene and alpha olefin monomers with eight 
or fewer carbon atoms, as articles or as

[[Page 25213]]

components of articles intended for use in contact with food.
    The potential environmental impact of this action is being 
reviewed. To encourage public participation consistent with regulations 
promulgated under the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 
1501.4(b)), the agency is placing the environmental assessment 
submitted with the petition that is the subject of this notice on 
public display at the Dockets Management Branch (address above) for 
public review and comment. Interested persons may, on or before June 8, 
1998, submit to the Dockets Management Branch (address above) written 
comments. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, except that 
individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be identified with the 
docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. 
Received comments may be seen in the office above between 9 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday. FDA will also place on public display any 
amendments to, or comments on, the petitioner's environmental 
assessment without further announcement in the Federal Register. If, 
based on its review, the agency finds that an environmental impact 
statement is not required and this petition results in a regulation, 
the notice of availability of the agency's finding of no significant 
impact and the evidence supporting that finding will be published with 
the regulation in the Federal Register in accordance with 21 CFR 
25.40(c).

    Dated: April 24, 1998.
Laura M. Tarantino,
Acting Director, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition.
[FR Doc. 98-12169 Filed 5-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F