Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 18, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 11499 

Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). 

Because this final rule has been 

exempted from review under Executive 

Order 12866, this final rule is not 

subject to Executive Order 13211, 

entitled Actions Concerning Regulations 

That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 

22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, 

entitled Protection of Children from 

Environmental Health Risks and Safety 

Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). 

This final rule does not contain any 

information collections subject to OMB 

approval under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 

seq., nor does it require any special 

considerations under Executive Order 

12898, entitled Federal Actions to 

Address Environmental Justice in 

Minority Populations and Low-Income 

Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 

1994). 

Since tolerances and exemptions that 

are established in accordance with 

sections 408(e) and 408(l)(6) of FFDCA, 

such as the tolerances in this final rule, 

do not require the issuance of a 

proposed rule, the requirements of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do not apply. 

This final rule directly regulates 

growers, food processors, food handlers, 

and food retailers, not States or tribes, 

nor does this action alter the 

relationships or distribution of power 

and responsibilities established by 

Congress in the preemption provisions 

of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. As such, 

the Agency has determined that this 

action will not have a substantial direct 

effect on States or tribal governments, 

on the relationship between the national 

government and the States or tribal 

governments, or on the distribution of 

power and responsibilities among the 

various levels of government or between 

the Federal Government and Indian 

tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined 

that Executive Order 13132, entitled 

Federalism (64 FR 43255, August 10, 

1999) and Executive Order 13175, 

entitled Consultation and Coordination 

with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR 

67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply 

to this final rule. In addition, this final 

rule does not impose any enforceable 

duty or contain any unfunded mandate 

as described under Title II of the 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

(UMRA) (Public Law 104–4). 

This action does not involve any 

technical standards that would require 

Agency consideration of voluntary 

consensus standards pursuant to section 

12(d) of the National Technology 

Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 

(NTTAA), Public Law 104–113, section 

12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note). 

VIII. Congressional Review Act 

The Congressional Review Act, 5 

U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides 

that before a rule may take effect, the 

agency promulgating the rule must 

submit a rule report to each House of 

the Congress and to the Comptroller 

General of the United States. EPA will 

submit a report containing this rule and 

other required information to the U.S. 

Senate, the U.S. House of 

Representatives, and the Comptroller 

General of the United States prior to 

publication of this final rule in the 

Federal Register. This final rule is not 

a ‘‘major rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 

804(2). 

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180 

Environmental protection, 

Administrative practice and procedure, 

Agricultural commodities, Pesticides 

and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

Dated: February 24, 2009. 

Lois Rossi, 

Director, Registration Division, Office of 

Pesticide Programs. 

■ Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is 

amended as follows: 

PART 180—[AMENDED] 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 180 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371. 

■ 2. Section 180.582 is amended by 

alphabetically adding commodities to 

the table in paragraph (b) to read as 

follows: 

§ 180.582 Pyraclostrobin; tolerances for 

residues. 

* * * * * 

(b) *** 

Commodity Parts per million Expiration/revocation date 

*****

Sugarcane, cane .................................................................................................. 0.02 December 31, 2011 

Sugarcane, molasses .......................................................................................... 0.4 December 31, 2011 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. E9–5834 Filed 3–17–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 180 

[EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0794; FRL–8399–5] 

Formaldehyde, Polymer with 2- 

Methyloxirane and 4-Nonylphenol; 

Tolerance Exemption 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an 

exemption from the requirement of a 

tolerance for residues of formaldehyde, 

polymer with 2-methyloxirane and 4- 

nonylphenol (CAS Reg. No. 37523–33– 

4); when used as an inert ingredient in 

a pesticide chemical formulation. Akzo 

Nobel Surface Chemistry, LLC, 

submitted a petition to EPA under the 

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 

(FFDCA), requesting an exemption from 

the requirement of a tolerance. This 

regulation eliminates the need to 

establish a maximum permissible level 

for residues of formaldehyde, polymer 

with 2-methyloxirane and 4- 

nonylphenol on food or feed 

commodities. 

DATES: This regulation is effective 

March 18, 2009. Objections and requests 

for hearings must be received on or 

before May 18, 2009, and must be filed 

in accordance with the instructions 

provided in 40 CFR part 178 (see also 

Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION). 

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a 

docket for this action under docket 

identification (ID) number EPA–HQ– 

OPP–2008–0794. 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, is not placed on 

the Internet and will be publicly 

available only in hard copy form. 

Publicly available docket materials are 

available in the electronic docket at 

http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only 

available in hard copy, at the OPP 


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11500 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 18, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 

Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S– 

4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 

2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The 

Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. 

to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

excluding legal holidays. The Docket 

Facility telephone number is (703) 305– 

5805. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Alganesh Debesai, Registration Division 

(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, 

DC 20460–0001; telephone number: 

(703) 308–8353; e-mail address: 

debesai.alganesh@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information 

A. Does this Action Apply to Me? 

You may be potentially affected by 

this action if you are an agricultural 

producer, food manufacturer, or 

pesticide manufacturer. Potentially 

affected entities may include, but are 

not limited to: 

• Crop production (NAICS code 111). 

• Animal production (NAICS code 

112). 

• Food manufacturing (NAICS code 

311). 

• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS 

code 32532). 

This listing is not intended to be 

exhaustive, but rather provides a guide 

for readers regarding entities likely to be 

affected by this action. Other types of 

entities not listed in this unit could also 

be affected. The North American 

Industrial Classification System 

(NAICS) codes have been provided to 

assist you and others in determining 

whether this action might apply to 

certain entities. If you have any 

questions regarding the applicability of 

this action to a particular entity, consult 

the person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

B. How Can I Access Electronic Copies 

of this Document? 

In addition to accessing electronically 

available documents at http:// 

www.regulations.gov, you may access 

this Federal Register document 

electronically through the EPA Internet 

under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may 

also access a frequently updated 

electronic version of 40 CFR part 180 

through the Government Printing 

Office’s pilot e-CFR site at http:// 

www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr. 

C. Can I File an Objection or Hearing 

Request? 

Under section 408(g) of FFDCA, 21 

U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an 

objection to any aspect of this regulation 

and may also request a hearing on those 

objections. The EPA procedural 

regulations which govern the 

submission of objections and requests 

for hearings appear in 40 CFR part 178. 

You must file your objection or request 

a hearing on this regulation in 

accordance with the instructions 

provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure 

proper receipt by EPA, you must 

identify docket ID number EPA–HQ– 

OPP–2008–0794. in the subject line on 

the first page of your submission. All 

requests must be in writing, and must be 

mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk 

on or before May 18, 2009. 

In addition to filing an objection or 

hearing request with the Hearing Clerk 

as described in 40 CFR part 178, please 

submit a copy of the filing that does not 

contain any CBI for inclusion in the 

public docket that is described in 

ADDRESSES. Information not marked 

confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 

may be disclosed publicly by EPA 

without prior notice. Submit your 

copies, identified by docket ID number 

EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0794, by one of 

the following methods. 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs 

(OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, 

DC 20460–0001. 

• Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public 

Docket (7502P), Environmental 

Protection Agency, Rm. S–4400, One 

Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. 

Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries 

are only accepted during the Docket 

Facility’s normal hours of operation 

(8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, excluding legal holidays). 

Special arrangements should be made 

for deliveries of boxed information. The 

Docket Facility telephone number is 

(703) 305–5805. 

II. Background and Statutory Findings 

In the Federal Register of December 3, 

2008 (73 FR 73651) (FRL–8391–3), EPA 

issued a notice pursuant to section 408 

of FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a, announcing 

the receipt of a pesticide petition (PP 

8E7421) filed by Akzo Nobel Surface 

Chemistry, LLC, (EPA Company 

Number 34688), 525 West Van Buren 

Street, Chicago, IL 60607–3823. The 

petition requested that 40 CFR 180.960 

be amended by establishing an 

exemption from the requirement of a 

tolerance for residues of formaldehyde, 

polymer with 2-methyloxirane and 4- 

nonylphenol (CAS Reg. No. 37523–33– 

4). That notice included a summary of 

the petition prepared by the petitioner 

and solicited comments on the 

petitioner’s request. The Agency did not 

receive any comments. 

Section 408(c)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA 

allows EPA to establish an exemption 

from the requirement for a tolerance (the 

legal limit for a pesticide chemical 

residue in or on a food) only if EPA 

determines that the tolerance is ‘‘safe.’’ 

Section 408(c)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA 

defines ‘‘safe’’ to mean that ‘‘there is a 

reasonable certainty that no harm will 

result from aggregate exposure to the 

pesticide chemical residue, including 

all anticipated dietary exposures and all 

other exposures for which there is 

reliable information.’’ This includes 

exposure through drinking water and 

use in residential settings, but does not 

include occupational exposure. Section 

408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to 

give special consideration to exposure 

of infants and children to the pesticide 

chemical residue in establishing an 

exemption from the requirement of a 

tolerance and to ‘‘ensure that there is a 

reasonable certainty that no harm will 

result to infants and children from 

aggregate exposure to the pesticide 

chemical residue. . .’’ and specifies 

factors EPA is to consider in 

establishing an exemption. 

III. Risk Assessment and Statutory 

Findings 

EPA establishes exemptions from the 

requirement of a tolerance only in those 

cases where it can be shown that the 

risks from aggregate exposure to 

pesticide chemical residues under 

reasonably foreseeable circumstances 

will pose no appreciable risks to human 

health. In order to determine the risks 

from aggregate exposure to pesticide 

inert ingredients, the Agency considers 

the toxicity of the inert in conjunction 

with possible exposure to residues of 

the inert ingredient through food, 

drinking water, and through other 

exposures that occur as a result of 

pesticide use in residential settings. If 

EPA is able to determine that a finite 

tolerance is not necessary to ensure that 

there is a reasonable certainty that no 

harm will result from aggregate 

exposure to the inert ingredient, an 

exemption from the requirement of a 

tolerance may be established. 

Consistent with section 408(b)(2)(D) 

of FFDCA, EPA has reviewed the 

available scientific data and other 

relevant information in support of this 

action and considered its validity, 

completeness and reliability and the 

relationship of this information to 

human risk. EPA has also considered 

available information concerning the 

variability of the sensitivities of major 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 18, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 11501 

identifiable subgroups of consumers, 

including infants and children. In the 

case of certain chemical substances that 

are defined as polymers, the Agency has 

established a set of criteria to identify 

categories of polymers expected to 

present minimal or no risk. The 

definition of a polymer is given in 40 

CFR 723.250(b) and the exclusion 

criteria for identifying these low-risk 

polymers are described in 40 CFR 

723.250(d). Formaldehyde, polymer 

with 2-methyloxirane and 4- 

nonylphenol conforms to the definition 

of a polymer given in 40 CFR 723.250(b) 

and meets the following criteria that are 

used to identify low-risk polymers. 

1. The polymer is not a cationic 

polymer nor is it reasonably anticipated 

to become a cationic polymer in a 

natural aquatic environment. 

2. The polymer does contain as an 

integral part of its composition the 

atomic elements carbon, hydrogen, and 

oxygen. 

3. The polymer does not contain as an 

integral part of its composition, except 

as impurities, any element other than 

those listed in 40 CFR 723.250(d)(2)(ii). 

4. The polymer is neither designed 

nor can it be reasonably anticipated to 

substantially degrade, decompose, or 

depolymerize. 

5. The polymer is manufactured or 

imported from monomers and/or 

reactants that are already included on 

the TSCA Chemical Substance 

Inventory or manufactured under an 

applicable TSCA section 5 exemption. 

6. The polymer is not a water 

absorbing polymer with a number 

average molecular weight (MW) greater 

than or equal to 10,000 daltons. 

Additionally, the polymer also meets 

as required the following exemption 

criteria specified in 40 CFR 723.250(e). 

7. The polymer’s number average MW 

of 4,086 daltons is greater than 1,000 

and less than 10,000 daltons. The 

polymer contains less than 10% 

oligomeric material below MW 500 and 

less than 25% oligomeric material 

below MW 1,000, and the polymer does 

not contain any reactive functional 

groups. 

Thus, formaldehyde, polymer with 2- 

methyloxirane and 4-nonylphenol meets 

the criteria for a polymer to be 

considered low risk under 40 CFR 

723.250. Based on its conformance to 

the criteria in this unit, no mammalian 

toxicity is anticipated from dietary, 

inhalation, or dermal exposure to 

formaldehyde, polymer with 2- 

methyloxirane and 4-nonylphenol. 

IV. Aggregate Exposures 

For the purposes of assessing 

potential exposure under this 

exemption, EPA considered that 

formaldehyde, polymer with 2- 

methyloxirane and 4-nonylphenol could 

be present in all raw and processed 

agricultural commodities and drinking 

water, and that non-occupational nondietary exposure was possible. The 

number average MW of formaldehyde, 

polymer with 2-methyloxirane and 4- 

nonylphenol is 4,086 daltons. Generally, 

a polymer of this size would be poorly 

absorbed through the intact 

gastrointestinal tract or through intact 

human skin. Since formaldehyde, 

polymer with 2-methyloxirane and 4- 

nonylphenol conform to the criteria that 

identify a low-risk polymer, there are no 

concerns for risks associated with any 

potential exposure scenarios that are 

reasonably foreseeable. The Agency has 

determined that a tolerance is not 

necessary to protect the public health. 

V. Cumulative Effects 

Section 408 (b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA 

requires that, when considering whether 

to establish, modify, or revoke a 

tolerance or tolerance exemption, the 

Agency consider ‘‘available 

information’’ concerning the cumulative 

effects of a particular chemical’s 

residues and ‘‘other substances that 

have a common mechanism of toxicity.’’ 

For the purposes of this tolerance 

action, EPA has not assumed that 

formaldehyde, polymer with 2- 

methyloxirane and 4-nonylphenol has a 

common mechanism of toxicity with 

other substances, based on the 

anticipated absence of mammalian 

toxicity. For information regarding 

EPA’s efforts to determine which 

chemicals have a common mechanism 

of toxicity and to evaluate the 

cumulative effects of such chemicals, 

see the policy statements released by 

EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs 

concerning common mechanism 

determinations and procedures for 

cumulating effects from substances 

found to have a common mechanism on 

EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/ 

pesticides/cumulative. 

VI. Additional Safety Factor for the 

Protection of Infants and Children 

Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA 

provides that EPA shall apply an 

additional tenfold margin of safety for 

infants and children in the case of 

threshold effects to account for prenatal 

and postnatal toxicity and the 

completeness of the data base unless 

EPA concludes that a different margin of 

safety will be safe for infants and 

children. Due to the expected low 

toxicity of formaldehyde, polymer with 

2-methyloxirane and 4-nonylphenol, 

EPA has not used a safety factor analysis 

to assess the risk. For the same reasons 

the additional tenfold safety factor is 

unnecessary. 

VII. Determination of Safety 

Based on the conformance to the 

criteria used to identify a low-risk 

polymer, EPA concludes that there is a 

reasonable certainty of no harm to the 

U.S. population, including infants and 

children, from aggregate exposure to 

residues of formaldehyde, polymer with 

2-methyloxirane and 4-nonylphenol. 

VIII. Other Considerations 

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology 

An analytical method is not required 

for enforcement purposes since the 

Agency is establishing an exemption 

from the requirement of a tolerance 

without any numerical limitation. 

B. International Tolerances 

The Agency is not aware of any 

country requiring a tolerance for 

formaldehyde, polymer with 2- 

methyloxirane and 4-nonylphenol nor 

have any CODEX Maximum Residue 

Levels been established for any food 

crops at this time. 

IX. Conclusion 

Accordingly, EPA finds that 

exempting residues of formaldehyde, 

polymer with 2-methyloxirane and 4- 

nonylphenol from the requirement of a 

tolerance will be safe. 

X. Statutory and Executive Order 

Reviews 

This final rule establishes a tolerance 

under section 408(d) of FFDCA in 

response to a petition submitted to the 

Agency. The Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) has exempted these rules 

from review under Executive Order 

12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and 

Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). 

Because this final rule has been 

exempted from review under Executive 

Order 12866, this final rule is not 

subject to Executive Order 13211, 

entitled Actions Concerning Regulations 

That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 

22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, 

entitled Protection of Children from 

Environmental Health Risks and Safety 

Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). 

This final rule does not contain any 

information collections subject to OMB 

approval under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 

seq., nor does it involve any technical 

standards that would require Agency 

consideration of voluntary consensus 

standards pursuant to section 12(d) of 

the National Technology Transfer and 

Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), 


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11502 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 18, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 

Public Law 104–113, section 12(d) (15 

U.S.C. 272 note). 

Since tolerances and exemptions that 

are established on the basis of a petition 

under section 408(d) of FFDCA, such as 

the tolerance in this final rule, do not 

require the issuance of a proposed rule, 

the requirements of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 

seq.) do not apply. 

This final rule directly regulates 

growers, food processors, food handlers, 

and food retailers, not States or tribes, 

nor does this action alter the 

relationships or distribution of power 

and responsibilities established by 

Congress in the preemption provisions 

of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. As such, 

the Agency has determined that this 

action will not have a substantial direct 

effect on States or tribal governments, 

on the relationship between the national 

government and the States or tribal 

governments, or on the distribution of 

power and responsibilities among the 

various levels of government or between 

the Federal Government and Indian 

tribes, or otherwise have any unique 

impacts or local governments. Thus, the 

Agency has determined that Executive 

Order 13132, entitled Federalism (64 FR 

43255, August 10, 1999) and Executive 

Order 13175, entitled Consultation and 

Coordination with Indian Tribal 

Governments (65 FR 67249, November 

9, 2000) do not apply to this final rule. 

In addition, this final rule does not 

impose any enforceable duty or contain 

any unfunded mandate as described 

under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public 

Law 104–4). 

Although this action does not require 

any special considerations under 

Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal 

Actions to Address Environmental 

Justice in Minority Populations and 

Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, 

February 16, 1994), EPA seeks to 

achieve environmental justice, the fair 

treatment and meaningful involvement 

of any group, including minority and/or 

low-income populations, in the 

development, implementation, and 

enforcement of environmental laws, 

regulations, and policies. As such, to the 

extent that information is publicly 

available or was submitted in comments 

to EPA, the Agency considered whether 

groups or segments of the population, as 

a result of their location, cultural 

practices, or other factors, may have 

atypical or disproportionately high and 

adverse human health impacts or 

environmental effects from exposure to 

the pesticide discussed in this 

document, compared to the general 

population. 

XI. Congressional Review Act 

The Congressional Review Act, 5 

U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides 

that before a rule may take effect, the 

agency promulgating the rule must 

submit a rule report to each House of 

the Congress and to the Comptroller 

General of the United States. EPA will 

submit a report containing this rule and 

other required information to the U.S. 

Senate, the U.S. House of 

Representatives, and the Comptroller 

General of the United States prior to 

publication of this rule in the Federal 

Register. This rule is not a ‘‘major rule’’ 

as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). 

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180 

Environmental protection, 

Administrative practice and procedure, 

Agricultural commodities, Pesticides 

and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

Dated: February 12, 2009. 

Lois Rossi, 

Director, Registration Division, Office of 

Pesticide Programs. 

■ Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is 

amended as follows: 

PART 180—[AMENDED] 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 180 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371. 

■ 2. In § 180.960, the table is amended 

by adding alphabetically the following 

polymer to read: 

§ 180.960 Polymers; exemptions from the 

requirement of a tolerance. 

* * * * * 

Polymer CAS No. 

*****

Formaldehyde, polymer with 2- 

methyloxirane and 

4-nonylphenol, minimum number average molecular 

weight (in amu), 

4,000.

37523–33–4 

*****

[FR Doc. E9–5832 Filed 3–17–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Maritime Administration 

46 CFR Part 315 

[Docket No. MARAD 2009 0022] 

RIN 2133–AB73 

U.S. Citizenship for Contracts on RRF 

Vessels 

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, 

Department of Transportation. 

ACTION: Final rule; clarification. 

SUMMARY: On August 21, 2008, the 

Maritime Administration published the 

final rule in this docket to clarify 

Maritime Administration regulations 

which require that Agents (including 

Ship Managers) for the National Defense 

Reserve Fleet (NDRF) appointed by the 

Maritime Administration be United 

States citizens. The final rule was 

published with an effective date of the 

date of publication. Prior to publication, 

we inadvertently failed to submit the 

rule to Congress and the General 

Accounting Office (GAO), as required by 

the Congressional Review provisions in 

the Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA). 

Therefore, the rule did not go into effect 

on the date of publication. 

DATES: The applicability date for the 

final rule published at 73 FR 49357 

(August 21, 2008) was March 13, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay 

Gordon, Office of the Chief Counsel, at 

(202) 366–5173, via e-mail at 

Jay.Gordon@dot.gov, or by writing to: 

Jay Gordon, Office of the Chief Counsel, 

Maritime Administration, MAR–221, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington DC 20590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

For complete background and 

regulatory analysis, see the original 

document published August 21, 2008 

(73 FR 49357). This final rule indicated 

that it would be effective upon 

publication. Pursuant to Section 553 of 

the Administrative Procedure Act 

(APA), codified at 5 U.S.C. 553, with 

certain exceptions, substantive rules 

cannot take effect less than 30 days after 

publication, unless the agency finds 

good cause for doing so and provides a 

written explanation of any good cause 

found when the rule is published. The 

Maritime Administration (MARAD) 

provided no justification for the 

immediate effective date in the 

published rule document and, in fact, 

MARAD did not intend to avail itself of 

the good cause exception of 5 U.S.C. 


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