[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 178 (Friday, September 17, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51823-51832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19516]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 751

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202; FRL-6015.5-03-OCSPP]
RIN 2070-AK89


Regulation of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals 
Under TSCA Section 6(h); Phenol, Isopropylated Phosphate (3:1); 
Compliance Date Extension

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the 
regulations applicable to phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP 
(3:1)) promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 
Specifically, EPA is extending the compliance date applicable to the 
processing and distribution in commerce of certain PIP (3:1)-containing 
articles, and the PIP (3:1) used to make those articles from March 8, 
2021, to March 8, 2022. For such articles, EPA is also extending the 
compliance date for the recordkeeping requirements applicable to 
manufacturers, processors, and distributors from March 8, 2021, to 
March 8, 2022. The articles covered by this amendment include a wide 
range of key consumer and commercial goods such as cellular telephones, 
laptop computers, and other electronic and electrical devices and 
industrial and commercial equipment used in various sectors including 
transportation, life sciences, and semiconductor production.

DATES: This final rule is effective on September 17, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID)

[[Page 51824]]

number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202, is available at https://www.regulations.gov.
    Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room are closed to visitors with 
limited exceptions. The staff continue to provide remote customer 
service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status 
information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
Cindy Wheeler, Existing Chemicals Risk Management Division, Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 566-0484; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c490978785e9948690e9b6b1a8a1b784a1b4a5eaa3abb2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="792d2a3a3854293b2d540b0c151c0a391c0918571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>.
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b3f38282a4623041f0702050e2b0e1b0a450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a6e69797b1772554e5653545f7a5f4a5b145d554c">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Executive Summary

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you manufacture 
(including import), process, distribute in commerce, or use phenol, 
isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)), or PIP (3:1)-containing 
articles, especially plastic articles that are components of 
electronics or electrical articles. The following list of North 
American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes is not intended 
to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide to help readers determine 
whether this document applies to them. Potentially affected entities 
may include:
    <bullet> Petroleum Refineries (NAICS Code 324110);
    <bullet> All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
325199);
    <bullet> Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
325211);
    <bullet> All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation 
Manufacturing (NAICS Code 325998);
    <bullet> Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS Code 333);
    <bullet> Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and 
Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 
Code 333415);
    <bullet> Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
334290);
    <bullet> Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
334);
    <bullet> Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
335210);
    <bullet> Major Household Appliance Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
335220);
    <bullet> Motor and Generator Manufacturing (NAICS Code 335312);
    <bullet> Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (NAICS 
Code 335313);
    <bullet> Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
335314);
    <bullet> Other Communication and Energy Wire Manufacturing (NAICS 
Code 335929);
    <bullet> Current-carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing (NAICS Code 
335931);
    <bullet> Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS Code 336);
    <bullet> Musical Instrument Manufacturing (NAICS Code 339992);
    <bullet> All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS Code 339999);
    <bullet> Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers 
(NAICS Code 424690);
    <bullet> Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (NAICS Code 441);
    <bullet> All Other Home Furnishings Stores (NAICS Code 442299);
    <bullet> Electronics and Appliance Stores (NAICS Code 443);
    <bullet> Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies 
Dealers (NAICS Code 444);
    <bullet> Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and 
Life Sciences (NAICS Code 541710).

B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?

    1. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TSCA section 6(h), 15 
U.S.C. 2605(h), directs EPA to take expedited action on certain 
persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemical substances. For 
chemical substances that meet the statutory criteria, EPA is directed 
to issue final rules that address the risks of injury to health or the 
environment that the Administrator determines are present and to reduce 
exposure to the substance(s) to the extent practicable. In response to 
this directive, EPA identified PIP (3:1) as meeting the TSCA section 
6(h) criteria and issued a final rule for PIP (3:1) on January 6, 2021 
(Ref. 1). The January 2021 final rule prohibits the processing and 
distribution of PIP (3:1), PIP (3:1)-containing products, and PIP 
(3:1)-containing articles, with specified exclusions; prohibits or 
restricts the release of PIP (3:1) to water during manufacturing, 
processing, distribution, and commercial use; requires persons 
manufacturing, processing, and distributing in commerce PIP (3:1) and 
products containing PIP (3:1) to notify their customers of these 
prohibitions and restrictions and to keep records. Several different 
compliance dates were established, the first of which was March 8, 
2021, after which processing and distribution of PIP (3:1), PIP (3:1)-
containing products, and PIP (3:1)-containing articles were prohibited 
unless an alternative compliance date or exclusion was otherwise 
provided. With the obligation to promulgate these rules, the Agency 
also has the authority to amend them if circumstances change, including 
in relation to the receipt of new information and in relation to 
compliance deadlines established under TSCA section 6(d). It is well 
settled that EPA has inherent authority to reconsider, revise, or 
repeal past decisions to the extent permitted by law so long as the 
Agency provides a reasoned explanation. See FCC v. Fox Television 
Stations, Inc., 556 U.S. 502, 515 (2009). Here, as explained further in 
Unit I.D., based on information submitted by regulated entities since 
the publication of the final rule in January 2021, the Agency has 
determined that a limited extension to certain PIP (3:1) revised 
compliance dates is appropriate and necessary to address comments that 
the original compliance dates were not practicable and did not provide 
adequate transition time because they would have caused extensive harm 
to the economy and public due to unavailability of critical goods and 
equipment. This limited extension to the referenced compliance dates is 
intended to allow EPA additional time to consider how best to approach 
the concerns raised in comments seeking longer term extensions.
    2. Administrative Procedure Act (APA). APA section 553(d), 5 U.S.C. 
553(d), provides that the publication of a substantive rule must occur 
no later than 30 days before its effective date, with certain 
exceptions. The purpose of this provision is to ``give affected parties 
a reasonable time to adjust their behavior before the final rule takes 
effect.'' See Omnipoint Corp. v. Fed. Commc'n Comm'n, 78 F.3d 620, 630 
(D.C. Cir. 1996); see also United States v. Gavrilovic, 551 F.2d 1099, 
1104 (8th Cir. 1977) (quoting legislative history). Of relevance here, 
APA section 553(d)(1), 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), provides that final rules 
shall not become effective until 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register ``except . . . a substantive rule which grants or 
recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction.'' However, when the 
agency grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction, 
affected parties do not need a reasonable time to adjust

[[Page 51825]]

because the effect is not adverse. See Indep. U.S. Tanker Owners Comm. 
v. Skinner, 884 F.2d 587 (D.C. Cir. 1989) (upholding immediate 
effective date for a final rule intended to avoid disruption in 
domestic trade by lifting a ban on vessels participating in domestic 
shipping), mandate modified on other grounds, 901 F.2d 1116 (D.C. Cir. 
1990). EPA has determined that this rule relieves a restriction by 
providing additional time for regulated entities to comply with the 
applicable requirements. Accordingly, EPA is making this rule effective 
immediately upon publication.

C. What action is the Agency taking?

    EPA is amending the regulations at 40 CFR 751.407(a)(2) to provide 
for a phased-in prohibition for the processing and distributing in 
commerce of PIP (3:1) for use in certain articles and for the 
processing and distributing in commerce of certain PIP (3:1)-containing 
articles. Articles covered by this phased-in prohibition include any 
article not otherwise covered by a different compliance deadline or 
exclusion described in 40 CFR 751.407(a)(2)(ii) or (b). The compliance 
date for the prohibitions on processing and distributing in commerce of 
PIP (3:1) for use in articles, and the processing and distributing in 
commerce of PIP (3:1)-containing articles in the final rule published 
on January 6, 2021 (Ref. 1), as well as for the recordkeeping 
requirements, was 60 days after the date of publication, or March 8, 
2021. With this amendment, EPA is extending the compliance date for the 
processing and distributing in commerce of PIP (3:1) for use in 
articles, and the processing and distributing in commerce of PIP (3:1)-
containing articles, to March 8, 2022. With respect to articles covered 
by this final rule, EPA is also extending the compliance date from 
March 8, 2021, to March 8, 2022, for the recordkeeping requirements 
applicable to manufacturers, processors, and distributors of PIP (3:1)-
containing articles. In addition to this final rulemaking, EPA is 
planning to issue a separate notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in 
the near future to request comment on a further compliance date 
extension for certain PIP (3:1)-containing articles, the PIP (3:1) used 
to make those articles, and the recordkeeping associated with PIP 
(3:1)-containing articles.

D. Why is the Agency taking this action?

    EPA is issuing this final rule to address the hardships 
inadvertently created by the January 2021 final rule on PIP (3:1) (Ref. 
1) due to uses and supply chain challenges that were not communicated 
to EPA until after the rule was published. Shortly after the final rule 
was published in January 2021, many stakeholders, including, for 
example, the electronics and electrical manufacturing sector and their 
customers, raised significant concerns about their ability to meet the 
March 8, 2021, compliance date for PIP (3:1)-containing articles (Ref. 
2). These stakeholders requested an extension of the compliance date in 
order to clear the existing articles through the supply chain, find and 
certify an alternative chemical, and produce or import new articles 
that do not contain PIP (3:1). In the Federal Register of March 16, 
2021 (Ref. 3), EPA requested additional comment on this specific issue 
(Ref. 3), as well as on other aspects of all of the TSCA section 6(h) 
final rules in general (Refs. 4, 5, 6, 7). According to the comments 
received in response to the March comments solicitation, a wide range 
of key consumer and commercial goods are affected by the prohibitions 
in the PIP (3:1) final rule such as cellular telephones, laptop 
computers, and other electronic devices and industrial and commercial 
equipment used in various sectors including transportation, life 
sciences, and semiconductor production (Ref. 8). This action will 
ensure that the supply chains for these important articles continue 
uninterrupted in the near term while allowing EPA to take additional 
comment on a separate proposal for a longer-term compliance date 
extension.

E. What are the incremental economic impacts?

    EPA evaluated the potential incremental economic impacts and 
determined that these changes reduce the existing burden of this 
action. The quantified effect of this compliance date extension 
reflects the difference between the incremental cost and benefits of 
the final rule as it was originally promulgated and the incremental 
cost and benefits of this final rule with the compliance date in place. 
Quantified costs were estimated for substitution and recordkeeping by 
moving the associated costs, assuming they will be incurred as the 
compliance date extension expires. In summary, extending the compliance 
date by one year for PIP (3:1)-containing articles would result in an 
estimated annualized cost savings of $0.9 million (from a cost of $23.6 
million for the original rule to $22.7 million) at a 3 percent discount 
rate or $1.3 million (from $22.8 million for the original rule to $21.5 
million for this final rule) at a 7 percent discount rate over a 25-
year time horizon. Other qualitative costs savings may include 
allowance of more time for manufacturers and retailers to sell articles 
prior to the prohibition deadline rather than being forced to dispose 
of them, thereby avoiding loss of revenue from those products. 
Secondly, any reformulation costs (such as research and development, 
laboratory testing, and re-labeling) could be reduced since companies 
will have more time to gather information regarding the steps involved 
in the reformulation process. The level of these cost savings is 
dependent on complexity of achieving needed efficacy, length of time 
needed for testing and quality control, and the current status of 
development of alternatives, which may vary greatly by sector and end 
use product. Lastly, the compliance date extension may provide 
additional time for information gathering through the supply chain to 
alleviate the necessity for chemical testing of certain articles. 
Although the benefits of the final rule were not quantified, the 
extension would also postpone decreases in potential releases and 
exposures to PIP (3:1). Due to discounting, in a manner similar to 
costs, this postponement would lead to lower potential benefits. On 
balance, this rule is appropriate in light of the disruptive 
consequences of implementing the prohibition without the compliance 
extension. The economic consequences (such as loss of supply) could be 
severe, given the apparent ubiquity of the chemical in commerce. Thus, 
EPA has determined that the cost savings and avoidance of disruption to 
industry outweigh the delayed realization of benefits that may accrue 
from reduced exposure.

II. Background

A. History of the TSCA Rulemaking on PIP (3:1)

    TSCA section 6(h) requires EPA to take expedited regulatory action 
under TSCA section 6(a) for certain PBT chemicals identified in the 
2014 Update to the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments (Ref. 9). 
More specifically, under TSCA section 6(h)(1)(A), the subject chemical 
substances are those that:
    <bullet> EPA has a reasonable basis to conclude are toxic and that 
with respect to persistence and bioaccumulation score high for one and 
either high or moderate for the other, pursuant to the 2012 TSCA Work 
Plan Chemicals: Methods Document (Ref. 10) or a successor scoring 
system;
    <bullet> Are not a metal or a metal compound; and

[[Page 51826]]

    <bullet> Are chemical substances for which EPA has not completed a 
TSCA Work Plan Problem Formulation, initiated a review under TSCA 
section 5, or entered into a consent agreement under TSCA section 4, 
prior to June 22, 2016, the date that the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical 
Safety for the 21st Century Act became law.
    In addition, in order for a chemical substance to be subject to 
expedited action, TSCA section 6(h)(1)(B) states that EPA must find 
that exposure to the chemical substance under the conditions of use is 
likely to the general population or to a potentially exposed or 
susceptible subpopulation identified by the Administrator, or to the 
environment on the basis of an exposure and use assessment conducted by 
EPA. For chemical substances subject to TSCA section 6(h), EPA was 
directed to issue a proposed rule by June 22, 2019, and a final rule no 
later than 18 months after issuance of the proposal. The statute 
further provides that the Administrator shall not be required to 
conduct risk evaluations on chemical substances that are subject to 
TSCA section 6(h)(1).
    1. June 2019 proposed rule for PBT chemicals under TSCA section 
6(h). EPA issued a proposed rule for PIP (3:1) and four other chemical 
substances in June 2019 (Ref. 11). EPA proposed to determine that PIP 
(3:1) met the TSCA section 6(h)(1)(A) criteria for expedited action. In 
addition, based on an exposure and use assessment for PIP (3:1) (Ref. 
12) conducted as directed by TSCA section 6(h)(1)(B) and which was 
subject to peer review and public comment, EPA also proposed to find 
that exposure to PIP (3:1) is likely.
    During the development of the 2019 proposed rule (Ref. 11), EPA 
conducted extensive outreach to understand the uses of the five PBTs. 
Outreach included a public webinar, a Small Business Roundtable hosted 
by the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, and meetings 
with more than 90 stakeholders. Based on this outreach as well as EPA's 
practicability analysis for various prohibitions and restrictions, EPA 
proposed extended compliance dates for some uses of PIP (3:1) and 
exclusions for others.
    The public comment period on the proposal was open for a total of 
90 days, closing on October 28, 2019. EPA received a total of 48 
comments, with three commenters sending multiple submissions with 
attached files, for a total of 58 submissions on the proposal for all 
five of the PBT chemicals. This includes the previous request for a 
comment period extension (EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0080-0526). Two commenters 
submitted confidential business information (CBI) or copyrighted 
documents with information regarding economic analysis and market 
trends. Of the comment submissions, 30 of the approximately 50 comments 
addressed EPA's proposed regulation of PIP (3:1). Copies of all the 
non-CBI documents, or redacted versions without CBI, are available via 
https://www.regulations.gov in docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0080.
    2. January 2021 final rule for PIP (3:1) under TSCA section 6(h). 
The final rule for PIP (3:1) was published in the Federal Register on 
January 6, 2021 (Ref. 1). EPA determined in the final rule that PIP 
(3:1) met the TSCA section 6(h)(1)(A) criteria for expedited action. In 
addition, EPA determined, in accordance with TSCA section 6(h)(1)(B), 
that exposure to PIP (3:1) was likely under the conditions of use to 
the general population, to a potentially exposed or susceptible 
subpopulation, or the environment. The PIP (3:1) final rule prohibits 
processing and distribution in commerce of PIP (3:1), and products or 
articles containing the chemical substance, for all uses, except for 
the following different compliance dates or exclusions:
    <bullet> Use in photographic printing articles after January 1, 
2022;
    <bullet> Use in aviation hydraulic fluid in hydraulic systems and 
use in specialty hydraulic fluids for military applications;
    <bullet> Use in lubricants and greases;
    <bullet> Use in new and replacement parts for the aerospace and 
automotive industries;
    <bullet> Use as an intermediate in the manufacture of cyanoacrylate 
glue;
    <bullet> Use in specialized engine air filters for locomotive and 
marine applications;
    <bullet> Use in sealants and adhesives after January 6, 2025; and
    <bullet> Recycling of plastic that contained PIP (3:1) before the 
plastic was recycled, and the articles and products made from such 
recycled plastic, so long as no new PIP (3:1) is added during the 
recycling or production process.
    In addition, the January 2021 final rule requires manufacturers, 
processors, and distributors of PIP (3:1) and products containing PIP 
(3:1) to notify their customers of these restrictions. Finally, the 
rule prohibits releases to water from the remaining manufacturing, 
processing, and distribution in commerce activities, and requires 
commercial users of PIP (3:1) and PIP (3:1)-containing products to 
follow existing regulations and best practices to prevent releases to 
water during use.
    Also defined at 40 CFR 751.403 for the purposes of 40 CFR part 751, 
subpart E, which includes the January 2021 PIP (3:1) final rule, are 
the terms ``article'' and ``product'' (Ref. 1). ``Article'' is defined 
as a manufactured item: (1) Which is formed to a specific shape or 
design during manufacture, (2) Which has end use function(s) dependent 
in whole or in part upon its shape or design during end use, and (3) 
Which has either no change of chemical composition during its end use 
or only those changes of composition which have no commercial purpose 
separate from that of the article, and that result from a chemical 
reaction that occurs upon end use of other chemical substances, 
mixtures, or articles; except that fluids and particles are not 
considered articles regardless of shape or design. For example, laptop 
computers are articles, as are the internal components such as chips, 
wiring, and cooling fans. ``Product'' is defined as the chemical 
substance, a mixture containing the chemical substance, or any object 
that contains the chemical substance or mixture containing the chemical 
substance that is not an article. For example, hydraulic fluids and 
motor oils are products.
    The January 2021 final rule differed from the proposal in several 
ways as a result of the information provided during the public comment 
period. The exclusions that were based on information received during 
the public comment period are the exclusion for the use of PIP (3:1) in 
new and replacement parts for aerospace vehicles, as an intermediate in 
a closed system to produce cyanoacrylate adhesives, in specialized 
engine air filters for locomotive and marine applications, plastics 
recycling, and finished products or articles made of recycled plastic. 
The final rule also features delayed compliance dates for the use of 
PIP (3:1) in photographic printing articles and adhesives and sealants.

B. The March 16, 2021 Notification and Request for Comments

    Shortly after the publication of the January 2021 final rule, a 
wide variety of stakeholders from various sectors, including the 
electronics and electrical manufacturing community and their customers, 
started raising concerns about the March 8, 2021, compliance date in 
the final rule for the prohibition on the processing and distributing 
in commerce of PIP (3:1) for use in articles and PIP (3:1)-containing 
articles (Ref. 2). These stakeholders contended that they needed 
significantly more time in order to identify whether and where PIP 
(3:1)

[[Page 51827]]

might be present in articles in their supply chains, find and certify 
alternative chemicals, and produce or import new articles that do not 
contain PIP (3:1). Despite EPA's extensive outreach, most stakeholders 
contacting EPA after the rule was finalized did not comment on the 
proposal or otherwise engage with the agency on the PIP (3:1) 
rulemaking, and do not appear to have previously surveyed their supply 
chains to determine if PIP (3:1) was being used. Several indicated that 
they did not understand that articles can be regulated under TSCA, and 
that, because PIP (3:1) is not regulated by other authorities, 
including those of other countries or under international agreements, 
there was a lack of awareness relative to its presence in the supply 
chain. Absent engagement and timely or specific input from these 
stakeholders that could be used as a basis for granting further 
extensions or exemptions from the proposed prohibition, in the final 
rule EPA believed that PIP (3:1) was not widely present in articles 
outside the aerospace and automotive sectors. While some commenters on 
the 2019 proposed rule indicated that PIP (3:1) may be present in 
articles, their comments were very general and did not identify 
specific uses or specific concerns with the March 8, 2021, compliance 
date.
    Based on the concerns raised by stakeholders shortly after 
publication of the final rule, EPA issued a No Action Assurance (NAA) 
on March 8, 2021 (Ref. 13), in an effort to ensure that the supply 
chains of these important articles were not interrupted while the 
agency collected the information needed to best inform subsequent 
regulatory efforts. The NAA only described how the agency will exercise 
its enforcement discretion; the NAA did not change the March 8, 2021, 
compliance date or the continued harm created by that compliance date. 
Moreover, the NAA did not prevent citizen suits for violations of the 
January 2021 rule. The NAA indicated that EPA would exercise its 
enforcement discretion to not pursue enforcement regarding the 
prohibition on processing and distribution of PIP (3:1) for use in 
articles, and PIP (3:1)-containing articles, for the following 
violations:
    Shortly after the NAA was issued, EPA published in the ``Proposed 
Rules'' section of the Federal Register a notification and request for 
specific comments (Ref. 3) to address the concerns that had been raised 
by stakeholders regarding PIP (3:1) in articles. While the March 2021 
notification and request for comment did not include a specific 
alternative compliance date for PIP (3:1)-containing articles and the 
PIP (3:1) for use in those articles, the document did describe in 
particular the issues raised by industry stakeholders regarding the 
March 8, 2021, compliance date, including the types of articles 
affected, such as those used in a wide variety of electronics, ranging 
from cellular telephones, to robotics used to manufacture 
semiconductors, to equipment used to move COVID-19 vaccines and keep 
them at the appropriate temperature. The document further outlined the 
complexity of international supply chains described by industry 
stakeholders and how, according to those stakeholders, that complexity 
creates challenges for identifying and finding alternatives to PIP 
(3:1) in complex supply chains. Finally, EPA asked commenters to 
specifically describe:
    <bullet> The articles that would need an alternative compliance 
date;
    <bullet> The basis for such an alternative compliance date, taking 
into consideration the reasons supporting alternative compliance dates 
in the final rule already issued, such as the January 1, 2022, date for 
photographic printing articles and the January 6, 2025, date for 
adhesives and sealants, with supporting documentation; and
    <bullet> The additional time needed for specific articles to clear 
channels of trade.
    EPA received a total of 122 comments in response to the March 2021 
notification and request for comment (Ref. 3); 78 of these were from 
industry stakeholders, most of whom were concerned about compliance for 
PIP (3:1)-containing articles (Ref. 8). Stakeholders concerned about 
PIP (3:1)-containing articles reiterated that they needed much more 
time, in some cases up to 15 years (Ref. 14), in order to identify 
where PIP (3:1) might be present in their supply chains, find and 
certify alternatives, and produce or import new articles that do not 
contain PIP (3:1).
    1. Comments on articles that contain, or potentially contain, PIP 
(3:1). During the public comment period, several industry commenters 
identified a wide range of articles that may contain PIP (3:1). PIP 
(3:1) is used as a flame retardant and plasticizer in plastic articles 
such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wire covers and casings. Other 
articles which have been identified or are being investigated for the 
presence of PIP (3:1) include PVC tubes, harnesses, cables, covers, 
sleeves, and casings, which include AC power cords and USB cables for 
consumer and commercial articles such as laptops, televisions, and 
gaming consoles. According to the electrical manufacturing industry a 
representative sample of articles made possible by the qualities unique 
to PIP (3:1) include medical devices, capacitors, inverters, 
generators, transformers, semiconductor wafers, computers, and 
electrical appliances (Ref. 15). Manufacturers of construction, 
agriculture, forestry, mining, and utility equipment have identified 
PIP (3:1) in fire prevention systems, engine emission control systems, 
electronics, wiring harnesses, hydraulic hoses, switches, fabrics, PVC 
articles, resin in fiberglass articles, paints, elastomers, foam, 
resistors, splitters, articles that are alarm components, automatic 
tire inflation equipment, and wire sleeving (Ref. 16). According to 
another commenter, in construction, agriculture, forestry, mining, and 
utility equipment, PIP (3:1) is frequently found in wire harnesses, 
starters, water pumps, motor gears, pre-wired motors, ground cables, 
and compressors (Ref. 17). The semiconductor manufacturing industry has 
identified the use of PIP (3:1) in semiconductor-related manufacturing 
equipment (as well as microelectromechanical-related, solar-related, 
and LED-related manufacturing equipment), as well as semiconductor 
fabrication facilities' support equipment and infrastructure, such as 
laboratory, substrate and device (e.g., die) preparation, and assembly 
and test operations, including advanced packaging (Ref. 14) as well as 
articles that are internal components of high-tech robotics and 
manufacturing equipment. Additionally, the chemical has been identified 
in articles that are components in scanning electron microscopes 
utilized in research, national laboratories, and academia (Ref. 18).
    EPA generally agrees with these commenters that PIP (3:1) is used 
in a variety of articles, especially in plastic articles that are 
components of electronics or electrical articles. Further, at the time 
the January 2021 final rule was issued, EPA did not understand the 
extent to which PIP (3:1) is used in articles beyond those articles 
specifically addressed in that final rule, which are photographic 
printing articles, new and replacement parts for aerospace and motor 
vehicles, specialized locomotive and marine engine air filters, and 
recycled plastics. EPA notes that this final rule does not affect the 
compliance dates established for these specific articles in the January 
2021 final rule. EPA outlined its understanding on the use of PIP (3:1) 
in

[[Page 51828]]

articles in responding to public comments on the January 2021 final 
rule, ``[t]here is little evidence to suggest that PIP (3:1) is present 
in articles which may be available to consumers, and outside of 
activities excluded from the prohibition, little evidence to suggest it 
is necessary or present in commercial and industrial articles as well'' 
(Ref. 26).
    2. Comments on the challenges associated with determining whether 
articles contain PIP (3:1). Commenters described in detail the 
challenges associated with determining whether a particular article 
contains PIP (3:1), especially for complex goods that contain thousands 
of individual parts. For example, commenters from the consumer 
electronics sector noted that articles that are components for their 
complex goods are sourced on a worldwide market and a manufacturer may 
have upwards of 5,000 suppliers for potentially 100,000 or more 
component articles across all product lines (Ref. 19). These commenters 
note that manufacturers do not receive a list of every chemical within 
each part or component article that ultimately goes into a finished 
electronic article because ingredient lists are highly proprietary and 
confidential. Rather, companies provide functionality, performance, 
safety and quality specifications of a part or component article to 
their supply chain, including specifications regarding chemical 
restrictions. According to these commenters, suppliers are provided 
lists of restricted chemicals on at least an annual basis, or more 
frequently if there is a triggering event, such as a new government 
restriction. Suppliers are notified of the lead time for the 
restriction of the chemical and any testing that may be required, and 
the suppliers communicate that information upstream to their own 
suppliers.
    According to these commenters (Ref. 19), the task of determining 
whether PIP (3:1) is used in a component article in a finished 
electronic good is further complicated by the many article 
manufacturers being unable to identify or confirm the PIP (3:1) content 
of articles, such as supplied parts, components or commercial and 
consumer goods, without laboratory testing. Laboratory testing can run 
up to $5,000 per product and take up to one (1) month. As a result, 
companies must rely on material declarations by suppliers as a more 
practicable and reliable approach to determine the usage of PIP (3:1) 
within an article.
    Other commenters echo these concerns. Comments from the heating, 
ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry note that 
manufacturers are currently working their way through tens of thousands 
of stock-keeping units (SKUs), each having hundreds of associated 
component articles and spare parts (Ref. 20). They contend that their 
suppliers have generally not been forthright about the presence of PIP 
(3:1) in their component articles and parts, even after receiving 
notification that the use of PIP (3:1) in component articles must be 
disclosed. According to these commenters, some suppliers continue to 
claim that they will not disclose the chemical makeup of component 
articles as the composition is confidential intellectual property. In 
response, some of the larger manufacturers have started testing 
component articles to compensate for this lack of transparency, but 
testing is time-consuming and costly and most smaller businesses do not 
have the resources to undertake testing.
    The semiconductor industry and the testing and measurement industry 
noted that their industries differ from the consumer electronics 
industry and the automotive industry, in that their industries are 
high-mix, low-volume industries, meaning that manufacturer portfolios 
are typically comprised of a large number of unique goods with 
relatively low unit sales (Refs. 14, 21). Their equipment is primarily 
custom built to order and sold directly to professional and industrial 
customers by the manufacturers (Ref. 21). The semiconductor industry 
typically places only 600 to 6,000 units of semiconductor manufacturing 
and related equipment into U.S. commerce each year and it is not 
uncommon for small groups of model units to be customized to an end 
user's particular needs (Ref. 14). According to this commenter, this is 
in stark contrast to most consumer goods, in which individual similar 
model units are placed into U.S. commerce in much greater number, and 
to the automotive and aerospace sectors, in which goods are 
manufactured in lower quantities but which are quite similar from model 
unit to model unit (Ref. 14). The semiconductor industry further noted 
that their sector's ability to obtain material composition data from 
across their supply chain is limited due to three factors: (1) The 
length and complexity of the supply chain; (2) the preponderance of 
suppliers located outside of the U.S.; and (3) the tens of thousands of 
parts incorporated into each article eventually manufactured or 
distributed in commerce within the U.S.
    EPA generally recognizes the challenges described by these 
commenters in determining whether and where PIP (3:1) is present in 
articles in their supply chains and how long it may take to clear those 
PIP (3:1)-containing articles through the channels of trade. As to 
comments relating to testing, as most commenters note, there are a 
number of alternative steps to testing that an importer or a domestic 
manufacturer can take to ensure that an article does not contain PIP 
(3:1). The customer can include a specification in their purchase 
contracts with suppliers that articles be made without PIP (3:1). The 
customer can also request that their suppliers provide them with a 
written statement or certification that the purchased or supplied goods 
are made without PIP (3:1). Of course, testing is always an option, but 
EPA recognizes that this may be a more expensive option.
    3. Comments on compliance date considerations for PIP (3:1)-
containing articles. Nearly all of the industry commenters responding 
to EPA's March 2021 notification and request for comment (Ref. 3) 
stated that they needed several years to phase PIP (3:1) out of their 
articles. Many contended that they needed much longer, up to fifteen 
years (Refs. 14, 18) assuming that it is even feasible to do so. 
Commenters identified a number of steps that would be needed in order 
to complete a phase-out of PIP (3:1) in articles. These steps include: 
(1) Identifying where PIP (3:1) is present; (2) identifying and testing 
substitutes; (3) testing and re-certifying (as needed) the replacement 
article; and (4) distributing the replacement article throughout the 
supply chain. Many commenters provided detailed timelines for the steps 
needed to replace PIP (3:1).
    For example, the consumer electronics industry noted that, while 
companies had begun to survey their suppliers as soon as the final rule 
was published, because of the large number of parts and suppliers 
involved for most manufacturers, they anticipated that completing the 
survey would take between six and twelve months (Ref. 19). They also 
noted that, because PIP (3:1) is not regulated in other international 
markets, there is a general lack of awareness regarding the chemical 
throughout the supply chain and the industry expects the surveys to 
take closer to twelve months than six.
    According to the consumer electronics industry commenters, once PIP 
(3:1) is identified in a particular part by a particular supplier, the 
supplier must identify and investigate alternatives to PIP (3:1) that 
can meet regulatory requirements and manufacturer requirements with 
respect to functionality, performance, safety and quality (Ref. 19). 
Given that PIP (3:1) is typically used in electronic component

[[Page 51829]]

articles to meet safety standards related to flammability, a component 
article that includes a PIP (3:1) alternative will have to be certified 
to the applicable safety standard (Ref. 19). Common safety standards 
that apply to consumer electronics, according to the commenters, 
include Underwriters Laboratory UL94, entitled ``Tests for Flammability 
of Plastic Material for Part in Devices and Applications,'' and UL498, 
entitled ``Attachment Plugs and Receptacles.'' The timeline for 
retesting and recertification of replacement component articles is 
determined by the certification organization, and consumer electronics 
manufacturers estimate that testing could take anywhere from 3 to 24 
months (Ref. 19).
    The commenters detail the next steps in replacing a PIP (3:1)-
containing component article (Ref. 19). Once the manufacturer of the 
finished consumer electronics good receives the replacement component 
article, the manufacturer will conduct its own internal quality 
assessments. The manufacturer will conduct an initial assessment on 
whether the component article works, has the correct performance 
characteristics, and maintains brand integrity. Once these basic 
parameters have been evaluated, the manufacturer will assemble the 
component article into a consumer electronics good and conduct an 
overall quality assessment, which may include smoke and ignition 
testing, current leakage testing, and temperature testing, among other 
things (Ref. 19). At that point, the reworked good is sent for third-
party certification. If the substituted component article is considered 
critical by the certification body, full retesting and recertification 
of the good may be necessary. Industry commenters anticipate that full 
retesting and recertification will be required, given the use of PIP 
(3:1) from a fire safety perspective and the fact that the types of 
component articles where PIP (3:1) is used play critical roles in the 
goods. Manufacturers anticipate that this recertification step will 
take anywhere from six to thirty months (Ref. 19). Finally, according 
to these commenters, a minimum of one year is needed to move the newly-
remanufactured goods throughout the supply chain. This commenter 
further contended that a chemical phase out in response to a 
restriction in the European Union under the Restriction on Hazardous 
Substances (RoHS) 2, a product-level compliance program for electrical 
and electronic equipment, is typically effective four years from the 
date of notice by the European Union (Ref. 19).
    Other industries provided similarly detailed descriptions of the 
length of time needed to replace PIP (3:1)-containing component 
articles. The heavy equipment sector stated that their design cycles 
are typically seven years from start to finish, and that this would 
likely be the amount of time needed to identify whether and to what 
extent PIP (3:1) exists in the supply chain, confirm the function of 
PIP (3:1) for the end-use application, identify alternatives, re-design 
for the alternative rather than PIP (3:1), test the replacement 
component article for safety, regulatory, and quality requirements, and 
re-introduce the good into the market (Ref. 16). According to this 
commenter, the testing requirements often take the longest time to 
complete during a redesign because heavy-duty industrial equipment 
operates in demanding and severe operating conditions over a long 
product life cycle. Such equipment is reportedly subject to various 
fire safety and flammability regulatory requirements set by the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Flammability Test for 
Motor Vehicle Interiors, 49 CFR 571.302), the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration (Fire Protection and Prevention, 29 CFR 1926.24 
and 1926.151), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (various fire 
prevention provisions, including 30 CFR part 35 and 30 CFR 75.1100, 
75.1911, and 77.1100), and the Federal Railroad Administration (49 CFR 
parts 216, 223, 229, 231, 232, 238). Additionally, according to this 
commenter, engine emission sensors designed for off-road equipment to 
comply with the Clean Air Act currently rely on PIP (3:1) to survive 
the high-temperature environment in the engine compartment (Ref. 16).
    A unique problem reported by this commenter and several others in 
the heavy equipment sector is that their supply chains often overlap 
with much larger industries, such as the automotive and aerospace 
sectors (Refs. 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24). A recent survey by one 
commenter found that 61% of the surveyed suppliers in the heavy 
equipment sector also provided parts and materials to the automotive 
industry (Ref. 16). According to this commenter, despite the 
significant overlap in suppliers, there are key differences in the 
product design lifecycles and volumes between the industries. Heavy-
duty, industrial professional use equipment is decidedly lower volume 
with a higher diversity of goods than those found in the consumer 
automotive market. As the automotive sector is currently excluded from 
the January 2021 PIP (3:1) final rule, the current regulations allow 
suppliers to provide automotive parts that contain PIP (3:1) to their 
automotive manufacturers. With the higher variability of goods and 
lower volume nature of the heavy-duty, industrial equipment sector, 
commenters assert that the manufacturers of this non-automotive 
equipment will need to utilize custom made parts which, if available, 
could cost between two and ten times the normal price of the automotive 
parts that they would ordinarily use (Ref. 24).
    In contrast to the industry commenters, who all stated that the 
March 8, 2021, compliance date for PIP (3:1)-containing articles was 
not practicable, a comment submitted by three environmental public 
interest groups in response to EPA's March 2021 notification and 
request for comment (Ref. 3) stated that industry had been given 
sufficient notice of EPA's intent to regulate PIP (3:1) in articles and 
did not believe that EPA should excuse their failure to comment in a 
timely manner (Ref. 25). This commenter further noted that any 
exclusions or extended compliance dates should be considered under the 
stringent criteria of TSCA section 6(g), which requires EPA to 
determine one of the following: (1) That the condition of use is a 
critical or essential use with no feasible safer alternatives; or (2) 
that compliance with a requirement would significantly disrupt the 
national economy, national security, or critical infrastructure; or (3) 
that the specific condition of use provides a substantial benefit to 
health, the environment, or public safety.
    EPA generally agrees with the industry commenters on the steps 
required to phase PIP (3:1) out of articles in their supply chains. 
Industry must first determine where PIP (3:1) is present; identify 
alternatives to PIP (3:1), and then design, test, and recertify, as 
necessary, the new articles made without PIP (3:1). Those new articles 
must then be distributed throughout the supply chain. However, some 
commenters provided detailed estimates of the time needed to take these 
steps while others did not. For example, comments from the consumer 
technology sector gave estimates for completing each one of these 
steps, with the overall timeline ranging from 2.25 years to 6.5 years 
(Ref. 19). Estimated timelines provided by commenters in response to 
the March 2021 notification and request for comment (Ref. 3) ranged 
from 2.25 years to 15 years or more (Refs. 19, 14). Given the varying 
estimates, and the lack of detail

[[Page 51830]]

accompanying some of those estimates, EPA has determined that a 
relatively short compliance date extension until March 8, 2022, is 
necessary to avoid immediate and significant disruption in the supply 
chains for important articles, to provide the public with regulatory 
certainty in the near term, and to allow EPA additional time to further 
evaluate the need to again extend the compliance deadlines for PIP 
(3:1).
    EPA disagrees with the commenter who contended that any compliance 
date extension should be evaluated under TSCA section 6(g). As noted in 
response to similar comments on the 2019 proposed rule, ``TSCA section 
6(h)(4) directs EPA to issue regulations that reduce exposure to PBT 
chemicals `to the extent practicable,' not to regulate beyond the point 
of practicability and then issue [section 6(g)] exemptions that would 
limit the scope of those regulations'' (Ref. 26, at p. 44). EPA views 
this compliance date extension as consistent with this standard, and as 
discussed in Unit III, with the requirements of TSCA section 6(d) to 
ensure that the compliance dates are ``as soon as practicable'' and 
provide a ``reasonable transition period,'' because this action is 
necessary to avoid immediate and significant disruption in the supply 
chains for important articles, such as cellular telephones and the 
HVACR equipment used to cool people, buildings, and to transport and 
store COVID-19 vaccines and keep them at the appropriate temperature, 
not as an excuse for a failure to comment earlier in this rulemaking 
process.

III. Provisions of This Final Rule

A. Establishing a Compliance Date Under TSCA Section 6(d)

    TSCA section 6(d)(1)(A) directs EPA to specify a date on which the 
TSCA section 6(a) rule is to take effect that is ``as soon as 
practicable.'' TSCA section 6(d)(1)(B) requires EPA to specify 
mandatory compliance dates for each requirement of a rule promulgated 
under TSCA section 6(a), which must be as soon as practicable but no 
later than five years after promulgation except as provided in 
subsections (C) and (D) or in the case of a use exempted under TSCA 
section 6(g). TSCA section 6(d)(1)(C) states that EPA must specify 
mandatory compliance dates for the start of ban or phase-out 
requirements under a TSCA section 6(a) rule, which must be as soon as 
practicable but no later than five years after promulgation, except in 
the case of a use exempted under TSCA section 6(g); and subsection (D) 
requires EPA to specify mandatory compliance dates for full 
implementation of ban or phase-out requirements, which must be as soon 
as practicable. Additionally, TSCA section 6(d)(1)(E) directs EPA to 
provide for a reasonable transition period.
    As noted in the preamble to the January 2021 final rule, the 
phrases ``as soon as practicable'' and ``reasonable transition period'' 
as used in TSCA section 6(d)(1) are undefined, and the legislative 
history on TSCA section 6(d) is limited. Given the ambiguity in the 
statute, for purposes of the final rule under TSCA section 6(h), EPA 
presumed a 60-day compliance date was ``as soon as practicable,'' 
unless there was support for a lengthier period of time on the basis of 
reasonably available information, such as information submitted in 
comments on the Exposure and Use Assessment or on the proposed rule, or 
in stakeholder dialogues. At the time, EPA believed that such a 
presumption would ensure that the compliance schedule is ``as soon as 
practicable,'' particularly in the context of the TSCA section 6(h) 
rules for chemicals identified as persistent, bioaccumulative and 
toxic, and given that the expedited timeframe for issuing a TSCA 
section 6(h) proposed rule did not allow time for collection and 
assessment of new information separate from the comment opportunities 
during the development of and in response to the proposed rule. EPA 
noted that this approach also allows for submission of information from 
the sources most likely to have the information that would impact an 
EPA determination on whether or how best to adjust the compliance 
deadline to ensure that the final compliance deadline chosen is both 
``as soon as practicable'' and provides a ``reasonable transition 
period.''
    As previously noted, EPA did not receive timely or specific input 
from certain stakeholders during any public comment periods prior to 
issuance of the 2019 proposed rule or in response to the proposed rule 
regarding the presence of PIP (3:1) in myriad articles. Absent this 
input, in the final rule EPA determined that PIP (3:1) was not widely 
present in articles outside the aerospace and automotive sectors and 
that the presumption that a 60-day compliance date was practicable was 
appropriate. The comments received in response to EPA's March 2021 
notification and request for comment (Ref. 3), and the communications 
received before that document published in the Federal Register, 
presented new information demonstrating that a 60-day compliance date 
was not a reasonable transition period for the full implementation of a 
ban or phase-out for many industries.

B. Compliance Date Extension

    From the comments received in response to EPA's March 2021 
notification and request for comment (Ref. 3), as well the information 
provided during stakeholder meetings since the publication of the 
January 2021 final rule on PIP (3:1), it is clear to EPA that the 
compliance date for PIP (3:1) and PIP (3:1)-containing articles, but 
not PIP (3:1)-containing products, must be extended. While some 
commenters provided detailed descriptions of the affected articles and 
detailed timelines for the phasing out of PIP (3:1) from these 
articles, most did not provide the specificity that EPA was looking for 
in response to the March 2021 notification and request for comment 
(Ref. 3). In addition, many commenters stated that they were still in 
the early stages of identifying the affected articles (Ref. 19). 
Therefore, EPA has determined that a relatively short compliance date 
extension until March 8, 2022, is necessary to avoid immediate and 
significant disruption in the supply chains for important articles, to 
provide the public with regulatory certainty in the near term, and to 
allow EPA additional time to further evaluate the need to again extend 
the compliance deadlines for PIP (3:1).
    In addition to this final rule, EPA is planning to issue a separate 
NPRM in the near future to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to 
submit comments on the need for an additional compliance date extension 
for certain PIP (3:1)-containing articles, and the PIP (3:1) used to 
make those articles, and to include in their comments specific 
information detailing the necessity of such an extension. EPA is 
seeking this additional comment because EPA does not yet have 
sufficient information on which to base a decision on the length of 
time that will ultimately be needed for the affected industry sectors 
to comply with the prohibitions in the January 2021 final rule. During 
this upcoming comment period, EPA expects that industry will be able to 
provide more detailed information on the number and type of articles 
affected by the January 2021 final rule, given the ongoing work on the 
identification process and the additional six months as of the date 
that the comment period will close.

IV. References

    The following is a listing of the documents that are specifically 
referenced in this document. The docket includes these documents and 
other

[[Page 51831]]

information considered by EPA, including documents that are referenced 
within the documents that are included in the docket, even if the 
referenced document is not physically located in the docket. For 
assistance in locating these other documents, please consult the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

1. EPA. Phenol, Isopropylated Phosphate (3:1) (PIP 3:1)); Regulation 
of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals Under TSCA 
Section 6(h); Final Rule. Federal Register (86 FR 894, January 6, 
2021) (FRL-10018-88).
2. Letter from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and the 
Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) to EPA on March 15, 
2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0015.
3. EPA. Regulation of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic 
Chemicals Under TSCA Section 6(h); Proposed Rule; Request for 
Comments. Federal Register (86 FR 14398, March 16, 2021) (FRL-10021-
08).
4. EPA. 2,4,6-Tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-TTBP); Regulation of 
Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals Under TSCA Section 
6(h); Final Rule. Federal Register (86 FR 866, January 6, 2021) 
(FRL-10018-90).
5. EPA. Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DecaBDE); Regulation of Persistent, 
Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final 
Rule. Federal Register (86 FR 880, January 6, 2021) (FRL-10018-87).
6. EPA. Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP); Regulation of Persistent, 
Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final 
Rule. Federal Register (86 FR 911, January 6, 2021) (FRL-10018-89).
7. EPA. Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD); Regulation of Persistent, 
Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final 
Rule. Federal Register (86 FR 922, January 6, 2021) (FRL-10018-91).
8. Comments submitted to EPA. Regulation of Persistent, 
Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals Under TSCA Section 6(h). Docket 
ID EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0001.
9. EPA. TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments: 2014 Update. 
October 2014. https://www.epa.gov/assessingandmanaging-chemicals-under-tsca/tscawork-plan-chemical-assessments-2014-update.
10. EPA. TSCA Work Plan Chemicals: Methods Document. February 2012. 
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/work_plan_methods_document_web_final.pdf.
11. EPA. Regulation of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic 
Chemicals Under TSCA Section 6(h); Proposed Rule. Federal Register 
(84 FR 36728, July 29, 2019) (FRL-9995-76).
12. EPA. Exposure and Use Assessment of Five Persistent, 
Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals. December 2020.
13. EPA. No Action Assurance Regarding Prohibition of Processing and 
Distribution of Phenol Isopropylated Phosphate (3:1), PIP (3:1) for 
Use in Articles, and PIP (3:1)-containing Articles under 40 CFR 
751.407(a)(1). March 8, 2021. https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/public-comment-period-pbt-rules-and-no-action-assurance.
14. Comment submitted by SEMI and the Semiconductor Equipment 
Association of Japan (SEAJ) to EPA on May 17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2021-0202-0121.
15. Comment submitted by National Electrical Manufacturers 
Association (NEMA) to EPA on May 17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-
0117.
16. Comment submitted by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers 
(AEM) to EPA on May 13, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0053.
17. Comment submitted by CNH Industrial to EPA on May 14, 2021. EPA-
HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0065.
18. Comment submitted by Hitachi High-Tech America Inc. to EPA on 
May 17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0093.
19. Comment submitted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) 
and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) to EPA on May 
17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0148.
20. Comment submitted by the Air-Conditioning, Heating and 
Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) to EPA on May 17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-
2021-0202-0143.
21. Comment submitted by the Test & Measurement Coalition (T&M) to 
EPA on May 17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0122.
22. Comment submitted by LBX Company, LLC to EPA on May 17, 2021. 
EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0082.
23. Comment submitted by Clark Equipment Company to EPA on May 17, 
2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0095.
24. Comment submitted by Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) to 
EPA on May 17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0125.
25. Comment submitted by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families (SCHF) et 
al. to EPA on May 17, 2021. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0202-0096.
26. EPA. Regulation of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic 
Chemicals under TSCA Section 6(h); Response to Public Comments. 
December 2020. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0080-0647.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Additional information about these statutes and Executive orders 
can be found at https://www2.epa.gov/lawsregulations/laws-and-executive-orders.

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is a significant regulatory action under Executive 
Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and was submitted to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under Executive Orders 
12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011). Any changes made in 
response to OMB review have been reflected in the docket for this 
action.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose any new information collection 
activities or burden subject to OMB review and approval under the PRA, 
44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b). OMB has 
previously approved the information collection activities contained in 
the existing regulations and associated burden under OMB Control No. 
2070-0213 (EPA ICR No. 2599.02). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, 
and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information 
that requires OMB approval under PRA, unless it has been approved by 
OMB and displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control 
numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing 
in the Federal Register, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, and included on 
the related collection instrument or form, if applicable.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. In 
making this determination, the impact of concern is any significant 
adverse economic impact on small entities. An agency may certify that a 
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities if the rule relieves regulatory burden, has no 
net burden or otherwise has a positive economic effect on the small 
entities subject to the rule. This final rule extends the compliance 
date for a prohibition on the processing and distributing in commerce 
of PIP (3:1) for use in certain articles and the processing and 
distributing in commerce of certain PIP (3:1)-containing articles, 
along with the associated recordkeeping requirements, from March 8, 
2021, to March 8, 2022. EPA has therefore concluded that this action 
will relieve regulatory burden for all directly regulated small 
entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. The action imposes no

[[Page 51832]]

enforceable duty on any state, local or tribal governments or the 
private sector.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). It will not have 
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between 
the National Government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action does not have tribal implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This final rule 
will not impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal 
governments. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children from Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    This action is not a ``covered regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) because it is not an 
economically significant regulatory action as defined by Executive 
Order 12866.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This is not a ``significant energy action'' as defined in Executive 
Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is not likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution or use of 
energy and has not otherwise been designated by the Administrator of 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant 
energy action.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This action does not involve technical standards. As such, NTTAA 
section 12(d), 15 U.S.C. 272 note, does not apply to this action.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    EPA believes that this action does not have disproportionately high 
and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority 
populations, low-income populations and/or indigenous peoples, as 
specified in Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). As 
discussed in Unit II., this action is necessary to avoid widespread 
disruptions in the supply chains for a wide variety of essential goods 
and would not otherwise materially alter the final rule as published.

K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

    This action is subject to the CRA, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., and EPA 
will submit a rule report to each House of the Congress and to the 
Comptroller General of the United States. This action is not a ``major 
rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 751

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Export notification, Hazardous 
substances, Import certification, Reporting and recordkeeping.

    Dated: September 3, 2021.
Michael S. Regan,
Administrator.
    Therefore, for the reasons set forth in the preamble, 40 CFR part 
751 is amended as follows:

PART 751--REGULATION OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND MIXTURES 
UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT

0
1. The authority citation for part 751 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 2605, 15 U.S.C. 2625(l)(4).

0
2. Amend Sec.  751.407 by adding paragraph (a)(2)(iii) and revising 
paragraph (d)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  751.407  PIP (3:1).

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) After March 8, 2022, except as provided in paragraphs 
(a)(2)(ii) and (b) of this section, all persons are prohibited from all 
processing and distribution in commerce of PIP (3:1) for use in 
articles and PIP (3:1)-containing articles.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (4) The recordkeeping requirements in paragraph (d) of this section 
do not apply to the activities described in paragraphs (b)(1)(vi) and 
(vii) of this section. The recordkeeping requirements in paragraph (d) 
of this section also do not apply to PIP (3:1)-containing articles 
until March 8, 2022.
* * * * *

[FR Doc. 2021-19516 Filed 9-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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