Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 16, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 38849 

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 action 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 on the basis of a petition 

under FFDCA section 408(d), 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 action 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 FFDCA 

section 408(n)(4). 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 action. In addition, this action 

does not impose any enforceable duty or 

contain any unfunded mandate as 

described under Title II of the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 

1501 et seq.). 

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 

(NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note). 

X. Congressional Review Act 

Pursuant to the Congressional Review 

Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 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 the rule in the Federal 

Register. This action 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: July 18, 2017. 

Donna S. Davis, 

Acting 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, alphabetically add the 

polymers in the table to read as follows: 

§ 180.960 Polymers; exemptions from the 

requirement of a tolerance. 

* * * * * 

Polymer CAS No. 

*******

Fatty acids, rape-oil, triesters with polyethylene glycol ether with glycerol (3:1); minimum number average molecular weight (in 

amu), 1800 ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 688045–21–8 

* * * * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2017–17337 Filed 8–15–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 180 

[EPA–HQ–OPP–2016–0259; FRL–9964–94] 

1-Triacontanol; Exemption From the 

Requirement of a Tolerance 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an 

exemption from the requirement of a 

tolerance for residues of the biochemical 

pesticide 1-triacontanol (TA) in or on all 

food commodities when used in 

accordance with label directions and 

good agricultural practices. CH Biotech 

R&D, Co., LTD 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 TA in 

or on all food commodities when used 

in accordance with label directions and 

good agricultural practices. 

DATES: This regulation is effective 

August 16, 2017. Objections and 

requests for hearings must be received 

on or before October 16, 2017, 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: The docket for this action, 

identified by docket identification (ID) 

number EPA–HQ–OPP–2016–0259, is 

available at http://www.regulations.gov 

or at the Office of Pesticide Programs 

Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket) 

in the Environmental Protection Agency 

Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William 

Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 

Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 

20460–0001. The Public Reading Room 

is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, excluding legal 

holidays. The telephone number for the 

Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, 

and the telephone number for the OPP 

Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review 

the visitor instructions and additional 

information about the docket available 

at http://www.epa.gov/dockets. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert McNally, Biopesticides, and 

Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) 

(7511P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, 

DC 20460–0001; main telephone 

number: (703) 305–7090; email address: 

BPPDFRNotices@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 


pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
38850 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 16, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

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. 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: 

• Crop production (NAICS code 111). 

• Animal production (NAICS code 

112). 

• Food manufacturing (NAICS code 

311). 

• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS 

code 32532). 

B. How can I get electronic access to 

other related information? 

You may access a frequently updated 

electronic version of 40 CFR part 180 

through the Government Printing 

Office’s e-CFR site at http://

www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/textidx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/ 

40tab_02.tpl. 

C. How can I file an objection or hearing 

request? 

Under FFDCA section 408(g), 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. 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–2016–0259 in the subject line on 

the first page of your submission. All 

objections and requests for a hearing 

must be in writing, and must be 

received by the Hearing Clerk on or 

before October 16, 2017. Addresses for 

mail and hand delivery of objections 

and hearing requests are provided in 40 

CFR 178.25(b). 

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 (excluding 

any Confidential Business Information 

(CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket. 

Information not marked confidential 

pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be 

disclosed publicly by EPA without prior 

notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your 

objection or hearing request, identified 

by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP– 

2016–0259, by one of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Do not submit electronically any 

information you consider to be CBI or 

other information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. 

• Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental 

Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/ 

DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. 

NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001. 

• Hand Delivery: To make special 

arrangements for hand delivery or 

delivery of boxed information, please 

follow the instructions at http://

www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. 

Additional instructions on 

commenting or visiting the docket, 

along with more information about 

dockets generally, is available at http:// 

www.epa.gov/dockets. 

II. Background and Statutory Findings 

In the Federal Register of August 29, 

2016 (81 FR 59165) (FRL–9950–22), 

EPA issued a document pursuant to 

FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 

346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a 

pesticide tolerance petition (PP 6F8459) 

by CH Biotech R&D Co., LTD C/O 

Spring Trading Company, 203 Dogwood 

Trail, Magnolia, TX 77354. The petition 

requested that 40 CFR part 180 be 

amended by establishing an exemption 

from the requirement of a tolerance for 

residues of 1-triacontanol. That 

document referenced a summary of the 

petition prepared by the petitioner 

James Yowell of Spring Trading 

Company, which is available in the 

docket, http://www.regulations.gov. 

There were no comments received in 

response to the notice of filing. 

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 exemption 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 in 

residential settings, but does not include 

occupational exposure. Pursuant to 

FFDCA section 408(c)(2)(B), in 

establishing or maintaining in effect an 

exemption from the requirement of a 

tolerance, EPA must take into account 

the factors set forth in FFDCA section 

408(b)(2)(C), which require EPA to give 

special consideration to exposure of 

infants and children to the pesticide 

chemical residue in establishing 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. . . . ’’ Additionally, 

FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D) requires 

that the Agency consider ‘‘available 

information concerning the cumulative 

effects of a particular pesticide’s 

residues’’ and ‘‘other substances that 

have a common mechanism of toxicity.’’ 

EPA performs a number of analyses to 

determine the risks from aggregate 

exposure to pesticide residues. First, 

EPA determines the toxicity of 

pesticides. Second, EPA examines 

exposure to the pesticide through food, 

drinking water, and through other 

exposures that occur as a result of 

pesticide use in residential settings. 

III. Toxicological Profile 

Consistent with FFDCA section 

408(b)(2)(D), 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 

identifiable subgroups of consumers, 

including infants and children. 

A. Overview of 1-Triacontanol 

1-Triacontanol (TA), a long chain fatty 

alcohol (LCOH- C30), naturally occurs 

in plant, and insect waxes and 

constitutes a regular part of the human 

diet. As a pesticide, TA functions as a 

plant growth regulator. It promotes 

germination, root, stem and leaf growth, 

and flowering, as well as improving the 

seed, thus increasing plant production 

and quality. In terms of the mechanism 

of action, TA can be absorbed through 

the plant’s stem and leaf, and may 

promote plant growth, increase 

accumulation of dry matter, improve the 

permeability of cell membrane, increase 

chlorophyll content, improve 

photosynthetic intensity, and increase 

activity of amylase, oxidase and 

peroxidase. With regard to its presence 

in insect wax, TA constitutes the 

majority of long chain fatty alcohols 

found in beeswax, naturally secreted 

through the bee’s abdomen. In addition 

to the dietary consumption of TA from 

foods, humans are already exposed to 1- 

triacontanol because of its use in 

cosmetics, toiletries, surface lubricants, 

and pharmaceutical preparations; 

products that are broadly used across 

the consumer products industry with 

highest per person consumer exposures 

resulting from use in personal care 

products. For the pharmaceutical 

industry, there are overall health 

benefits such as anti-inflammatory and 


pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 16, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 38851 

cholesterol lowering properties from the 

use of TA (Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) Considerations 

for 1-Triacontanol EPA–HQ–OPP–2016– 

0259). 

An aggregate risk assessment for TA 

for dietary (food and drinking water) 

exposures was not conducted as no 

toxicological endpoints have been 

identified in the toxicity database. EPA 

has determined under the FFDCA that 

there is reasonable certainty that no 

harm will result to the general 

population or to infants and children 

from aggregate exposure to TA. 

There are no human health or 

environmental risks of concern 

associated with this assessment. 

Therefore, EPA has no objection to the 

registration of the proposed 

manufacturing use product, associated 

end use product, and an exemption 

from a food tolerance. 

For a summary of the data upon 

which EPA relied, please refer to the 

document entitled, ‘‘Federal Food, Drug, 

and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) 

Considerations for 1-Triacontanol’’ 

(June 13, 2017), available in the docket 

for this action. 

B. Biochemical Pesticide Toxicology 

Data Requirements 

All applicable toxicology data 

requirements supporting the petition to 

establish an exemption from the 

requirement of a tolerance for the use of 

TA as an active ingredient in or on food 

commodities, when used in accordance 

with label direction and good 

agricultural practices, have been 

fulfilled. Based on the submitted data 

and the results of studies using 

comparable long chain fatty alcohols, 

there are no human health risks of 

concern associated with TA and there is 

sufficient information to justify an 

exemption from the requirement of a 

tolerance for this compound on all food 

commodities. Acute studies on TA show 

that this long chain fatty alcohol is 

Toxicology Category IV for: Acute oral 

toxicity, Acute dermal toxicity, Acute 

eye irritation, and Primary dermal 

irritation. TA is not a dermal sensitizer. 

Waivers were granted for subchronic 

toxicology studies including the 90-day 

Oral study, Developmental toxicity 

study, and Genetic toxicity testing based 

on existing scientific literature for 

structurally similar long chain fatty 

alcohols that demonstrate that fatty 

alcohols rapidly and readily become 

degradable and pose no risks to human 

health or to the environment. 

IV. Aggregate Exposures 

In examining aggregate exposure, 

FFDCA section 408 directs EPA to 

consider available information 

concerning exposures from the pesticide 

residue in food and all other nonoccupational exposures, including 

drinking water from ground water or 

surface water and exposure through 

pesticide use in gardens, lawns, or 

buildings (residential and other indoor 

uses). 

A. Dietary Exposure 

An aggregate risk assessment for TA 

for dietary (food and drinking water) 

exposures was not conducted as no 

toxicological endpoints have been 

identified in the toxicity database. 

B. Other Non-Occupational Exposure 

Other non-occupational exposure to 

1-triacontanol from pesticidal use is not 

expected to occur as the TA biodegrades 

rapidly and the product is applied at 

low application rates of 500 part per 

millions (ppm) three to four times per 

season. There are no residential uses for 

TA that would result in nonoccupational exposure. 

V. Cumulative Effects From Substances 

With a Common Mechanism of Toxicity 

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

requires that, when considering whether 

to establish, modify, or revoke a 

tolerance, the Agency consider 

‘‘available information’’ concerning the 

cumulative effects of a particular 

pesticide’s residues and ‘‘other 

substances that have a common 

mechanism of toxicity.’’ 

EPA has not found TA to share a 

common mechanism of toxicity with 

any other substances, and TA does not 

appear to produce a toxic metabolite 

produced by other substances. For the 

purposes of this tolerance action, 

therefore, EPA has assumed that TA 

does not have a common mechanism of 

toxicity with other substances. 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 EPA’s Web site at http:// 

www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative. 

VI. Determination of Safety for U.S. 

Population, Infants and Children 

FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(C) provides 

that, in considering the establishment of 

a tolerance or tolerance exemption for a 

pesticide chemical residue, EPA shall 

assess the available information about 

consumption patterns among infants 

and children, special susceptibility of 

infants and children to pesticide 

chemical residues, and the cumulative 

effects on infants and children of the 

residues and other substances with a 

common mechanism of toxicity. In 

addition, FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(C) 

provides that EPA shall apply an 

additional tenfold (10X) 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 database on toxicity 

and exposure, unless EPA determines 

that a different margin of safety will be 

safe for infants and children. This 

additional margin of safety is commonly 

referred to as the Food Quality 

Protection Act Safety Factor. In 

applying this provision, EPA either 

retains the default value of 10X, or uses 

a different additional or no safety factor 

when reliable data are available to 

support a different additional or no 

safety factor. 

As part of its qualitative assessment, 

EPA evaluated the available toxicity and 

exposure data on TA and considered its 

validity, completeness, and reliability, 

as well as the relationship of this 

information to human risk. EPA 

considers the toxicity database to be 

complete and has identified no residual 

uncertainty with regard to prenatal and 

postnatal toxicity or exposure. No 

hazard was identified based on the 

available studies; therefore, EPA 

concludes that there are no threshold 

effects of concern to infants, children, or 

adults from TA. As a result, EPA 

concludes that no additional margin of 

exposure (safety) is necessary. 

VII. 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 Residue Limits 

In making its tolerance decisions, EPA 

seeks to harmonize U.S. tolerances with 

international standards whenever 

possible, consistent with U.S. food 

safety standards and agricultural 

practices. EPA considers the 

international maximum residue limits 

(MRLs) established by the Codex 

Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as 

required by FFDCA section 408(b)(4). 

The Codex Alimentarius is a joint 

United Nations Food and Agriculture 

Organization/World Health 

Organization food standards program, 

and it is recognized as an international 

food safety standards-setting 

organization in trade agreements to 

which the United States is a party. EPA 

may establish a tolerance that is 

different from a Codex MRL; however, 

FFDCA section 408(b)(4) requires that 


pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
38852 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 16, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

EPA explain the reasons for departing 

from the Codex level. 

The Codex has not established a MRL 

for 1-triacontanol. 

VIII. Conclusions 

Based on its assessment of 1- 

triacontanol, EPA concludes that there 

is a reasonable certainty that no harm 

will result to the general population, or 

to infants and children, from aggregate 

exposure to 1-triacontanol. Therefore, 

an exemption is established for residues 

of 1-triacontanol on all food 

commodities when used in accordance 

with label directions and good 

agricultural practices. 

IX. Statutory and Executive Order 

Reviews 

This action establishes a tolerance 

under FFDCA section 408(d) in 

response to a petition submitted to the 

Agency. The Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) has exempted these types 

of actions from review under Executive 

Order 12866, entitled ‘‘Regulatory 

Planning and Review’’ (58 FR 51735, 

October 4, 1993). Because this action 

has been exempted from review under 

Executive Order 12866, this action 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 action 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 on the basis of a petition 

under FFDCA section 408(d), 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 action 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 FFDCA 

section 408(n)(4). 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 action. In addition, this action 

does not impose any enforceable duty or 

contain any unfunded mandate as 

described under Title II of the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 

1501 et seq.). 

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 

(NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note). 

X. Congressional Review Act 

Pursuant to the Congressional Review 

Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 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 the rule in the Federal 

Register. This action 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: July 31, 2017. 

Richard P. Keigwin, Jr., 

Director, 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. Add § 180.1345 to subpart D to read 

as follows: 

§ 180.1345 1-Triacontanol; exemption from 

the requirement of a tolerance. 

Residues of the biochemical pesticide 

1-Triacontanol are exempt from the 

requirement of a tolerance in or on all 

food commodities. 

[FR Doc. 2017–17338 Filed 8–15–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

48 CFR Part 1852 

RIN 2700–AE42 

NASA FAR Supplement: Preproposal/ 

Pre-Bid Conference (2017–N023) 

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: NASA is issuing a direct final 

rule to amend the NASA FAR 

Supplement (NFS) to remove reference 

to the NASA Acquisition Information 

System (NAIS) electronic posting 

system and revise titles to agency 

directives. 

DATES: This direct final rule is effective 

October 16, 2017. Comments due on or 

before September 15, 2017. If adverse 

comments are received, NASA will 

publish a timely withdrawal of the rule 

in the Federal Register. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Manuel Quinones, NASA, Office of 

Procurement, telephone 202.358.2143. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

During a recent quality review of the 

NFS to validate the accuracy and 

relevancy of its policy, guidance, and 

procedures, we discovered (1) an 

outdated reference to the NASA 

Acquisition Information System (NAIS) 

for posting agency business 

opportunities and (2) superseded titles 

to NASA directives. NASA posts all 

business opportunities through the 

Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) 

via the Internet at http://

www.fedbizopps.gov and agency 

directives are periodically reviewed and 

updated. This rule amends NFS 

1852.215–77 and 1852.245–82 to 

remove the reference to the NAIS 

electronic posting system and update 

titles to NASA policy directives 

respectively. 

NASA has not published a proposed 

rule in the Federal Register to make 

these nonsubstantive changes because 

they affect only the internal operating 

procedures of the Government and have 

no significant cost or administrative or 

cost impact on contractors or offerors. 

NASA does not anticipate opposition to 

the changes or significant adverse 

comments. However, if the Agency 

receives a significant adverse comment, 

it will withdraw this direct final rule by 

publishing a notice in the Federal 

Register. A significant adverse comment 

is one that explains: (1) Why the direct 

final rule is inappropriate, including 


pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES