Document ID: EPA_FRDOC_0001-14122
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Access to Confidential Business Information: ABT Associates, Inc., et al.
Posted Date: 2013-05-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29367-29368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11975]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9815-6]

Access to Confidential Business Information by ABT Associates, 
Incorporated; Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc.; SGS North America, Inc.; 
SAI Global, Inc.; Orion Registrar, Inc.; NSF-ISR International, and 
T[Uuml]V S[Uuml]D America, Inc.

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Access to Data and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: EPA will authorize its contractor ABT Associates, Incorporated 
(ABT) and six (6) auditing organizations: Perry Johnson Registrars, 
Inc.; SGS North America, Inc.; SAI Global; Orion Registrar, Inc.; NSF-
ISR International, and T[Uuml]V S[Uuml]D America, Inc., also known as 
the ``Certifying Bodies'', to access Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) which has been submitted to EPA under the authority of all 
sections of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, 
as amended. EPA has issued regulations that outline business 
confidentiality provisions for the Agency and require all EPA Offices 
that receive information designated by the submitter, as CBI to abide 
by these provisions.

DATES: Access to confidential data submitted to EPA will occur no 
sooner than May 30, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LaShan Haynes, Document Control 
Officer, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, (5305P), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460, 703-605-0516.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Access to Confidential Business Information

    Under EPA Contract No. EP-W-10-10054, Task Order 54, ABT 
Associates, Incorporated will provide technical support to the Office 
of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR), Resource Conservation and 
Sustainability Division (RCSD) as it conducts a study of the 
implementation of two currently used electronics recycling 
certification programs in the U.S.: The Responsible Recycling Practices 
(R2) and e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of 
Electronic Equipment (e-Stewards). Contractor support from ABT will be 
required as interviews with stakeholders are conducted; observation of 
approximately nine (9) audits of electronic recycling facilities being 
voluntarily performed by the Certifying Bodies, who are authorized to 
certify the standards. ABT will assist with developing a report 
identifying the areas of strength in the programs and implementation 
process and recommend any improvements where appropriate. Some of the 
data collected voluntarily from the facilities, may be claimed by 
industry to contain auditing tools, ownership/operation agreements, 
amounts and types of e-waste processed; and environmental health and 
safety plans; and asset destruction methods and policies. In accordance 
with the provisions of 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, ORCR has established 
policies and procedures for handling information collected from 
industry, under the authority of RCRA, including RCRA Confidential 
Business Information Security Manuals. ABT Associates, Incorporated 
shall protect from unauthorized disclosure all information designated 
as confidential and shall abide by all RCRA CBI requirements, including 
procedures outlined in the RCRA CBI Security Manual. The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency has issued regulations (40 CFR Part 2, 
Subpart B) that outline business confidentiality provisions for the 
Agency and require all EPA Offices that receive information designated 
by the submitter as CBI to abide by these provisions. ABT Associates, 
Incorporated and the Certifying Bodies will be authorized to have 
access to RCRA CBI under the EPA ``Contractor Requirements for the 
Control and Security of RCRA Confidential Business Information Security 
Manual.''
    EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters of information 
under all sections of RCRA that ABT Associates, Incorporated, and the 
Certifying Bodies, under the contract may have access to RCRA CBI. 
Access to RCRA CBI under this contract will take place at ABT 
Associates facility located in Bethesda, Maryland, and when necessary, 
EPA Headquarters only. Contractor personnel at each location will be 
required to sign non-disclosure agreements and will be briefed on 
appropriate security

[[Page 29368]]

procedures before they are permitted access to confidential 
information.

    Dated: May 1, 2013.
Suzanne Rudzinski,
Director, Office of Resource Conservation & Recovery.
[FR Doc. 2013-11975 Filed 5-17-13; 8:45 am]
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