83_FR_58993 83 FR 58768 - Request for Public Review and Comment: Draft Human Health Toxicity Assessments for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid and Its Ammonium Salt (GenX Chemicals) and for Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (PFBS) and Related Compound Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate

83 FR 58768 - Request for Public Review and Comment: Draft Human Health Toxicity Assessments for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid and Its Ammonium Salt (GenX Chemicals) and for Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (PFBS) and Related Compound Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 225 (November 21, 2018)

Page Range58768-58770
FR Document2018-25422

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period associated with the release of two draft toxicity assessments for public comment: <bullet> Draft Human Health Toxicity Values for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and its Ammonium Salt (GenX Chemicals). <bullet> Draft Human Health Toxicity Values for Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (PFBS) and Related Compound Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate. The EPA developed the draft assessments to provide the health effects information available for GenX chemicals and PFBS and describe how that information was used to derive draft toxicity values. These draft toxicity assessments underwent independent, external expert peer review in June-July 2018. Following closure of this 60-day public comment period, the EPA will consider the comments, revise the draft documents, and consider the need for additional peer review, as appropriate, and then publish final toxicity assessments. The toxicity assessments for GenX chemicals and PFBS are scientific and technical reports that include toxicity values associated with potential noncancer health effects following oral exposure (in this case, oral reference doses [RfDs]). These assessments evaluate human health hazards. The toxicity assessments and the values contained within are not risk assessments as they do not include exposure assessments or provide a risk characterization. Further, the toxicity assessments do not address the legal, political, social, economic, or technical considerations involved in risk management. When issued, the toxicity assessments can be used by the EPA, states, tribes, and local communities, along with specific exposure and other relevant information, to determine, under the appropriate regulations and statutes, if and when it is necessary to take action to address potential risk associated with human exposures to these per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58768-58770]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25422]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0614; FRL-9986-79-OW]


Request for Public Review and Comment: Draft Human Health 
Toxicity Assessments for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid and Its 
Ammonium Salt (GenX Chemicals) and for Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid 
(PFBS) and Related Compound Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60-
day public comment period associated with the release of two draft 
toxicity assessments for public comment:
     Draft Human Health Toxicity Values for Hexafluoropropylene 
Oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and its Ammonium Salt (GenX Chemicals).
     Draft Human Health Toxicity Values for Perfluorobutane 
Sulfonic Acid (PFBS) and Related Compound Potassium Perfluorobutane 
Sulfonate.
    The EPA developed the draft assessments to provide the health 
effects information available for GenX chemicals and PFBS and describe 
how that information was used to derive draft toxicity values. These 
draft toxicity assessments underwent independent, external expert peer 
review in June-July 2018. Following closure of this 60-day public 
comment period, the EPA will consider the comments, revise the draft 
documents, and consider the need for additional peer review, as 
appropriate, and then publish final toxicity assessments. The toxicity 
assessments for GenX chemicals and PFBS are scientific and technical 
reports that include toxicity values associated with potential 
noncancer health effects following oral exposure (in this case, oral 
reference doses [RfDs]). These assessments evaluate human health 
hazards. The toxicity assessments and the values contained within are 
not risk assessments as they do not include exposure assessments or 
provide a risk characterization. Further, the toxicity assessments do 
not address the legal, political, social, economic, or technical 
considerations involved in risk management. When issued, the toxicity 
assessments can be used by the EPA, states, tribes, and local 
communities, along with specific exposure and other relevant 
information, to determine, under the appropriate regulations and 
statutes, if and when it is necessary to

[[Page 58769]]

take action to address potential risk associated with human exposures 
to these per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 22, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2018-0614, to the public docket at: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA 
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, 
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For information on the docket, contact the docket manager: Assem 
Akram, Docket Manager, EPA Docket Center, telephone: (202) 566-0226; or 
email: Akram.Assem@epa.gov.
    For technical information on GenX chemicals: Dr. Jamie Strong, 
Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Water (Mail Code 
4304T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 566-0056; or email: 
strong.jamie@epa.gov.
    For technical information on PFBS: Dr. Samantha Jones, National 
Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development 
(Mail Code 8602R), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 202-564-6794; or email: 
jones.samantha@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

    Supporting documents are available in the public docket for this 
ICR (under Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0614. The docket can be 
viewed online at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA 
Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-
1744. For additional information about the EPA's public docket, visit 
http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

A. Does this action apply to me?

    This request for public comment will not impose any requirements on 
anyone. Instead, this action notifies interested parties of the 
availability of draft toxicity assessments for GenX Chemicals and PFBS 
for public comment. It should be noted that when final these toxicity 
assessments may be used by the EPA, states, tribes, and local 
communities, along with specific exposure and other relevant 
information, to determine, under the appropriate regulations and 
statutes, if and when it is necessary to take action to address 
potential risk associated with human exposures to these PFAS chemicals.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA?

    1. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2018-0614, at https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or 
the other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may 
publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you 
claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail 
to the EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then 
identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific 
information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version 
of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the 
comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be 
submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked 
will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR part 2. Multimedia 
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written 
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and 
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment 
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general 
guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

II. What are GenX chemicals and PFBS?

    GenX chemicals and PFBS are man-made, fluorinated organic chemicals 
that are part of a larger group of manmade chemicals referred to as 
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are used in many 
applications because of their unique physical properties such as 
resistance to high and low temperatures, resistance to degradation, and 
nonstick characteristics. GenX is a trade name for a processing aid 
technology used to make high-performance fluoropolymers without the use 
of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) 
dimer acid and its ammonium salt are the major chemicals associated 
with the GenX processing aid technology and the focus of the draft 
assessment. PFBS is a four-carbon PFAS that was developed as a 
replacement for longer-chain PFAS, which have demonstrated 
environmental persistence, long half-lives and bioaccumulation in 
humans. PFBS has been integrated into various consumer products and 
applications.

III. What are EPA's draft toxicity assessments?

    The EPA's draft toxicity assessments for GenX Chemicals and PFBS 
provide information on hazard identification and dose-response, 
including draft subchronic and chronic oral reference doses (RfDs) for 
each chemical. Overall, the available oral toxicity studies demonstrate 
that the liver is particularly sensitive to GenX chemicals, and the 
thyroid and kidney are sensitive to PFBS. The draft toxicity 
assessments underwent independent, external peer review in June and 
July 2018 and were revised accordingly.
    In the risk assessment/risk management paradigm, a toxicity 
assessment is on the risk assessment side of the paradigm. The draft 
toxicity assessments for GenX chemicals and PFBS address the first two 
steps (Step 1. Hazard Identification and Step 2. Dose-Response) of the 
four-step risk assessment process described by the National Academy of 
Science in 1983 as ``the characterization of the potential adverse 
health effects of human exposures to environmental hazards.''

[[Page 58770]]

Characterizing risk involves integrating information on hazard, dose-
response, and exposure. For further details about risk assessments see: 
https://www.epa.gov/risk/conducting-human-health-risk-assessment.
    When issued, the toxicity values for GenX chemicals and PFBS can be 
combined with specific exposure information (Step 3. Exposure 
Assessment) by government and private entities to help characterize 
(Step 4. Risk Characterization) potential public health risks 
associated with exposure to these chemicals. Thus, once the GenX 
chemicals and PFBS assessments are issued, the EPA will work with our 
state, tribal, and local partners to provide technical assistance, 
including information about appropriate regulations and statutes, as 
they begin considering the final values in relevant exposure scenarios. 
It is the risk management part of the risk assessment/risk management 
paradigm where the supporting science, as well as statutory and legal 
considerations, risk management options, public health considerations, 
cost/benefit considerations, economic factors, social factors, and 
other considerations are weighed.
    The EPA recognizes that humans have the potential to be exposed to 
complex mixtures of PFAS and other chemicals and pathogens through 
drinking water and other exposure sources. The EPA's draft assessments 
for GenX chemicals and PFBS focus solely on the potential human health 
effects associated with oral exposure to each chemical; they do not 
consider potential cumulative (mixture) effects of GenX chemicals and 
PFBS or their possible interactions with other PFAS and/or other 
chemicals. This would involve a more complex assessment that would need 
to consider and evaluate mechanisms of action and endpoints of concern 
for each of the chemicals in the mixture.

IV. Why is the EPA releasing draft toxicity assessments for these 
chemicals?

    The EPA is issuing the draft toxicity assessments for PFBS and GenX 
chemicals for public comment to give interested stakeholders and the 
public an opportunity to provide input to the Agency. The public will 
have 60 days after publication in the Federal Register to provide 
input. At the end of the comment period, the EPA will evaluate the 
input, make appropriate revisions, and finalize the toxicity 
assessments. Once the toxicity assessments are issued, the EPA will 
work with our state, tribal, and local partners to provide technical 
assistance, as they begin using the final values in relevant exposure 
scenarios to generate risk assessments to support risk management 
decisions.

V. Solicitation of Public Comment

    During the 60-day comment period, the EPA is soliciting public 
comments regarding the science and technical approaches used in the 
derivation of the draft toxicity assessments for GenX chemicals and 
PFBS.
    In the PFBS assessment, due to the lack of epidemiological studies 
demonstrating adverse effects in humans, the EPA derived candidate 
subchronic RfDs (see Section 6.1.1 of the toxicity assessment) and 
candidate chronic RfDs (see Section 6.1.2 of the toxicity assessment) 
for both thyroid effects and kidney effects in rodent toxicity studies. 
In light of the consistent observation of the thyroid effects across 
life stages and the greater dose-response sensitivity, relative to the 
kidney effects, the EPA is proposing to base the overall subchronic and 
chronic RfDs on the thyroid effects and is requesting public review and 
comment on this proposal in addition to the approaches and conclusions 
in the PFBS assessment. Additionally, as described in Section 6.1 of 
the PFBS toxicity assessment, decreased serum total T4 (thyroxine) in 
newborn mice was used as the basis for the thyroid-related candidate 
RfDs. Peer reviewers provided comments on thyroid effects and this 
choice of endpoint. See pages 15-25 and 31-32 in the Response to Peer 
Review Comments on the Draft Human Health Toxicity Values for 
Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (CASRN 375-73-5) and Related Compound 
Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (CASRN 29420-49-3) for the array of 
peer review comments on these topics and the EPA's responses. These 
supporting documents are available in the public docket for this ICR 
(under Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0614. Comments from the public 
are requested on the thyroid effects, this choice of endpoint, as well 
as the discussion on thyroid hormone economy in humans and animals (see 
Section 6.1 of the PFBS toxicity assessment).
    These draft assessments are not final as described in the EPA's 
information quality guidelines, and do not represent Agency policy or 
views. The EPA will consider all public comments submitted in response 
to this notice when revising these documents.

    Dated: November 14, 2018.
David P. Ross,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2018-25422 Filed 11-20-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                               58768                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 225 / Wednesday, November 21, 2018 / Notices

                                               or in person at the EPA Docket Center,                     Form numbers: None.                                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                               WJC West, Room 3334, 1301                                  Respondents/affected entities: Entities            AGENCY
                                               Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC.                   potentially affected by this action are               [EPA–HQ–OW–2018–0614; FRL–9986–79–
                                               The telephone number for the Docket                     environmental and public health                       OW]
                                               Center is 202–566–1744. For additional
                                                                                                       agencies in coastal and Great Lakes
                                               information about the EPA’s public                                                                            Request for Public Review and
                                                                                                       states, territories, and tribes.
                                               docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/                                                                             Comment: Draft Human Health Toxicity
                                               dockets.                                                   Respondent’s obligation to respond:                Assessments for Hexafluoropropylene
                                                  Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of                 Required to obtain the grants as directed             Oxide Dimer Acid and Its Ammonium
                                               the PRA, the EPA is soliciting comments                 by the BEACH Act amendment to the                     Salt (GenX Chemicals) and for
                                               and information to enable it to: (i)                    CWA.                                                  Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (PFBS)
                                               Evaluate whether the proposed                              Estimated number of respondents: 39.               and Related Compound Potassium
                                               collection of information is necessary                                                                        Perfluorobutane Sulfonate
                                               for the proper performance of the                          Frequency of response: Annual;
                                               functions of the Agency, including                      however, the agency encourages more                   AGENCY: Environmental Protection
                                               whether the information will have                       frequent reporting to provide more up-                Agency (EPA).
                                               practical utility; (ii) evaluate the                    to-date information to the public.                    ACTION: Notice of public comment
                                               accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the                   Total estimated burden: 88,569 hours               period.
                                               burden of the proposed collection of                    (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
                                               information, including the validity of                                                                        SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection
                                                                                                       1320.03(b).                                           Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60-day
                                               the methodology and assumptions used;
                                               (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and                    Total estimated cost: $14,865,812 (per             public comment period associated with
                                               clarity of the information to be                        year), includes $11,063,780 (per year)                the release of two draft toxicity
                                               collected; and (iv) minimize the burden                 operation & maintenance costs. There                  assessments for public comment:
                                               of the collection of information on those               are no capital costs.                                   • Draft Human Health Toxicity
                                               who are to respond, including through                                                                         Values for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide
                                                                                                          Changes in estimates: There is a
                                               the use of appropriate automated                                                                              (HFPO) Dimer Acid and its Ammonium
                                                                                                       decrease of 2,707 hours in the total
                                               electronic, mechanical, or other                                                                              Salt (GenX Chemicals).
                                                                                                       respondent burden compared with the                     • Draft Human Health Toxicity
                                               technological collection techniques or                  ICR approved by OMB in July 2015 due
                                               other forms of information technology,                                                                        Values for Perfluorobutane Sulfonic
                                                                                                       to the respondents no longer needing to               Acid (PFBS) and Related Compound
                                               e.g., permitting electronic submission of               prepare and submit schedules for the
                                               responses. The EPA will consider the                                                                          Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate.
                                                                                                       adoption of new or revised WQS and                      The EPA developed the draft
                                               comments received and amend the ICR
                                                                                                       identification and use of a beach                     assessments to provide the health effects
                                               as appropriate. The final ICR package
                                               will then be submitted to OMB for                       notification threshold (BNT). The EPA                 information available for GenX
                                               review and approval. At that time, the                  no longer requests respondents submit                 chemicals and PFBS and describe how
                                               EPA will issue another Federal Register                 these schedules because they are using                that information was used to derive
                                               notice to announce the submission of                    BNTs or alternate BNTs and have either                draft toxicity values. These draft toxicity
                                               the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to                   adopted new or revised WQS or are in                  assessments underwent independent,
                                               submit additional comments to OMB.                      the process of doing so. This decrease in             external expert peer review in June-July
                                                  Abstract: The Beaches Environmental                  hours is partially offset by one                      2018. Following closure of this 60-day
                                               Assessment and Coastal Health                           additional tribe having qualified for a               public comment period, the EPA will
                                               (BEACH) Act amends the Clean Water                      BEACH grant. The total respondent cost                consider the comments, revise the draft
                                               Act (CWA) in part and authorizes the                    decreased by $587,496. The decrease in                documents, and consider the need for
                                               U.S. Environmental Protection Agency                    cost is partially offset by slight increases          additional peer review, as appropriate,
                                               (EPA) to award BEACH Act Program                        in the salary rates. The O&M decreased                and then publish final toxicity
                                               Development and Implementation                                                                                assessments. The toxicity assessments
                                                                                                       by $289,366 due to a reduction in the
                                               Grants to coastal and Great Lakes states,                                                                     for GenX chemicals and PFBS are
                                                                                                       total number of beaches (affecting
                                               tribes, and territories (collectively                                                                         scientific and technical reports that
                                                                                                       O&M). The number of beaches reported
                                               referred to as jurisdictions) for their                                                                       include toxicity values associated with
                                                                                                       by the jurisdictions varies from year to              potential noncancer health effects
                                               beach monitoring and notification
                                                                                                       year for many reasons. Reasons for                    following oral exposure (in this case,
                                               programs. The grants assist those
                                                                                                       removing beaches include the                          oral reference doses [RfDs]). These
                                               jurisdictions to develop and implement
                                               a consistent approach to monitor                        destruction of beaches by natural                     assessments evaluate human health
                                               recreational water quality; assess,                     disasters, change in beach ownership,                 hazards. The toxicity assessments and
                                               manage, and communicate health risks                    and existing beaches being combined                   the values contained within are not risk
                                               from waterborne microbial                               within a jurisdiction’s monitoring and                assessments as they do not include
                                               contamination; notify the public of                     notification program.                                 exposure assessments or provide a risk
                                               pollution occurrences, and post beach                     Dated: November 13, 2018.                           characterization. Further, the toxicity
                                               advisories and closures to prevent                      Deborah G. Nagle,
                                                                                                                                                             assessments do not address the legal,
                                               public exposure to microbial pathogens.                                                                       political, social, economic, or technical
                                                                                                       Acting Director, Office of Science and
                                               To qualify for a BEACH Act Grant, a                                                                           considerations involved in risk
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                       Technology.
                                               jurisdiction must submit information to                                                                       management. When issued, the toxicity
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2018–25423 Filed 11–20–18; 8:45 am]
                                               the EPA documenting that its beach                                                                            assessments can be used by the EPA,
                                               monitoring and notification program is                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                states, tribes, and local communities,
                                               consistent with performance criteria                                                                          along with specific exposure and other
                                               outlined in the National Beach                                                                                relevant information, to determine,
                                               Guidance and Required Performance                                                                             under the appropriate regulations and
                                               Criteria for Grants, 2014 Edition.                                                                            statutes, if and when it is necessary to


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:08 Nov 20, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00014   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM   21NON1


                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 225 / Wednesday, November 21, 2018 / Notices                                            58769

                                               take action to address potential risk                   West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution                    submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or
                                               associated with human exposures to                      Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The                          other file sharing system). For
                                               these per- and polyfluoroalkyl                          telephone number for the Docket Center                additional submission methods, the full
                                               substances (PFAS) chemicals.                            is 202–566–1744. For additional                       EPA public comment policy,
                                               DATES: Comments must be received on                     information about the EPA’s public                    information about CBI or multimedia
                                               or before January 22, 2019.                             docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/                     submissions, and general guidance on
                                               ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                        dockets.                                              making effective comments, please visit
                                               identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–                                                                           https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                                                                       A. Does this action apply to me?
                                               OW–2018–0614, to the public docket at:                                                                        commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                                                                          This request for public comment will
                                               http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the                                                                        II. What are GenX chemicals and
                                                                                                       not impose any requirements on
                                               online instructions for submitting                                                                            PFBS?
                                                                                                       anyone. Instead, this action notifies
                                               comments. Once submitted, comments                      interested parties of the availability of                GenX chemicals and PFBS are man-
                                               cannot be edited or withdrawn. The                      draft toxicity assessments for GenX                   made, fluorinated organic chemicals
                                               EPA may publish any comment received                    Chemicals and PFBS for public                         that are part of a larger group of
                                               to its public docket. Do not submit                     comment. It should be noted that when                 manmade chemicals referred to as per-
                                               electronically any information you                      final these toxicity assessments may be               and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
                                               consider to be Confidential Business                    used by the EPA, states, tribes, and local            PFAS are used in many applications
                                               Information (CBI) or other information                  communities, along with specific                      because of their unique physical
                                               whose disclosure is restricted by statute.              exposure and other relevant                           properties such as resistance to high and
                                               Multimedia submissions (audio, video,                   information, to determine, under the                  low temperatures, resistance to
                                               etc.) must be accompanied by a written                  appropriate regulations and statutes, if              degradation, and nonstick
                                               comment. The written comment is                         and when it is necessary to take action               characteristics. GenX is a trade name for
                                               considered the official comment and                     to address potential risk associated with             a processing aid technology used to
                                               should include discussion of all points                 human exposures to these PFAS                         make high-performance fluoropolymers
                                               you wish to make. The EPA will                          chemicals.                                            without the use of perfluorooctanoic
                                               generally not consider comments or                                                                            acid (PFOA). Hexafluoropropylene
                                               comment contents located outside of the                 B. What should I consider as I prepare
                                                                                                                                                             oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its
                                               primary submission (i.e., on the web,                   my comments for the EPA?
                                                                                                                                                             ammonium salt are the major chemicals
                                               cloud, or other file sharing system). For                 1. Submit your comments, identified                 associated with the GenX processing aid
                                               additional submission methods, the full                 by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2018–                      technology and the focus of the draft
                                               EPA public comment policy,                              0614, at https://www.regulations.gov                  assessment. PFBS is a four-carbon PFAS
                                               information about CBI or multimedia                     (our preferred method), or the other                  that was developed as a replacement for
                                               submissions, and general guidance on                    methods identified in the ADDRESSES                   longer-chain PFAS, which have
                                               making effective comments, please visit                 section. Once submitted, comments                     demonstrated environmental
                                               http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/                            cannot be edited or removed from the                  persistence, long half-lives and
                                               commenting-epa-dockets.                                 docket. The EPA may publish any                       bioaccumulation in humans. PFBS has
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        comment received to its public docket.                been integrated into various consumer
                                                 For information on the docket,                        Do not submit electronically any                      products and applications.
                                               contact the docket manager: Assem                       information you consider to be
                                               Akram, Docket Manager, EPA Docket                       Confidential Business Information (CBI)               III. What are EPA’s draft toxicity
                                               Center, telephone: (202) 566–0226; or                   or other information whose disclosure is              assessments?
                                               email: Akram.Assem@epa.gov.                             restricted by statute. Clearly mark the                  The EPA’s draft toxicity assessments
                                                 For technical information on GenX                     part or all of the information that you               for GenX Chemicals and PFBS provide
                                               chemicals: Dr. Jamie Strong, Health and                 claim to be CBI. For CBI information in               information on hazard identification
                                               Ecological Criteria Division, Office of                 a disk or CD–ROM that you mail to the                 and dose-response, including draft
                                               Water (Mail Code 4304T),                                EPA, mark the outside of the disk or                  subchronic and chronic oral reference
                                               Environmental Protection Agency, 1200                   CD–ROM as CBI and then identify                       doses (RfDs) for each chemical. Overall,
                                               Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington,                     electronically within the disk or CD–                 the available oral toxicity studies
                                               DC 20460; telephone: (202) 566–0056; or                 ROM the specific information that is                  demonstrate that the liver is particularly
                                               email: strong.jamie@epa.gov.                            claimed as CBI. In addition to one                    sensitive to GenX chemicals, and the
                                                 For technical information on PFBS:                    complete version of the comment that                  thyroid and kidney are sensitive to
                                               Dr. Samantha Jones, National Center for                 includes information claimed as CBI, a                PFBS. The draft toxicity assessments
                                               Environmental Assessment, Office of                     copy of the comment that does not                     underwent independent, external peer
                                               Research and Development (Mail Code                     contain the information claimed as CBI                review in June and July 2018 and were
                                               8602R), Environmental Protection                        must be submitted for inclusion in the                revised accordingly.
                                               Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue                        public docket. Information so marked                     In the risk assessment/risk
                                               NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone:                    will not be disclosed except in                       management paradigm, a toxicity
                                               202–564–6794; or email:                                 accordance with procedures set forth in               assessment is on the risk assessment
                                               jones.samantha@epa.gov.                                 the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at              side of the paradigm. The draft toxicity
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              40 CFR part 2. Multimedia submissions                 assessments for GenX chemicals and
                                                                                                       (audio, video, etc.) must be                          PFBS address the first two steps (Step
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                               I. General Information                                  accompanied by a written comment.                     1. Hazard Identification and Step 2.
                                                  Supporting documents are available                   The written comment is considered the                 Dose-Response) of the four-step risk
                                               in the public docket for this ICR (under                official comment and should include                   assessment process described by the
                                               Docket ID number EPA–HQ–OW–2018–                        discussion of all points you wish to                  National Academy of Science in 1983 as
                                               0614. The docket can be viewed online                   make. The EPA will generally not                      ‘‘the characterization of the potential
                                               at http://www.regulations.gov or in                     consider comments or comment                          adverse health effects of human
                                               person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC                    contents located outside of the primary               exposures to environmental hazards.’’


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:08 Nov 20, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00015   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM   21NON1


                                               58770                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 225 / Wednesday, November 21, 2018 / Notices

                                               Characterizing risk involves integrating                begin using the final values in relevant                Dated: November 14, 2018.
                                               information on hazard, dose-response,                   exposure scenarios to generate risk                   David P. Ross,
                                               and exposure. For further details about                 assessments to support risk management                Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
                                               risk assessments see: https://                          decisions.                                            [FR Doc. 2018–25422 Filed 11–20–18; 8:45 am]
                                               www.epa.gov/risk/conducting-human-                                                                            BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                               health-risk-assessment.                                 V. Solicitation of Public Comment
                                                  When issued, the toxicity values for
                                               GenX chemicals and PFBS can be                             During the 60-day comment period,
                                                                                                       the EPA is soliciting public comments                 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
                                               combined with specific exposure
                                               information (Step 3. Exposure                           regarding the science and technical                   CORPORATION
                                               Assessment) by government and private                   approaches used in the derivation of the
                                                                                                       draft toxicity assessments for GenX                   FDIC Systemic Resolution Advisory
                                               entities to help characterize (Step 4.                                                                        Committee; Notice of Meeting
                                               Risk Characterization) potential public                 chemicals and PFBS.
                                               health risks associated with exposure to                   In the PFBS assessment, due to the                 AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance
                                               these chemicals. Thus, once the GenX                    lack of epidemiological studies                       Corporation (FDIC).
                                               chemicals and PFBS assessments are                      demonstrating adverse effects in                      ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
                                               issued, the EPA will work with our                      humans, the EPA derived candidate
                                               state, tribal, and local partners to                                                                          SUMMARY:    In accordance with the
                                                                                                       subchronic RfDs (see Section 6.1.1 of                 Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice
                                               provide technical assistance, including                 the toxicity assessment) and candidate
                                               information about appropriate                                                                                 is hereby given of a meeting of the FDIC
                                                                                                       chronic RfDs (see Section 6.1.2 of the                Systemic Resolution Advisory
                                               regulations and statutes, as they begin
                                                                                                       toxicity assessment) for both thyroid                 Committee, which will be held in
                                               considering the final values in relevant
                                               exposure scenarios. It is the risk                      effects and kidney effects in rodent                  Washington, DC. The Advisory
                                               management part of the risk assessment/                 toxicity studies. In light of the                     Committee will provide advice and
                                               risk management paradigm where the                      consistent observation of the thyroid                 recommendations on a broad range of
                                               supporting science, as well as statutory                effects across life stages and the greater            policy issues regarding the resolution of
                                               and legal considerations, risk                          dose-response sensitivity, relative to the            systemically important financial
                                               management options, public health                       kidney effects, the EPA is proposing to               companies.
                                               considerations, cost/benefit                            base the overall subchronic and chronic               DATES: Thursday, December 6, 2018,
                                               considerations, economic factors, social                RfDs on the thyroid effects and is                    from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
                                               factors, and other considerations are                   requesting public review and comment                  ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
                                               weighed.                                                on this proposal in addition to the                   the FDIC Board Room on the sixth floor
                                                  The EPA recognizes that humans have                  approaches and conclusions in the                     of the FDIC Building located at 550 17th
                                               the potential to be exposed to complex                  PFBS assessment. Additionally, as                     Street NW, Washington, DC.
                                               mixtures of PFAS and other chemicals                    described in Section 6.1 of the PFBS
                                               and pathogens through drinking water                                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                       toxicity assessment, decreased serum                  Requests for further information
                                               and other exposure sources. The EPA’s                   total T4 (thyroxine) in newborn mice
                                               draft assessments for GenX chemicals                                                                          concerning the meeting may be directed
                                                                                                       was used as the basis for the thyroid-                to Mr. Robert E. Feldman, Committee
                                               and PFBS focus solely on the potential                  related candidate RfDs. Peer reviewers
                                               human health effects associated with                                                                          Management Officer of the FDIC, at
                                                                                                       provided comments on thyroid effects                  (202) 898–7043.
                                               oral exposure to each chemical; they do
                                                                                                       and this choice of endpoint. See pages                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               not consider potential cumulative
                                               (mixture) effects of GenX chemicals and                 15–25 and 31–32 in the Response to                       Agenda: The agenda will include a
                                               PFBS or their possible interactions with                Peer Review Comments on the Draft                     discussion of a range of issues and
                                               other PFAS and/or other chemicals.                      Human Health Toxicity Values for                      developments related to the resolution
                                               This would involve a more complex                       Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (CASRN                  of systemically important financial
                                               assessment that would need to consider                  375–73–5) and Related Compound                        companies. The agenda may be subject
                                               and evaluate mechanisms of action and                   Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate                   to change. Any changes to the agenda
                                               endpoints of concern for each of the                    (CASRN 29420–49–3) for the array of                   will be announced at the beginning of
                                               chemicals in the mixture.                               peer review comments on these topics                  the meeting.
                                                                                                       and the EPA’s responses. These                           Type of Meeting: The meeting will be
                                               IV. Why is the EPA releasing draft                                                                            open to the public, limited only by the
                                                                                                       supporting documents are available in
                                               toxicity assessments for these                                                                                space available on a first-come, first-
                                               chemicals?                                              the public docket for this ICR (under
                                                                                                       Docket ID number EPA–HQ–OW–2018–                      served basis. For security reasons,
                                                  The EPA is issuing the draft toxicity                0614. Comments from the public are                    members of the public will be subject to
                                               assessments for PFBS and GenX                           requested on the thyroid effects, this                security screening procedures and must
                                               chemicals for public comment to give                    choice of endpoint, as well as the                    present a valid photo identification to
                                               interested stakeholders and the public                  discussion on thyroid hormone                         enter the building. The FDIC will
                                               an opportunity to provide input to the                                                                        provide attendees with auxiliary aids
                                                                                                       economy in humans and animals (see
                                               Agency. The public will have 60 days                                                                          (e.g., sign language interpretation)
                                                                                                       Section 6.1 of the PFBS toxicity
                                               after publication in the Federal Register                                                                     required for this meeting. Those
                                                                                                       assessment).
                                               to provide input. At the end of the                                                                           attendees needing such assistance
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                               comment period, the EPA will evaluate                      These draft assessments are not final              should call (703) 562–6067 (Voice or
                                               the input, make appropriate revisions,                  as described in the EPA’s information                 TTY) at least two days before the
                                               and finalize the toxicity assessments.                  quality guidelines, and do not represent              meeting to make necessary
                                               Once the toxicity assessments are                       Agency policy or views. The EPA will                  arrangements. Written statements may
                                               issued, the EPA will work with our                      consider all public comments submitted                be filed with the committee before or
                                               state, tribal, and local partners to                    in response to this notice when revising              after the meeting. This meeting of the
                                               provide technical assistance, as they                   these documents.                                      FDIC Systemic Resolution Advisory


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:08 Nov 20, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00016   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM   21NON1



Document Created: 2018-11-21 03:12:08
Document Modified: 2018-11-21 03:12:08
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of public comment period.
DatesComments must be received on or before January 22, 2019.
ContactFor information on the docket, contact the docket manager: Assem Akram, Docket Manager, EPA Docket Center, telephone: (202) 566-0226; or email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 58768 

2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR