Notice2021-19911
Ortho-Phthalaldehyde; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment
Primary source
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Published
September 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
EPA has received a specific exemption request from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use the pesticide ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA, CAS No. 643-79-8) to treat the coolant fluid of the internal active thermal control system of the International Space Station to control aerobic/microaerophilic bacteria in the aqueous coolant. The applicant proposes the use of a new chemical which has not been registered by EPA. Therefore, in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51353-51354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19911]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0567; FRL-8913-01-OCSPP]
Ortho-Phthalaldehyde; Receipt of Application for Emergency
Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use the
pesticide ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA, CAS No. 643-79-8) to treat the
coolant fluid of the internal active thermal control system of the
International Space Station to control aerobic/microaerophilic bacteria
in the aqueous coolant. The applicant proposes the use of a new
chemical which has not been registered by EPA. Therefore, in accordance
with the Code of Federal Regulations, EPA is soliciting public comment
before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 30, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0567, by one of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI)
[[Page 51354]]
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
<bullet> Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the
instructions at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html">http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html</a>.
Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is closed to visitors with
limited exceptions. The staff continues to provide remote customer
service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status
information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marietta Echeverria, Registration
Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-
0001; main telephone number: (703) 305-7090; email address:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f9abbdbfabb7968d909a9c8ab99c8998d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="095b4d4f5b47667d606a6c7a496c7968276e667f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the regulations at 40 CFR
166.24(a)(1), EPA is soliciting public comment before making the
decision to grant the exemption.
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you are a
pesticide manufacturer (North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) (Code 32532) or involved with the International Space Station.
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them.
Other types of entities not listed could also be affected.
B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or email. 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 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 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting
your comments, see the commenting tips at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html">http://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html</a>.
3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental
justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group,
including minority and/or low-income populations, in the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the
Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population
who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other
factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human
health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the
pesticide(s) discussed in this document, compared to the general
population.
II. What action is the Agency taking?
Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the EPA
Administrator, a Federal or State agency may be exempted from any
provision of FIFRA if the EPA Administrator determines that emergency
conditions exist which require the exemption. NASA has requested the
EPA Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use of ortho-
phthalaldehyde (OPA) in the coolant of the internal active thermal
control system (IATCS) of the International Space Station (ISS) to
control aerobic/microaerophilic bacteria in the aqueous coolant.
Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of
this request.
As part of this request, the applicant stated that it has
considered the registered biocide alternatives and has concluded that
OPA is the most effective biocide which meets the requisite criteria
including: The need for safe, non-intrusive implementation and
operation in a functioning system; the ability to control existing
planktonic and biofilm-residing micro-organisms; a negligible impact on
system-wetted materials of construction; and a negligible reactivity
with existing coolant additives. The ISS would not have an adequate
long-term solution for controlling the micro-organisms in the IATCS
coolant without the use of OPA. The OPA is incorporated into a porous
resin material contained in a stainless-steel canister. The canister
containing the OPA-incorporated resin is inserted into a coolant system
loop, using flexible hose and quick disconnects, and is placed in lime
for 8 hours to deliver the OPA into the fluid. As the coolant fluid
flows through the canister, the OPA elutes from the resin material into
the coolant fluid. The total volume of the circulatory loops of the
IATCS is 829 liters. The maximum concentration would be 500 milligrams
(mg) of OPA per liter of coolant fluid. A total of 414, 500 mg of OPA
would be needed for the entire system. The OPA is incorporated into the
resin at 210 mg OPA per cm\3\ resin, resulting in a potential total use
of 1,974 cm\3\ of the OPA-containing resin. The level of OPA in the
coolant is monitored periodically, and because OPA degrades over time,
the concentration decreases to a level that is no longer effective in
about 1 to 2 years. At this point, replenishment with new OPA-
containing canisters is required. EPA has authorized similar emergency
exemptions for this use since 2011. With the decision to extend the
mission of the ISS to 2024, the need for this use is expected to
continue for the duration.
This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the
application itself. The regulations governing FIFRA section 18 require
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific
exemption proposing the use of a new chemical (i.e., an active
ingredient), which has not been registered by EPA. The notice provides
an opportunity for public comment on the application.
The Agency will review and consider all comments received during
the comment period in determining whether to issue the specific
exemption requested by the NASA.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: September 3, 2021.
Marietta Echeverria,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-19911 Filed 9-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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