Eastern Research Group; Access to Confidential Business Information

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This notice announces that information submitted to EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including information that may be claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI) by the submitter, will be transferred to or accessed by the Eastern Research Group (ERG), in accordance with the CBI regulations. The ERG has been awarded a contract to perform work in connection with TSCA and access to this information will enable ERG to fulfill the obligations of the contract.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67311-67312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21757]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2003-0004; FRL-13592-01-OCSPP]


Eastern Research Group; Access to Confidential Business 
Information

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that information submitted to EPA's 
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) pursuant to the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA), including information that may be 
claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI) by the submitter, 
will be transferred to or accessed by the Eastern Research Group (ERG), 
in accordance with the CBI regulations. The ERG has been awarded a 
contract to perform work in connection with TSCA

[[Page 67312]]

and access to this information will enable ERG to fulfill the 
obligations of the contract.

DATES: Eastern Research Group will be given access to this information 
on or before November 2, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For technical information contact: Joseph Varco, Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), Office of Civil 
Enforcement (OCE) Waste and Chemical Enforcement Division (WCED), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-1791; email address: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f88e998a9b97d692978b9d8890b89d8899d69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c1b7a0b3a2aeefabaeb2a4b1a981a4b1a0efa6aeb7">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    For general information: The TSCA Assistance Information Service 
Hotline, Goodwill Vision Enterprises, 422 South Clinton Ave., 
Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (800) 471-7127 or (202) 554-
1404; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#30646373711d785f445c595e55705540511e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="01555242402c496e756d686f64416471602f666e77">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, 
however, be of interest to all who manufacture, process, or distribute 
industrial chemicals. Since other entities may also be interested, the 
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may 
be affected by this action.

B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    EPA has established a docket for this action under docket ID number 
EPA-HQ-OPPT-2003-0004. Publicly available docket materials are 
available electronically through <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 
Additional instructions on commenting on and visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, are available at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.

II. What action is the Agency taking?

    Under the ERG solicitation number 68HERL26A0022, ERG will assist 
the OPPT and OECA, OCE in enforcement program implementation; 
enforcement case support; conducting inspections; providing laboratory 
support; and performing analysis. In accordance with 40 CFR 2.306(j), 
EPA has determined that under EPA contract number 68HERL26A0022, ERG 
will require access to CBI submitted to EPA under all section(s) of 
TSCA to perform successfully the duties specified under the contract. 
ERG personnel will be given access to information submitted to EPA 
under all section(s) of TSCA. Some of the information may be claimed or 
determined to be CBI. EPA is issuing this notice to inform all 
submitters of information under all sections of TSCA that EPA may 
provide ERG with access to these CBI materials on a need-to-know basis 
only. All access to TSCA CBI under this contract will take place in 
accordance with EPA's TSCA CBI Protection Manual. Access to TSCA data, 
including CBI, will continue until June 27, 2031. If the contract is 
extended, this access will also continue for the duration of the 
extended contract without further notice. ERG personnel will be 
required to sign nondisclosure agreements and will be briefed on 
appropriate security procedures before they are permitted access to 
TSCA CBI.
    In accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR 2.306(f), EPA has 
determined that the disclosure of CBI submitted to EPA under all 
sections of TSCA is necessary for ERG to satisfactorily carry out the 
work required by the contract. Accordingly, ERG personnel will be given 
access to information, including information submitted to EPA under all 
sections of TSCA, some of which may be claimed or determined to be CBI.
    EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters that EPA will 
provide ERG access to these CBI materials on a need-to-know basis only. 
All access to TSCA CBI under this contract takes place in accordance 
with EPA's TSCA CBI Protection Manual.
    Access to TSCA data, including CBI, will continue until June 27, 
2031. If the contract is extended, this access will also continue for 
the duration of the extended contract without further notice. In 
accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR 2.306(f), the contract 
prohibits disclosure of information to a third party without prior 
written approval from the Agency.
    ERG personnel will sign nondisclosure agreements and will be 
briefed on appropriate security procedures before they are permitted 
access to TSCA CBI. Records of information provided to ERG will be 
maintained by EPA project officers for this contract. All information 
supplied to ERG by EPA for use in connection with this contract will be 
returned to EPA when ERG has completed its work.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

    Dated: October 19, 2026.
Douglas M. Troutman,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-21757 Filed 10-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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