[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35808-35809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12707]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7213-9]
Proposed Alternative Tier 2 Requirements for PuriNO__ Diesel Fuel
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of proposed requirements.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Lubrizol Corporation (Lubrizol) has developed a motor-
vehicle diesel fuel, known as PuriNOX, that contains
significant amounts of water and methanol. The purpose of this notice
is to announce that EPA has notified Lubrizol, by certified letter, of
proposed Alternative Tier 2 testing requirements for PuriNOX
Generation 2 Winter Diesel Fuel Emulsion (Winter PuriNOX)
under the fuel and fuel additive registration testing requirements. EPA
is also proposing that testing performed by Lubrizol on Winter
PuriNOX and a warm-climate PuriNOX is sufficient
to cover intermediate versions of PuriNOX. A copy of the
letter has been placed in the public record. The purpose of these
proposals is to assist in characterizing potential health risks
associated with the use of this fuel. The public is invited to comment
on these proposals.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 20, 2002. Comments
on the proposed Alternative Tier 2 provisions must be received from
Lubrizol within 60 days of Lubrizol's receipt of the notification
letter.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Public Docket No.
A-2002-07, Waterside Mall (Room M-1500),
Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket Section, 401 M Street, SW.,
Washington, DC, 20460-0001. Relevant materials have been placed
in this docket. It may be inspected from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James W. Caldwell, Environmental
Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality, Mail Code 6406J, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20460-0001, (202) 564-9303, fax
(202) 565-2085, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulated Entity. The entity potentially
regulated by this action is Lubrizol.
I. Introduction
Pursuant to sections 211(b)(2) and 211(e) of the Clean Air Act
(CAA) EPA promulgated regulations requiring manufacturers of designated
fuels and fuel additives (F/FA) to conduct tests to determine the
potential health effects of the F/FA emissions. The final rule,
promulgated May 27, 1994, established new health-effects testing
requirements for the registration of designated F/FAs (59 FR 33042).
The registration requirements are organized within a three-tier
structure. Tier 1 requires F/FA manufacturers to supply to EPA (1) the
identity and
[[Page 35809]]
concentration of certain emission products, and (2) any available
information regarding the health and welfare effects of the whole and
speciated emissions. 40 CFR 79.52. Tier 2 requires that combustion
emissions of each F/FA subject to the testing requirements be tested
for subchronic systemic and organic toxicity, as well as the assessment
of specific health-effect endpoints. 40 CFR 79.53. Tier 3 testing may
be required, at EPA's discretion, when remaining uncertainties as to
the significance of observed health or welfare effects, or emissions
exposures, interfere with EPA's ability to reasonably assess the
potential risks posed by the emissions from a F/FA. 40 CFR 79.54. EPA's
regulations permit submission of adequate existing test data in lieu of
conducting new, duplicative tests. 40 CFR 79.53(b).
At its discretion, EPA may modify the standard Tier 2 health-
effects testing requirements for a F/FA (or group thereof) by
substituting, adding, or deleting testing requirements, or changing the
underlying vehicle/engine specifications. 40 CFR 79.58(c). EPA will
not, however, delete a testing requirement for a specific end point in
the absence of existing adequate information, or an alternative testing
requirement for that endpoint. 40 CFR 79.58(c).
II. Proposed Alternative Tier 2 Requirements for PuriNOX
The purpose of this document is to announce that EPA has notified
Lubrizol of proposed Alternative Tier 2 testing requirements under 40
CFR 79.58(c) for Lubrizol's Winter PuriNOX formulation. The
proposed Alternative Tier 2 testing requirements are identical to the
standard Tier 2 requirements with the exception that the test fuel will
be the Winter PuriNOX formulation, consisting of 74% diesel
fuel, 16.8% water, 5.7% methanol, and 3.5% PuriNOX
Generation 2 Additive Package. Under the standard Tier 2 requirements
the water and methanol would have been tested separately in diesel
fuel. EPA believes that, since such separate formulations will never
occur in the production of Winter PuriNOX, testing of the
proposed test fuel, which corresponds with its commercial composition,
will produce more meaningful health-effects testing results.
Lubrizol has already conducted standard Tier 2 testing on a warm-
climate PuriNOX formulation, consisting of 77% diesel fuel,
20% water, and 3% PuriNOX 1121A Additive Package. We propose
that this testing, in conjunction with the Alternative Tier 2 testing
for Winter PuriNOX, will be sufficient to meet the Tier 2
requirements for intermediate PuriNOX combinations of diesel
fuel, water, methanol, and additive package.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Thus, if the Winter PuriNOX Alternative
Tier 2 testing is successfully completed, the Tier 2 health effects
testing requirements would be met for PuriNOX
formulations consisting of 100%-74% diesel fuel,
0%-20%water, 0%-5.7% methanol, 0%-3.5%
PuriNOX Generation 2 Additive, or 0%-3%
PuriNOX 1121A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA requests public comment on these proposals. A copy of the
notification to Lubrizol has been placed in Public Docket No.
A-2002-07 noted above. The notification is also available
from the contact noted above and at www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels.
III. Environmental Impact
This document will result in no immediate environmental impact, but
may provide a basis for further regulatory action, should the collected
data indicate that there may be a risk to public health or welfare.
IV. Economic Impact
This document will reduce the testing expense for Lubrizol by
reducing the number of test fuels. Since this applies only to Lubrizol,
which is not a small entity, there is no economic impact on small
entities.
Dated: May 14, 2002.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 02-12707 Filed 5-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P