Protection of Stratospheric Ozone; Amendment to the Phaseout of Ozone- Depleting Chemicals to Correct Allocation Numbers; Final Rule ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

SUMMARY: In the December 10, 1993 Federal Register the Environmental

Protection Agency inadvertently omitted a paragraph that should have

been carried over from the preceding phaseout rule; this paragraph is

subsequently added back into the regulation through today's direct

final rulemaking. Through this action, the Environmental Protection

Agency is also updating its lists of Parties to the Montreal Protocol

in Appendix C and of Article 5 countries in Appendix E.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This action will become effective October 11, 1994

unless EPA receives notice by September 12, 1994 that someone wishes to

submit adverse or critical comments. If such comments are received, EPA

would then publish a timely notice announcing its withdrawal before the

effective date provided in today's action. A second document would then

request comments, after which a final rule would be drafted and

published, responding to such comments.

ADDRESSES: Materials relevant to the rulemaking are contained in Air

Docket A-92-13 at: Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20460. The public docket room is located in room M-

1500, Waterside Mall (Ground Floor). Materials may be inspected from

8:30 a.m. until noon and from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through

Friday. A reasonable fee may be charged by EPA for copying docket

materials. Information on this rulemaking may also be obtained from the

Stratospheric Protection Information Hotline at 1-800-296-1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Stratospheric Protection

Information Hotline at 1-800-296-1996 or Michael James, Stratospheric

Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs, Office of Air and

Radiation, 6205J, (202) 233-9192.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Today's Revisions to the Phaseout of Ozone-Depleting Substances

In today's action, EPA is re-inserting a paragraph under

Sec. 82.10, inadvertently omitted from the final rulemaking (58 FR

65018), to grant a limited level of consumption allowances to carbon

tetrachloride producers under certain conditions. During the July 30,

1992 rulemaking (57 FR 33754), EPA intended to allocate carbon

tetrachloride (Group IV) consumption allowances to all companies that

received carbon tetrachloride production allowances. During the

drafting of that rulemaking, EPA realized that complications existed in

the development and calculation of the baseline for this chemical, such

that some companies that had exported carbon tetrachloride would not

receive baseline consumption allowances. Thus, companies that had

intended to produce for export could not because of the requirement to

hold both production and consumption allowances at the time of

production.

To address this situation in the final rulemaking, EPA promulgated

Sec. 82.10(c) to allocate baseline consumption allowances to carbon

tetrachloride producers who had exported in the baseline year, but had

not received baseline consumption allowances. Producers who met these

conditions would receive baseline consumption allowances equal to the

level of production allowances received for the control period. In

addition, this paragraph required that producers who received these

allowances demonstrate that they had exported this chemical by

providing documentation to EPA that they had indeed exported the

chemical by February 15 of the year after the end of the control

period.

During the development of the December 10, 1993 final rule (58 FR

65018), EPA inadvertently omitted this paragraph of the final rule. It

was never the intention of EPA to eliminate this provision, and EPA

believes that this provision is essential for companies to continue to

produce this chemical for export markets, many of which use carbon

tetrachloride as a feedstock in the production of other chemicals. For

these reasons, EPA is today re-inserting former Sec. 82.10(c) as

82.10(d) of the current rule, making the provisions of the new

Sec. 82.10(d) retroactive to January 1, 1994. In this way, companies

will not be penalized as a result of the Agency's inadvertent omission.

With this notice, the Agency is also updating Appendix C to Subpart

A--Annex 1 Parties to the Montreal Protocol and Appendix E to Subpart

A--Article 5 Parties. The revised Appendix C reflects the following

changes: additional countries that have signed onto the Montreal

Protocol, existing or added Parties that have ratified the London

Amendments, or existing or added Parties that have ratified the

Copenhagen Amendments. The changes to Appendix E reflect additional

developing countries that have signed onto the Montreal Protocol. These

developing countries have also been added to Appendix C.

Because these changes are only correcting inadvertent omissions or

typographical errors, they have no impact on the environment or on the

implementation of the Stratospheric Protection Program. This action is

being taken without prior proposal because EPA believes that this final

decision is noncontroversial and anticipates no significant adverse

comments on this action. If adverse comment on this rulemaking is

received, EPA would withdraw this direct final notice, then propose as

a separate notice, upon which comments would be solicited. A final rule

would then be written, which would provide responses to comments.

II. Summary of Supporting Analysis

A. Executive Order 12866

Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), the

Agency must determine whether this regulatory action is ``significant''

and therefore subject to OMB review and the requirements of the

Executive Order. The Order defines ``significant'' regulatory action as

one that is likely to lead to a rule that may:

(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more,

or adversely and materially affect a sector of the economy,

productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or

safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities;

(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an

action taken or planned by another agency;

(3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlement, grants,

user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients

thereof; or

(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal

mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in

the Executive Order.

It has been determined by OMB and EPA that this amendment to the

final rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the terms

of Executive Order 12866 and is therefore not subject to OMB review

under the Executive Order.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-602, requires that

Federal agencies examine the impacts of their regulations on small

entities. Under 5 U.S.C. 604(a), whenever an agency is required to

publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking, it must prepare and

make available for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility

analysis (RFA). Such an analysis is not required if the head of an

agency certifies that a rule will not have a significant economic

impact on a substantial number of small entities, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.

605(b).

EPA believes that any impact that this amendment will have on the

regulated community will serve only to provide relief from otherwise

applicable regulations, and will therefore limit the negative economic

impact associated with the regulations previously promulgated under

Section 604. An examination of the impacts on small entities was

discussed in the final rule (58 FR 65018). That final rule assessed the

impact the rule may have on small entities. A separate regulatory

impact analysis accompanied the final rule and is contained in Docket

A-91-50. I certify that this amendment to the accelerated phaseout rule

will not have any additional negative economic impacts on any small

entities.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

Any information collection requirements in a rule must be submitted

for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the

Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Because no additional

informational collection requirements are required by this amendment,

EPA has determined that the Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply to

this rulemaking and no new Information Collection Request document has

been prepared.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 82

Air pollution control, Chemicals, Exports, Imports, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

Dated: August 4, 1994.

Carol M. Browner,

Administrator.

40 CFR part 82 is amended as follows:

PART 82--PROTECTION OF STRATOSPHERIC OZONE

1. The authority citation for part 82 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7601, 7671-7671q.

2. Section 82.10 is amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read

as follows:

Sec. 82.10 Availability of consumption allowances in addition to

baseline consumption allowances.

* * * * *

(d) On the first day of each control period the Agency will grant

consumption allowances to any person that produced and exported a Group

IV controlled substance in the baseline year and that was not granted

baseline consumption allowances under Sec. 82.6.

(1) The number of consumption allowances any such person will be

granted for each control period will be equal to the number of

production allowances granted to that person under Sec. 82.7 for that

control period.

(2) Any person granted allowances under this paragraph must hold

the same number of unexpended consumption allowances for the control

period for which the allowances were granted by February 15 of the

following control period. Every kilogram by which the person's

unexpended consumption allowances fall short of the amount the person

was granted under this paragraph constitutes a separate violation.

(3) This paragraph will apply retroactively to January 1, 1994, in

order that such consumption allowances will be granted for the 1994

control period.

3. Appendix C to subpart A is revised to read as follows:

Appendix C to Subpart A.--Annex 1--Parties to the Montreal Protocol

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

Copenhagen

Foreign State Montreal protocol London amendments amendments

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

Algeria.......................................

Antigua and Barbuda...........................

Argentina.....................................

Australia.....................................

Austria.......................................

Bahamas.......................................

Bahrain.......................................

Bangladesh....................................

Barbados......................................

Belarus.......................................

Belgium.......................................

Benin.........................................

Bosnia and Herzegovina........................

Botswana......................................

Brazil........................................

Burnei........................................

Bulgaria......................................

Burkina Faso..................................

Cameroon......................................

Canada........................................

Central African Republic......................

Chile.........................................

China.........................................

Colombia......................................

Congo.........................................

Costa Rica....................................

Cote Ivoire...................................

Croatia.......................................

Cuba..........................................

Cyprus........................................

Czech Republic................................

Denmark.......................................

Dominica......................................

Ecuador.......................................

Egypt.........................................

El Salvador...................................

European E.C..................................

Fiji..........................................

Finland.......................................

France........................................

Gabon.........................................

Gambia........................................

Germany.......................................

Ghana.........................................

Greece........................................

Grenada.......................................

Guatemala.....................................

Guinea........................................

Guyana........................................

Honduras......................................

Hungary.......................................

Iceland.......................................

India.........................................

Indonesia.....................................

Iran..........................................

Ireland.......................................

Israel........................................

Italy.........................................

Jamaica.......................................

Japan.........................................

Jordan........................................

Kenya.........................................

Kiribati......................................

Korea, Republic of............................

Kuwait........................................

Lebanon.......................................

Libya.........................................

Liechtenstein.................................

Luxembourg....................................

Malawi........................................

Malaysia......................................

Maldives......................................

Malta.........................................

Marshall Islands..............................

Mauritius.....................................

Mexico........................................

Monaco........................................

Morocco.......................................

Myranmar......................................

Namibia.......................................

Netherlands...................................

New Zealand...................................

Nicaragua.....................................

Niger.........................................

Nigeria.......................................

Norway........................................

Pakistan......................................

Panama........................................

Papua New Guinea..............................

Paraguay......................................

Peru..........................................

Philippines...................................

Poland........................................

Portugal......................................

Romania.......................................

Russian Federation............................

Saint Kitts and Nevis.........................

Saint Lucia...................................

Samoa.........................................

Saudi Arabia..................................

Senegal.......................................

Seychelles....................................

Singapore.....................................

Slovenia......................................

Solomon Islands...............................

South Africa..................................

Spain.........................................

Sri Lanka.....................................

Sudan.........................................

Swaziland.....................................

Sweden........................................

Switzerland...................................

Syrian Arab Republic..........................

Tanzania, United Republic of..................

Thailand......................................

Togo..........................................

Trinidad and Tobago...........................

Tunisia.......................................

Turkey........................................

Turkministan..................................

Tuvalu........................................

Uganda........................................

Ukranian SSR..................................

United Arab Emirates..........................

United Kingdom................................

United States.................................

Uruguay.......................................

Uzbekistan....................................

Venezuela.....................................

Viet Nam......................................

Yugoslavia....................................

Zambia........................................

Zimbabwe......................................

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

4. Appendix E to Subpart A is revised to read as follows:

Appendix E to Subpart A--Article 5 Parties

Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain,

Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,

Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, China,

Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador,

Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,

Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,

Kiribati, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius,

Mexico, Myranmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama,

Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Saint Kitts and

Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon

Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania,

Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda,

Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

[FR Doc. 94-19640 Filed 8-10-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P