Regulation of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals Under TSCA Section 6(h); Request for Comments

• Citation: 86 FR 14398
• Record Number: 2021-05138
• Published date: 16 March 2021
• Court: Environmental Protection Agency

14398

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 16, 2021 / Proposed Rules

Dated: March 10, 2021.

David Gray,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.

[FR Doc. 2021–05329 Filed 3–15–21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 751

[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2021–0202; FRL–10021–

08]

Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h); Request for

Comments

AGENCY

: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION

: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY

: In accordance with the

January 21, 2021, Executive Order

entitled ‘‘Protecting Public Health and

the Environment and Restoring Science

to Tackle the Climate Crisis’’ and other

Biden-Harris Administration Executive

orders and other direction, the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

is requesting additional public

comments on five final rules recently

issued under the Toxic Substances

Control Act (TSCA). On January 6, 2021,

EPA issued final rules to address its

obligations under TSCA for five

persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic

(PBT) chemicals that EPA determined

met the criteria for expedited action

under TSCA. These chemicals are 2,4,6-

tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-TTBP)

(CASRN 732–26–3); decabromodiphenyl

ether (decaBDE) (CASRN 1163–19–5);

phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1)

(PIP (3:1)) (CASRN 68937–41–7);

pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP) (CASRN

133–49–3); and hexachlorobutadiene

(HCBD) (CASRN 87–68–3). PBT

chemicals are of particular concern in

the Agency’s efforts to protect human

health and the environment because

they are toxic and remain in the

environment for long periods of time

and can build up or accumulate in the

body. As a first step in its efforts to

immediately review these rules to

determine whether they are consistent

with the Administration policy to limit

exposure to dangerous chemicals (and

to determine whether and how these

rules should be revised), EPA invites

public comment on the final rules,

including whether there are further

exposure reductions that could be

achieved, including exposure

reductions for potentially exposed or

susceptible subpopulations and the

environment; implementation issues

associated with these final rules; and

whether to consider additional or

alternative measures or approaches. In

particular, EPA is seeking comment on

specifics of recently raised issues

regarding the compliance date for the

prohibition on the processing and

distribution of PIP (3:1) for use in

articles, and PIP (3:1)-containing

articles.

DATES

: Comments must be received on

or before May 17, 2021.

ADDRESSES

: Submit your comments,

identified by docket identification (ID)

number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2021–0202,

through the Federal eRulemaking Portal

at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow

the online instructions for submitting

comments. Do not submit electronically

any information you consider to be

Confidential Business Information (CBI)

or other information whose disclosure is

restricted by statute. To make special

arrangements for hand delivery or

delivery of boxed information, please

follow the instructions at http://

www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.

Please note that due to the public

health emergency the EPA Docket

Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room

were closed to public visitors on March

31, 2020. Our EPA/DC staff will

continue to provide customer service

via email, phone, and webform. For

further information on EPA/DC services,

docket contact information and the

current status of the EPA/DC and

Reading Room, please visit https://

www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

:

For technical information contact:

Cindy Wheeler, Existing Chemicals Risk

Management Division (Mail Code

7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention

and Toxics, Environmental Protection

Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,

Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone

number: (202) 566–0484; email address:

TSCA-PBT-rules@epa.gov.

For general information contact: The

TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422

South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY

14620; telephone number: (202) 554–

1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@

epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

:

I. General Information

A. Does this apply to me?

This document is directed to the

public in general and may be of interest

to persons who currently or may

manufacture (including import),

process, distribute, use, and/or dispose

of the five PBT chemicals: 2,4,6-tris(tert-

butyl)phenol (2,4,6-TTBP) (CASRN 732–

26–3); decabromodiphenyl ether

(decaBDE) (CASRN 1163–19–5); phenol,

isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1))

(CASRN 68937–41–7);

pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP) (CASRN

133–49–3); and hexachlorobutadiene

(HCBD) (CASRN 87–68–3). The action

may also be of interest to persons who

currently or may manufacture

(including import), process, distribute,

use, and/or dispose of products and

articles containing these PBT chemicals.

Non-governmental organizations in the

environmental and public health

sectors, state and local government

agencies, and members of the public

may also be interested in this action.

Since other entities may also be

interested, EPA has not attempted to

describe all the specific entities that

may be affected by this action.

B. What is EPA’s authority for taking

this action?

EPA issued the final rules under

TSCA section 6(h), 15 U.S.C. 2601 et

seq., for five persistent,

bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT)

chemical substances that met the

statutory criteria. More specifically,

under TSCA section 6(h), EPA must take

expedited action on those chemical

substances identified in the 2014

Update to the TSCA Work Plan for

Chemical Assessments (Ref. 1) that,

among other factors, EPA has a

reasonable basis to conclude are toxic

and that with respect to persistence and

bioaccumulation score high for one and

either high or moderate for the other,

pursuant to the TSCA Work Plan

Chemicals: Methods Document (Ref. 2).

The chemical substances that meet these

criteria are 2,4,6-TTBP, decaBDE, PIP

(3:1), PCTP, and HCBD. Under TSCA, if

EPA determines that exposure is likely

to a chemical meeting these criteria,

EPA must issue a rule that addresses the

risks of injury to health or the

environment that the Administrator

determines are presented and reduces

exposure to the chemical to the extent

practicable. Based on the ‘‘Exposure and

Use Assessment of Five Persistent,

Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals

Assessment’’ (Ref. 3), EPA determined

that exposure was likely to all five of the

PBT chemicals. On January 6, 2021,

EPA issued a final rule for each of the

five chemicals under TSCA section 6(h),

meeting the Agency’s obligation to

promulgate the rules within 18 months

of issuance of the proposed rules (Refs.

4–8). With the obligation to promulgate

these rules, the Agency also has the

authority to amend them if

circumstances change, including in

relation to the receipt of new

information.

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C. What action is EPA taking?

EPA is inviting public comment on

the provisions of the final rules. The

Agency is broadly re-examining TSCA

section 6(h) requirements and other

provisions of amended TSCA, including

determining how the new Executive

orders and other direction provided by

the Biden-Harris Administration (Refs.

9–13) will be addressed, as well as new

information received from stakeholders.

As part of this process, EPA will review

and consider revising the final PBT

rules with an eye towards reducing

exposure to the extent practicable,

environmental justice, scientific

integrity, and EPA’s mission of

protecting human health and the

environment, taking into consideration

information received while the rules

were under development as well as any

new information submitted since the

rules were finalized and information

received in response to this document.

EPA is also aware of and plans to

consider revisions in response to

implementation issues that have been

raised by a range of stakeholders. In

particular, EPA is seeking comment on

newly-raised issues associated with the

March 8, 2021, compliance date in the

PIP (3:1) rule for certain regulated

articles.

D. What should I consider as I prepare

my comments for EPA?

1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this

information to EPA through

regulations.gov 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 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

http://www.epa.gov/dockets/

comments.html.

II. Summary of the Final PBT Rules

This unit provides a summary of the

five TSCA section 6(h) final rules that

published in the Federal Register of

January 6, 2021. However, each rule

should be consulted for additional

details on the requirements adopted and

the rationale for those requirements.

A. 2,4,6-tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-

TTBP); Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h) (RIN 2070–

AK59)

Uses of 2,4,6-TTBP may be grouped

into four general categories: (1)

Domestic manufacture and use as an

intermediate/reactant in processing at

chemical facilities; (2) use in

formulations and mixtures for fuel

treatment in refineries and fuel

facilities; (3) use in formulations

intended for the maintenance or repair

of motor vehicles and machinery at

small commercial operations and for

retail sale, and (4) use in formulations

and mixtures for liquid lubricant and

grease additives/antioxidants additives.

2,4,6-TTBP is toxic to aquatic plants,

aquatic invertebrates, and fish.

Surveyed animal data indicate the

potential for liver and developmental

effects. The final rule for 2,4,6-TTBP

(Ref. 4) prohibits the distribution in

commerce of 2,4,6-TTBP and products

containing 2,4,6-TTBP at concentrations

above 0.3% by weight in any container

with a volume of less than 35 gallons in

order to minimize the use of 2,4,6-TTBP

as a fuel additive or fuel injector cleaner

by consumers and small commercial

operations (e.g., automotive repair

shops, marinas). The final rule also

prohibits the processing and

distribution in commerce of 2,4,6-TTBP,

and products containing 2,4,6-TTBP, for

use as an oil or lubricant additive in

concentrations above 0.3% by weight

regardless of container size. The final

rule includes a number of broad

exclusions or definitions intended to

apply to each of the five PBT rules,

including definitions of article and

product and exclusions for research and

development, disposal, and the resale of

products and articles previously sold to

an end user.

B. Decabromodiphenyl Ether

(DecaBDE); Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h) (RIN 2070–

AK34)

DecaBDE (Ref. 5) is used as an

additive flame retardant in plastic

enclosures for televisions, computers,

audio and video equipment, textiles and

upholstered articles, wire and cables for

communication and electronic

equipment, and other applications.

DecaBDE is also used as a flame

retardant for multiple applications for

aerospace and automotive vehicles,

including replacement parts for aircraft

and cars. DecaBDE is toxic to aquatic

invertebrates, fish, and terrestrial

invertebrates. Data indicate the potential

for developmental, neurological, and

immunological effects, general

developmental toxicity, liver effects,

and carcinogenicity. The final rule for

decaBDE (Ref. 5) prohibits the

manufacture (including import) and

processing of decaBDE, and products

and articles containing decaBDE, as of

March 8, 2021. Distribution in

commerce of products and articles to

which decaBDE has been added is

prohibited as of January 6, 2022.

Different compliance dates or

exclusions include:

•Manufacture, processing, and

distribution in commerce for use in

curtains in the hospitality industry after

July 6, 2022;

•Processing and distribution in

commerce for use in wire and cable

insulation in nuclear power generation

facilities after January 6, 2023;

•Manufacture, processing, and

distribution in commerce for use in

parts for new aerospace vehicles after

January 8, 2024;

•Manufacture, processing, and

distribution in commerce for use in

replacement parts for aerospace vehicles

until the end of the vehicles’ service

lives;

•Manufacture, processing, and

distribution in commerce for use in

replacement parts for motor vehicles

until the end of the vehicles’ service

lives or 2036, whichever is earlier;

•Distribution in commerce of plastic

shipping pallets manufactured prior to

the publication of the final rule that

contain decaBDE until the end of the

pallets service lives; and

•Processing and distribution in

commerce for recycling of plastic that

contained decaBDE before the plastic

was recycled, and the articles and

products made from such recycled

plastic so long as no new decaBDE is

added during the recycling or

production process.

C. Phenol, Isopropylated Phosphate

(3:1) (PIP 3:1); Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h) (RIN 2070–

AK58)

PIP (3:1) (Ref. 6) is used as a

plasticizer, a flame retardant, an anti-

wear additive, or an anti-compressibility

additive in hydraulic fluid, lubricating

oils, lubricants and greases, various

industrial coatings, adhesives, sealants,

and plastic articles. PIP (3:1) is toxic to

aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates,

sediment invertebrates and fish. Data

indicate the potential for reproductive

and developmental effects, neurological

effects and effects on systemic organs,

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specifically adrenals, liver, ovary, heart,

and lungs. The PIP (3:1) final rule (Ref.

6) prohibits processing and distribution

in commerce of PIP (3:1), and products

or articles containing the chemical

substance, for all uses, except for the

following different compliance dates or

exclusions:

•Use in photographic printing

articles after January 1, 2022;

•Use in aviation hydraulic fluid in

hydraulic systems and use in specialty

hydraulic fluids for military

applications;

•Use in lubricants and greases;

•Use in new and replacement parts

for the aerospace and automotive

industries;

•Use as an intermediate in the

manufacture of cyanoacrylate glue;

•Use in specialized engine air filters

for locomotive and marine applications;

•Use in sealants and adhesives after

January 6, 2025; and

•Recycling of plastic that contained

PIP (3:1) before the plastic was recycled,

and the articles and products made from

such recycled plastic, so long as no new

PIP (3:1) is added during the recycling

or production process.

In addition, the final rule requires

manufacturers, processors, and

distributors of PIP (3:1) and products

containing PIP (3:1) to notify their

customers of these restrictions. Finally,

the rule prohibits releases to water from

the remaining manufacturing,

processing, and distribution in

commerce activities, and requires

commercial users of PIP (3:1) and PIP

(3:1)-containing products to follow

existing regulations and best practices to

prevent releases to water during use.

D. Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP);

Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h) (RIN 2070–

AK60)

PCTP was used in rubber

manufacturing as a peptizer, or a

chemical that makes rubber more

amenable to processing. Although it is

likely that PCTP is no longer used as a

peptizer, it can be found as an impurity

in the zinc salt of PCTP (zinc PCTP)

(CASRN 117–97–5) after zinc PCTP

manufacturing. PCTP is toxic to

protozoa, fish, terrestrial plants, and

birds. Data for analogous chemicals

(pentachloronitrobenzene and

hexachlorobenzene) indicate the

potential for liver and reproductive

effects. However, no animal or human

hazard data has been identified. The

final rule for PCTP (Ref. 7) prohibits all

manufacturing (including import) and

processing of PCTP, and products or

articles containing PCTP, unless PCTP

concentrations are at or below 1% by

weight. A prohibition on the

distribution in commerce of PCTP or

PCTP-containing products or articles,

unless PCTP concentrations are at or

below 1% by weight, will take effect on

January 6, 2022.

E. Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD);

Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h) (RIN 2070–

AK61)

HCBD is a halogenated aliphatic

hydrocarbon that is produced as an

unintentional byproduct during the

manufacture of chlorinated

hydrocarbons, particularly

perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene,

and carbon tetrachloride, and is

subsequently burned as a waste fuel.

HCBD is toxic to aquatic invertebrates,

fish, and birds, and has been identified

as a possible human carcinogen. Data

indicate the potential for renal,

reproductive, and developmental

effects. The final rule for HCBD (Ref. 8)

prohibits the manufacture (including

import), processing, and distribution in

commerce of HCBD and HCBD-

containing products or articles, except

for the unintentional production of

HCBD as a byproduct during the

production of chlorinated solvents, and

the processing and distribution in

commerce of HCBD for burning as a

waste fuel.

III. Request for Comment

During the comment period, the

public may submit comments and

information relevant to any aspect of the

final PBT rules. The public is

encouraged to provide comments and

information relating to EPA’s statutory

obligations under TSCA section 6(h)

and the extent to which there are further

exposure reductions that could be

achieved, including exposure

reductions for potentially exposed or

susceptible subpopulations and the

environment. EPA is particularly

interested in information relating to the

impacts of the final rules on human

health, including potentially exposed or

susceptible subpopulations, and the

environment. EPA is also requesting

comment on implementation issues

associated with these final rules. EPA

specifically invites public comment on

additional measures or approaches that

EPA could take in addition to the

provisions in the final rules.

In particular, EPA is seeking comment

on newly-raised issues associated with

the March 8, 2021 compliance date in

the PIP (3:1) rule for certain regulated

articles. Stakeholders recently informed

EPA that the prohibition on processing

and distribution of PIP (3:1) could

impact articles used in a wide variety of

electronics, from cell phones, to robotics

used to manufacture semiconductors, to

equipment used to move COVID–19

vaccines and keep them at the

appropriate temperature. Stakeholders

note that the complexity of international

supply chains makes locating the

presence of, and finding alternatives to,

PIP (3:1) in components challenging.

They assert that an extension to the

compliance deadline is necessary to

avoid significant disruption to the

supply chain for a wide variety of

articles. It was clearly not EPA’s intent

during the development of the rule to

have such a broad disruptive impact.

Nonetheless, compliance deadlines for

the PBT rules must be in place ‘‘as soon

as practicable’’ and provide reasonable

transition periods, pursuant to the

requirements of TSCA section 6(d)(1).

Thus, for EPA to amend the existing

deadline, the Agency needs additional

information regarding the impact of the

deadline. EPA specifically asks

commenters to specify the articles that

need the alternative deadline; the basis

for the alternative deadline, taking into

consideration the reasons supporting

alternative deadlines in the final rule

already issued, such as the January 1,

2022, date for photographic printing

articles and the January 6, 2025, date for

adhesives and sealants, with supporting

documentation; and the additional time

needed for specific articles to clear

channels of trade. EPA plans to address

the compliance deadline in the PIP (3:1)

rule as part of the broader re-

examination of these rules and will take

into account comments received during

this comment period when deciding

upon future action involving this

matter. In the meantime, the Agency

will exercise its enforcement discretion

to not pursue enforcement actions for

violations of the prohibitions on the

processing and distribution of PIP (3:1)

for use in articles, or articles containing

PIP (3:1) for up to 180 days, while this

review and agency action to address this

matter are pending.

III. References

1. EPA. TSCA Work Plan for Chemical

Assessments: 2014 Update. October

2014. https://www.epa.gov/

assessingandmanaging-chemicals-under-

tsca/tscawork-plan-chemical-

assessments-2014-update. Accessed

March 1, 2019.

2. EPA. TSCA Work Plan Chemicals:

Methods Document. February 2012.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/

files/2014-03/documents/work_plan_

methods_document_web_final.pdf.

Accessed March 1, 2019.

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3. EPA. Exposure and Use Assessment of

Five Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and

Toxic Chemicals. December 2020.

4. EPA. 2,4,6-Tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-

TTBP); Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final Rule.

Federal Register (86 FR 866, January 6,

2021) (FRL–10018–90).

5. EPA. Decabromodiphenyl Ether

(DecaBDE); Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final Rule.

Federal Register (86 FR 880, January 6,

2021) (FRL–10018–87).

6. EPA. Phenol, Isopropylated Phosphate

(3:1) (PIP 3:1)); Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final Rule.

Federal Register (86 FR 894, January 6,

2021) (FRL–10018–88).

7. EPA. Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP);

Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final Rule.

Federal Register (86 FR 911, January 6,

2021) (FRL–10018–89).

8. EPA. Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD);

Regulation of Persistent,

Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals

Under TSCA Section 6(h); Final Rule.

Federal Register (86 FR 922, January 6,

2021) (FRL–10018–91).

9. Executive Order 13985. Advancing Racial

Equity and Support for Underserved

Communities Through the Federal

Government. Federal Register (86 FR

7009, January 25, 2021).

10. Executive Order 13990. Protecting Public

Health and the Environment and

Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate

Crisis. Federal Register (86 FR 7037, of

January 25, 2021).

11. Executive Order 14008. Tackling the

Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.

Federal Register (86 FR 7619, February

1, 2021).

12. Presidential Memorandum. Memorandum

on Restoring Trust in Government

Through Scientific Integrity and

Evidence-Based Policymaking. Federal

Register (January 27, 2021).

13. Fact Sheet: List of Agency Actions for

Review (January 21, 2021).

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

Dated: March 8, 2021.

Michal Freedhoff,

Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of

Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

[FR Doc. 2021–05138 Filed 3–15–21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 21–49; RM–11874; DA 21–

158; FR ID 17557]

Television Broadcasting Services;

Augusta, Georgia

AGENCY

: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION

: Proposed rule; correction.

SUMMARY

: The Federal Communications

Commission published a document in

the Federal Register of March 8, 2021,

concerning a petition for rulemaking

filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC

(Gray) requesting the substitution of

channel 27 for channel 12 at Augusta,

Georgia in the DTV Table of Allotments.

The document contained the incorrect

address for counsel of petitioner.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

:

Andrew Manley, Andrew.Manley@

fcc.gov, Media Bureau, (202) 418–0596.

Correction

In the Federal Register of March 8,

2021, in FR Vol. 86, No. 43, on page

13278, in the second column, correct

the

ADDRESSES

caption to read:

ADDRESSES

: Federal Communications

Commission, Office of the Secretary, 45

L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve

counsel for petitioner as follows: Joan

Stewart, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, 1776 K

Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Dated: March 9, 2021.

Thomas Horan,

Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 2021–05394 Filed 3–15–21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[RTID 0648–XA797]

Fisheries Off West Coast States;

Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries;

Amendment 18 to the Coastal Pelagic

Species Fishery Management Plan

AGENCY

: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION

: Announcement of availability of

fishery management plan amendment;

request for comments.

SUMMARY

: NMFS announces that the

Pacific Fishery Management Council

has submitted Amendment 18 to the

Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery

Management Plan for review by the

Secretary of Commerce. Amendment 18

would implement a rebuilding plan for

the northern subpopulation of Pacific

sardine, which NMFS declared

overfished in June 2019. NMFS will

consider public comments in deciding

whether to approve, disapprove, or

partially approve Amendment 18.

DATES

: Comments on Amendment 18

must be received by May 17, 2021.

Comments on the associated

Environmental Assessment must be

received by April 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES

: You may submit comments

on this document, identified by NOAA–

NMFS–0008–2021, by the following

electronic methods:

•The Pacific Fishery Management

Council and NMFS prepared a draft

excerpt of the Coastal Pelagic Species

Fishery Management Plan as amended

through Amendment 18, with notations

showing how Amendment 18 would

change the Fishery Management Plan, if

approved. This draft can be viewed via

the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://

www.regulations.gov, docket NOAA–

NMFS–0008–2021 or by contacting the

Pacific Fisheries Management Council,

7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101,

Portland, OR 97220–1384. In order to

comment on this document and the

draft Amendment 18 language, submit

all electronic public comments via the

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to

www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA–

NMFS–0008–2021 in the Search box.

Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon and

complete the required fields, and enter

or attach your comments.

•The Pacific Fishery Management

Council and NMFS prepared a draft

Environmental Assessment for this

action pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act. This draft

can be viewed on NMFS’ website at

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-

coast/laws-and-policies/west-coast-

region-national-environmental-policy-

act-documents. In order to comment on

the Environmental Assessment, submit

all public comments to Lynn Massey at

lynn.massey@noaa.gov, or Kerry Griffin

at Kerry.griffin@noaa.gov.

Instructions: Comments must be

submitted by the above methods to

ensure that the comments are received,

documented, and considered by NMFS.

Comments sent by any other method, to

any other address or individual, or

received after the end of the comment

period, may not be considered. All

comments received are a part of the

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