[Sqg-program] FW: [epa-tox] Four Purchasing Guides; Notice of Review and Comment
Perrigan, Glen
sqg-program@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Wed, 7 Jul 2004 16:53:12 -0400
For your reading pleasure...
EPA is initiating an open process to allow stakeholders to review=20
and comment on the four draft EPP product guides. The four product=20
guides now available for review are:
1. ``Greening Your Purchase of Carpet: A Guide For Federal=20
Purchasers.''
2. ``Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Products: A Guide For=20
Federal Purchasers.''
3. ``Greening Your Purchase of Copiers: A Guide For Federal=20
Purchasers.''
4. ``Greening Your Meetings and Conferences: A Guide For Federal=20
Purchasers.''
The rest of the notice is not worth reading!
Raoul
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-----Original Message-----
From: envsubset@epamail.epa.gov [mailto:envsubset@epamail.epa.gov]=20
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:05 PM
To: EPA-TOX
Subject: [epa-tox] Four Purchasing Guides; Notice of Review and Comment
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-TOX/2004/June/Day-30/t14831.htm
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-TOX/2004/June/Day-30/index.html
http://epa.gov/fedreg/search.htm
http://epa.gov/fedreg/
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[Federal Register: June 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 125)] [Notices] =
[Page
39471-39474] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr30jn04-69]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPT-2002-0039; FRL-7356-4]
=20
Four Purchasing Guides; Notice of Review and Comment Period
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) program is=20
announcing the posting and public review of four draft EPP guides on=20
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. This is=20
part of an effort to implement Presidential Executive Order 13101,=20
``Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling and=20
Federal Acquisition.'' EPA's EPP Program operates in a transparent=20
manner, with open participation and counsel from our stakeholders. In=20
today's notice, EPA is announcing an open review of the four purchasing=20
guides that can provide information to Federal procurement officials in=20
making EPP decisions that can help protect human health and the=20
environment.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPPT-2002-0039, must be=20
received on or before August 30, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or=20
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as=20
provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact:
Colby Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance=20
Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,=20
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,=20
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail=20
address: <A =
HREF=3D"mailto:TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov">TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov</A>.
For technical information contact: Terry Grogan, Pollution=20
Prevention Division (7409M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,=20
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
[[Page 39472]]
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-6317; e- =
mail
address: <A =
HREF=3D"mailto:grogan.terry@epa.gov">grogan.terry@epa.gov</A>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:=20
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general. This action may,=20
however, be of interest to Federal purchasers affected by Executive=20
Order 13101. This action may also be of interest to: State and local=20
government and private procurement officials interested in=20
environmentally preferable products, and persons or organizations=20
interested in the aforementioned product categories. Since other=20
entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to=20
describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action.=20
If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to=20
a particular entity, consult the technical person listed under FOR=20
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?
1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this=20
action under docket identification (ID) number OPPT-2002-0039. The=20
official public docket consists of the documents specifically=20
referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other=20
information related to this action. Although a part of the official=20
docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business=20
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted=20
by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials=20
that is available for public viewing at the EPA Docket Center, Rm.=20
B102-Reading Room, EPA West, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,=20
DC. The EPA Docket Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday=20
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The EPA Docket Center Reading=20
Room telephone number is (202) 566-1744 and the telephone number for=20
the OPPT Docket, which is located in the EPA Docket Center, is (202)=20
566-0280.
2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document=20
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''=20
listings at <A
HREF=3D"http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/">http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/</A>.
An electronic version of the public docket is available through=20
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may=20
use EPA Dockets at <A
HREF=3D"http://www.epa.gov/edocket/">http://www.epa.gov/edocket/</A> to =
submit
or view public=20
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official=20
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that=20
are available electronically. Although not all docket materials may be=20
available electronically, you may still access any of the publicly=20
available docket materials through the docket facility identified in=20
Unit I.B.1. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the=20
appropriate docket ID number.
Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets.=20
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is=20
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public=20
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic=20
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be=20
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in=20
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent=20
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in=20
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the=20
index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the=20
document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket.=20
Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you=20
may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through=20
the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. EPA intends to work=20
towards providing electronic access to all of the publicly available=20
docket materials through EPA's electronic public docket.
For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is=20
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper,=20
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public=20
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment=20
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose=20
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment=20
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that=20
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's=20
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the=20
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or=20
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public=20
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the docket will=20
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where=20
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph=20
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief=20
description written by the docket staff.
C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand=20
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the=20
appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of=20
your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the=20
specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the=20
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider=20
these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is=20
otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit=20
I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information=20
protected by statute.
1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as=20
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name,=20
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in=20
the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the=20
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter=20
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be=20
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact=20
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties=20
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's=20
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or=20
contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included=20
as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket,=20
and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot=20
read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you=20
for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to=20
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for=20
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at <A
HREF=3D"http://www.epa.gov/edocket">http://www.epa.gov/
edocket</A>, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. =
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number=20
OPPT-2002-0039. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which=20
means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact=20
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to <A
HREF=3D"mailto:oppt.ncic@epa.gov">oppt.ncic@epa.gov</A>,=20
Attention: Docket ID number OPPT-2002-0039. In contrast to EPA's=20
electronic public
[[Page 39473]]
docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous access'' system. If=20
you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket without going through=20
EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system automatically=20
captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses that are automatically=20
captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as part of the comment=20
that is placed in the official public docket, and made available in=20
EPA's electronic public docket.
iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM=20
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These=20
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file=20
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
2. By mail. Send your comments to: Document Control Office (7407M),=20
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental=20
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460- =
0001.
3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: OPPT=20
Document Control Office (DCO), EPA East Building, Rm. 6428, 1201=20
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID number=20
OPPT-2002-0039. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through=20
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the DCO is=20
(202) 564-8930.
D. How Should I Submit CBI to the Agency?
Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI=20
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You=20
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part=20
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM,=20
mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify=20
electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that=20
is CBI). Information so marked will not be disclosed except in=20
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes=20
any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not=20
contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion=20
in the public docket and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit=20
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside=20
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information=20
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's=20
electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any=20
questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult=20
the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
We invite you to provide your views on the various options we=20
propose, new approaches we have not considered, the potential impacts=20
of the various options (including possible unintended consequences),=20
and any data or information that you would like the Agency to consider=20
during the development of the final action. Provide copies of any=20
technical information and/or data you used that support your views.
In particular, EPA would like comments to address the following=20
questions:
1. Is the discussion on the potential environmental impacts of the=20
product categories useful for Federal purchasers?
2. Is there any more recent information that is germane to or would=20
enhance the discussion of these product categories?
3. Can Federal purchasers act easily upon the stated=20
recommendations in the product guides?
4. Is this an approach you would like EPA to take in addressing=20
EPP?
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
EPA is initiating an open process to allow stakeholders to review=20
and comment on the four draft EPP product guides. The four product=20
guides now available for review are:
1. ``Greening Your Purchase of Carpet: A Guide For Federal=20
Purchasers.''
2. ``Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Products: A Guide For=20
Federal Purchasers.''
3. ``Greening Your Purchase of Copiers: A Guide For Federal=20
Purchasers.''
4. ``Greening Your Meetings and Conferences: A Guide For Federal=20
Purchasers.''
The EPP program does not endorse products nor does it recommend for=20
or against the purchase of specific products. EPP seeks to provide=20
information on products with the overall best value, taking into=20
account price competitiveness, regulatory requirements, performance=20
standards, and environmental impact. Because purchasers typically have=20
readily available sources of information on procurement and safety=20
regulations and well-established methods for evaluating price and=20
performance, EPA's EPP program has developed these purchasing guides to=20
help government purchasers consider the environmental factors in the=20
purchasing process. EPA's EPP program is committed to reviewing and=20
updating information contained within the purchasing guides when new=20
information becomes available.
B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?
Spending approximately $230 billion annually on a large quantity=20
and wide variety of products and services, the Federal government=20
leaves a large environmental ``footprint.'' However, by purchasing=20
environmentally preferable products and services, the Federal=20
government can use its purchasing power to increase national demand for=20
greener products as well as to help meet environmental goals through=20
markets rather than mandates. In 1995, in response to Executive Order=20
12873, EPA established the EPP program to encourage and assist=20
Executive agencies in the purchase of environmentally preferable=20
products and services. In 1997, the Federal Acquisition Regulation=20
(FAR), which establishes uniform procedures and policies for Federal=20
acquisition, was amended to support Federal procurement of ``green''=20
products and services. And, most recently, in 1998, Executive Order=20
13101, titled ``Greening the Government through Waste Prevention,=20
Recycling, and Federal Acquisition,'' directed Executive agencies to=20
``consider . . . a broad range of factors including: elimination of=20
virgin material requirements; use of biobased products; use of=20
recovered materials; reuse of product; life cycle cost; recyclability;=20
use of environmentally preferable products; waste prevention (including=20
toxicity reduction or elimination); and ultimate disposal'' when making=20
purchasing decisions and to ``modify their procurement programs as=20
appropriate.''
Similarly, the Biomass R & D Act of 2000, the Farm Bill of 2002,=20
and Executive Order 13134 emphasize the potential importance of=20
biobased products to national economic and environmental interests.=20
Together these authorities encourage a strong Federal role in the=20
development and early adoption of biobased products and recognize the=20
role of procurement as part of an overall Federal policy on biobased=20
products.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Procurement guidelines,=20
Environmentally preferable purchasing product guides, Federal=20
procurement, Environmentally preferable purchasing.
[[Page 39474]]
Dated: June 23, 2004.
Susan B. Hazen,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic=20
Substances.
[FR Doc. 04-14831 Filed 6-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
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