SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Why is EPA using a direct final rule?

EPA is publishing this rule without a prior proposed rule because we view this as a noncontroversial action and anticipate no adverse comment. EPA is proposing to update the list of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes subject to reporting under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to reflect the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) final 2012 NAICS revision (75 FR 26856 and 76 FR 51240). However, as explained in the SUMMARY section of this document, in the “Proposed Rules” section of today's Federal Register , we are simultaneously publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposed rule to adopt 2012 NAICS Codes for TRI Reporting if adverse comments are received on this direct final rule.

II. Does this action apply to me?

Entities that may be affected by this action are those facilities that have 10 or more full-time employees or the equivalent 20,000 hours per year that manufacture, process, or otherwise use toxic chemicals listed on the TRI, and that are required under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) or section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) to report annually to EPA and States or Tribes their environmental releases or other waste management quantities of covered chemicals. (A rule was published on April 19, 2012 (77 FR 23409), requiring facilities located in Indian country to report to the appropriate tribal government official and EPA instead of to the state and EPA.) Under Executive Order 13423 (January 24, 2007), published in the Federal Register on January 26, 2007 (72 FR 3919), all federal facilities are required to comply with the provisions set forth in Section 313 of EPCRA and section 6607 of the PPA. On March 29, 2007, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued Instructions for Implementing Executive Order 13423, including annual reporting to the TRI program. Notice of availability of those implementing instructions was published in the Federal Register on June 18, 2007 (72 FR 33504).

To determine whether your facility is affected by this action, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria in Part 372 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

III. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

A. Submitting CBI. If you wish to claim information submitted in a comment to be CBI, it will be handled in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. If you do not assert a confidentiality claim at the time of submission, the information may ( printed page 42877) be made available to the public by EPA without further notice. See 40 CFR 2.203, 41 FR 36902, September 1, 1976. Do not submit this information to EPA through www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the specific 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 as 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.

B. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, remember to:

• Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other identifying information (subject heading,Federal Register date and page number).
• Follow directions—The agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
• Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes.
• Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used.
• If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced.
• Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives.
• Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats.
• Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified.

IV. What is EPA's statutory authority for taking this action?

EPA is taking this action under sections 313(g)(1) and 328 of EPCRA, 42 U.S.C. 11023(g)(1) and 11048. EPCRA is also referred to as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) (Pub. L. 99-499). In general, section 313 of EPCRA requires owners and operators of covered facilities in specified Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes that manufacture, process, or otherwise use a listed toxic chemical in amounts above specified threshold levels to report certain facility specific information about such chemicals, including the annual releases and other waste management quantities. Section 313(g)(1) of EPCRA requires EPA to publish a uniform toxic chemical release form for these reporting purposes, and it also prescribes, in general terms, the types of information that must be submitted on the form. Section 313(g)(1)(A) requires owners and operators of facilities that are subject to section 313 requirements to report the principal business activities at the facilities. Congress also granted EPA broad rulemaking authority to allow the Agency to fully implement the statute. EPCRA section 328 states that: “The Administrator may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this chapter.” 42 U.S.C. 11048.

Consistent with these authorities, on June 6, 2006, EPA amended 40 CFR Part 372 to include the 2002 NAICS codes that correspond to the SIC codes that are currently subject to section 313 of EPCRA and section 6607 of the PPA (71 FR 32464). On June 9, 2008 (73 FR 32466), EPA amended 40 CFR Part 372 to include the 2007 NAICS codes that correspond to the SIC codes that are currently subject to section 313 of EPCRA and section 6607 of the PPA. This direct final action will amend 40 CFR Part 372 to include OMB's revised NAICS codes for 2012.

Owners and operators of facilities that are subject to section 313 would need to use 2012 NAICS codes when identifying their principal business activities beginning with TRI reporting forms that are due on July 1, 2014, covering releases and other waste management quantities at the facility for the 2013 calendar year.

V. Background Information

What is the general background for this action?

EPA promulgated a final TRI NAICS rule on June 6, 2006, to amend its regulations for TRI, found at 40 CFR Part 372, to include NAICS codes in addition to SIC codes. The list of TRI NAICS codes that appeared in the final rule was developed from the OMB 2002 NAICS revision. EPA updated the list of TRI NAICS codes in 2008 (73 FR 32466), to incorporate changes to the TRI NAICS codes resulting from the OMB 2007 NAICS revision.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revises North American Industry Classification Codes every five years. An OMB Federal Register notice published on May 12, 2010 (75 FR 26856), announced updated NAICS codes for 2012, and a second OMB Federal Register notice published on Aug. 17, 2011 (76 FR 51240), finalized and further modified the NAICS codes for 2012.

VI. This Action

A. What would this action do?

EPA will amend 40 CFR Part 372 to include 2012 NAICS codes for TRI reporting that accurately reflect the universe of covered facilities under section 313 of EPCRA and section 6607 of the PPA.

B. Will this action change the universe of facilities that are currently required to report to EPA and the States?

Today's action of updating the list of NAICS codes to reflect the 2012 OMB NAICS revision will not change the universe of facilities that are currently required to report to EPA and the States.

C. How will section 313 reporting requirements change as a result of this direct final rule?

TRI reporting requirements will not change as a result of this direct final rule. This rule will simply revise the NAICS codes to reflect the OMB NAICS 2012 revision.

VII. Which TRI-covered NAICS codes have been modified under this direct final rule?

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revises North American Industry Classification System Codes every five years. An OMB Federal Register notice published on May 12, 2010 (75 FR 26856), announced updated NAICS codes for 2012, and a second OMB Federal Register notice published on Aug. 17, 2011 (76 FR 51240), finalized and further modified the NAICS codes for 2012. All facilities that are currently required to report to TRI will still be required to report, and facilities that are not currently required to file TRI reports to the Agency will not be required to do so. However, due to the 2012 NAICS modifications, some facilities will need to modify their NAICS codes as outlined in the table below. This table reflects only the 2007 TRI NAICS reporting codes that were revised in 2012. ( printed page 42878)

VIII. What additional reporting burden is associated with this action?

This direct final rule adds no new reporting requirements, and there will be no net increase in respondent burden. Facilities were first required to use NAICS codes when reporting their toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities to EPA beginning in 2007 for reporting year 2006. Covered facilities should refer to the updated NAICS code list in 40 CFR 372.23 when reporting. Crosswalk tables between 2007 NAICS codes and 2012 NAICS codes can be found on the Internet at http://www.census.gov/​epcd/​www/​naics.html.

IX. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

This action is not a “significant regulatory action” under the terms of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and is therefore not subject to review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011).

EPA analyzed the potential costs and benefits associated with this action, and determined that since this rule adds no new reporting requirements, there will be no net increase in respondent burden or other economic impacts.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

This action does not impose any new information collection burden. Facilities that are affected by the rule are already required to report their industrial classification codes on the approved reporting forms under section 313 of EPCRA and 6607 of the PPA. However, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has previously approved the information collection requirements contained in 40 CFR part 372 under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and has assigned OMB control number 2025-0009 (EPA ICR No. 1363-21) for Form R and Form A. A copy of the OMB approved Information Collection Requests (ICRs) may be obtained from Susan Auby, Collection Strategies Division; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T); 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460 or by calling (202) 566-1672. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.

C. The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as Amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.

The RFA generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any other statute unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.

For purposes of assessing the impacts of this rule on small entities, section 601 of the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 601, defines “small entity” as: (1) A business that is classified as a “small business” by the Small Business Administration at 13 CFR 121.201; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town, school district or special district with a population of less than 50,000; or (3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field.

This rule adds no new reporting requirements, and there will be no net increase in respondent burden. This rule only updates the NAICS codes already reported by respondents.

After considering the economic impacts of today's final rule on small entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This final rule will not impose any requirements on small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

This rule does not contain a Federal mandate that may result in expenditures of $100 million or more to State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector in any one year. This rule adds no new reporting requirements and there will be no net ( printed page 42882) increase in respondent burden. Thus, this rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 or 205 of UMRA.

This rule is also not subject to the requirements of section 203 of UMRA because it contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This EPA action contains no new reporting requirements.

E. Executive Order 13132, Federalism

This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132. This action only updates the NAICS reporting codes used by TRI reporting facilities on chemical reporting forms. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this rule.

F. Executive Order 13175

This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because this action only updates the NAICS reporting codes for TRI reporting purposes. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule.

G. Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks

EPA interprets EO 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), as applying only to those regulatory actions that concern health or safety risks, such that the analysis required under section 5-501 of the EO has the potential to influence the regulation. This action is not subject to EO 13045 because it does not establish an environmental standard intended to mitigate health or safety risks.

H. Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)), because it is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (“NTTAA”), Public Law 104-113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. This action does not involve technical standards. Therefore, EPA did not consider the use of any voluntary consensus standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations in the United States.

EPA has determined that this final rule will not have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income populations because the rule addresses information collection and does not affect the level of protection provided to human health or the environment. This rule simply updates the NAICS reporting codes for TRI reporting purposes.

K. Congressional Review Act

The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register . A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register .

This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). This final rule is effective 90 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register . TRI facilities must use 2012 NAICS codes when reporting to TRI beginning with reporting forms that are due by July 1, 2014.

For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 40 Chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 372 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 11023 and 11048.

2. Amend § 372.22 by revising the introductory text for paragraph (b) to read as follows:

3. Amend § 372.23 by revising paragraphs (b) and (c) to read as follows: