[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 14]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR79.53]

[Page 502-503]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 79--REGISTRATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES--Table of Contents
 
            Subpart F--Testing Requirements for Registration
 
Sec. 79.53  Tier 2.

    (a) Generally. Subject to the provisions of Sec. 79.53(b) through 
(d), the combustion emissions of each fuel or fuel additive subject to 
testing under this subpart must be tested in accordance with each of the 
testing guidelines in Secs. 79.60 through 79.68, except that fuels and 
additives in the methane and propane fuel families (pursuant to 
Sec. 79.56(e)(1)(v) and (vi)) need not undergo the Salmonella 
mutagenicity assay in Sec. 79.68). Similarly, subject to the provisions 
of Sec. 79.53(b) through (d), the evaporative emissions of each 
designated evaporative fuel and each designated evaporative fuel 
additive subject to testing under this subpart must be tested according 
to each of the testing guidelines in Secs. 79.60 through 79.67 
(excluding Sec. 79.68, Salmonella typhimurium Reverse Mutation Assay).
    (b) Manufacturer Determination. Manufacturers shall determine 
whether the information gathered pursuant to the literature search in 
Sec. 79.52(d) contains the results of adequately performed and 
adequately documented previous testing which provides information 
reasonably comparable to that supplied by the health tests described in 
Secs. 79.62 through 79.68 regarding the carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, 
neurotoxicity, teratogenicity, reproductive/fertility measures, and 
general toxicity effects of the emissions of the fuel or additive. When 
manufacturers make an affirmative determination, they need submit only 
the information gathered pursuant to Sec. 79.52(d) for such tests. EPA 
maintains final authority in judging whether the information is an 
adequate substitution in lieu of conducting the associated tests. EPA's 
determination of the adequacy of existing information shall be guided by 
the considerations described in paragraph (d) of this section. If EPA 
finds that the manufacturer has relied upon inadequate test data, then 
the manufacturer will not be considered to be in compliance until the 
corresponding tests have been conducted and the results submitted to 
EPA.
    (c) Testing. (1) All testing required pursuant to this section must 
be done in accordance with the procedures, equipment, and facility 
requirements described in Secs. 79.57, 79.60, and 79.61 regarding 
emissions generation, good laboratory practices, and inhalation exposure 
testing, respectively, as well as any other requirements described in 
this subpart. The laboratory conducting the animal studies shall be 
registered and in good standing with the United States Department of 
Agriculture and regularly inspected by United States Department of 
Agriculture veterinarians. In addition, the facility must be accredited 
by a generally recognized independent organization which sets laboratory 
animal care standards. Use of inadequate test protocols or substandard 
laboratory techniques in performing any testing required by this subpart 
may result in cancellation of all affected registrations.
    (2) Carcinogenic or mutagenic effects in animals from emissions 
exposures shall be determined pursuant to Sec. 79.64 In vivo 
Micronucleus Assay, Sec. 79.65 In vivo Sister Chromatid Exchange Assay, 
and Sec. 79.68 Salmonella typhimurium Reverse Mutation Assay. 
Teratogenic effects and reproductive toxicity shall be examined pursuant 
to Sec. 79.63 Fertility Assessment/Teratology. General toxicity and 
pulmonary effects shall be determined pursuant to Sec. 79.62 Subchronic 
Toxicity Study with Specific Health Effect Assessments. Neurotoxic 
effects shall be determined pursuant to Sec. 79.66 Neuropathology 
Assessment and Sec. 79.67 Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Assay.
    (d) EPA Determination. (1) After submission of all information and 
testing, EPA in its judgment shall determine whether previously 
conducted tests relied upon in the registration submission are 
adequately performed and documented and provide information reasonably 
comparable to that which would be provided by the tests described 
herein. Manufacturers' submissions shall be sufficiently detailed to 
allow EPA to judge the adequacy of protocols, techniques, experimental 
design, statistical analyses, and conclusions. Studies shall be 
performed using

[[Page 503]]

generally accepted scientific principles, good laboratory techniques, 
and the testing guidelines specified in these regulations.
    (2) EPA shall give appropriate weight when making this determination 
to the following factors:
    (i) The age of the data;
    (ii) The adequacy of documentation of procedures, findings, and 
conclusions;
    (iii) The extent to which the testing conforms to generally accepted 
scientific principles and practices;
    (iv) The type and number of test subjects;
    (v) The number and adequacy of exposure concentrations, i.e., 
emission dilutions;
    (vi) The degree to which the tested emissions were generated by 
procedures and under conditions reasonably comparable to those set forth 
in Sec. 79.57; and
    (vii) The degree to which the test procedures conform to the testing 
guidelines set forth in Secs. 79.60 through 79.68 and/or furnish 
information comparable to that provided by such testing.
    (3) The test animals shall be rodents, preferably a strain of rat, 
and testing shall include all of the endpoints covered in Secs. 79.62 
through 79.68. All studies shall be properly executed, with appropriate 
documentation, and in accord with the individual health testing 
guidelines (Secs. 79.60 through 79.68) of this part, e.g., 90-day, 6-
hour per day exposure, minimum.
    (4) In general, the data in a manufacturer's registration submittal 
shall be adequate if the duration of a test's exposure period is at 
least as long, in days and hours, as the inhalation exposure specified 
in the related health test guideline(s). Data from tests with shorter 
exposure durations than those specified in the guidelines may be 
acceptable if the test results are positive (i.e., exhibit adverse 
effects) and/or include a demonstrable concentration-response 
relationship.
    (5) Data in support of a manufacturer's registration submittal shall 
directly address the effects of inhalation exposure to the whole 
evaporative and exhaust emissions of the respective fuel or additive or 
to the whole evaporative and exhaust emissions of other fuels or 
additives which satisfy the criteria in Sec. 79.56 for classification 
into the same group as the subject fuel or fuel additive. Data obtained 
in the testing of a raw liquid fuel or additive/base fuel mixture or a 
raw, aerosolized fuel or additive/base fuel mixture shall not be 
adequate to support a manufacturer's registration submittal. Data from 
testing of evaporative emissions cannot substitute for test data on 
combustion emissions. Data from testing of combustion emissions cannot 
substitute for test data on evaporative emissions.