[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3305-3306]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01001]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2006-26066; FMCSA-2008-0340]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemptions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the
vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for
11 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals
from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not
compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these
exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to
or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions
for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

DATES: This decision is effective February 5, 2015. Comments must be
received on or before February 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) numbers: Docket No. [Docket No. FMCSA-2006-
26066; FMCSA-2008-0340], using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the
docket number for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments
received without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act
heading below.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time or Room W12-140
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) is
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. If you want
acknowledgment that we received your comments, please include a self-
addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement
page that appears after submitting comments on-line.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles A. Horan, III, Director,
Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety,<PHONE_NUMBER>,
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office
hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may renew an exemption
from the vision requirements in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), which applies to
drivers of CMVs in interstate commerce, for a two-year period if it
finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is
equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved absent
such exemption.'' The procedures for requesting an exemption (including
renewals) are set out in 49 CFR part 381.

II. Exemption Decision

    This notice addresses 11 individuals who have requested renewal of
their exemptions in accordance with FMCSA procedures. FMCSA has
evaluated these 11 applications for renewal on their merits and decided
to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are:

Ricky J. Childress (AL)
David L. Dykman (ID)
Milan D. Frasier (ID)
Harold J. Haier (NY)
Timothy L. Kelly (TX)
Lewis A. Kielhack (IL)
Robert T. Lantry (MA)
Joe A. McIlroy (NY)
Elmer R. Miller (IL)
Richard L. Moreland (MO)
Ronald M. Scott (IN)

    The exemptions are extended subject to the following conditions:
(1) That each individual has a physical examination every year (a) by
an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the
better eye continues to meet the requirements in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10),
and (b) by a medical examiner who attests that the individual is
otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each
individual provides a copy of the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's
report to the medical examiner at the time of the annual medical
examination; and (3) that each individual provide a copy of the annual
medical certification to the employer for retention in the driver's
qualification file and retains a copy of the certification on his/her
person while driving for presentation to a duly authorized Federal,
State, or local enforcement official. Each exemption will be valid for
two years unless rescinded earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be
rescinded if: (1) The person fails to comply with the terms and
conditions of the exemption; (2) the exemption has resulted in a lower
level of safety than was maintained before it was granted; or (3)
continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals
and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315.

III. Basis for Renewing Exemptions

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an exemption may be granted for no
longer than two years from its approval date and may be renewed upon
application for additional two year periods. In accordance with 49
U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each of the 11 applicants has satisfied the
entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision
requirements (71 FR 63379; 72 FR 1051; 73 FR 75803; 73 FR 78423; 74 FR
6209; 75 FR 79083; 76 FR 4413; 77 FR 74734; 78 FR 797). Each of these
11 applicants has requested renewal of the exemption and has submitted
evidence showing that the vision in the better eye continues to meet
the requirement specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the vision
impairment is stable. In addition, a review of each record of safety
while driving with the respective vision deficiencies over the past two

years indicates each applicant continues to meet the vision exemption
requirements. These factors provide an adequate basis for predicting
each driver's ability to continue to drive safely in interstate
commerce. Therefore, FMCSA concludes that extending the exemption for
each renewal applicant for a period of two years is likely to achieve a
level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption.

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and
related materials.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
notice (FMCSA-2006-26066; FMCSA-2008-0340), indicate the specific
section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a
reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your
comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but
please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include
your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in
the body of your document so the Agency can contact you if it has
questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and
put the docket number, ``FMCSA-2006-26066; FMCSA-2008-0340'' in the
``Keyword'' box, and click ``Search.'' When the new screen appears,
click on ``Comment Now!'' button and type your comment into the text
box in the following screen. Choose whether you are submitting your
comment as an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit.
If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would
like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA will consider all comments
and material received during the comment period and may change this
notice based on your comments.

Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this
preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert the docket number,
``FMCSA-2006-26066; FMCSA-2008-0340'' in the ``Keyword'' box and click
``Search.'' Next, click ``Open Docket Folder'' button choose the
document listed to review. If you do not have access to the Internet,
you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Management
Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the DOT West Building,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

    Issued on: January 12, 2015.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-01001 Filed 1-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P


[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3566-3569]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1119]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0026; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-104-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -
300 Series Airplanes Equipped With Pratt and Whitney Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would
require repetitive inspections for

hydraulic fluid contamination of the interior of the strut disconnect
assembly; repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the interior of
the strut disconnect assembly, if necessary; repetitive inspections of
the exterior of the strut disconnect assembly for cracks, if necessary;
and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD also provides an
optional terminating action for the inspections. This proposed AD
results from reports of system disconnect boxes that have been
contaminated with hydraulic fluid and, in one incident, led to
subsequent cracking of titanium parts in the system disconnect
assembly. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct hydraulic
fluid contamination, which can cause cracking of titanium parts in the
system disconnect assembly, resulting in compromise of the engine
firewall. A cracked firewall can allow fire in the engine area to enter
the strut and can lead to an uncontained engine strut fire if flammable
fluid is present. Cracking of the disconnect box may also reduce the
effectiveness of the fire extinguishing system in the engine
compartment and could contribute to an uncontained engine fire. In
addition, a cracked disconnect box can leak flammable fluids into the
engine core, which can initiate an engine fire, and lead to one or both
fire conditions discussed above.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management,
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>; e-mail<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Nguyen, Propulsion Branch, ANM-
140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>;
fax<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-0026;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-104-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received reports of system disconnect boxes that have been
contaminated with hydraulic fluid. One operator has found cracks in the
system disconnect assembly bulkheads and lower skin panel. Subsequent
analysis at Boeing found hydrogen enbrittlement of the system
disconnect assembly bulkheads and lower skin panel. The system
disconnect assembly is made from titanium and is located near the hot
engine core of the engine where temperatures can exceed 270 degrees
Fahrenheit. The presence of hydraulic fluid and temperature above 270
degrees Fahrenheit can result in hydrogen embrittlement of the titanium
system disconnect assembly. Hydrogen embrittlement combined with a high
sonic vibration environment can result in cracking of the system
disconnect assembly. The system disconnect assembly is a box where
hydraulic, fuel, and electrical connections are made between the engine
and the strut. This box acts as a firewall between the engine
compartment and the strut. The engine compartment has a fire
extinguishing system while the strut does not. The strut is considered
a flammable leakage zone where flammable fluids may be present. These
fluids are subsequently drained from the strut and system disconnect
box. A cracked firewall can allow fire in the engine area to enter the
strut and can lead to an uncontained engine strut fire if flammable
fluid is present. Cracking of the disconnect box may also reduce the
effectiveness of the fire extinguishing system in the engine
compartment and could contribute to an uncontained engine fire. In
addition, a cracked disconnect box can leak flammable fluids into the
engine core, which can initiate an engine fire, and lead to one or both
fire conditions discussed above.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-54A0024,
Revision 1, dated November 4, 2010. This service bulletin describes
procedures for doing repetitive general visual inspections for
hydraulic fluid contamination of the interior of the strut disconnect
assembly; repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies (e.g.,
hydraulic fluid coking, heat discoloration, cracks, and etching or
pitting) of the interior of the strut disconnect assembly, if certain
conditions are found; repetitive detailed inspections of the exterior
of the strut disconnect assembly for cracks; and corrective action, if
certain conditions are found. The corrective action is replacing the
titanium system disconnect assembly with an Inconel system disconnect
assembly. If accomplished, the replacement will eliminate the potential
for hydrogen embrittlement and subsequent cracking, and would eliminate
the need for the inspections of the titanium strut disconnect assembly.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or

develop in other products of these same type designs. This proposed AD
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 53 airplanes of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 48 work-hours per
product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85
per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $122,617 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD to the
U.S. operators to be $6,714,941, or $122,697 per product.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866,
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2011-0026; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-104-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by March 7, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300
series airplanes, certificated in any category; equipped with Pratt
and Whitney engines; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-54A0024, Revision 1, dated November 4, 2010.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 54:
Nacelles/Pylons.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of system disconnect boxes that
have been contaminated with hydraulic fluid, in which one case a
crack was found. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this
AD to detect and correct hydraulic fluid contamination, which can
cause cracking of titanium parts in the system disconnect assembly,
resulting in compromise of the engine firewall. A cracked firewall
can allow fire in the engine area to enter the strut and can lead to
an uncontained engine strut fire if flammable fluid is present.
Cracking of the disconnect box may also reduce the effectiveness of
the fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment and could
contribute to an uncontained engine fire. In addition, a cracked
disconnect box can leak flammable fluids into the engine core, which
can initiate an engine fire and lead to one or both fire conditions
discussed above.

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.

Inspections and Corrective Actions

    (g) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a
general visual inspection for hydraulic fluid contamination of the
interior of the strut disconnect assembly, in accordance with Part 1
of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-54A0024, Revision 1, dated November 4, 2010.
    (1) For airplanes on which no hydraulic fluid contamination is
found (Condition 1): Repeat the general visual inspection required
by paragraph (g) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to exceed
6,000 flight cycles or 750 days, whichever occurs first.
    (2) For airplanes on which hydraulic fluid contamination is
found (Condition 2): Before further flight, do a detailed inspection
for discrepancies (e.g., hydraulic fluid coking, heat discoloration,
cracks, and etching or pitting) of the interior of the strut
disconnect assembly, in accordance with Part 2 of the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-54A0024, Revision
1, dated November 4, 2010.
    (i) For airplanes on which no discrepancy is found during the
inspection required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD (Condition 2A):
Repeat the detailed inspection required by paragraph (g)(2) of this
AD thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6,000 flight cycles or 750
days, whichever occurs first.
    (ii) For airplanes on which hydraulic fluid coking or heat
discoloration is found but no cracking, etching, or pitting is found
during the inspection required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD
(Condition 2B): Do the actions required by paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(A)
and (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this AD.
    (A) Within 300 flight cycles after doing the inspection required
by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection of the
exterior of the strut disconnect assembly for cracks, in accordance
with Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 777-54A0024, Revision 1, dated November 4, 2010;
and repeat the detailed inspection thereafter at intervals not to
exceed 300 flight cycles.
    (B) Within 6,000 flight cycles or 750 days after hydraulic fluid
coking and/or heat discoloration was found during the inspection
required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, whichever occurs first:
Replace the titanium system disconnect assembly with an Inconel
system, in accordance with Part 4 of the Accomplishment Instructions
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-54A0024, Revision 1, dated
November 4, 2010.
    (h) For airplanes on which any crack, etching, or pitting is
found during any inspection required by paragraph (g)(2) or
(g)(2)(ii)(A) of this AD (Condition 3): Before further flight,
replace the titanium system disconnect assembly with an Inconel
system, in accordance with Part 4 of the Accomplishment Instructions
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-54A0024, Revision 1, dated
November 4, 2010.

Optional Terminating Action

    (i) Replacing the titanium system disconnect assembly with an
Inconel system

disconnect assembly in accordance with Part 4 of the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-54A0024, Revision
1, dated November 4, 2010, terminates the actions required by this
AD.

Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service
Information

    (j) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD
according to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-54A0024, dated April
1, 2010, are considered acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding actions specified in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Kevin Nguyen, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>.
Information may be e-mailed to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 12, 2011.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1119 Filed 1-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


                        Analysis of Demographic Factors
                         For Populations Living Near
                Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing Facilities

                                 Prepared by:

                             SC&A Incorporated

                         1414 Raleigh Road, Suite 450
                            Chapel Hill, NC  27517

                           GSA BPA No. 68HERD21A0003
                         Task Order No. 68HERH22F0003

                                 Prepared for:

                          Air Toxics Assessment Group
                   Health and Environmental Impacts Division
                 Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
                     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                 Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711

                                 March 3, 2022
	Disclaimer

            Although the analysis described in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under GSA contract 47QRAA20D002W / BPA 68HERD21A0003 to SC&A Incorporated, it has not been subject to the Agency's review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred.
                                   Contents

1.	Introduction	1
2.	Census Data	2
3.	Calculation Methods	3
3.1	Race, Ethnicity and Age Categories	3
3.2	Level of Education	4
3.3	Poverty Level	4
3.4	Linguistic Isolation	5
3.5	Defaults	5
4.	Results	6
5.	Uncertainty Discussion	8
Appendix: Analyzed Facilities	9

 Introduction
	This document provides summary results and describes the approach used to evaluate the different socio-economic demographic groups within the population living near Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing facilities in the United States (U.S.). The demographic analysis is for 42 facilities identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as manufacturing miscellaneous coatings with operations that include process vessels, storage tanks, wastewater, transfer operations, equipment leaks, and heat exchange systems. The current analysis evaluates census blocks surrounding these facilities with census-based demographic data. This analysis presents the demographic composition of the population located within close proximity at 5 kilometers (km) and within 50 km of these facilities. The following demographic groups were included in this proximity analysis:

 Total population;
 White;
 Minority;
 African American (or Black);
 Native Americans;
 Other races and multiracial;
 Hispanic or Latino;
 Children 17 years of age and under;
 Adults 18 to 64 years of age;
 Adults 65 years of age and over;
 Adults 25 years of age and older without a high school diploma;
 People living below the poverty level; and
 Linguistically isolated people.

	The current analysis used the Proximity Tool to (1) identify all census blocks with centroids located within specified radii of the latitude/longitude location of each facility, and then (2) link each block with census-based demographic data. It should be noted that, if the centroid of a census block is located within the specified radius, the entire population of that census block is counted as within the radius. In addition to facility-specific demographics, the Proximity Tool also computes the demographic composition of the populations within the specified radii for all facilities as a whole (e.g., source category-wide). The source category-wide computation takes into account neighboring facilities with overlapping study areas and ensures populations in common are counted only once in this demographic analysis. Finally, this analysis compares these source category-wide demographics at each specified radius (i.e., 5 km, 50 km) to the demographic composition of the nationwide population.

	The census data used in this analysis is described in Section 2. The algorithms used to compute the population of each demographic category surrounding the facility are presented in Section 3. The summary results of this analysis are presented in Section 4. The Appendix points to a supplemental workbook of spreadsheets containing the detailed facility-specific results.
 Census Data
	The total population within a specified radius around each facility is the sum of the population for every census block within that radius, based on each block's population provided by the 2010 Decennial Census. For the demographic analysis, statistics on total population, race, ethnicity, age, education level, poverty status and linguistic isolation are obtained from the Census' American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year averages for 2015-2019. These data are provided at the block group level. A census block group contains about 28 blocks on average, or about 1,400 people. Table 1 summarizes the census data used in the analysis, showing the source of each dataset and the level of geographic resolution.

             Table 1.  Summary of Census Data used for Different
                              Demographic Groups
Type of population category
Source of data
Level of geographic resolution
Total population (sum of block counts within radius)
2010 Census3 SF1
Census block
Total population (sum of block group counts, used for demographic percentages)
ACS4 Table B03002 (e1)
Census block group

Race/ethnicity categories (percentages):

 White (non-hispanic):
 Minority (non-white + hispanic)
 African American (non-hispanic):
 Native American (non-hispanic):
 Other & Mixed race (non-hispanic):
 Hispanic (all races):
ACS Table B03002, Hispanic or Latino Origin by Race (Tiger table X03):
 e3/e1
 (e1-e3)/e1
 e4/e1
 e5/e1
 (e6+e7+e8+e9)/e1
 e12/e1
Census block group
Age groups
ACS Table B01001, Sex by Age (Tiger table X01)
Census block group
Level of education  -  percentage of adults 25 years and older without a high school diploma
ACS Table B15002, Sex by Educational Attainment (Tiger table X15)
Census block group
Individuals living in households earning below the poverty level (percentage of individuals)
ACS Table C17002, Ratio of Income to Poverty Level (Tiger table X17): (e2+e3)/e1
Census block group
Individuals living in linguistically isolated households (percentage of households)
ACS Table C16002, Household Language by Household (Tiger table X16): (e4+e7+e10+e13)/e1
Census block group

      The statistics for total minorities, age groups, educational attainment, poverty, and linguistic isolation are consistent with the demographic statistics used in EPA's EJSCREEN tool for Environmental Justice analysis. We derive our demographic statistics from the ACS, which is the source of data for EJSCREEN's statistics. For the current analysis, however, we provide the impact on different racial and ethnic groups in more detail, as Table 1 illustrates.
 Calculation Methods
	The Proximity Tool uses the census block and census block group identification codes to link each block to the appropriate ACS block group demographic statistics. This allows us to estimate the number of people in different demographic categories for each census block in a specified radius around each facility. As noted in Section 2, demographic data is available at the census block group level. To estimate more detailed block level demographic percentages for the purposes of this analysis, the demographic characteristics of a given block group  -  that is, the percentage of people in different races/ethnicities, the percentage in different age groups, the percentage without a high school diploma, the percentage that are below the poverty level, and the percentage that are linguistically isolated  -  are presumed to also describe each census block located within that block group.

	For comparison, the nationwide demographic percentages are computed from the Census' ACS 5-year averages for 2015-2019 ("2019 ACS"). The denominator for these percentages uses the total nationwide population, which is likewise computed from the 2019 ACS and determined by summing the total population of all census block groups. We also provide the total population based on the 2010 Decennial Census for comparison, because the census block populations are based on 2010 Decennial Census data, as noted in Section 2.

	Sections 3.1 through 3.4 describe calculation methods for racial, ethnic, age, education status, poverty status, and linguistic isolation demographic categories. Section 3.5 describes the gap-filling approach used when block group statistics are not available for a given block, based on computing default averages for the missing demographic(s) at the tract or county level.
    Race, Ethnicity and Age Categories

	Table B03002 (Hispanic or Latino origin by race) of the ACS data provides race/ethnicity statistics for each census block group nationwide. Table B01001 provides age statistics for the population by ranges (in years) for each census block group nationwide. For each census block in this analysis, the race/ethnicity (White, African American, Native American, Multiracial/Other, and Hispanic or Latino) and age range (0-17, 18-64 and >=65 years) for that block is estimated based on the demographic information provided at the block group level, as follows:

		N(s,b/bg) =  N(t,b/bg) x P(s,bg) ∕ 100
where:

	N(s,b/bg) =	number of people in racial/ethnic or age subgroup "s", in block "b" of block group "bg"
	N(t,b/bg) =	total number of people in block "b" of block group "bg"
	P(s,bg) =	percentage of people in racial/ethnic or age subgroup "s", in a block group "bg"

The number of people in each racial/ethnic and age category is calculated using the above equation, summed over all blocks that fall within the specified radius of each facility.
    Level of Education

	Table B15002 (educational attainment) of the ACS provides education attainment statistics for each census block group nationwide. For each census block in this analysis, the number of people 25-years and older without a high school diploma is estimated based on the demographic information provided at the block group level, as follows:

		N(nhs,b/bg) =  N(t,b/bg) x P(nhs,bg) ∕ 100
where:

	N(nhs,b/bg) =	number of people 25-years and older without a high school diploma "nhs", in block "b" of block group "bg"
	N(t,b/bg) =	number of people 25-years and older in block "b" of block group "bg"
	P(nhs,bg) =	percentage of people 25-years and older without a high school diploma "nhs", in a block group "bg"

The number of people 25-years and older without a high school diploma is calculated using the above equation, summed over all blocks that fall within the specified radius of each facility.
3.3	Poverty Level

	Table C17002 (poverty) of the ACS estimates the numbers of individuals within a Census block group who live in households where the household income is below the poverty line, and below various multiples of the poverty line. For this analysis, we calculate the fraction of individuals living in households earning incomes below the poverty level. For each census block in this analysis, the block's household income level is estimated based on the demographic information provided at the block group level, as follows:

	N(hi,b/bg) =  N(t,b/bg) x P(hi,bg) ∕ 100

where "hi" indicates household income below the poverty level, and:

	N(hi,b/bg) = 	number of people living in households "hi" below the poverty level, in block "b" of block group "bg"
	N(t,b/bg) =	total number of people in block "b" of block group "bg"
	P(hi,bg) =	percentage of people living in households "hi" below the poverty level, among the population for which poverty status is known, in block group "bg"

The number of people living in households earning below the poverty level is calculated using the above equation, summed over all blocks that fall within the specified radius of each facility.
3.4	Linguistic Isolation

      Linguistic Isolation is defined by in the ACS as "a household in which all members age 14 years and over speak a non-English language and also speak English less than "very well" (have difficulty with English)." Table C16002 (Tiger table X16_language_spoken_at_home) of the ACS provides the number of households in linguistic isolation in each block group. For each census block in this analysis, the number of people living in linguistic isolation is estimated based on the demographic information provided at the block group level, as follows:

		N(li,b/bg) =  N(t,b/bg) x P(li,bg) ∕ 100
where:

	N(li,b/bg) =	number of people living in linguistic isolation "li", in block "b" of block group "bg"
	N(t,b/bg) =	total number of people in block "b" of block group "bg"
	P(li,bg) =	percentage of linguistically isolated households "li", in block group "bg"

The number of people living in linguistic isolation is calculated using the above equation, summed over all blocks that fall within the specified radius of each facility.
 	Defaults

      Block and block group designations used in the Census may be modified to accommodate population growth in some regions. As a result, certain blocks which are based on the last Decennial Census, may not map to the block group designations used in the latest 5-year ACS survey. In addition, some statistics may not be reported in the ACS for every block group. Race, ethnicity, and age statistics are generally reported for all block groups. However, poverty, linguistic isolation, and educational attainment statistics are not available for some block groups.

      In these cases, we compute default estimates for the missing demographic statistics based on the average statistics for the tract in which the block is located. If no tract-level data are available, demographic statistics are estimated based on the overall demography of the county in which the unmatched block is located. This gap-filling exercise is performed separately for each type of demographic data. That is, in the case where some categories of data are available (for instance, race, age and ethnicity) and others are not available (educational attainment, poverty, or linguistic isolation) we only compute defaults for the categories of data that are missing.

      The tract level defaults are computed using weighted averages based on all of the other block groups in the tract for which data are available. Defaults are calculated as follows for race, ethnicity, and age subgroups:

		P(s,T) =  { ∑ P(s,bg/T) x N(t,bg) } ∕ {∑ N(t,bg)}
where:

	P(s,T) =	percentage of people in race, ethnicity, or age subgroup "s", in tract "T"
	∑	refers to the summation over all block groups in tract "T" for which data are available
	P(s,bg/T) =	percentage of people in race, ethnicity, or age subgroup "s", in a block group "bg" of tract "T"
	N(t,bg) =	total number of people in block group "bg"

Defaults for educational attainment, poverty, and linguistic isolation are calculated in a similar fashion, except that the population weighting term N is replaced by the population over age 25, the population for which poverty status is known, and the number of households, respectively. County level defaults are also calculated in a similar way, except that data are summed over the county instead of the tract.

      Results
	The proximity results describe the demographics of the population surrounding these Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing facilities. Table 2 presents the demographic composition of the population located within a close proximity of 5 km and within 50 km of these 42 facilities as a whole (source category). For context, Table 2 also provides the nationwide percentages of these various demographic groups. The detailed facility-specific results underpinning these source category-wide results are noted in the Appendix.

	The proximity results presented in Table 2 indicate that the population percentages for certain demographic groups within 5 km of these facilities are greater than the corresponding nationwide percentages for those same demographics. The demographic percentage for populations residing within 5 km of facility operations is 8 percentage points greater than its corresponding nationwide percentage for the African American population (20% within 5 km of the facilities compared to 12% nationwide), 6 percentage points greater than its corresponding nationwide percentage for the population living below the poverty level (19% within 5 km of the facilities compared to 13% nationwide) and 3 percentage points greater than its corresponding nationwide percentage for the population over 25 without a high school diploma (15% within 5 km of the facilities compared to 12% nationwide). The remaining demographic groups within 5 km of facility operations are less than, or within one percentage point of, the corresponding nationwide percentages.

      The proximity results presented in Table 2 indicate that all demographic groups within 50 km of facility operations are less than, or within one percentage point of, the corresponding nationwide percentages.

Table 2.  Summary of Demographic Assessment for Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing: Proximity Statistics

                               Population Basis
                             Demographic Group[1]

                                     Total
                                  Minority[2]
                               African
American
                               Native
American
                             Other and
Multiracial
                             Hispanic
or Latino[3]
                                 Ages 0
to 17
                                Ages 18
to 64
                                Ages 65
and up
                         Over 25 Without a HS Diploma
                            Below the Poverty Level

                            Linguistic Isolation[4]
Nationwide Demographics    (2015-2019 ACS)
                                 328,016,242
                                      40%
                                      12%
                                     0.7%
                                      8%
                                      19%
                                      22%
                                      62%
                                      16%
                                      12%
                                      13%
                                      5%
Nationwide Block Counts
(2010 Decennial Census)[5]
                                  312,459,649

                                 Proximity[6]
                   Population Surrounding the 42 Facilities
                      Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing
                                     50 km
                                  34,082,528
                                      28%
                                      13%
                                     0.3%
                                      6%
                                      8%
                                      22%
                                      62%
                                      16%
                                      9%
                                      12%
                                      3%
                      Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing
                                     5 km
                                   1,500,328
                                      41%
                                      20%
                                     0.3%
                                      6%
                                      14%
                                      23%
                                      63%
                                      14%
                                      15%
                                      19%
                                      4%
Notes:
[1] The demographic percentages are based on the Census' 2015-2019 American Community Survey five-year averages, at the block group level, and include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Demographic percentages based on different averages may differ. The total population of each facility and of the entire run group are based on block level data from the 2010 Decennial Census. Populations by demographic group for each facility and for the run group are determined by multiplying each 2010 Decennial block population within the indicated radius by the ACS demographic percentages describing the block group containing each block, and then summing over the appropriate area (facility-specific or run group-wide).
[2] Minority population is the total population minus the white population.
3 To avoid double counting, the "Hispanic or Latino" category is treated as a distinct demographic category for these analyses. A person is identified as one of five racial/ethnic categories above: White, African American, Native American, Other and Multiracial, or Hispanic/Latino. A person who identifies as Hispanic or Latino is counted as Hispanic/Latino for this analysis, regardless of what race this person may have also identified as in the Census.
[4] The linguistically isolated population is estimated at the block group level by taking the product of the block group population and the fraction of linguistically isolated households in the block group, assuming that the number of individuals per household is the same for linguistically isolated households as for the general population, and summed over all block groups.
[5] The nationwide 2010 Decennial Census population of 312,459,649 is the summation of all Census block populations within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Block level population used by the Proximity Tool will be updated based on the 2020 Decennial Census, once processed and quality-assured for these analyses.
6 The population tally and demographic analysis of the total population surrounding all facilities as a whole takes into account neighboring facilities with overlapping study areas and ensures populations in common are counted only once.

 Uncertainty Discussion

	Our analysis of the distribution of population across various demographic groups is subject to the typical uncertainties associated with census data (e.g., errors in filling out and transcribing census forms), which are generally thought to be small, as well as the additional uncertainties associated with the extrapolation of census block group data down to the census block level.

	The methodology for our demographic analyses applies demographic data from the Census American Community Survey (ACS). While this is our best attempt to provide useful information now, our thinking is continuously advancing. The EPA has developed technical guidance for environmental justice analyses. We present these analyses, with their associated uncertainties, to EPA decision makers and the public as additional analyses to inform Risk and Technology Review decisions.

Appendix: Analyzed Facilities

A workbook of spreadsheets containing the detailed facility-specific results underpinning the source category-wide results are provided in the file entitled "Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing Facility-Specific Demographic Results 2022-03-03.xlsx". The size of the dataset covering these 42 facilities at both 5 km and 50 km makes the data more amenable to Excel(R) spreadsheets, than a Word(R) document.