65 FR 83 pgs. 24954-24955 - Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Revised Risk Assessments
Type: NOTICEVolume: 65Number: 83Pages: 24954 - 24955
Docket number: [OPP-34222; FRL-6557-2]
FR document: [FR Doc. 00-10589 Filed 4-27-00; 8:45 am]
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34222; FRL-6557-2]
Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Revised Risk Assessments
AGENCY:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
This notices announces the availability of the revised risk assessments and related documents for two organophosphate pesticides, chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon. In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation period during which the public is encouraged to submit risk management ideas or proposals. These actions are in response to a joint initiative between EPA and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase transparency in the tolerance reassessment process for organophosphate pesticides.
DATES:
Comments, identified by docket control numbers OPP-34202B for chlorpyrifos-methyl and OPP-34207A for trichlorfon, must be received by EPA on or before June 27, 2000.
ADDRESSES:
Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person.Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in Unit III. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative thatyou identify docket control numbers OPP-34202B for chlorpyrifos-methyl and OPP-34207A for trichlorfon in the subject line on the first page of your response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Angulo, Special Reviewand Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental ProtectionAgency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephonenumber: (703) 308-8004; e-mail address: angulo.karen@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general, nevertheless, a wide range ofstakeholders will be interested in obtaining the revised risk assessments and submitting riskmanagement comments on chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon, including environmental, humanhealth, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide users; and members of thepublic interested in the use of pesticides on food. As such, the Agency has not attempted tospecifically describe all the entities potentially affected by this action. If you have any questionsregarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under"FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT."
II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document orOther Related Documents?
A. Electronically . You may obtain electronic copies of this document and otherrelated documents from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To access thisdocument, on the Home Page select "Laws and Regulations" and then look up the entry for thisdocument under the " Federal Register -Environmental Documents." You can also godirectly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
To access information about organophosphate pesticides and obtain electroniccopiesof the revised risk assessments and related documents mentioned in this notice, you can also godirectly to the Home Page for the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) athttp://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/.
B. In person . The Agency has established an official record for this action underdocket control numbers OPP-34202B for chlorpyrifos-methyl and OPP-34207A fortrichlorfon. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action,any public comments received during an applicable comment period, and other information relatedto this action, including any information claimed as CBI. This official record includes thedocuments that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referencedin those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any informationclaimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versionsof any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment period, is available forinspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is(703) 305-5805.
III. How Can I Respond to this Action?
A. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or electronically.To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control numbersOPP-34202B for chlorpyrifos-methyl and OPP-34207A for trichlorfon in the subject lineon the first page of your response.
1. By mail . Submit comments to: Public Information and Records IntegrityBranch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs,Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,DC 20460.
2. In person or by courier . Deliver comments to: Public Information andRecords Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division, Office of PesticidePrograms, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson DavisHwy., Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
3. Electronically . Submit electronic comments by e-mail to:"opp-docket@epa.gov," or you can submit a computer disk as described in this unit. Do notsubmit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Electronic comments must besubmitted as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption.Comments and data will also be accepted on standard computer disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 orASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be identified by the docket controlnumbers OPP-34202B for chlorpyrifos-methyl and OPP-34207A for trichlorfon.Electronic comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
B. How Should I Handle CBI Information that I Want to Submit to the Agency?
Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. You mayclaim information that you submit to EPA in response to this document as CBI by marking anypart or all of that information as CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except inaccordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. In addition to one complete version ofthe comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does notcontain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version ofthe official record. Information not marked confidential will be included in the public version ofthe official record without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the proceduresfor claiming CBI, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
IV. What Action is EPA Taking in this Notice?
EPA is making available for public viewing the revised risk assessments andrelated documents for two organophosphate pesticides, chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon.These documents have been developed as part of the pilot public participation process that EPAand USDA are now using for involving the public in the reassessment of pesticide tolerancesunder the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individualorganophosphate pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act(FIFRA). The pilot public participation process was developed as part of the EPA-USDATolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC), which was established in April 1998, as asubcommittee under the auspices of EPA's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policyand Technology. A goal of the pilot public participation process is to find a more effective wayfor the public to participate at critical junctures in the Agency's development of organophosphatepesticide risk assessments and risk management decisions. EPA and USDA began implementingthis pilot process in August 1998, to increasetransparency and opportunities for stakeholder consultation. The documents being released to thepublic through this notice provide information on the revisions that were made to thechlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon preliminary risk assessments, which where released to thepublic October 6, 1999 (64 FR 193) (FRL-6387-9) for chlorpyrifos-methyl andNovember 10, 1999 (64 FR 217) (FRL-6393-9) for trichlorfon through notices in the Federal Register .
In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation period during which thepublic is encouraged to submit risk management proposals or otherwise comment on riskmanagements for chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon. The Agency is providing an opportunity,through this notice, for interested parties to provide written risk management proposals or ideasto the Agency on the chemical specified in this notice. Such comments and proposals couldaddress ideas about how chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon use sites or crops across the UnitedStates or in a particular geographic region of the country. To address dietary risk, for example,commenters may choose to discuss the feasibility of lower application rates, increasing the timeinterval between application and harvest ("pre-harvest intervals"), modifications in use, or suggestalternative measures to reduce residues contributing to dietary exposure. For occupational risks,commenters may suggest personal protective equipment or technologies to reduce exposure toworkers and pesticide handlers. For ecological risks, commenters may suggest ways to reduceenvironmental exposure, e.g., exposure to birds, fish, mammals, and other non-target organisms.EPA will provide other opportunities for public participation and comment on issues associatedwith the organophosphate pesticide tolerance reassessment program. Failure to participate orcomment as part of this opportunity will in no way prejudice or limit a commenter's opportunityto participate fully in later notice and comment processes. All comments and proposals must bereceived by EPA on or before June 27, 2000 at the addresses given under the "ADDRESSES" section. Commentsand proposals will become part of the Agency record for the organophosphate pesticides specifiedin this notice.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: April 21, 2000.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-10589 Filed 4-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F