65 FR 159 pgs. 49982-49983 - Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Revised Risk Assessments
Type: NOTICEVolume: 65Number: 159Pages: 49982 - 49983
Docket number: [OPP-34203C; FRL-6595-7]
FR document: [FR Doc. 00-20810 Filed 8-15-00; 8:45 am]
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34203C; FRL-6595-7]
Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Revised Risk Assessments
AGENCY:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
This notice announces the availability of the revised riskassessments and related documents for one organophosphate pesticide, chlorpyrifos. Inaddition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation period during which the public isencouraged to submit risk management ideas or proposals. These actions are in response to ajoint initiative between EPA and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase transparencyin the tolerance reassessment process for organophosphate pesticides.
DATES:
Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34203C, must be received by EPA on or before October 16, 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 that you identify docket control number OPP-34203C in the subject line on the first page of your response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Angulo,Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,DC 20460; telephone number: (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 of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the revised risk assessments and submitting risk management comments on chlorpyrifos, including environmental, human health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the use of pesticides on food. As such, the Agency has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding 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 thisdocument and other related documents from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To access this document, on the Home Page select "Laws andRegulations," "Regulations and Proposed Rules" and then look up the entry for this document under the " FederalRegister -Environmental Documents." You can also go directly to the FederalRegister 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 thisaction under docket control number OPP-34203C. The official recordconsists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments receivedduring an applicable comment period, and other information related to this action, including anyinformation claimed as CBI. This official record includes the documents that are physicallylocated in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. Thepublic version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. Thepublic version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electroniccomments submitted during an applicable comment period, is available for inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.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 numberOPP-34203C in the subject line on the first page of your response.
1. By mail . Submit comments to: Public Information and RecordsIntegrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of PesticidePrograms, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,Washington, DC 20460.
2. In person or by courier . Deliver comments to: PublicInformation and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division, Officeof Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondaythrough 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 controlnumber OPP-34203C. Electronic comments may also be filed online atmany 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. Youmay claim information that you submit to EPA in response to this document as CBI by markingany part 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 one organophosphate pesticide, chlorpyrifos. These documents havebeen developed as part of the pilot public participation process that EPA and USDA are nowusing for involving the public in the reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food QualityProtection Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual organophosphate pesticides under theFederal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The pilot public participationprocess was developed as part of the EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee(TRAC), which was established in April 1998, as a subcommittee under the auspices of EPA'sNational Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. A goal of the pilot publicparticipation process is to find a more effective way for the public to participate at criticaljunctures in the Agency's development of organophosphate risk assessments and riskmanagement decisions. EPA and USDA began implementing this pilot process in August 1998,to increase transparency and opportunities for stakeholder consultation. The documents beingreleased to the public through this notice provide information on the revisions that were made tothe chlorpyrifos preliminary risk assessments, which was released to the public October 27,1999 (64 FR 57876) (FRL-6389-3) through a notice in the Federal Register .
In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation period during whichthepublic is encouraged to submit risk management proposals or otherwise comment on riskmanagement for chlorpyrifos. The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, forinterested parties to provide written risk management proposals or ideas to the Agency on thechemical specified in this notice. Such comments and proposals could address ideasabout how to manage dietary, occupational, or ecological risks on specific chlorpyrifos use sitesor crops across the United States or in a particular geographic region of the country. To addressdietary risk, for example, commenters may choose to discuss the feasibility of lower applicationrates, increasing the time interval between application and harvest ("pre-harvest intervals"),modifications in use, or suggest alternative measures to reduce residues contributing to dietaryexposure. For occupational risks, commenters may suggest personal protective equipment ortechnologies to reduce exposure to workers and pesticide handlers. For ecological risks,commentors may suggest ways to reduce environmental exposure, e.g., exposure to birds, fish,mammals, and other non-target organisms. EPA will provide other opportunities for publicparticipation and comment on issues associated with the organophosphate tolerance reassessmentprogram. Failure to participate or comment as part of this opportunity will in no way prejudiceor limit a commenter's opportunity to participate fully in later notice and comment processes. Allcomments and proposals must be received by EPA on or before October 16, 2000 at the addresses given under the ADDRESSES section. Comments and proposals will become part of the Agency record forthe organophosphates specified in this notice.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: August 8, 2000.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-20810 Filed 8-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F