65 FR 167 pgs. 52114-52116 - Pesticides; Availability of Risk Assessments
Type: NOTICEVolume: 65Number: 167Pages: 52114 - 52116
Docket number: [OPP-34236; FRL-6741-8]
FR document: [FR Doc. 00-22002 Filed 8-25-00; 8:45 am]
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34236; FRL-6741-8]
Pesticides; Availability of Risk Assessments
AGENCY:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
This notice announces the availability of risk assessments thatwere developed as part of the EPA's process for making Reregistration Eligibility Decisions(REDs) for pesticides and for tolerance reassessments consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, andCosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). Theserisk assessments are the human health and ecological risk assessments and related documents fordiclofop methyl. These risk assessments are being released to the public as part of the jointinitiative between EPA and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen stakeholderinvolvement and help ensure decisions made under FQPA are transparent and based on the bestavailable information. The tolerance reassessment process will ensure that the United Statescontinues to have the safest and most abundant food supply.
DATES:
The risk assessments and related documents are available in theOPP Docket. While there is no formal public comment period, the Agency will accept commentson the risk assessment documents. Comments submitted within the first 30 days are most likelyto be considered.
ADDRESSES:
Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in Unit II. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION . To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it isimperative that you identify docket control number of the chemical of specific interest in thesubject line on the first page of your response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anne Overstreet,SpecialReview and Reregistration Division (7508W), Office of Pesticide Programs, EnvironmentalProtection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:(703) 308-8068; e-mail address:overstreet.anne@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. 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 risk assessments for diclofop methyl, includingenvironmental, human health, and agricultural advocates; the chemicalindustry; pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the use of pesticides on food.Since other entities also may be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all thespecific entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding theapplicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT .
B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and OtherRelated Documents?
1. Electronically . You may obtain electronic copies of this document, andcertain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the EPA InternetHome Page at http://www.epa.gov/. On the Home Page select "Laws andRegulations," " Regulations and Proposed Rules," and then look up the entryfor this document under the Federal Register -EnvironmentalDocuments. You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings athttp://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. In addition, copies of the pesticide risk assessments released to thepublic may also be accessed at http: www.epa.gov/pesticides.
2. In person . The Agency has established an official record for this actionunder docket control numbers OPP-34236. The official record consists of the documentsspecifically referenced in this action, and other information related to this action, including anyinformation claimed as Confidential Business Information (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 the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday throughFriday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
II. 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 properreceipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number for the specific chemicalof interest 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, DC20460.
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 JeffersonDavis Hwy., 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 describedin this unit. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Electroniccomments must be submitted as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any formof encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on standard computer disks inWordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be identified bythe docket control number of the chemical of specific interest. Electronic comments may also befiled 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 FURTHERINFORMATION CONTACT .
III. What Action is the Agency Taking?
EPA is making available to the public the risk assessments that have been developed aspart of EPA's process for tolerance reassessment and reregistration. While there is no formalpublic comment period, the Agency will accept comments on the risk assessment documents.Comments submitted within the first 30 days are most likely to be considered. REDs forpesticides developed under the interim process will be made available for public comment.
EPA and USDA have been using a pilot public participation process for theassessment of organophosphate pesticides since August 1998. In considering how to accomplishthe movement from the current pilot being used for the organophosphate pesticides to the publicparticipation process that will be used in the future for non-organophosphates, such as diclofopmethyl, EPA and USDA have adopted an interim public participation process forthe non-organophosphate pesticides scheduled for tolerance reassessment and reregistration in2000. The interim public participation process ensures public access to the Agency's riskassessments while also allowing EPA to meet its reregistration commitments. The interim publicparticipation process for the non-organophosphate pesticides scheduled for tolerance reassessmentand reregistration in 2000 and 2001 takes into account that the risk assessment development workon these pesticides is substantially complete. The interim public participation process involves:A registrant error correction period; a period for the Agency to respond to the registrant's errorcomments; the release of the refined risk assessments and risk characterizations to the public viathe docket and EPA's internet website; a significant effort on stakeholder consultations, such asmeetings and conference calls; and the issuance of the risk management document (i.e., RED)after the consideration of issues and discussions with stakeholders. USDA plans to hold meetingsand conference calls with the public (i.e., interested stakeholders such as growers, USDACooperative Extension Offices, commodity groups, and other Federal government agencies) todiscuss any identified risks and solicit input on risk management strategies. EPA will participatein USDA's meetings and conference calls with the public. This feedback will be used to completethe risk management decisions and the RED. EPA plans to conduct a close-out conference callwith interested stakeholders to describe the regulatory decisions presented in the RED. REDs forpesticides developed under the interim process will be made available for public comment.
Included in the public version of the official record is the Agency's risk assessmentsand related documents for diclofop methyl. As additional comments, reviews,and risk assessment modifications become available, these will also be docketed for the pesticideslisted in this notice. These risk assessments reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of thetime they were produced and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/oradditional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may change.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.
Dated:August 23, 2000.
Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of PesticidePrograms.
[FR Doc. 00-22002 Filed 8-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S