Pesticide programs: Organophosphates; risk assessments and public participation in risk management— Dimethoate,

[Federal Register: December 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 230)]

[Notices]

[Page 67262-67263]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr01de99-65]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34143A; FRL-6397-4]

Dimethoate, Revised Pesticide Risk Assessment; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: EPA will hold a public meeting to present the revised risk assessments for one organophosphate pesticide, dimethoate, to interested stakeholders. This public meeting, called a ``Technical Briefing,'' will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about the data, information, and methodologies that the Agency used in revising its risk assessments for dimethoate. In addition, representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will also provide ideas on possible risk management for dimethoate.

DATES: The technical briefing will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 1999, from 9 a.m. to noon.

ADDRESSES: The technical briefing will be held at Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites-Old Town, 625 First St., Alexandria, VA, telephone number: 703- 548-6300.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Karen Angulo, Special Review and

[[Page 67263]]

Registration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8004; e-mail address: angulo.karen@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. General Information

   1. Does this Action Apply to Me?

      This action applies to the public in general. As such, the Agency has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially affected by this action. The Agency believes that a wide range of stakeholders will be interested in technical briefings on organophosphates, 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. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.''

   2. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and Other Related Documents?

      1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this document, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To access this document, on the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations'' and then look up the entry for this document under the ``Federal Register--Environmental Documents.'' You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. To access information about organophosphate pesticides, you can also go directly to the Home Page for the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/. In addition, a brief summary of the dimethoate revised risk assessments are now available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/status.htm/, as well as in paper as part of the public version of the official record as described in Unit I.B.2.

      2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for the organophosphate dimethoate under docket control number OPP-34143A. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, and other information related to this action, including any information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment period is available for inspection 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 through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

2. What Action is the Agency Taking?

   This document announces the Agency's intention to hold a technical briefing for the organophosphate pesticide dimethoate. The Agency is presenting the revised risk assessments for dimethoate to interested stakeholders. This technical briefing is designed to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to become even more informed about an organophosphate's risk assessment. EPA will describe in detail the revised risk assessments: Including the major points (e.g., contributors to risk estimates); how public comment on the preliminary risk assessment affected the revised risk assessment; and the pesticide use information/data that was used in developing the revised risk assessment. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to ask clarifying questions. In addition, representatives of the USDA will provide ideas on possible risk management.

   The technical briefing is part of the pilot public participation process that EPA and USDA are now using for involving the public in the reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual organophosphate pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The pilot public participation process 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's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. A goal of the pilot public participation process is to find a more effective way for the public to participate at critical junctures in the Agency's development of organophosphate risk assessment and risk management decisions. EPA and USDA began implementing this pilot process in August 1998 in response to Vice President Gore's directive to increase transparency and opportunities for stakeholder consultation. On the day of the technical briefing, in addition to making copies available at the meeting site, the Agency will also release for public viewing the dimethoate revised risk assessments and related documents to the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch and the OPP Internet web site that are described in Unit I.B.1. In addition, the Agency will issue a Federal Register notice to provide an opportunity for a 60-day public participation period during which the public may submit risk management and mitigation ideas, and recommendations and proposals for transition.

   List of Subjects

   Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

   Dated: November 23, 1999.

   Lois Rossi,

   Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

   [FR Doc. 99-31049Filed11-30-99; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6560-50-F