Pesticide registration, cancellation, etc.: Atrazine,

[Federal Register: November 7, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 216)]

[Notices]

[Page 63085-63088]

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

[DOCID:fr07no03-60]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2003-0367; FRL-7334-9]

Atrazine; Notice of Availability of Revised Atrazine Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the revised Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) document for the pesticide active ingredient atrazine. EPA has completed its revised IRED for atrazine consistent with the August 8, 2002, consent decree

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between the Natural Resources Defense Council and EPA and with the January 31, 2003, Atrazine IRED released to the public through notices published in the Federal Register on February 28, 2003 (68 FR 9652) (FRL-7456-2). As required in the consent decree, the revision to the January 31, 2003 IRED addresses the potential association between atrazine exposure and the incident of prostate cancer and other cancers in humans and the potential effects of atrazine on amphibian endocrinology and development. The revised IRED also includes an ecological level of concern consistent with the Office of Water's (OW) draft aquatic life criteria document that is being released concurrent with the revision to the IRED. In addition, the revised IRED includes a monitoring program in vulnerable watersheds to determine if atrazine levels exceed the Agency's level of concern. The revised IRED summarizes the conclusions in the January 31, 2003, IRED, developments since the IRED, and the Agency's next steps.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2003-0367, must be received on or before February 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric R. Olson, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8067; fax number: (703) 308-8041; e-mail address: olson.eric@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. General Information

   1. Does this Action Apply to Me?

      This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, however, be of interest to persons who are or may be required to conduct testing of chemical substances under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA); environmental, human health, and agricultural advocates; pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the use of pesticides. Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be 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.

   2. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

      1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2003-0367. The official public docket consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other information related to this action. Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials that is available for public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

      2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.

      An electronic version of the revision to the atrazine IRED is available electronically through the EPA Internet at http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/atrazine/ .

      An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate docket ID number.

      Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets. Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket. Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B. EPA intends to work towards providing electronic access to all of the publicly available docket materials through EPA's electronic public docket.

      For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.

      Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the docket will be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief description written by the docket staff.

   3. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

      You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information protected by statute.

      1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing address, and an e-

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         mail address or other contact information in the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.

         i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ , and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number OPP-2003-0367. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to opp-docket@epa.gov, Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2003-0367. In contrast to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket.

         iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.

      2. By mail. Send your comments to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2003-0367.

      3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2003-0367. Such deliveries are only accepted during the docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit I.B.1.

   4. How Should I Submit CBI To the Agency?

      Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is CBI). Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

      In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

   5. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

      You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:

      1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.

      2. Describe any assumptions that you used.

      3. Provide any technical information and/or data you used that support your views.

      4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you arrived at your estimate.

      5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.

      6. Offer alternatives.

      7. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified.

      8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of your response. It would also be helpful if you provided the name, date, and Federal Register citation related to your comments.

2. Background

   1. What Action is the Agency Taking?

      EPA has completed its revised IRED for atrazine consistent with the August 8, 2002, consent decree between the Natural Resources Defense Council and EPA and consistent with the January 31, 2003, Atrazine IRED released to the public through a notice published in the Federal Register on February 28, 2003 (68 FR 9652) (FRL-7456-2). As required in the consent decree, the revision to the January 31, 2003, IRED addresses the potential association between atrazine exposure and the incident of prostate cancer and other cancers in humans and the potential effects of atrazine on amphibian endocrinology and development. In each section, the document summarizes the conclusions in the January 31, 2003, IRED, developments since the IRED, including Scientific Advisory Panel meetings, and next steps, as appropriate.

      The revised IRED also includes an ecological monitoring and mitigation program developed to address indirect ecological effects of atrazine in watersheds. The ecological level of concern and the monitoring and mitigation program were developed by a cross-Agency workshop that includes the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Office of Water (OW), and the Office of Research and Development (ORD), along with Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. Concurrent with the release of the revision to the atrazine IRED, EPA's OW is publishing its draft aquatic life criteria document for atrazine for comment elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. The OW Draft aquatic life criteria document for atrazine is available electronically through the EPA Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/atrazine/.

      Provided that the measures outlined in the revised IRED are adopted, atrazine remains eligible for reregistration. EPA's next step under FQPA is to complete a cumulative risk assessment and risk management decision for the triazine pesticides, which share a common mechanism of toxicity. This revision to the IRED document for atrazine cannot be considered a final reregistration

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      eligibility decision until the cumulative assessment is complete.

      When the cumulative risk assessment for the triazine pesticides has been completed, EPA will issue its final tolerance reassessment decision for atrazine and further risk mitigation measures may be needed.

   2. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

      The legal authority for this IRED falls under FIFRA, as amended in 1988 and 1996. Section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA directs that, after submission of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in product specific data on individual end-use products, and either reregistering products or taking ``other appropriate regulatory action.''

      List of Subjects

      Environmental protection, chemicals, pesticide(s) and pests.

      Dated: November 3, 2003. Betty Shackleford, Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

      [FR Doc. 03-28101 Filed 11-6-03; 8:45 am]

      BILLING CODE 6560-50-S