Pesticide registration, cancellation, etc.: methyl and phosmet,

[Federal Register: September 13, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 178)]

[Notices]

[Page 47657-47658]

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

[DOCID:fr13se01-44]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34248; FRL-6802-7]

Availability of Phosmet Partial Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision Document for Comment and Availability of Benefits Assessments for Azinphos-methyl and Phosmet

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces availability and starts a 60-day public comment period on the partial Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision document (IRED) for the pesticide active ingredient phosmet. The document represents EPA's partial formal regulatory assessment of the health and environmental data base of the subject chemical and presents the Agency's determination on a partial list of uses ( 17 use sites) for which phosmet is eligible for reregistration. This notice also announces the availability of twenty-four Benefits Assessments for azinphos-methyl and phosmet. These documents provide a biological assessment of the use of azinphos-methyl and phosmet, and an economic assessment of the impacts on revenue and crop production caused by potential modification to existing use patterns. Any comments on the benefits assessments should be provided to EPA as soon as possible to ensure their consideration in the Agency's decisions.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34248, must be received on or before November 13, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-34248 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Carol Stangel, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8007; and e-mail address: stangel.carol@epa.gov.

For technical questions contact: Diane Isbell, Chemical Review Manager, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8154; and e-mail address: isbell.diane@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 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 homepage at http://www.epa.gov/. To access this document, on the homepage select ``Laws and Regulations,'' ``Regulations and Proposed Rules,'' 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 RED and IRED documents electronically, go directly to information on the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs homepage, at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ reregistration/status.htm.

      2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for this action under docket control number OPP-34248. 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.

   3. 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 number OPP-34248 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

      1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Public Information and Records

         [[Page 47658]]

         Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

      2. In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, 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. You may submit your comments electronically by e-mail to:opp-docket@epa.gov, or you can submit a computer disk as described above. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect 6.1/ 8.0/9.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be identified by docket control number OPP-34248. Electronic comments may also be filedonline at many Federal Depository Libraries.

   4. How Should I Handle CBI That I Want to Submit to the Agency?

      Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to this document as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as 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 version of the official record. Information not marked confidential will be included in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult the person identified 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 copies of 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 the estimate that you provide.

      5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.

      6. Offer alternative ways to improve the notice or collection activity.

      7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this document.

      8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal Register citation.

2. Background

   1. What Action is the Agency Taking?

      The Agency has issued a partial Interim RED for the pesticide active ingredient phosmet. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended in 1988, EPA is conducting an accelerated reregistration program to reevaluate existing pesticides to make sure they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. This IRED is a partial decision on 17 of the 43 use sites for phosmet. The Agency is making a partial decision on this pesticide because phosmet and azinphos-methyl benefits are linked. The phosmet use sites that are not addressed in this document will be addressed once the azinphos- methyl IRED is completed. The data base to support the reregistration of this partial list of use sites for phosmet is substantially complete, and the pesticide's risks have been mitigated so that it will not pose unreasonable risks to people or the environment when mitigation is implemented. In addition, EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides and reassessing tolerances under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. The pesticides included in this notice also are being evaluated to ensure that they meet the FQPA safety standard.

      All registrants of pesticide products containing phosmet have been sent the partial IRED. The label requirements and product specific data requirements are not included in the partial Interim RED for phosmet, but will be included once the entire phosmet Interim RED is completed.

      The reregistration program is being conducted under Congressionally-mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes both the need to make timely reregistration decisions and to involve the public. Therefore, EPA is issuing this partial Interm RED with a 60-day comment period. It is intended to provide an opportunity for public input and a mechanism for initiating any necessary amendments to the partial IRED. All comments will be carefully considered by the Agency. If any comment significantly affects the Agency's findings or decisions on phosmet, EPA will reflect the appropriate changes in issuing the complete IRED for phosmet.

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

      The legal authority for this partial 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, Pesticides and pests.

      Dated: September 5, 2001. Lois A. Rossi, Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

      [FR Doc. 01-23004Filed9-12-01; 8:45 am]

      BILLING CODE 6560-50-S