Pesticides; tolerances in food, animal feeds, and raw agricultural commodities: Fipronil,
[Federal Register: August 22, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 162)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46906-46914]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22au07-7]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0206; FRL-8142-6]
Fipronil; Pesticide Tolerances
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for combined residues of fipronil and its two metabolites and one photodegradate in or on potato and potato, wet peel, and indirect or inadvertent residues of fipronil and its two metabolites and one photodegradate in or on wheat, forage; wheat, grain;
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wheat, hay; and wheat, straw. BASF Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). In addition, this establishes time-limited tolerances for combined residues of fipronil in or on turnip and rutabaga. This action is in response to EPA's granting of emergency exemptions under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of the pesticide on turnip and rutabaga. This regulation establishes maximum permissible levels for combined residues of fipronil in these food commodities. The tolerances for rutabaga and turnip expire and are revoked on December 31, 2010.
DATES: This regulation is effective August 22, 2007. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before October 22, 2007, and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0206. To access the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Advanced
Search,'' then ``Docket Search.'' Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the ``Submit'' button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov website to view the docket index or access available documents. All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index available in regulations.gov. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available in the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or,
if only available in hard copy, at the OPP Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Sibold, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6502; e-mail address: sibold.ann@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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General Information
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Does this Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to those engaged in the following activities:
Crop production (NAICS code 111), e.g., agricultural workers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; farmers.
Animal production (NAICS code 112), e.g., cattle ranchers and farmers, dairy cattle farmers, livestock farmers.
Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311), e.g., agricultural workers; farmers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; ranchers; pesticide applicators.
Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532), e.g., agricultural workers; commercial applicators; farmers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; residential users.
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to provide a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
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How Can I Access Electronic Copies of this Document?
In addition to accessing an electronic copy of this Federal Register document through the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov , you may access this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may also access a
frequently updated electronic version of EPA's tolerance regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through the Government Printing Office's pilot e-CFR site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr.
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Can I File an Objection or Hearing Request?
Under section 408(g) of FFDCA, any person may file an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0206 in the subject line on the first page of your submission. All requests must be in writing, and must be mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk as required by 40 CFR part 178 on or before October 22, 2007.
In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of the filing that does not contain any CBI for inclusion in the public docket that is described in ADDRESSES. Information not marked confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice. Submit this copy, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0206, by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
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Petition for Tolerances
In the Federal Register of August 24, 2005 (70 FR 49599) (FRL-7726- 3), EPA issued a notice pursuant to section 408(d)(3) of FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP 5F6948) by BASF Corporation, P.O. Box 13528, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. The petition requested that 40 CFR 180.517 be amended by establishing tolerances for combined residues of the insecticide fipronil, 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)-4- ((1,R,S)-trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl)-1-H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile and its 2 metabolites, MB45950 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-[(trifluoromethyl)thio]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile) and MB46136 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-
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[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] -1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile), and photodegradate MB46513 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(1R,S)-(trifluoromethyl)]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile), in or on vegetable, tuberous , corm, subgroup 1C at 0.04 parts per million (ppm) and potato, wet peel at 0.4 ppm and indirect or inadvertent residues of the insecticide fipronil, 5-amino-1-(2,6- dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)-4-((1,R,S)- trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl)-1-H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile and its 2 metabolites MB45950 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-[(trifluoromethyl)thio]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile) and MB46136 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile) and its photodegradate MB46513 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro- 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(1R,S)-(trifluoromethyl)]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile), in or on wheat, forage at 0.04 ppm, wheat, grain at 0.04 ppm, wheat, hay at 0.04 ppm, and wheat, straw at 0.04 ppm. That notice referenced a summary of the petition prepared by BASF Corporation, the registrant, which is available to the public in the docket, http://www.regulations.gov. One comment was received on the notice of filing.
EPA's response to this comment is discussed in Unit IV.C.
Based upon review of the data supporting the petition, EPA has revised the tolerance for vegetable tuberous corm crop subgroup 1C to limit it to potato. The reason for these changes is explained in Unit V.
EPA is also establishing time-limited tolerances for combined residues of the insecticide fipronil, in or on turnip and rutabaga at 1.0 ppm. These tolerances expire and are revoked on December 31, 2010. The tolerances are being established in response to EPA's authorization to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, for the emergency use of fipronil to control the cabbage maggot, a highly damaging pest to root crops, in these crops, under a FIFRA section 18 specific exemption. The request was based upon three factors:
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A recent severe increase in cabbage maggot populations.
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The apparent increasing resistance of the maggot to the organophosphate registered alternative.
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Phytotoxicity of the organophosphate alternative to the emerging seedlings.
The Applicant stated that significant economic losses would occur without the requested use of fipronil under an emergency exemption. After having reviewed the submission, EPA concurs that emergency conditions exist for this State.
As part of its assessment of this emergency exemption, EPA assessed the potential risks presented by residues of fipronil in or on rutabaga and turnip. In doing so, EPA considered the safety standard in section 408(b)(2) of FFDCA, and EPA decided that the necessary tolerances under section 408(l)(6) of FFDCA would be consistent with the safety standard and with FIFRA section 18. Consistent with the need to move quickly on the emergency exemption in order to address an urgent non-routine situation and to ensure that the resulting food is safe and lawful, EPA is issuing these tolerances without notice and opportunity for public comment as provided in section 408(l)(6) of the FFDCA. Although the tolerances expire and are revoked on December 31, 2010, under section 408(l)(5) of FFDCA, residues of the pesticide not in excess of the amounts specified in the tolerances remaining in or on rutabaga and turnip after that date will not be unlawful, provided the pesticide is applied in a manner that was lawful under FIFRA, and the residues do not exceed levels that were authorized by these tolerances at the time of that application. EPA will take action to revoke these tolerances earlier if any experience with, scientific data on, or other relevant information on this pesticide indicate that the residues are not safe.
Because the rutabaga and turnip tolerances are being approved under emergency conditions, EPA has not made any decisions about whether fipronil meets EPA's registration requirements for use on rutabaga and turnip or whether permanent tolerances for these uses would be appropriate. Under these circumstances, EPA does not believe that these tolerances serve as a basis for registration of fipronil by a State for special local needs under FIFRA section 24(c). Nor do these tolerances serve as the basis for any State other than Oregon to use this pesticide on these crops under section 18 of FIFRA without following all provisions of EPA's regulations implementing FIFRA section 18 as identified in 40 CFR part 166. For additional information regarding the emergency exemptions for fipronil, contact the Agency's Registration Division at the address provided under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
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Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety
Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section 408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable information.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue. . . .'' These provisions were added to FFDCA by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996.
Consistent with FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), and the factors specified in FFDCA section408(b)(2)(D), EPA has reviewed the available scientific data and other relevant information in support of this action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to make a determination on aggregate exposure for the petitioned-for tolerances for combined residues of fipronil and its metabolites and its degradate on potato at 0.03 ppm and potato, wet peel at 0.10 ppm and indirect or inadvertent residues of fipronil and its metabolites and its degradate on wheat, forage at 0.02 ppm, wheat, grain at 0.005 ppm, wheat, hay at 0.03 ppm, and wheat, straw at 0.03 ppm, and the tolerances to support authorization of an emergency exemption on turnip at 1.0 ppm and rutabaga at 1.0 ppm. EPA's assessment of exposures and risks associated with establishing the tolerances follows.
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Toxicological Profile
EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered its validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of the results of the studies to human risk. EPA has also considered available information concerning the variability of the sensitivities of major identifiable subgroups of consumers, including infants and children. Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the adverse effects caused by fipronil as well as the no-observed- adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect- level (LOAEL) from the toxicity studies can be found at http://www.regulations.gov. The referenced document, ``Fipronil:
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Third Reevaluation--Report of the Hazard Identification Assessment Review Committee, December 6, 2000,'' is available in the docket established by this action, which is described under ADDRESSES, and is identified as EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0206 in that docket.
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Toxicological Endpoints
For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no appreciable risk, the toxicological level of concern (LOC) is derived from the highest dose at which no adverse effects are observed (the NOAEL) in the toxicology study identified as appropriate for use in risk assessment. However, if a NOAEL cannot be determined, the lowest dose at which adverse effects of concern are identified (the LOAEL) is sometimes used for risk assessment. Uncertainty/safety factors (UF) are used in conjunction with the LOC to take into account uncertainties inherent in the extrapolation from laboratory animal data to humans and in the variations in sensitivity among members of the human population as well as other unknowns. Safety is assessed for acute and chronic risks by comparing aggregate exposure to the pesticide to the acute population adjusted dose (aPAD) and chronic population adjusted dose (cPAD). The aPAD and cPAD are calculated by dividing the LOC by all applicable uncertainty/safety factors. Short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term risks are evaluated by comparing aggregate exposure to the LOC to ensure that the margin of exposure (MOE) called for by the product of all applicable uncertainty/safety factors is not exceeded.
For non-threshold risks, the Agency assumes that any amount of exposure will lead to some degree of risk and estimates risk in terms of the probability of occurrence of additional adverse cases. Generally, cancer risks are considered non-threshold. For more information on the general principles EPA uses in risk characterization and a complete description of the risk assessment process, see http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/1997/November/Day-26/p30948.htm .
A summary of the toxicological endpoints for fipronil used for human risk assessment is shown in Table 1 of this unit.
Table 1.--Summary of Toxicological Dose and Endpoints for Fipronil for Use in Human Risk Assessment
Dose Used in Risk FQPA SF and Endpoint Study and Toxicological Exposure Scenario
Assessment, UF
for Risk Assessment
Effects
Acute dietary
NOAEL= 2.5 milligrams/ FQPA SF = 1
Acute neurotoxicity-- (All populations including infants kilograms (mg/kg) aPAD = acute RfD/FQPA rat and children).
UF = 100............... SF = 0.025 mg/kg. LOAEL = 7.0 mg/kg based acute RfD = 0.025 mg/kg
on: Decreased hind leg splay in males at 7 hours Chronic dietary
NOAEL= 0.019 mg/kg/day FQPA SF = 1
Chronic/carcinogenicity (All populations).................... UF = 100............... cPAD = chr RfD/FQPA SF study --rat chronic RfD = 0.0002 mg/ = 0.0002 mg/kg/day. LOAEL = 0.059 mg/kg/day kg/day.
based on: Increased incidence of seizures and death, alterations in clinical chemistry (protein), increased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and decreased T4 Short-term oral (1-7 days)
Oral study maternal LOC for MOE = 300
Developmental toxicity (Residential)........................ LOAEL The offspring body weight findings in the developmental neurotoxicity study are not supported by the results of the 2- generation reproduction study in rats at similar treatment levels.
Increased susceptibility to the offspring was not demonstrated following prenatal and/or postnatal dosing in the prenatal developmental toxicity study nor the 2-generation reproduction study in rats.
No increased susceptibility was seen in the prenatal developmental toxicity study in rats following in utero exposure to the photodegradate, MB46513. More specific information may be found in the referenced document, ``Fipronil: Third Reevaluation--Report of the Hazard Identification Assessment Review Committee, December 6, 2000,'' available in the docket established by this action, as noted in this unit.
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Conclusion. EPA has determined that reliable data show that it would be safe for infants and children to reduce the FQPA safety factor to 1X. That decision is based on the following findings:
i. The toxicity database for fipronil is complete for food use.
ii. The weight of the evidence does not indicate that there is increased sensitivity in young animals. In any event, there is a clear NOAEL identified in the one study where there was an appearance of sensitivity in the young. The degree of concern for prenatal and/or postnatal toxicity is low.
iii. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure databases. The dietary food exposure assessments were performed based on 100% crop treated (CT) and anticipated residues were used as described in this unit. They are based in reliable data and will not underestimate the exposure and risk. Conservative ground and surface water modeling estimates were used. Similarly conservative Residential Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were used to assess post- application exposure to children as well as incidental oral exposure of toddlers. These assessments will not underestimate the exposure and risks posed by fipronil.
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Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety
Safety is assessed for acute and chronic risks by comparing aggregate exposure to the pesticide to the (``aPAD'') and (``cPAD''). The aPAD and cPAD are calculated by dividing the level of concern (LOC) by all applicable uncertainty/safety factors. For linear
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cancer risks, EPA calculates the probability of additional cancer cases given aggregate exposure. Short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term risks are evaluated by comparing aggregate exposure to the LOC to ensure that the MOE called for by the product of all applicable uncertainty/safety factors is not exceeded.
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Acute risk. Using the exposure assumptions discussed in this unit for acute exposure, the acute dietary exposure from food and water to fipronil will occupy 25% of the aPAD for the population group (children 1-2 years old) receiving the greatest exposure.
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Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that exposure to fipronil from food and water will utilize 96% of the cPAD for the population group (children (1-2 years old). Based the use pattern, chronic residential exposure to residues of fipronil is not expected.
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Short-term risk. Short-term aggregate exposure takes into account residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure level).
Fipronil is currently registered for use that could result in short-term residential exposure, and the Agency has determined that it is appropriate to aggregate chronic food and water and short-term exposures for fipronil.
Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for short- term exposures, EPA has concluded that food, water, and residential exposures aggregated result in aggregate MOEs as follows: The short- term aggregate risk assessment takes into account average exposure estimates from dietary consumption of fipronil (food and drinking water) and non-occupational exposures (pet uses). Postapplication exposure from the use on pets is considered short-term. Therefore, a short-term aggregate risk assessment was conducted, using children with combined dermal and oral exposures from pet uses as a worst case. Table 3 of this unit summarizes the results. Since the LOC is different for oral and dermal exposures, 300 and 100, respectively, the Aggregate Risk Index (ARI) method was used to determine short-term aggregate risk. The aggregate ARI from food, water, and non-occupational exposures is 1.5. Therefore, short-term aggregate risk estimates do not exceed the Agency's level of concern (i.e. ARIs greater than or equal to 1). Adult post-application risk is considered negligible and so an aggregate risk assessment for adults is not considered necessary.
Table 3.--Aggregate Short-Term
Food + Water
Oral
Dermal Population
ARI \3\Aggregate \4\ LOC \1\ MOE \2\
LOC
MOE
LOC
MOE
Children (1-2 years old)
300
532
300
3,300
100
5,000
1.5
\1\ LOC=Level of Concern \2\ MOE= NOAEL (or LOAEL)/exposure \3\ ARI=MOE Calculated/MOELOC \4\ARI=Aggregate= 1/((1/ARIfood)+(1/ARIoral)+(1/ARIdermal)).
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Intermediate-term risk. Intermediate-term aggregate exposure takes into account residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure level).
Fipronil is currently registered for use(s) that could result in intermediate-term residential exposure and the Agency has determined that it is appropriate to aggregate chronic food and water and intermediate-term exposures for fipronil.
Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for intermediate-term exposures, EPA has concluded that food, water, and residential exposures aggregated result in aggregate MOEs as follows: Intermediate-term risk to children is not expected to be higher than short-term risk due to the lack of inhalation exposure and a soil ingestion MOE of 1 million.
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Determination of safety. Based on these risk assessments, EPA concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to the general population, or to infants and children from aggregate exposure to fipronil residues.
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Other Considerations
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Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate enforcement methodology (Method EC-95-303) is available to enforce the tolerance expression. The method may be requested from: Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch, Environmental Science Center, 701 Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755-5350; telephone number: (410) 305-2905; e-mail address: residuemethods@epa.gov.
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International Residue Limits
There are no Codex, Canadian, or Mexican maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for fipronil + metabolites MB46136 and MB45950 + photodegradate MB46513 on the commodities included in this request.
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Response to Comments
One comment was received from a private citizen who opposes the approval of any pesticide that leaves a residue on food. The comment contained no specific information pertaining to fipronil but was limited to general claims such as EPA was providing inadequate protection for Americans. The Agency has received the same comment from this commenter on numerous previous occasions and rejects it for the reasons previously stated in the Federal Registers of January 7, 2005 (70 FR 1349) (FRL-7691-4), June 30, 2005 (70 FR 37686) (FRL-7718-3), and October 29, 2004 (69 FR 63096) (FRL-7681-9).
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Conclusion
Therefore, the tolerances are established for combined residues of fipronil (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-
[(trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl] -1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile) and its two metabolites MB45950 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-[(trifluoromethyl)thio]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile) and MB46136 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile) and its photodegradate MB46513 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro- 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(1R,S)-(trifluoromethyl)]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile), in or on potato at 0.03 ppm, potato, wet peel at 0.1 ppm and indirect or inadvertent residues of fipronil and its metabolites and its degradate on wheat, forage at 0.02 ppm, wheat, grain at 0.005 ppm, wheat, hay at 0.03 ppm, and wheat, straw at 0.03 ppm. Time-limited tolerances are also
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established for combined residues of fipronil and its metabolites and degradate on turnip at 1.0 ppm and rutabaga at 1.0 ppm.
The registrant petitioned for tolerances on vegetable, tuberous corm, subgroup 1C. In evaluating this petition, the Agency determined that planting methods associated with the different members of crop subgroup vegetable, tuberous corm, subgroup 1C result in different amounts of fipronil and its metabolites and degradate being loaded into the environment. Further, because of the planting depth of potatoes, the environmental loading of fipronil and its metabolites and degradate is expected to be lower for potatoes than other members of vegetable tuberous corm crop group 1C and is expected to be below levels of concern. For this reason, the Agency is establishing tolerances only for potato and the rotational crop wheat at this time. The Agency is working to resolve these issues as they relate to other members of vegetable tuberous corm crop group 1C.
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Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
This final rule establishes tolerances under section 408(d) of FFDCA in response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this rule has been exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). This final rule does not contain any information collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require any special considerations under Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis of a petition under section 408(d) of FFDCA, or are established under section 408(l)(6) of FFDCA, such as the tolerances in this final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed rule, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do not apply.
This final rule directly regulates growers, food processors, food handlers and food retailers, not States or tribes, nor does this action alter the relationships or distribution of power and responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. As such, the Agency has determined that this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or tribal governments, on the relationship between the national government and the States or tribal governments, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government or between the Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined that Executive Order 13132, entitled Federalism (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999) and Executive Order 13175, entitled Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000) do not apply to this rule. In addition, This rule does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law 104-4).
This action does not involve any technical standards that would require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
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Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of this final rule in the Federal Register. This final rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: August 3, 2007. Lois Rossi, Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
0 Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:
PART 180--[AMENDED]
0 1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
0 2. Section 180. 517 is amended by alphabetically adding commodities to the table in paragraph (a) and by adding text to paragraphs (b) and (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 180.517 Fipronil; tolerances for residues.
(a) * * *
Commodity
Parts per million
* * * * * Potato.........................................
0.03 Potato, wet peel...............................
0.10
(b) Section 18 emergency exemptions. Time-limited tolerances are established for combined residues of the insecticide, fipronil, 5- amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)-4-((1,R,S)- trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl)-1-H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile and its 2 metabolites MB45950 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-[(trifluoromethyl)thio]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile) and MB46136 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile) and its photodegradate MB46513 (5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro- 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(1R,S)-(trifluoromethyl)]-1H-pyrazole-3- carbonitrile), in connection with use of the pesticide under Section 18 emergency exemptions granted by EPA. The tolerances expire and are revoked on the dates specified in the table for this paragraph.
Expiration/ Commodity
Parts per revocation million
date
Rutabaga......................................
1.0 12/31/10 Turnip........................................
1.0 12/31/10
* * * * *
(d) Indirect or inadvertent residues. Tolerances are established for combined indirect or inadvertent residues of the insecticide fipronil and its metabolites and photodegradate in or on food commodities when present therein as a result of the application of fipronil to growing crops listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and other nonfood crops to read as follows:
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Commodity
Parts per million
Wheat, forage..................................
0.02 Wheat, grain...................................
0.005 Wheat, hay.....................................
0.03 Wheat, straw...................................
0.03
[FR Doc. E7-16621 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
