Pesticides; tolerances in food, animal feeds, and raw agricultural commodities: Sodium chlorate,

[Federal Register: July 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 126)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 35844-35846]

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

[DOCID:fr01jy98-23]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-300673; FRL-5795-8]

RIN 2070-AB78

Sodium Chlorate; Extension of Exemption from Requirement of a Tolerance for Emergency Exemptions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This rule extends a time-limited exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the desiccant sodium chlorate in or on wheat for an additional one and one-half-year period, to January 31, 2000. This action is in response to EPA's granting of an emergency exemption connection with a crisis exemption declared by the state of Mississippi under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act authorizing use of the pesticide on wheat. Section 408(l)(6) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires EPA to establish a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA under section 18 of FIFRA.

DATES: This regulation becomes effective July 1, 1998. Objections and requests for hearings must be received by EPA, on or before August 31, 1998. ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the docket control number, [OPP-300673], must be submitted to: Hearing Clerk (1900), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. M3708, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Fees accompanying objections and hearing requests shall be labeled ``Tolerance Petition Fees'' and forwarded to: EPA Headquarters Accounting Operations Branch, OPP (Tolerance Fees), P.O. Box 360277M, Pittsburgh, PA 15251. A copy of any objections and hearing requests filedwith the Hearing Clerk identified by the docket control number, [OPP-300673], must also be submitted to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring a copy of objections and hearing requests to Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA.

A copy of objections and hearing requests filedwith the Hearing Clerk may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail (e-mail) to: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Follow the instructions in Unit II. of this preamble. No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Libby Pemberton, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location, telephone number, and e-mail address: Rm. 272, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202, (703)-308-9364; e-mail: pemberton.libby@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA issued a final rule, published in the Federal Register of December 3, 1997 (62 FR 63858) (FRL-5754-1), which announced that on its own initiative and under section 408(e) of the FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(e) and (l)(6), it established a time-limited exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for the residues of sodium chlorate in or on wheat, with an expiration date of July 31, 1998. EPA established the exemption from the requirement of a tolerance because section 408(l)(6) of the FFDCA requires EPA to establish a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA under section 18 of FIFRA. Such tolerances can be established without providing notice or period for public comment.

EPA received a request to extend the use of sodium chlorate on wheat for this year growing season due to continued heavy rains resulting in the need for a harvest aid to desiccate winter weeds which developed in the thin stands of an already dimished wheat crop. After having reviewed the submission, EPA concurs that emergency conditions exist for this state. EPA has authorized under FIFRA section 18 the use of sodium chlorate as a desiccant on wheat.

EPA assessed the potential risks presented by residues of sodium chlorate in or on wheat. In doing so, EPA considered the new safety standard in FFDCA section 408(b)(2), and decided that the necessary tolerance under FFDCA section 408(l)(6) would be consistent with the new safety standard and with FIFRA section 18. The data and other relevant material have been evaluated and discussed in the final rule of December 3, 1997 (62 FR 63858). Based on that data and information considered, the Agency reaffirms that extension of the time-limited exemption from the requirement of a tolerance will continue to meet the requirements of section 408(l)(6). Therefore, the time-limited exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is extended for an additional one and one-half-year period. Although this exemption from the requirement of a tolerance will expire and is revoked on January 31, 2000, under FFDCA section 408(l)(5), residues of the pesticide in or on wheat after that date will not be unlawful, provided the pesticide is applied in a manner that was lawful under FIFRA and the application occurred prior to the revocation of the exemptionfrom a requirement of a tolerance. EPA will take action to revoke this exemption from the requirement of a tolerance earlier if any experience with, scientific data on, or other relevant information on this pesticide indicate that the residues are not safe.

1. Objections and Hearing Requests

   The new FFDCA section 408(g) provides essentially the same process for persons to ``object'' to a tolerance

   [[Page 35845]]

   regulation issued by EPA under new section 408(e) and (l)(6) as was provided in the old section 408 and in section 409. However, the period for filing objections is 60 days, rather than 30 days. EPA currently has procedural regulations which govern the submission of objections and hearing requests. These regulations will require some modification to reflect the new law. However, until those modifications can be made, EPA will continue to use those procedural regulations with appropriate adjustments to reflect the new law.

   Any person may, by August 31, 1998, file written objections to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a hearing on those objections. Objections and hearing requests must be filedwith the Hearing Clerk, at the address given above (40 CFR 178.20). A copy of the objections and/or hearing requests filedwith the Hearing Clerk should be submitted to the OPP docket for this rulemaking. The objections submitted must specify the provisions of the regulation deemed objectionable and the grounds for the objections (40 CFR 178.25). Each objection must be accompanied by the fee prescribed by 40 CFR 180.33(i). If a hearing is requested, the objections must include a statement of the factual issues on which a hearing is requested, the requestor's contentions on such issues, and a summary of any evidence relied upon by the requestor (40 CFR 178.27). A request for a hearing will be granted if the Administrator determines that the material submitted shows the following: There is genuine and substantial issue of fact; there is a reasonable possibility that available evidence identified by the requestor would, if established, resolve one or more of such issues in favor of the requestor, taking into account uncontested claims or facts to the contrary; and resolution of the factual issues in the manner sought by the requestor would be adequate to justify the action requested (40 CFR 178.32). Information submitted in connection with an objection or hearing request may be claimed confidential 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. A copy of the information that does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice.

2. Public Record and Electronic Submissions

   The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public version, as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will transfer any copies of objections and hearing requests received electronically into printed, paper form as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official rulemaking record which will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official rulemaking record is the paper record maintained at the Virginia address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.

   Electronic comments may be sent directly to EPA at:

   opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov.

   Electronic objections and hearing requests must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Objections and hearing requests will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. All copies of objections and hearing requests in electronic form must be identified by the docket control number [OPP-300673]. No CBI should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic copies of objections and hearing requests on this rule may be filedonline at many Federal Depository Libraries.

3. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

   This final rule extends a time-limited exemption from the requirement of a tolerance that was previously extended by EPA under FFDCA section 408(d) 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). In addition, 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., or impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4). Nor does it require any prior consultation as specified by Executive Order 12875, entitled Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership (58 FR 58093, October 28, 1993), or special considerations as required by Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994), or require OMB review in accordance with Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997).

   Since this extension of an existing time-limited exemption from the requirement of a tolerance does 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. Nevertheless, the Agency has previously assessed whether establishing tolerances, exemptions from tolerances, raising tolerance levels or expanding exemptions might adversely impact small entities and concluded, as a generic matter, that there is no adverse economic impact. The factual basis for the Agency's generic certification for tolerance actions published on May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950), and was provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

4. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

   The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 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 the rule in the Federal Register. This 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 record keeping requirements.

   Dated: June 7, 1998.

   James Jones,

   Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

   Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

   PART 180-[AMENDED]

   1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

      Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346a and 371.

      [[Page 35846]]

      Sec. 180.1020 [Amended]

   2. In Sec. 180.1020, by amending paragraph (b) by changing the date ``7/31/98'' to read ``1/31/00.''

      [FR Doc. 98-17514Filed6-30-98; 8:45 am]

      BILLING CODE 6560-50-F