Wolbachia pipientis;

Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2012)

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2012)

Notices

Pages 27054-27055

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2012-11087

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0181; FRL-9342-8

Wolbachia pipientis; Pesticide Experimental Use Permit; Receipt of Application; Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's receipt of an application 88877-

EUP-R from the University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology requesting an experimental use permit (EUP) for the microbial Wolbachia pipientis, an intracellular bacterial pesticide of insects/mosquitoes. The Agency has determined that the permit may be of regional and national significance. Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency is soliciting comments on this application.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 7, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0181, by one of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shanaz Bacchus, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8097; email address: bacchus.shanaz@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 those persons who are or may be required to conduct testing of chemical substances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), or the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). 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. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

      1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, 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 claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes 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. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

      2. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group, including minority and/or low income populations, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. To help

      Page 27055

      address potential environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the pesticide discussed in this document, compared to the general population.

2. What action is the agency taking?

   Under section 5 of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136c, EPA can allow manufacturers to field test pesticides under development. Manufacturers are required to obtain an EUP before testing new pesticides or new uses of pesticides if they conduct experimental field tests on 10 acres or more of land or one acre or more of water.

   Pursuant to 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency has determined that the following EUP application may be of regional and national significance, and therefore is seeking public comment on the EUP application:

   Submitter: Dr. Robert I. Rose, on behalf of Stephen L. Dobson, University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology, S-225 Ag. Science Center North, Lexington, KY 40546-0091, (88877-EUP-R).

   Pesticide Chemical: Wolbachia pipientis.

   Summary of Request: The applicant proposes release of male Aedes polynesienis mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia pipientis in American Samoa. The male mosquitoes will mate with indigenous female Aedes polynesienis, causing conditional sterility and resulting in mosquito population suppression. Adult and egg collection data from treated areas will be compared to those in the control site to examine for the effect of the released product on the indigenous population.

   A copy of the application and any information submitted is available for public review in the docket established for this EUP application as described under ADDRESSES.

   Following the review of the application and any comments and data received in response to this solicitation, EPA will decide whether to issue or deny the EUP request, and if issued, the conditions under which it is to be conducted. Any issuance of an EUP will be announced in the Federal Register.

   List of Subjects

   Environmental protection, Experimental use permits.

   Dated: April 26, 2012.

   Keith A. Matthews,

   Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

   FR Doc. 2012-11087 Filed 5-7-12; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 6560-50-P