[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9572]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 20, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-180936; FRL 4774-6]

 

Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption To Use 
Imidacloprid; Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Idaho 
Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicant'') 
to use the pesticide Imidacloprid (CAS 105827-78-9) to treat up to 
7,500 acres of apples to control aphids. The Applicant proposes the 
first food use of an active ingredient; therefore, in accordance with 
40 CFR 166.24, EPA is soliciting public comment before making the 
decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 5, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification 
notation ``OPP-180936,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public 
Response and Program Resource Branch, Field Operations Division 
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. In person, bring comments to: 
Rm. 1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Information submitted in any comment concerning this notice may be 
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as 
``Confidential Business Information.'' Information so marked will not 
be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR 
part 2. A copy of the comment that does not contain Confidential 
Business Information must be provided by the submitter for inclusion in 
the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed 
publicly by EPA without prior notice. All written comments filed 
pursuant to this notice will be available for public inspection in Rm. 
1132, Crystal Mall No. 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, 
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Andrea Beard, Registration 
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. Office 
location and telephone number: Floor 6, Crystal Station #1, 2800 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-8791.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 18 of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), 
the Administrator may, at her discretion, exempt a State agency from 
any registration provision of FIFRA if she determines that emergency 
conditions exist which require such exemption. The Applicant has 
requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use 
of imidacloprid on apples to control aphids. Information in accordance 
with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.
    The Applicant states that aphids have been a chronic pest of apples 
in Idaho. Aphids feed on the plant tissues, which can stunt growth and 
affect future productivity of young trees, and causes fruit damage on 
large, vigorous trees. Aphids excrete large amounts of honeydew which 
drips on the fruit, causing russetting or providing a substrate for the 
growth of sooty mold, reducing the value of the fruit, which must be 
diverted to a processing market. The Applicant states that some of the 
once effective registered alternative pesticides have lost much of 
their effectiveness due to development of resistant aphid populations; 
other alternative pesticides are said to only provide suppression. One 
of the registered alternatives (phosphamidon) that was still somewhat 
effective was withdrawn from the market in 1991, due to non-support for 
re-registration, and existing stocks have been mostly depleted. Another 
chemical (mevinphos), although not recommended for this use, was used 
in 1993 by some, due to lack of alternatives, and subsequent cases of 
occupational poisoning of farm workers using this material led the 
manufacturer to remove uses for apples and pears from the product 
label, because of human risk concerns. Therefore, the Applicant claims 
that Idaho apple growers are left without adequate means to control 
aphids. The Applicant states that information collected last year for 
one sampling of apples indicated a 33 percent loss in crop value due to 
aphid damage.
    The Applicant proposes to apply imidacloprid at a maximum rate of 
0.1 lb. active ingredient (a.i.), or 6.4 fluid oz. of product, per acre 
with a maximum of 5 applications on up to 7,500 acres of apples, with 
no more than 0.5 lb. a.i. (32 fluid oz. of product) applied per year. 
This amounts to a possible total of 3,750 lbs. of a.i., or 1,875 gal. 
of product. This is the first time that the Applicant has applied for 
the use of imidacloprid on apples.
    This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application itself. The regulations governing section 18 require 
publication of a notice of receipt in the Federal Register and solicit 
public comment on an application for a specific exemption proposing the 
first food use of an active ingredient. Accordingly, interested persons 
may submit written views on this subject to the Field Operations 
Division at the address above.
    The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments 
received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the 
emergency exemption requested by the Idaho Department of Agriculture.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Crisis exemptions.

    Dated: April 7, 1994.

Stephen L. Johnson,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 94-9571 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-64021; FRL 4771-6]

Notice of Receipt of Request to Amend Mevinphos 
(Phosdrin) Through Deletion of Certain Sites from Label

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of receipt of request to amend and request for waiver.

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SUMMARY: This notice, issued pursuant to section 6(f)(1) of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 
136d(f)(1), announces EPA's receipt of a request from the sole 
registrant Amvac Chemical Corporation of Los Angeles, California, for 
the amendment of its mevinphos registration through voluntary deletion 
of 26 sites from the label and a request to waive the 90-day comment 
period on this notice.

DATES: The deletions shall be effective April 20, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Joshua First, Special Review 
Branch, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508W), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Office location and telephone number: Special Review Branch, 3rd floor, 
2800 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, (703) 308-8032.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Decision Not to Support in Reregistration of Certain Uses

    Amvac Chemical Corp. has requested the deletions because the 
company no longer wishes to support the sites through the 
reregistration process.

II. Deletions Pursuant to Request for Voluntary Deletion from Label

    The following 26 sites are being deleted from the label: alfalfa, 
apples, beans, beets, carrots, cherries, clover, corn, cucumbers, dried 
peas, eggplant, grapefruit, okra, onions, oranges, peaches, pears, 
peppers, plums, potatoes, raspberries, sorghum, summer squash, 
tomatoes, turnip (all), and walnuts.

III. Existing Stocks

    For the purpose of this order, existing stocks are defined as those 
stocks of mevinphos products that were in the United States and were 
formulated prior to December 20, 1993. Mevinphos products with labels 
predating this date may be sold and distributed until December 20, 
1994.
    EPA will not permit the continued sale or distribution of mevinphos 
products with labels containing the deleted uses after December 20, 
1994. Sale or distribution of these products after this date will be a 
violation of federal law.
    EPA reserves the right to amend this existing stocks provision, 
should conditions warrant such amendment.

IV. Registrations Subject to Label Deletions

    The EPA registrations subject to this notice are: 5481-411, 5481-
425, 5481-113, 5481-114, 5481-248, and 5481-412.

V. Deletion Request Approval

    EPA approves the deletion of the above 26 sites, as well as the 
determination that from the date of this notice, all sale, 
distribution, and use of the existing stocks of these products shall 
cease within 1 year. Accordingly, this deletion order shall become 
effective April 20, 1994.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and 
pests.

    Dated: April 7, 1994.

Douglas D. Campt,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 94-9572 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F