[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19398]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 10, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-66197; FRL-4902-8]

 

Product Containing Methyl Bromide and 1,3-Dichloropropene; 
Voluntary Cancellation of Registration

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; Receipt of Request to Cancel and Cancellation Order.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received a request from Soil Chemicals Corp., Inc., to 
voluntarily cancel its registration for a product containing the active 
ingredients methyl bromide and 1,3-dichloropropene. EPA accepts and 
grants this request for voluntary cancellation.
DATES: This cancellation is effective August 10, 1994. Existing stocks 
of this product, Brom 70/30, may not be sold, distributed, or used 
effective August 10, 1994. The registrant has requested that the 90-day 
comment period be waived.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Lisa Nisenson, Special Review 
and Reregistration Division (7508W), Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location and telephone 
number: Special Review Branch, Rm. 2N6, 2800 Crystal Drive Arlington, 
VA (703)-308-8031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    This notice is issued pursuant to section 6(f)(1) of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 
136d(f)(1). It announces the Agency's decision to grant Soil Chemicals 
Corp.'s request for cancellation of the registration of Brom 70/30 (EPA 
registration number 8536-10).
    Brom 70/30 is a fumigant product used to control nematodes and soil 
fungi as well as several other soil-borne pathogens on strawberries, 
tomatoes, seed beds, and floral and nursery crops. This product 
contains 1,3-dichloropropene and methyl bromide, and EPA has recently 
taken action affecting the regulatory status of both of these active 
ingredients.
    1,3-Dichloropropene is registered by DowElanco and is marketed as 
Telone and Telone C-17. In addition to selling Telone as an end-use 
product, DowElanco also sells Telone to reformulators such as Soil 
Chemicals Corp., who add other active ingredients for specialized 
pesticidal needs. 1,3-Dichloropropene was placed in EPA's special 
review in 1986 based on cancer concerns for applicators and loaders. 
Groundwater contamination and possible residues in food were also 
noted. Several studies were required through the pesticide 
reregistration program to further define human exposure and potential 
ground water contamination.
    On October 7, 1992, EPA and DowElanco entered into an agreement to 
modify the registrations and labels of its 1,3-dichloropropene products 
to reflect risk-reduction measures. The risk reduction measures were 
sought both through use reduction and through 1,3-dichloropropene-
specific technology to reduce the amount of the chemical that escapes 
into the atmosphere. In addition, timeframes were set for all remaining 
studies, and DowElanco revised its product stewardship program to 
reflect the label changes. The agreement also specified that a clause 
be added to the Telone labels requiring that any product reformulated 
from or containing the Telone product bear an EPA-approved label 
containing all of the required changes in the timeframes specified in 
the agreement. EPA sent copies of the agreement to all registrants of 
products containing Telone with instructions as to how and when to 
respond.
    On May 24, 1993, Soil Chemicals Corp. submitted labels for the 
first label changes from the October 1992 agreement, which were to take 
effect June 30, 1993. Soil Chemicals Corp. submitted labels for its 
1,3-dichloropropene/chloropicrin products, as well as the Brom 70/30 
product. These labels were rejected because new uses had been added to 
the revised labels without proper compensation agreements, as well as 
for other deficiencies. Soil Chemicals Corp. resubmitted corrected 
revised labels for the products containing 1,3-dichloropropene and 
chloropicrin, but none for Brom 70/30. Because the Brom 70/30 label 
does not contain the required changes for 1,3-dichloropropene, this 
product is now misbranded under FIFRA section 12(a)(1)(E) and subject 
to enforcement action.
    In addition, EPA issued its final regulation for the worker 
protection standard (WPS) on August 21, 1992. The WPS provides basic 
information and protective measures for all persons involved in the 
handling of pesticides both during and after application. EPA decided 
to issue guidance for each fumigant separately since the chemical 
properties, and thus protective requirements, of each fumigant differ 
greatly.
    Due to 1,3-dichloropropene's small molecular size and high 
volatility, EPA requires tight-fitting protection, such as respirators, 
gloves, and face-sealing goggles. For methyl bromide, however, its 
corrosivity demands loose-fitting protective clothing. If tight-fitting 
clothing were also worn during methyl bromide use, the trapped chemical 
could cause serious skin damage.
    Because of the conflicting WPS requirements and noncompliance with 
the label requirements arising from the October 1992 agreement, EPA 
issued a letter to Soil Chemicals Corp. on March 7, 1994, outlining the 
issues as discussed above, and explaining regulatory options to address 
the non-compliance with both the Telone label and the WPS.

II. Request for Voluntary Cancellation

    In a letter dated March 21, 1994, Soil Chemicals Corp. requested 
voluntary cancellation of Brom 70/30. The company noted in the letter 
that it had not sold the product for the past 2 years and, further, 
claimed that neither the company nor supplemental distributors have any 
product under their custody. This claim is supported by results of a 
1990 Data Call-In that was issued to collect information on use, usage, 
and product performance from 1988 to 1990. Soil Chemicals Corp. 
reported no use of Brom 70/30. In addition, Soil Chemicals Corp. asked 
that the 90-day comment period allowed by section 6(f) of FIFRA be 
waived.

III. EPA's Decision on the Request for Voluntary Cancellation and 
Existing Stocks Determination

    EPA is hereby granting Soil Chemicals Corp.'s request to cancel the 
registration of Brom 70/30. EPA is not allowing the sale, distribution, 
or use of any existing stocks due to Soil Chemicals Corp.'s 
noncompliance with the October 1992 agreement and the requirements 
associated with the WPS. That standard mandates that any product sold 
after April 21, 1994 must bear language from the WPS. Because Soil 
Chemicals Corp. has not submitted a label for approval, any Brom 70/30 
product is out of compliance and subject to enforcement action. EPA 
expects little or no impact to distributors or users because the 
registrant reported no stocks in the channels of trade, and because the 
results of a 1990 Data Call-In for products containing 1,3-
dichloropropene showed no use of this product from 1988 to 1990.

IV. Cancellation Order

    Under section 6(f)(1) of FIFRA, a registrant may request at any 
time that EPA cancel any of its pesticide registrations. EPA must 
publish in the Federal Register a notice of receipt of the request to 
allow public comment before granting the request unless either the 
registrant requests a waiver of the notice or the Administrator 
determines that the continued use of the pesticide would pose 
unreasonable adverse affects on the environment. Soil Chemicals Corp. 
requested voluntary cancellation and waived any comment period.
    I approve the order cancelling the registration of Brom 70/30. 
Accordingly, this cancellation shall be effective and no person may 
distribute, sell, or use this product as of August 10,1994. Any sale, 
distribution or other disposition of existing stocks that is not 
consistent with the terms of this Order will be considered a violation 
of FIFRA section 12(a)(2)(K) and/or section 12(a)(1)(A), as 
appropriate.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Recording and 
recordkeeping requirements.

Dated: August 1, 1994.

Daniel M. Barolo,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 94-19398 Filed 8-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F