[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2962-2963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-819]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-180956; FRL 4928-1]
Receipt of Applications for Emergency Exemptions to Use
Bifenthrin; Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA has received specific exemption requests from the
California Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Department of
Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicants'') to use the
pesticide bifenthrin [CAS 82657-04-3 (cis isomer) and CAS 83322-02-5
(trans isomer)] to treat up to 200,000 and 36,000 acres, respectively,
of cucurbits (cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash) to control the
sweet potato whitefly. In accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is
soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to
grant the exemptions.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-180956,'' should be [[Page 2963]] submitted by mail to:
Public Response and Program Resources 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 Applicants have
requested the Administrator to issue specific exemptions for the use of
bifenthrin on cucurbits to control the sweet potato whitefly.
Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of
this request. The sweet potato whitefly (SPWF) is a relatively new pest
on cucurbits. The SPWF has caused severe economic damage to several
other commodities nationwide including cotton, lettuce, squash, beans,
peanuts, and ornamentals. SPWF causes damage through feeding
activities, and also indirectly through the production of a honeydew,
which encourages growth of sooty mold and other fungi. This pest also
causes a physiological disorder resulting in irregular ripening of
fruit, believed to be caused by transmission of a geminivirus. The
Applicants claim that adequate control of the SPWF is not being
achieved with the currently registered compounds. The Applicants claim
that significant economic losses are expected in California and Texas
cucurbit production if the SPWF is not adequately controlled, and are
therefore requesting this use of bifenthrin.
The Applicants propose to apply bifenthrin at a maximum rate of 0.1
lb. active ingredient (a.i.) (6.4 oz. of product) per acre with up to
three applications allowed, and a maximum of 0.3 lb. a.i. per acre per
season, on a total of 200,000 acres of cucurbits in California, and
36,000 acres of cucurbits in Texas. It is possible to produce two
cucurbit crops per calendar year on a given acre, and therefore, the
acreage could potentially receive 6 applications, (maximum of 0.6 lb.
a.i. per acre) per calendar year. Therefore, use under these exemptions
could potentially amount to a maximum total of 120,000 lbs. of active
ingredient in California and 21,600 lbs. of active ingredient in Texas.
This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the
applications themselves. This is the fifth year that this use has been
requested under section 18. The regulations governing section 18
require that the Agency publish notice of receipt in the Federal
Register and solicit public comment on an application for a specific
exemption proposing use of a pesticide if an emergency exemption has
been requested or granted for that use in any 3 previous years, and a
complete application for registration of that use and/or a petition for
tolerance for residues in or on the commodity has not been submitted to
the Agency [40 CFR 166.24(a)(6)].
Accordingly, interested persons may submit written views on this
subject to the Field Operations Division at the address above. The
Agency will review and consider all comments received during the
comment period in determining whether to issue the emergency exemptions
requested by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the
Texas Department of Agriculture.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Crisis exemptions.
Dated: January 4, 1995.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 95-819 Filed 1-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F