[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27507-27508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12568]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-180971; FRL 4953-5]


Pirimicarb; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, 
Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received specific exemption requests from the Idaho, 
Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming Departments of Agriculture 
(hereafter referred to as the ``Applicants'') for use of the 
unregistered insecticide, pirimicarb, to control aphids and lygus bugs 
on alfalfa grown for seed. The proposed use would impact up to 30,000 
acres in Idaho; 18,000 acres in Nevada; 10,000 acres in Oregon; 15,000 
acres in Washington; and 2,000 acres in Wyoming. 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 June 8, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification 
notation ``OPP-180971,'' should be 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, DC 20460. In person, bring comments to: Rm. 
1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending 
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Electronic 
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be 
accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
the docket number [OPP-180971]. No Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this 
notice may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. 
Additional information on electronic submissions can be found below in 
this document.
    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 #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, 
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Larry Fried, Registration 
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office 
location and telephone number: 6th Floor, Crystal Station I, 2800 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-8328; Internet 
address: [email protected].

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 or will request the Administrator to issue a 
specific exemption for the use of the insecticide, pirimicarb, 
formulated as Pirimor 50-DF Insecticide manufactured by Zeneca Inc. to 
control aphids. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was 
submitted as part of this request.
    According to the Applicants, pirimicarb is the only known 
insecticide that provides control of aphids and lygus bugs without 
inflicting harm to the native bee populations following application. 
The use of the currently registered insecticides will present 
significant risk to beneficial organisms (native pollinating bees). The 
alfalfa industry heavily relies on bee pollination to ensure successful 
crop development. Over time, use of the registered products may be 
responsible for substantial bee kills that would profoundly impact the 
alfalfa seed industry and the ecosystem.
    Under the proposed exemption Pirimor 50-DF would be used at a rate 
[[Page 27508]] of [(1.0 to 3.0 oz., or 0.063 to 0.188 lb. of active 
ingredient (a.i.))] per acre per application, applied in a minimum 
application spray volume of 5 gallons per acre by air or 10 gallons per 
acre by ground. A maximum of three applications have been requested. If 
approved, a maximum total rate of 6 ounces of product will not be 
exceeded this growing season.
    The existence of state regulations/restrictions prohibit the use of 
any alfalfa byproducts of the seed industry for livestock feed. 
Applications would be made between May 1, 1995 and September 30, 1995.
    This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application itself. Pirimicarb is classified as a new chemical by the 
Agency. The regulations governing section 18 require that the Agency 
publish a notice of receipt in the Federal Register and solicit public 
comment on an application for a specific exemption if the applicant 
proposes use of a new chemical. Accordingly, interested persons may 
submit written views on this subject to the Field Operations Division 
at the address above.
     A record has been established for this notice under docket number 
``[OPP-180971]'' (including comments and data submitted electronically 
as described below). A public version of this record, including 
printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include 
any information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection from 8 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
public record is located in Room 1132 of the Public Response and 
Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:

    [email protected]


    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    The official record for this notice, as well as the public version, 
as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will 
transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form 
as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official 
record which will also include all comments submitted directly in 
writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the 
address in ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document.
    The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments 
received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the 
emergency exemptions requested by the Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, 
Washington, and Wyoming Departments of Agriculture.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Crisis exemptions

    Dated: May 8, 1995.

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

[FR Doc. 95-12568 Filed 5-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F