[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 121 (Friday, June 23, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32640-32643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15427]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-300390; FRL-4962-6]
RIN 2070-AC18


Dimethoate; Pesticide Tolerance

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA proposes to establish an import tolerance for total 
residues of the insecticide dimethoate including its oxygen analog in 
or on the raw agricultural commodity blueberries. EPA is issuing this 
proposal on its own initiative pursuant to a project to harmonize 
certain tolerances with those established by the Canadian government.

DATES: Comments, identified by the document control number [OPP-
300390], must be received on or before July 24, 1995.

ADDRESSES: By mail, submit written comments 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, CM #2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202. Information submitted 
as a comment concerning this notice may be claimed confidential by 
marking any part or all of that information as ``Confidential Business 
Information'' (CBI). 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 CBI must be submitted for inclusion in 
the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed 
publicly by EPA without prior notice. All written comments will be 
available for public inspection in Rm. 1132 at the address given above, 
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays.
    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-300390]. No Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this 
proposed rule may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. 
Additional information on electronic submissions can be found below in 
this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Robert Forrest, Product 
Manager (PM) 14, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, [[Page 32641]] Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St. 
SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location and telephone number: Rm. 
219, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202, (703)-305-
6600; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Own its own initiative and pursuant to 
section 408(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 
U.S.C. 346a(e), EPA is proposing to amend 40 CFR 180.204 by 
establishing an import tolerance for total residues of the insecticide 
dimethoate including its oxygen analog in or on the raw agricultural 
commodity blueberries at 1 part per million (ppm). As part of the 
Canada-U.S. Trade Agreement (CUSTA), and through the Pesticides 
Technical Working Group's Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) Harmonization 
Pilot Project, the Canadian government has requested that the U.S. 
establish a tolerance of 1 ppm for residues of dimethoate in or on 
blueberries. This insecticide is registered for use on blueberries in 
Canada, but not in the U.S. The Canadian tolerance is 1 ppm. The Agency 
has reviewed Canadian crop field trial residue data and determined that 
they are adequate to support an import tolerance. All relevant 
materials have been evaluated. The toxicological data considered in 
support of the proposed tolerance include:
    1. A 3-month feeding study in rats fed diets containing 0, 2, 8, 
32, 50, and 400 ppm with a no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for plasma, 
red blood cell and brain cholinesterase inhibition of 32 ppm 
(equivalent to 1.6 milligrams (mg)/kilogram (kg)/day) and a systemic 
NOEL of 50 ppm (equivalent to 2.5 mg/kg/day) based on depressed growth 
and food consumption, and increased kidney and liver weights ratios at 
the 400-ppm dose level.
    2. A 3-month feeding study in dogs fed diets containing 0, 2, 10, 
50, 1,500, and 3,000 ppm with a NOEL for red blood cell cholinesterase 
inhibition of 2 ppm (equipvalent to 0.05 mg/kg/day) and a NOEL for 
systemic effects of 50 ppm (equivalent to 1.25 mg/kg/day) based on 
tremors and decreased food consumption in females at the 1,500-ppm dose 
level.
    3. A 1-year feeding study in dogs fed diets containing 0, 5, 20, or 
125 ppm with a NOEL of less than 5 ppm (equivalent to less than 0.18 
mg/kg/day) based on decreased brain and red blood cell cholinesterase 
in males and decreased liver weight in females at the 5-ppm dose level.
    4. A two-generation reproduction study in rats fed diets containing 
0, 1, 15, or 65 ppm (equivalent to 0/0, 0.8/0.9, 1.2/1.3, or 5.46/6.04 
mg/kg/day for males/females) with a tentative reproductive NOEL of 15 
ppm based on decreased fertility in the F1b and F2a, and F2b matings; 
decreased pup weight during the lactation period for both sexes and 
generations; and decreased live births in the F2b litters.
    5. A developmental toxicity study in rats given gavage doses of 0, 
3, 6, or 18 mg/kg/day with no developmental toxicity observed under the 
conditions of the study. The NOEL for maternal toxcity was established 
at 6 mg/kg/day; rats fed 18 mg/kg/day (lowest-effect level) displayed 
hpersensitivity, tremors, and unsteady gait.
    6. A developmental toxicity study in rabbits given gavage doses of 
1, 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg/day from day 7 to day 19 of gestation with a 
developmental NOEL of 20 mg/kg/day based on significant reduction in 
fetal weight at the 40 mg/kg/day dose level. The maternal NOEL/LEL were 
10/20 mg/kg/day based on body weight decrement at 20 mg/kg/day.
    7. A 2-year chronic feeding/carcinogenicity study in rats fed diets 
containing 0, 5, 25, or 100 ppm (equivalent to 0, 0.25, 1.25, or 5.0 
mg/kg/day) with a systemic NOEL of 25 ppm based on increased female 
mortality, decreased male body weight gain, anemia in males, and 
increased leukocytes in male and female rats at the 100-ppm dose level. 
The NOEL for cholinesterase inhibition was established at 5 ppm based 
on cholinesterase inhibition at the 25-ppm dose level. In male rats, 
there were dose-related trends for (1) spleen hemangiosarcomas 
(malignant tumors associated with connective tissue and blood and lymph 
vessels); (2) combined spleen hemangioma (benign tumors) and 
hemangiosarcoma; and (3) combined spleen hemangioma and 
hemangiosarcoma, and skin hemangiosarcoma. Furthermore, there were 
significant pair-wise comparisons between control and the high-dose 
(100 ppm) for spleen (hemangioma/hemangiosarcoma) and in the combined 
tumors of spleen and skin hemangioma/hemangiosarcoma and lymph angioma/
angiosarcoma (benign and malignant tumors made up of lymph vessels). 
There was also a significant difference by pair-wise comparison between 
the control and low dose (5 ppm) for (1) lymph angiosarcoma, (2) 
combined lymph angioma and angiosarcoma, and (3) combined spleen and 
skin hemangioma/hemangiosarcoma and lymph angioma/angiosarcoma. There 
were no significant tumor increases in female rats.
    8. A 78-week carcinogenicity study in B6C3F1 mice fed diets 
containing 0, 25, 100, or 200 ppm (equivalent to 0, 3.75, 15, or 30 mg/
kg/day). In male mice there were significant dose-related incrased 
trends for (1) combined lung adenoma and/or adenocarcinoma, (2) for 
lymphoma, and (3) for the combined group of lymphoma, reticularsarcoma, 
and leukemia. In female mice there were significant dose-related trends 
for (1) liver carcinoma and for (2) combined liver adenoma and/or 
carcinoma.
    9. Dimethoate is regarded as a mutagenic compound based on the 
results of studies designed to determine gene mutation and structural 
chromosome aberrations. Dimethoate is a bacterial mutagen and shows 
equivocal results for gene mutations in mammalian cells. It produces 
clastogenic effects in several studies in vitro and in vivo, and there 
are suggestive results for dominant-lethal effects. The National 
Toxicology Program has concluded that dimethoate is a mutagenic 
compound based on its testing for gene mutation and chromosomal 
aberrations. A third category of studies to determine other genotoxic 
effects is a data gap for dimethoate.
    Dimethoate has been classified as a possible human carcinogen 
(category C) by the Office of Pesticide Programs' Health Effects 
Division's Peer Review Committee. The Peer Review Committee supports 
this classification based on the appearance of equivocal 
hemolymphoreticular tumors in male mice, the compound-related (no dose 
response) weak effect of combined spleen (hemangioma and 
hemangiosarcoma), skin (hemangiosarcoma), and lymph (angioma and 
angiosarcoma) tumors in male rats, and positive mutagenic activity 
associated with dimethoate.
    The Peer Review Committee concluded that the lung tumors seen in 
male mice were not biologically significant tumors related to compound 
administration since there were no statistically significant 
differences based on pair-wise comparisons with controls and each dose 
level. The incidence of lung tumors in the control groups was variable, 
and there was a high background level of these tumors. The increase in 
lymphoma observed in male mice in the high-dose group was of borderline 
statistical significance by pair-wise comparison with controls. The 
incidence of lymphoma in mice is also common and variable. The 
Committee agreed that the increased incidence for the combined 
hemolymphoreticular tumors in male mice is compound related, but could 
only classify this [[Page 32642]] incidence as equivocal. The incidence 
of hemolymphoporeticular tumors in male mice was relatively low and 
consistent with historical control, only occurred in one sex (males), 
and was evident only in the highdose group.
    The Committee concluded that in female mice there were no 
significant pair-wise comparisons, there was only the trend with 
combined tumors, and the combined incidence was similar to historical 
controls. In addition, there also was no evidence of precursor lesions 
to carcinogenicity. Regarding the carcinogenicity study in rats, the 
Committee concluded that although there were significant pair-wise 
comparisons at the low and high doses for all tumors combined, these 
tumors did not indicate much more than a weak effect.
    EPA has concluded that dimethoate poses no greater than a 
negligible cancer risk to humans; therefore, the Agency has chosen to 
use reference dose calculations to estimate dietary risk from 
dimethoate residues. The dietary risk exposure analysis used a 
Reference Dose (RfD) for dimethoate of 0.0005 mg/kg/body weight/day, 
based on a NOEL of 0.05 mg/kg/bwt/day for brain cholinesterase 
inhibition from a 2-year feeding study in rats, and an uncertainty 
factor of 100. The anticipated residue contribution (ARC) for the 
general population from published uses and the proposed use on 
blueberries utilizes 22 percent of the RfD. The ARC for the most highly 
exposed subgroup, nonnursing infants, from published uses and the 
proposed use on blueberries, utilizes 57% of the RfD.
    The nature of the residue in plants is adequately understood and an 
adequate analytical method, gas-liquid chromatography with a thermionic 
detector, is available for enforcement purposes. An analytical method 
for enforcing this tolerance has been published in the Pesticide 
Analytical Manual (PAM), Vol. II. No secondary residues in meat, milk, 
poultry, or eggs are expected since blueberries are not considered a 
livestock feed commodity.
    The pesticide is considered useful for the purpose for which the 
tolerance is sought. There are presently no actions pending against the 
continued registration of this chemical.
    Based on the information and data considered, the Agency has 
determined that the tolerance established by amending 40 CFR 180.204 
would protect the public health. Therefore, it is proposed that the 
tolerance be established as set forth below.
    Any person who has registered or submitted an application for 
registration of a pesticide, under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as amended, which contains any of the 
ingredients listed herein, may request within 30 days after publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register that this rulemaking proposal be 
referred to an Advisory Committee in accordance with section 408(e) of 
the FFDCA.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the 
proposed regulation. Comments must bear a notation indicating the 
document control number, [OPP-300390]. All written comments filed in 
response to this petition will be available in the Public Response and 
Program Resources Branch, at the address given above from 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
     A record has been established for this rulemaking under docket 
number [OPP-300390] (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 Rm. 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:
    opp-D[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 rulemaking, 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 rulemaking record which will also include all comments 
submitted directly in writing. The official rulemaking record is the 
paper record maintained at the address in ADDRESSES at the beginning of 
this document.
    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, Oct. 4, 1993), the Agency 
must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant'' and 
therefore subject to all the requirements of the Executive Order (i.e., 
Regulatory Impact Analysis, review by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB)). Under section 3(f), the order defines ``significant'' as 
those actions likely to lead to a rule (1) having an annual effect on 
the economy of $100 million or more, or adversely and materially 
affecting a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 
environment, public health or safety, or State, local or tribal 
governments or communities (also known as ``economically 
significant''); (2) creating serious inconsistency or otherwise 
interfering with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) 
materially altering the budgetary impacts of entitlement, grants, user 
fees, or loan programs; or (4) raising novel legal or policy issues 
arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the 
principles set forth in this Executive Order.
    Pursuant to the terms of this Executive Order, EPA has determined 
that this rule is not ``significant'' and is therefore not subject to 
OMB review.
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(Pub. L. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Administrator 
has determined that regulations establishing new tolerances or raising 
tolerance levels or establishing exemptions from tolerance requirements 
do not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. A certification statement to this effect was published 
in the Federal Register of May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

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

Dated: June 15, 1995.

Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, it is proposed that 40 CFR part 180 be amended as 
follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346a and 371.

    2. In Sec. 180.204, by amending paragraph (a) by amending the table 
therein to add and alphabetically insert the following commodity, to 
read as follows:


Sec. 180.204   Dimethoate including its oxygen analog; tolerances for 
residues.

    (a) *  *  *

                                                                                                                
[[Page 32643]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Parts per 
                         Commodity                             million  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                  *        *        *        *        *                 
Blueberries\1\.............................................            1
                                                                        
                  *        *        *        *        *                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\There are no U.S. registrations as of (date of publication of final  
  rule) for dimethoate on blueberries.                                  

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 95-15427 Filed 6-20-95; 1:50 pm]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-F