[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 5, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34867-34869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16431]



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[[Page 34868]]



ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-300392; FRL-4963-4]
RIN 2070-AB78


6-Benzyladenine; Removal of Tolerance and Establishment of 
Tolerance Exemption

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document removes a tolerance for combined residues of the 
plant growth regulator 6-benzyladenine and establishes an exemption 
from the requirement of a tolerance for the chemical in or on the raw 
agricultural commodity apples. This document is issued in response to 
the Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) regarding this chemical 
and a petition from Abbott Laboratories.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation becomes effective July 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the 
document control number, [OPP-300392], may be submitted to: Hearing 
Clerk (1900), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. M3708, 401 M St., 
SW., Washington, DC 20460. Fees accompanying objections and hearing 
requests shall be labeled ``Tolerance Petition Fees'' and forwarded to: 
EPA Headquarters Accounting Operations Branch, OPP (Tolerance Fees), 
P.O. Box 360277M, Pittsburgh, PA 15251. A copy of any objections and 
hearing requests filed with the Hearing Clerk should be identified by 
the document control number and submitted 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 copy of objections and hearing 
requests to: Rm. 1132, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 
22202.
    A copy of objections and hearing requests filed with the Hearing 
Clerk may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail 
(e-mail) to: [email protected]. Copies of objections and 
hearing requests must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of 
special characters and any form of encryption. Copies of objections and 
hearing requests will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 
file format or ASCII file format. All copies of objections and hearing 
requests in electronic form must be identified by the docket number 
[OPP-300392]. No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be 
submitted through e-mail. Electronic copies of objections and hearing 
requests on this 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: Philip Poli, Special Review 
and Reregistration Division (7508W), Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location and telephone 
number: Special Review Branch, Crystal Station #1, 3rd Floor, 2800 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, (703)-308-8038; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 6-Benzyladenine was first registered in the 
United States in 1979. It is a plant growth regulator used on certain 
fruit, white pine trees, calla lily tubers, and spinach grown for seed. 
In January 1990, the Agency classified 6-benzyladenine as a biochemical 
pesticide because it resembles natural plant regulators and it displays 
a nontoxic mode of action. The Reregistration Eligibility Decision 
(RED) document was issued for 6-benzyladenine in June 1994. Based on 
results of acute studies that indicate low toxicity, chronic studies 
were not required. In addition, because the use rate is low and 
application precedes harvest by approximately 4 months, the potential 
for dietary exposure is considered to be negligible (U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (USEPA). Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) 
document, N6-Benzyladenine, List B, Case 2040. June 1994.) The RED 
document proposed that the current apple tolerance be revoked and in 
its place an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance be 
established. In response to the RED, the pesticide registrant submitted 
a petition requesting a tolerance exemption on April 15, 1994.
    EPA issued a notice, published in the Federal Register of September 
28, 1994 (59 FR 49397), which announced that Abbott Laboratories had 
submitted a pesticide petition (PP) 4F4353 to EPA requesting that the 
Administrator, pursuant to section 408(d) of the Federal Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d), amend 40 CFR part 180 to 
establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues 
of 6-benzyladenine, N-(phenyl)-1H-purine-6-amine. No comments or 
requests for referral to an advisory committee were received in 
response to the notice. The September 28, 1994 Federal Register notice 
serves as the Agency's proposal to amend 40 CFR part 180 by removing 
the existing tolerance for apples and establishing a tolerance 
exemption for this chemical.
    Based on the data and information considered, the Agency concludes 
that the tolerance exemption will protect the public health. Therefore, 
the tolerance exemption is established as set forth below.
    Any person adversely affected by this regulation may, within 30 
days after publication of this document in the Federal Register, file 
written objections and/or request a hearing with the Hearing Clerk, at 
the address given above (40 CFR 178.20). A copy of the objections and/
or hearing requests filed with the Hearing Clerk should be submitted to 
the OPP docket for this rulemaking. The objections submitted must 
specify the provisions of the regulation deemed objectionable and the 
grounds for the objections (40 CFR 178.25). Each objection must be 
accompanied by the fee prescribed by 40 CFR 180.33(i). If a hearing is 
requested, the objections must include a statement of the factual 
issue(s) on which a hearing is requested, the requestor's contentions 
on such issues, and a summary of any evidence relied upon by the 
objector (40 CFR 178.27). A request for a hearing will be granted if 
the Administrator determines that the material submitted shows the 
following: There is a genuine and substantial issue of fact; there is a 
reasonable possibility that available evidence identified by the 
requestor would, if established, resolve one or more of such issues in 
favor of the requestor, taking into account uncontested claims or facts 
to the contrary; and resolution of the factual issue(s) in the manner 
sought by the requestor would be adequate to justify the action 
requested (40 CFR 178.32).
     A record has been established for this rulemaking under docket 
number [OPP-300392] (including any objections and hearing requests 
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.
    Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the document 
control number [OPP-300392], may be submitted to the Hearing Clerk 
(1900), 

[[Page 34869]]
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 3708, 401 M St., SW., Washington, 
DC 20460.
    A copy of electronic objections and hearing requests filed with the 
Hearing Clerk can be sent directly to EPA at:
    opp-D[email protected]


    A copy of electronic objections and hearing requests filed with the 
Hearing Clerk 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 any objections and hearing requests 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 objections and hearing requests 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 review by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) and the requirements of the Executive Order. Under section 3(f), 
the order defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action that 
is likely to result in 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 referred to 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 the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; 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 the 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).
    This final rule does not contain information collection 
requirements subject to review by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

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 27, 1995.

Lois A. Rossi,

Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, 40 CFR part 180 is 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.

Sec. 180.376   [Removed]

    2. By removing Sec. 180.376 6-Benzyladenine; tolerances for 
residues.
    3. In subpart D, by adding new Sec. 180.1150, to read as follows:


Sec. 180.1150   6-Benzyladenine; exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance.

    The plant growth regulator 6-benzyladenine is exempt from the 
requirement of a tolerance when used as a fruit-thinning agent at an 
application rate not to exceed 30 grams of active ingredient per acre 
(30 g ai/A) in or on apples.

[FR Doc. 95-16431 Filed 7-3-95; 8:45 am]
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