[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 25, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54605-54607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26061]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-300395A; FRL-4976-7]
RIN 2070-AB78


Cellulose Acetate; Tolerance Exemption

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document exempts cellulose acetate (CAS Reg. No. 9004-35-

[[Page 54606]]
7) when used as an inert ingredient (pesticide rate-release regulating 
agent) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops only. Consep, 
Inc., requested this regulation pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation becomes effective October 25, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the 
document control number, [OPP-300395A], 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-300395A]. 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: Mary Waller, Registration 
Support Branch, Registration Division (7505W), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location and 
telephone number: 6th Floor, 2800 Crystal Drive, North Tower, 
Arlington, VA 22202, (703)-308-8811; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of August 23, 1995 
(60 FR 43738), EPA issued a proposed rule that gave notice that Consep, 
Inc., 213 Southwest Columbia St., Bend, OR 97702-1013, had submitted 
pesticide petition (PP) 4E04401 to EPA requesting that the 
Administrator, pursuant to section 408(e) of the FFDCA (21 U.S.C. 
346a(e)), propose to amend 40 CFR 180.1001(d) by exempting cellulose 
acetate from the requirement of a tolerance. Cellulose acetate, when 
used as an inert ingredient (pesticide rate-release reglating agent) in 
pesticide formulations applied to growing crops only, under 40 CFR 
180.1001(d), meets the definition of a polymer under 40 CFR 723.250(b) 
and the criteria in 40 CFR 723.250(e) that define a chemical substance 
that poses no unreasonable risk under section 5 of the Toxic Substance 
Control Act (TSCA).
    Inert ingredients are all ingredients that are not active 
ingredients as defined in 40 CFR 153.125, and include, but are not 
limited to, the following types of ingredients (except when they have a 
pesticidal efficacy of their own): solvents such as alcohols and 
hydrocarbons; surfactants such as polyoxyethylene polymers and fatty 
acids; carriers such as clay and diatomaceouse earth; thickeners such 
as carrageenan and modified cellulose; wetting, spreading, and 
dispersing agents; propellants in aerosol dispensers; 
microencapsulating agents; and emulsifiers. The term ``inert'' is not 
intended to imply nontoxicity; the ingredient may or may not be 
chemically active.
    There were no comments or requests for referral to an advisory 
committee received in response to the proposed rule.
    The data submitted with the proposal and other relevant material 
have been evaluated and discussed in the proposed rule. 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-300395A] (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-300395A], may be submitted to the Hearing Clerk 
(1900), 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 

[[Page 54607]]
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).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

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

    Dated: September 28, 1995.

Peter Caulkins,

Acting Director, Registration 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.

    2. Section 180.1001(d) is amended in the table therein by adding 
and alphabetically inserting the inert ingredient, to read as follows:


Sec. 180.1001   Exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance.

* * * * *
    (d) *  *  *

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       Inert ingredient             Limits                 Uses         
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         *        *        *        *        *        *        *        
Cellulose acetate (CAS Reg.      ..............  Pesticide rate-release 
 No. 9004-35-7), minimum                          regulating agent.     
 number average molecular                                               
 weight 28,000.                                                         
                                                                        
         *        *        *        *        *        *        *        
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[FR Doc. 95-26061 Filed 10-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F