[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2446-2449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1402]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 185

[OPP-300394A; FRL-4983-6]
RIN 2070-AB78


Trifluralin; Revocation of Food Additive Regulation

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is revoking the food additive regulation (FAR) for 
residues of the herbicide trifluralin in peppermint oil and spearmint 
oil. EPA is taking this action because peppermint oil and spearmint oil 
are not ready-to-eat commodities, and residues of trifluralin are not 
likely to concentrate in ready-to-eat foods containing peppermint and 
spearmint oil. Therefore, this FAR is not required.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule becomes effective January 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written objections, requests for a hearing, and/or requests 
of stays identified by the document control number, OPP-300394A, must 
be submitted by February 26, 1996, and comments on all of the above 
must be submitted by March 11, 1996 to the OPP docket: Public Response 
and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office 
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Hand deliver to: Rm. 1132, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson 
Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA.
    Information submitted as a filing concerning this document 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 filings 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 (non-CBI) filings 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.
    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-300394A]. 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: Niloufar Nazmi, Special 
Review Branch (7508W), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Office location and telephone number: Crystal 
Mall #2, Rm. 1113, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, (703)-308-
8028; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    EPA is revoking the FAR for residues of the herbicide trifluralin 
in peppermint oil and spearmint oil (40 CFR 185.5900).

A. Statutory Background

    The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 301 et 
seq., authorizes the establishment by regulation of maximum permissible 
levels of pesticides in foods. Such regulations are commonly referred 
to as ``tolerances.'' Without such a tolerance or an exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance, a food containing a pesticide residue is 
``adulterated'' under section 402 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and may not be legally moved in interstate 
commerce. 21 U.S.C. 331, 342. EPA was authorized to establish pesticide 
tolerances under Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970. 5 U.S.C. App. at 
1343 (1988). Monitoring and enforcement of pesticide tolerances are 
carried out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA). EPA can establish a tolerance in 
response to a petition (FFDCA sections 408(d)(1) and 409(b)(1)) or on 
its own initiative (FFDCA sections 408(e) and 409(d)).
    The FFDCA has separate provisions for tolerances for pesticide 
residues on raw agricultural commodities (RACs) and tolerances on 
processed food. For pesticide residues in or on RACs, EPA establishes 
tolerances, or exemptions from tolerances when appropriate, under 
section 408 of the act (21 U.S.C. 346a.) EPA regulates pesticide 
residues in processed foods under section 409 of 

[[Page 2447]]
the act, which pertains to ``food additives'' (21 U.S.C. 348). Maximum 
residue regulations established under section 409 of the act are 
commonly referred to as food additive regulations (hereafter referred 
to as ``FARs''). Section 409 FARs are needed, however, only for certain 
pesticide residues in processed food. Under section 402(a)(2) of the 
FFDCA, a pesticide residue in processed food generally will not render 
the food adulterated if the residue results from application of the 
pesticide to a RAC and the residue in the processed food when ready to 
eat is below the RAC tolerance. This exemption in section 402(a)(2) is 
commonly referred to as the ``flow-through'' provision because it 
allows the section 408 raw food tolerance to flow through to the 
processed food forms. Thus, a section 409 food additive regulation is 
only necessary to prevent foods from being deemed adulterated when the 
level of the pesticide residue in a processed food when ready to eat is 
greater than the tolerance prescribed for the RAC, or if the processed 
food itself is treated or comes in contact with a pesticide.

B. Regulatory Background

    In the Federal Register of July 14, 1993 (58 FR 37862) EPA issued a 
final order, hereafter referred to as ``1993 Order'', that was subject 
to objections and requests for a hearing and that revoked the 
trifluralin FAR for peppermint oil and spearmint oil. The 1993 Order 
was issued in response to the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals, 
Ninth Circuit, in the case of Les v. Reilly, 968 F.2d 985 (9th Cir. 
1992), cert. denied, 113 S.Ct. 1361 (1993). DowElanco, the manufacturer 
of trifluralin, filed objections to the revised Order, as well as 
requests for a hearing on, and a stay of, the revocation Order. In the 
Federal Register of June 30, 1994 (59 FR 33684), EPA issued a final 
order (hereafter referred to as ``1994 Order'') denying DowElanco's 
objections and requests for a hearing and a stay of the revocation. On 
July 14, 1994, DowElanco filed an action in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 
D.C. Circuit, for review of EPA's 1993 Order, and moved for summary 
reversal or, in the alternative, an emergency stay of the revocation. 
E.I. DuPont DeNemours and Co., et al. v. EPA, Civ. Action No. 94-1504 
(D.C. Cir.). On August 24, 1994, the Court denied DowElanco's motion 
for summary reversal, but issued an emergency stay of the revocation. 
In the Federal Register of September 12, 1994 (59 FR 46768), EPA 
reinstated the FAR for trifluralin (as well as for benomyl), and they 
are currently in effect.
    On September 11, 1992, the National Food Processors Association 
(NFPA) and other organizations filed a petition with EPA challenging, 
among other things, EPA's interpretation of the phrase ``ready to eat'' 
in the Delaney Clause. (Petition to the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Concerning EPA's Pesticide 
Concentration Policy (1992)) (hereinafter cited as ``NFPA petition''). 
The petition requested that EPA apply the term ``ready to eat'' in the 
flow-through provision according to what NFPA asserts is its plain 
meaning. EPA sought public comment on the petition (58 FR 7470, Feb. 5, 
1993). In the Federal Register of June 14, 1995 (60 FR 31300), EPA 
issued a partial response to the NFPA petition, addressing the ``ready 
to eat'' policy. In that response, EPA agreed that the term ``ready to 
eat'' food has a common-sense meaning of food which is consumed without 
further preparation, and stated its intention to apply that 
interpretation in future actions.
    In the Federal Register of July 28, 1995 (60 FR 38781), EPA issued 
a proposed rule to revoke the FAR for trifluralin on peppermint and 
spearmint oils. In the same proposed rule, EPA proposed to withdraw its 
Order dated July 14, 1993 (58 FR 37862), to the extent that it revoked 
the FAR for trifluralin in peppermint oil and spearmint oil. Today's 
document contains a final rule revoking the trifluralin FAR and 
responds to comments on the July 28, 1995 proposal

II. Revocation of the Food Additive Regulations for Trifluralin in 
Peppermint Oil and Spearmint Oil

    EPA has determined that no section 409 FAR is necessary for mint 
oils because they are not ``ready to eat'' processed foods, and because 
``ready to eat'' foods containing mint oils are unlikely to have 
trifluralin residues greater than the RAC tolerances for peppermint hay 
and spearmint hay. The proposed rule for this action was published in 
the Federal Register of July 28, 1995 (60 FR 38781). The Federal 
Register document and all the supporting documents are in the OPP 
docket number 300394.
    As noted above, under FFDCA section 402(a)(2), processed foods 
containing pesticide residues are not deemed adulterated if the level 
of pesticide residues in the processed food ``when ready to eat is not 
greater than the tolerance prescribed for the raw agricultural 
commodity.'' EPA believes that the common sense meaning of the term 
``ready to eat'' food is food ready for consumption without further 
preparation. Mint oils are not consumed ``as is'' but are used as a 
flavoring in other foods. As such, peppermint oil and spearmint oil are 
not ``ready to eat.''
    Mint oils are used as flavoring agents in foods such as beverages, 
ice cream, candy, and chewing gum. Chewing gum is a ready-to-eat food 
with the highest concentration of peppermint and spearmint oils. The 
information available to EPA shows that trifluralin residues are 
diluted during manufacturing so that there is no concentration over the 
RAC tolerance in the ready-to-eat chewing gum. Thus, no section 409 FAR 
is needed for peppermint oil and spearmint oil, and EPA is revoking the 
existing FAR. (60 FR 38781)

III. Response to Comments

    EPA received comments on the proposed revocation of the trifluralin 
FAR. All the commenters support the basis for the revocation of the 
referenced FAR. In addition, many of the commenters raise other issues 
that EPA believes are not relevant to EPA's conclusion that mint oils 
are not ready-to-eat commodities and that as a result, the section 409 
FAR covering residues of trifluralin in mint oils are not necessary. 
However, the following are brief responses to these comments.

 Comment

    The National Food Processor's Association (NFPA), the American Crop 
Protection Association (ACPA), DowElanco, and Gowan Co. submitted 
comments in support of the revocation of the proposed FAR and the 
withdrawal of the July 14, 1993 Order. However, NFPA, ACPA, and 
DowElanco contend that there are other controlling legal reasons why 
the 1993 and 1994 Orders must be withdrawn.
    The commenters contend that once it has been determined that 
trifluralin residues in mint oil are subject to the section 402 flow-
through provision, the 1993 and 1994 Orders must be withdrawn because 
those Orders purported to revoke the FAR on the grounds that the 
pesticide ``induces cancer'' within the meaning of the Delaney clause. 
The commenters contend that, as a matter of law, EPA is precluded from 
revoking a section 409 FAR under the safety standard in section 409(c) 
if EPA has determined, as it has here, that the FAR is not needed to 
prevent the adulteration of processed food.
    According to the commenters, the flow-through provision prohibits 
EPA from determining that an agricultural pesticide in a processed food 
is ``unsafe,'' notwithstanding the 

[[Page 2448]]
provisions of section 409, if the pesticide residue has been removed to 
the extent possible in good manufacturing practice and the level of the 
residue in the processed food when ready to eat is not greater than the 
applicable section 408 tolerance. Thus, the commenters reason that 
since EPA has decided that trifluralin residues in mint oil are likely 
to fall within the protection of the flow-through provision, EPA is 
barred from revoking the trifluralin FAR on grounds that the pesticide 
``induces cancer'' within the meaning of the Delaney clause in section 
409 of the FFDCA. On June 10, 1995, NFPA separately filed a petition 
with EPA raising this same issue.

EPA's Response

    As will be explained in more detail in EPA's response to the June 
10, 1995 NFPA petition, the commenters' argument is without any legal 
basis. The commenters misunderstand the relationship between a section 
409 FAR and the flow-through provision. As a result of the flow-through 
provision, a FAR only has legal effect as to residues of the pesticide 
in processed food that exceed the residue levels qualifying under the 
flow-through provision. Thus, a finding that a pesticide does not meet 
the safety standard under section 409 and a revocation of a FAR based 
on such a finding has no effect on residues of the pesticide that are 
in compliance with the flow-through provision. Such a lack of safety 
finding under section 409(c) does not render pesticide residues in 
compliance with the flow-through provision unsafe. If a section 409 FAR 
is revoked, residues still retain the same legal safe harbor they 
always had under the flow-through provision. Accordingly, the flow-
through provision contains no bar to the revocation of a section 409 
FAR on safety grounds.

Comment

    DowElanco further requests that the Agency explicitly acknowledge 
that DowElanco and other adversely affected parties will not be 
precluded from challenging any ``induce cancer'' finding for 
trifluralin in any future FFDCA tolerance revocation actions. DowElanco 
insists that without such an acknowledgement, today's Notice will not 
resolve the underlying controversy in the Dupont and DowElanco v. 
Browner litigation. In addition, DowElanco urges that the EPA should 
use today's Notice to clarify its position on chemicals classified as 
Group C carcinogens with quantification by the Reference Dose approach 
(or found not to be quantifiable). DowElanco further argues that by 
using the Reference Dose approach for quantifying risk, EPA is 
recognizing that the carcinogenic risk is so uncertain that it is 
disregarded for evaluating risk.

EPA's Response

    EPA believes that there are no additional trifluralin tolerances or 
FARs that are likely to be revoked on grounds that trifluralin 
``induces cancer.'' The trifluralin Reregistration Eligibility 
Document, which will soon be issued by EPA, indicates that there are no 
section 409 FARs needed for this chemical. Therefore, EPA does not 
foresee a situation that would result in any hearings under the FFDCA 
on whether trifluralin ``induces cancer.'' However, as explained below, 
EPA will consider future hearing requests raising any evidence relevant 
and material to a finding that trifluralin ``induces cancer'' within 
the meaning of the Delaney clause when that finding serves as the basis 
for an order issued by EPA under the authority of sections 408 and 409 
of the FFDCA.
    EPA believes that precluding review of issues that could have and 
should have been raised in prior proceedings is an appropriate and 
essential policy and legal position for the Agency to take in FFDCA 
proceedings because it ensures that such Agency decisions are accorded 
finality. In the interest of administrative efficiency and economy, 
final determinations in such administrative proceedings deserve to be 
treated with the same finality as final determinations in judicial 
proceedings. Further, under section 409 of the FFDCA, the only way to 
prevent EPA from according finality to a section 409(f) order, and the 
legal and factual basis for that order, is to file objections within 
the time period specified, Nader v. EPA, 859 F.2d 747 (9th Cir. 1988), 
cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1931 (1989; and CNI v. Young, 773 F2.d 1356 
(1985).
    EPA found, in its 1990 and 1991 Orders, that trifluralin ``induces 
cancer'' but that because the trifluralin cancer risks were de minimis, 
EPA would retain the trifluralin FAR that was the subject of NRDC's 
petition. However, because EPA retained the FAR, and because this was 
the first proceeding of this nature under section 409 of the FFDCA, 
proponents of the FAR and chemicals, including DowElanco, may not have 
understood that their failure to raise objections to the cancer finding 
at that time could result in that finding being accorded finality by 
EPA. Given that such circumstances are not likely to be repeated, EPA 
believes it is appropriate to assure DowElanco that EPA will not assert 
in future FFDCA proceedings that the issue of whether trifluralin 
``induces cancer'' must or will be accorded finality based on EPA's 
1990 and 1991 Orders.
    Because EPA is providing the assurances requested by commenters, 
EPA believes there should be no objections to an EPA final order 
withdrawing the 1993 and 1994 Orders.

IV. Procedural Matters

A. Filing of Objections and Requests for Hearings

    Any person adversely affected by this final rule may file written 
objections to the final rule, and may include with any such objection a 
written request for an evidentiary hearing on the objection. Such 
objections must be submitted to the Hearing Clerk on or before February 
26, 1996. A copy of the objections and hearing requests filed with the 
Hearing Clerk shall be submitted to the Office of Pesticide Programs 
Docket Room. Regulations applicable to objections and requests for 
hearings are set out at 40 CFR parts 178 and 179. Those regulations 
require, among other things, that objections specify with particularity 
the provisions of the final rule objected to, the basis for the 
objections, and the relief sought. Additional requirements as to the 
form and manner of the submission of objections are set out at 40 CFR 
178.25. The Administrator will respond as set forth in 40 CFR 178.30, 
178.35, and/or 178.37 to objections that are not accompanied by a 
request for evidentiary hearing.
    A person may include with any objection a written request for an 
evidentiary hearing on the objection. A hearing request must include a 
statement of the factual issues on which a hearing is requested, the 
requestor's contentions on each such issue, and a summary of any 
evidence relied upon by the requestor. Additional requirements as to 
the form and manner of submission of requests for an evidentiary 
hearing are set out at 40 CFR 178.27. Under 40 CFR 178.32(c), the 
Administrator, where appropriate, will make rulings on any issues 
raised by an objection if such issues must be resolved prior to 
determining whether a request for an evidentiary hearing should be 
granted. The Administrator will respond to requests for evidentiary 
hearings as set forth in 40 CFR 178.30, 178.32, 178.35, 178.37, and/or 
179.20. Under 40 CFR 178.32(b), a request for an evidentiary hearing on 
an objection will be granted if the objection and request have been 
properly submitted and if the Administrator determines that the 
material submitted show: (1) There is a genuine and substantial issue 
of fact for resolution at a hearing; (2) There is a 

[[Page 2449]]
reasonable possibility that available evidence identified by the 
requestor would, if established, resolve one or more of such issues in 
favor of the requestor; and (3) Resolution of one or more of the 
factual issues in the manner sought by the person requesting the 
hearing would be adequate to justify the action requested.
    Any person wishing to comment on any objections or requests for a 
hearing may submit such comments to the Hearing Clerk on or before 
March 11, 1996.
     A record has been established for this rulemaking under docket 
number [OPP-300394A] (including 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-300394A], 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 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.

B. Effective Date

    EPA is making this final rule effective January 26, 1996 given the 
lack of adverse comments on EPA's proposed action. In addition, if EPA 
does not receive objections to this Order, this Order and the factual 
and legal basis for this Order become final and are not judicially 
reviewable. See section 409(g)(1), 21 U.S.C. 348(g)(1), and Nader v. 
EPA: 859 F.2d 747 (9th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1931 (1989).

C. Request for Stays of Effective Date

    A person filing objections to this final rule may submit with the 
objections a petition to stay the effective date of this final rule. 
Such stay petitions must be submitted to the Hearing Clerk on or before 
February 26, 1996. A copy of the stay request filed with the Hearing 
Clerk shall be submitted to the Office of Pesticide Programs Docket 
Room. A stay may be requested for a specific time period or for an 
indefinite time period. The stay petition must include a citation to 
this final rule, the length of time for which the stay is requested, 
and a full statement of the factual and legal grounds upon which the 
petitioner relies for the stay. In determining whether to grant a stay, 
EPA will consider the criteria set out in the Food and Drug 
Administration's regulations regarding stays of administrative 
proceedings at 21 CFR 10.35. Under those rules, a stay will be granted 
if it is determined that: (1) The petitioner will otherwise suffer 
irreparable injury; (2) The petitioner's case is not frivolous and is 
being pursued in good faith; (3) The petitioner has demonstrated sound 
public policy grounds supporting the stay; and (4) The delay resulting 
from the stay is not outweighed by public health or other public 
interests.
    Under FDA's criteria, EPA may also grant a stay if EPA finds such 
action is in the public interest and in the interest of justice.
    Any person wishing to comment on any stay request may submit such 
comments and objections to a stay request, to the Hearing Clerk, on or 
before March 11, 1996. Any subsequent decisions to stay the effect of 
this Order, based on a stay request filed, will be published in the 
Federal Register, along with EPA's response to comments on the stay 
request.

V. Regulatory Requirements

A. Executive Order 12866

    Under Executive Order 12866, 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 the order, a ``significant regulatory action'' 
is 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, and the environment, public health or safety, of 
State, local, or tribal governments or communities''; (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 the Executive Order. EPA has 
determined that this final rule is not a ``significant'' action under 
E.O. 12866. EPA is taking this action because it has determined that 
the food additive regulation for trifluralin is not needed. Therefore, 
the Agency expects that no economic impact will result.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The regulatory action has been reviewed under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act of 1980, and, as stated above, EPA expects that it will 
not have any economic impacts, including impacts on small entities.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This Order does not contain any information collection requirements 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 185

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedures, 
Agricultural commodities, Food additives, Pesticides and pests, 
Reporting and recordkeeping.

    Dated: January 19, 1996.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

    Therefore, 40 CFR part 185 is amended as follows:

PART 185--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 185 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346a and 348.

Sec. 185.5900   [Removed]

    2. By removing Sec. 185.5900 Trifluralin.

[FR Doc. 96-1402 Filed 1-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F