[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 73 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16485-16488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9282]



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[[Page 16486]]


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-00430; FRL-5363-1]


Proposed Testing Guidelines; Notice of Availability and Request 
for Comments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: EPA has established a unified library for test guidelines 
issued by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances 
(OPPTS), and is announcing the availability of proposed testing 
guidelines for the following two series: Series 835-Fate, Transport and 
Transformation Test Guidelines, and Series 850-Ecological Effects Test 
Guidelines. These test guidelines have been updated and harmonized, to 
the extent possible, with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD) guidelines for testing of chemicals, and other 
relevant international standards. A FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel 
(SAP) meeting to review the Series 835 and 850 test guidelines is being 
planned for late May, 1996. Complete details of this meeting will be 
published in a future Federal Register notice.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 17, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments in 
triplicate to: By mail: Public Response and Program Resources Branch, 
Field Operations Division (7506C), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 
M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person: Bring comments to: Rm. 
1132, CM#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-00430'' (FRL-5363-1). No Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic 
comments on this document may be filed online at many Federal 
Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic submissions 
can be found under ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.''
    Information submitted as a comment in response to this notice may 
be claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information 
as 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 docket. Information not marked confidential will be included 
in the public docket without prior notice. All statements will be made 
part of the record. Comments received after the FIFRA SAP meeting will 
be taken into full consideration by the Agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Series 835: By mail: Robert S. 
Boethling, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7406), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20460; telephone: (202) 260-3912; e-mail: 
[email protected].
    For Series 850: By mail: Leslie W. Touart, Environmental Fate and 
Effects Division (7507C), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (703) 305-6134; e-mail: 
[email protected] or Robert E. Morcock, Health and 
Environmental Review Division, OPPTS (7403), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 
(202) 260-1265; e-mail: [email protected].
    Copies of documents may be obtained by contacting: By mail: Public 
Docket and Freedom of Information Section, Field Operations Division 
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person or for courier pick-up: 
Office location and telephone number: Rm. 1132, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson 
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 305-5805. By internet: e-mail 
requests to: [email protected] or via the EPA Public Access 
Gopher (gopher.epa.gov) under the heading ``Environmental Test Methods 
and Guidelines.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency is revising its test guidelines 
for Fate, Transport and Transformation Tests (Series 835) and 
Ecological Effects Tests (Series 850). Guidelines in the 850 Series are 
for use by the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) and the Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and have been harmonized with 
those of OECD. Guidelines in the 835 Series being made available at 
this time are for OPPT. OPPT guidelines have been harmonized with those 
of OECD. The OPP guidelines will be made available at a later date. The 
proposed guidelines are being made available for comment. All 
interested parties are encouraged to submit comments on the proposed 
guidelines. Specific comments should reference the specific number and 
paragraph or subparagraph of the appropriate proposed guideline. 
Recommended technical or scientific changes/modifications should be 
supported by current scientific/technical knowledge and include 
supporting references. References may be to the published literature, 
studies submitted to the Agency in support of registration, and 
unpublished data. Citations must be sufficiently detailed so as to 
allow the Agency to obtain copies of the original documents and 
unpublished data supplied to allow their evaluation. Comments on the 
proposed guidelines will be considered by the Agency and such 
modifications of the guidelines considered to be of merit will be 
incorporated into the final guidelines.
    A record has been established for this notice under docket number 
``OPP-00430'' (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 
informaiton claimed as CBI, is available for inspection from 8:00 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:
    [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 following is the complete list of proposed guidelines being 
made available at this time:

[[Page 16487]]



                         Series 835--Fate, Transport and Transformation Test Guidelines                         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Existing Numbers          EPA Pub.
                                                                     ---------------------------------    no.   
          OPPTS Number                           Name                                                 ----------
                                                                           OTS         OPP      OECD     712-C- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
                                  Group A--Laboratory Transport Test                                            
                                                                                                                
835.1110                          Activated sludge sorption isotherm      none        none      none     96-298 
                                                                                                                
835.1210                          Soil thin layer chromatography        796.2700      none      none     96-047 
                                                                                                                
835.1220                          Sediment and soil adsorption/         796.2750      none      106      96-048 
                                   desorption isotherm                                                          
                                                                                                                
                                  Group B--Laboratory Abiotic                                                   
                                   Transformation Test Guidelines.                                              
                                                                                                                
835.2110                          Hydrolysis as a function of pH        796.3500      none      111      96-057 
                                                                                                                
835.2130                          Hydrolysis as a function of pH and    796.3510      none      none     96-059 
                                   temperature                                                                  
                                                                                                                
835.2210                          Direct photolysis rate in water by    796.3700      none      none     96-060 
                                   sunlight                                                                     
                                                                                                                
835.2310                          Maximum direct photolysis rate in     796.3800      none      none     96-066 
                                   air from UV/visible spectroscopy                                             
                                                                                                                
                                  Group C--Laboratory Biological                                                
                                   Transformation Test Guidelines.                                              
                                                                                                                
835.3100                          Aerobic aquatic biodegradation        796.3100      none      none     96-075 
                                                                                                                
835.3110                          Ready biodegradability                796.3180,     none      301      96-076 
                                                                          .3200,                                
                                                                          .3220,                                
                                                                          .3240,                                
                                                                          .3260                                 
                                                                                                                
835.3120                          Sealed-vessel carbon dioxide            none        none      none     96-311 
                                   production test                                                              
                                                                                                                
835.3170                          Shake flask die-away test               none        none      none     96-297 
                                                                                                                
835.3180                          Sediment/water microcosm                none        none      none     96-083 
                                   biogradation test                                                            
835.3200                          Zahn-Wellens/EMPA test                796.3360      none      302B     96-084 
                                                                                                                
835.3210                          Modified SCAS test                    796.3340      none      302A     96-085 
                                                                                                                
835.3220                          Porous pot test                         none        none      none     96-301 
                                                                                                                
835.3300                          Soil biodegradation                   796.3400      none      304A     96-088 
                                                                                                                
835.3400                          Anaerobic biodegradability of         796.3140      none      none     96-090 
                                   organic chemicals                                                            
                                                                                                                
                                  Group D--[Reserved]...............                                            
                                                                                                                
                                  Group E--Transformation Chemical-                                             
                                   Specific Test Guidelines.                                                    
                                                                                                                
835.5045                          Modified SCAS test for insoluble       795.45       none      none     96-097 
                                   and volatile chemicals                                                       
                                                                                                                
835.5154                          Anaerobic biodegradation in the        795.54       none      none     96-098 
                                   subsurface                                                                   
                                                                                                                
835.5270                          Indirect photolysis screening          795.70       none      none     96-099 
                                   test: Sunlight photolysis in                                                 
                                   waters containing dissolved humic                                            
                                   substances                                                                   
                                                                                                                
                                  Groups F-D--[Reserved]............                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                 Series 850--Ecological Effects Test Guidelines                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Existing Numbers          EPA Pub.
                                                                     ---------------------------------    no.   
          OPPTS Number                           Name                                                 ----------
                                                                           OTS         OPP      OECD     712-C- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
850.1000                          Special considerationd for              none        none      none     96-113 
                                                                                                                
                                  Group A--Aquatic Fauna Test                                                   
                                   Guidelines.                                                                  
                                                                                                                
850.1010                          Aquatic invetebrate acute             797.1300      72-2      none     96-114 
                                   toxicity, test, freshhwater                                                  
                                   daphnids                                                                     
850.1020                          Gammarid acute toxicity test           795.120      none      none     96-130 
850.1025                          Oyster acute toxicity test (shell     797.1800      72-3      none     96-115 
                                   deposition)                                                                  
850.1035                          Mysid acute toxicity test             797.1930      72-3      none     96-136 
850.1045                          Penaeid acute toxicity test           797.1970      72-3      none     96-137 
850.1055                          Bivalve acute toxicity test             none        72-3      none     96-100 
                                   (embryo larval)                                                              
850.1075                          Fish acute toxicity test,             797.1400     72-1, 3    203      96-118 
                                   freshwater and marine                                                        
850.1085                          Fish acute toxicity mitigated by      797.1460      none      none     96-117 
                                   humic acid                                                                   
850.1300                          Daphnid chronic toxicity test         797.1330      72-4      202      96-120 
850.1350                          Mysid chronic toxicity test           797.1950      72-4      none     96-166 
850.1400                          Fish early-life stage toxicity        797.1000      72-4      210      96-121 
                                   test                                                                         
850.1500                          Fish life cycle toxicity                none        72-5      none     96-122 
                                                                                                                
850.1710                          Oyster BCF                            797.1830      72-6      none     96-127 
                                                                                                                
850.1730                          Fish BCF                              797.1520      72-6,     305      96-129 
                                                                                      165-4                     
                                                                                                                
850.1735                          Whole sediment acute toxicity           none        none      none     96-354 
                                   invertebrates, freshwater                                                    
                                                                                                                
850.1740                          Whole sediment acute toxicity           none        none      none     96-355 
                                   invertebrates, marine                                                        
                                                                                                                
850.1790                          Chironomid sediment toxicity test      795.135      none      none     96-313 
                                                                                                                
850.1800                          Tadpole/sediment subchronic           797.1995      none      none     96-132 
                                   toxicity test                                                                
                                                                                                                
850.1850                          Aquatic food chain transfer             none        72-6      none     96-133 
                                                                                                                

[[Page 16488]]

                                                                                                                
850.1900                          Generic freshwater microcosm test,    797.3050,     none      none     96-134 
                                   laboratory                             .3100                                 
                                                                                                                
850.1925                          Site-specific aquatic microcosm       797.3100      none      none     96-173 
                                   test, laboratory                                                             
                                                                                                                
850.1950                          Field testing for aquatic               none        72-7,     none     96-135 
                                   organisms                                          165-5                     
                                                                                                                
                                  Group B--Terrestrial Wildlife Test                                            
                                   Guidelines.                                                                  
                                                                                                                
850.2100                          Avian acute oral toxicity test        797.2175      71-1      none     96-139 
                                                                                                                
850.2200                          Avian dietary toxicity test           797.2050      71-2      205      96-140 
                                                                                                                
850.2300                          Avian reproduction test               797.2130,     71-4      206      96-141 
                                                                          .2150                                 
                                                                                                                
850.2400                          Wild mammal acute toxicity              none        71-3      none     96-142 
                                                                                                                
850.2450                          Terrestrial (soil-core) microcosm     797.3775      none      none     96-143 
                                   test                                                                         
                                                                                                                
850.2500                          Field testing for terrestrial           none        71-5      none     96-144 
                                   wildlife                                                                     
                                                                                                                
                                  Group C--Beneficial Insects and                                               
                                   Invertebrates Test Guidelines.                                               
                                                                                                                
850.3020                          Honey bee acute contact toxicity        none        141-1     none     96-147 
                                                                                                                
850.3030                          Honey bee toxicity of residues on       none        141-2     none     96-148 
                                   foliage                                                                      
                                                                                                                
850.3040                          Field testing for pollinators           none        141-5     none     96-150 
                                                                                                                
                                  Group D--Nontarget Plants Test                                                
                                   Guidelines.                                                                  
                                                                                                                
850.4000                          Background--Nontarget plant             none        120-1     none     96-151 
                                   testing                                                                      
                                                                                                                
850.4025                          Target area phytotoxicity               none        121-1     none     96-152 
                                                                                                                
850.4100                          Terrestrial plant toxicity, Tier I      none        122-1     none     96-153 
                                   (seedling emergence)                                                         
                                                                                                                
850.4150                          Terrestrial plant toxicity, Tier I      none        122-1     none     96-163 
                                   (vegetative vigor)                                                           
                                                                                                                
850.4200                          Seed germination/root elongation      797.2750      122-1     none     96-154 
                                   toxicity test                                                                
                                                                                                                
850.4225                          Seedling emergence, Tier II           797.2750      123-1     none     96-363 
                                                                                                                
850.4230                          Early seedling growth toxicity        797.2800      123-1     none     96-347 
                                   test                                                                         
                                                                                                                
850.4250                          Vegetative vigor, Tier II             797.2750      123-1     none     96-364 
                                                                                                                
850.4300                          Terrestrial plants field study,         none        124-1     none     96-155 
                                   Tier III                                                                     
                                                                                                                
850.4400                          Aquatic plant toxicity test using     797.1160     122-2,     none     96-156 
                                   Lemna spp. Tiers I and II                          123-2                     
                                                                                                                
850.4450                          Aquatic plants field study, Tier        none        124-2     none     96-157 
                                   III                                                                          
                                                                                                                
850.4600                          Rhizobium-legume toxicity             797.2900      none      none     96-158 
                                                                                                                
850.4800                          Plant uptake and translocation        797.2850      none      none     96-159 
                                   test                                                                         
                                                                                                                
                                  Group E--Toxicity to                                                          
                                   Microorganisms Test Guidelines.                                              
                                                                                                                
850.5100                          Soil microbial community toxicity     797.3700      none      none     96-161 
                                   test                                                                         
                                                                                                                
850.5400                          Algal toxicity, Tiers I and II        797.1050     122-2,     none     96-164 
                                                                                      123-2                     
                                                                                                                
                                  Group F--Chemical-Specific Test                                               
                                   Guidelines.                                                                  
                                                                                                                
850.6200                          Earthworm subchronic toxicity test     795.150      none      207      96-167 
                                                                                                                
850.6800                          Modified activated sludge,             795.170      none      209      96-168 
                                   respiration inhibition test for                                              
                                   sparingly soluble chemicals                                                  
                                                                                                                
                                  Group G--Field Test Data Reporting                                            
                                   Guidelines.                                                                  
                                                                                                                
850.7100                          Data reporting for environmental        none        none      none     96-348 
                                   chemistry methods                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Test guidelines.

    Dated: April 5, 1996.

Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.
[FR Doc. 96-9282 Filed 4-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F