[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36376-36377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17326]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181015; FRL 5379-1]


Carbofuran, Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption; 
Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the 
Tennessee Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the 
``Applicant'') to use the pesticide flowable Carbofuran (Furadan 4F 
Insecticide/Nematicide) (EPA Reg. No. 279-2876) to treat up to 50,000 
acres of cotton to control cotton aphids.
    The Applicant proposes the use of a chemical which has been the 
subject of a Special Review within EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, 
and the proposed use could pose a risk similar to the risk assessed by 
EPA under the Special Review of granular carbofuran. Therefore, in 
accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is soliciting public comment before 
making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification 
notation ``OPP-181015,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public 
Response and Program Resource 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, Crystal Mall #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-181015]. No Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this 
notice may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. 
Additional information on electronic submissions can be found below in 
this document.
    Information submitted in any comment concerning 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 provided by the submitter for inclusion in 
the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed 
publicly by EPA without prior notice. All written comments filed 
pursuant to this notice will be available for public inspection in Rm. 
1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, 
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: David Deegan, Registration 
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office 
location and telephone number: Floor 6, Crystal Station #1, 2800 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-8327; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 18 of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), 
the Administrator may, at her discretion, exempt a state agency from 
any registration provision of FIFRA if she determines that emergency 
conditions exist which require such exemption. The Applicant has 
requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use 
of carbofuran on cotton to control aphids.
    Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as 
part of this request. As part of this request, the Applicant asserts 
that the state of Tennessee is likely to experience a non-routine 
infestation of aphids during the 1996 cotton growing season. The 
applicant further claims that, without a specific exemption of FIFRA 
for the use of flowable carbofuran on cotton to control cotton aphids, 
cotton growers in much of the state will suffer significant economic 
losses. The applicant also details a use program designed to minimize 
risks to pesticide handlers and applicators, non-target organisms (both 
Federally-listed endangered species, and non-listed species), and to 
reduce the possibility of drift and runoff.
    The applicant proposes to make no more than two applications on 
older cotton (bloom to finish) at the rate of 0.25 lb. active 
ingredient [(a.i.)], (8 fluid oz.) in a minimum of 2 gallons of 
finished spray per acre by air, or 10 gallons of finished spray per 
acre by ground application. The total maximum proposed use during the 
1996 growing season (June 1, 1996 until September 30, 1996) in 
Tennessee would be 0.5 lb. a.i. (16 fluid oz.) per acre. The applicant 
proposes that the maximum acreage which could be treated under the 
requested exemption would be 50,000 acres. If all acres were treated at 
the maximum proposed rates, then 25,000 lbs. a.i. (6,250 gallons 
Furadan 4F Insecticide/Nematicide) would be used.
    This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application itself. The regulations governing section 18 require 
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific 
exemption proposing use of a chemical (i.e., an active ingredient) 
which has been the subject of a Special Review within EPA's Office of 
Pesticide Programs, and the proposed use could pose a risk similar to 
the risk assessed by EPA under the previous Special Review. Such notice 
provides for opportunity for public comment on the application.
    A record has been established for this notice under docket number 
OPP-181015 (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 Room 1132 of the Public Response and Program 
Resource 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

[[Page 36377]]

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. Accordingly, interested persons may submit 
written views on this subject to the Field Operations Division at the 
address above.
    The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments 
received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the 
emergency exemption requested by the Tennessee Department of 
Agriculture.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pest, Crisis exemptions.

    Dated: June 12, 1996.

Stephen L. Johnson,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 96-17326 Filed 7-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F