[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5408-5409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2497]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181031; FRL 5584-3]


Azoxystrobin; 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 
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (hereafter referred to 
as the ``Applicant'') to use the pesticide azoxystrobin (CAS 131860-33-
8) to treat up to 85,000 acres of rice to control benomyl-resistant 
rice panicle blast and sheath blight. The Applicant proposes the use of 
a new chemical; 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 February 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification 
notation ``OPP-181031,'' 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-181031]. 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

[[Page 5409]]

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 No. 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis 
Highway, Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Libby Pemberton, Registration 
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office 
location, telephone number, and e-mail address: Floor 6, Crystal 
Station #1, 2800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-
8326; 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 azoxystrobin on rice to control rice panicle blast and sheath 
blight. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as 
part of this request.
    The Applicant states that widespread use of benomyl has reportedly 
resulted in the development of pathogen resistance to the chemical and 
consequent loss of benomyl as a chemical disease management measure in 
some crop production areas. Benomyl is the only recommended fungicide 
for blast and has not been effective consistently nor is it an 
effective treatment for severe blast occurrences. Data show that 
azoxystrobin is effective for controlling blast. Although sheath blight 
is considered the most important rice disease in Louisiana, rice blast 
may be more severe in individual fields. Yield losses of 80 percent 
have been experienced in individual fields planted to susceptible 
varieties. The Applicant estimates that treating the requested 85,000 
acres of rice would prevent losses of at least 1,000 lb/acre that would 
be valued at $92 per acre, or $7.8 million for the entire acreage.
    The Applicant proposes to apply azoxystrobin, manufactured by 
Zeneca Ag Products, as Quadris, at a maximum rate of 0.3 lbs. active 
ingredeint (a.i.) [6 oz. of product] per acre by ground or air, with a 
maximum of two applications per season. A 28-day PHI will be observed. 
Use under this exemption could potentially amount to a maximum 51,000 
lbs. of azoxystrobin.
    This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application. The regulations governing section 18 require publication 
of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific exemption 
proposing the use of a new chemical. Such notice provides for 
opportunity for public comment on the application.
     A record has been established for this notice under docket number 
[OPP-181031] (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 8:30 a.m. 
to 4 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.
    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. 
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 Louisiana Department of 
Agriculture and Forestry.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Crisis exemptions.

    Dated: January 21, 1997.

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

[FR Doc. 97-2497 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F