[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13375-13376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7061]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181040; FRL 5596-5]
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 Texas
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 1.8 million 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 April 4, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-181040,'' 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-181040]. 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
[[Page 13376]]
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 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: David Deegan, Registration
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office
location, telephone number and e-mail: 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
Texas is likely to experience a non-routine infestation of aphids
during the 1997 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 of
flowable carbofuran on cotton 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 (April 1, 1997 until September 30, 1997) in Texas 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 1.8 million acres. If all acres were treated at the maximum
proposed rates, then 900,000 lbs. a.i. (225,000 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-1810040] (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 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 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 Texas Department of Agriculture.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency
exemptions.
Dated: March 13, 1997.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-7061 Filed 3-19-97 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F