[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60660-60661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29746]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-300505A; FRL-5750-3]
40 CFR Part 180
RIN 2070-AB78
Corn Gluten; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This document establishes an exemption from the requirement of
a tolerance for residues of corn gluten also known as corn gluten meal,
when used as an herbicide in or on all food commodities, when applied
in accordance with good agricultural practice. This exemption from
requirement of a tolerance is being established by the Agency on its
own initiative, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)
as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996.
DATES: This regulation becomes effective November 12, 1997. Written
objections and requests for hearings must be received by January 12,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the
docket control number [OPP-300505A], must be submitted to: Hearing
Clerk (1900), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. M3708, 401 M St.,
SW., Washington, DC 20460. Fees accompanying objections and hearing
requests shall be labeled ``Tolerance Petition Fees'' and forwarded to:
EPA Headquarters Accounting Operations Branch, OPP (Tolerance Fees),
P.O. Box 360277M, Pittsburgh, PA 15251. A copy of any objections and
hearing requests filed with the Hearing Clerk identified by the docket
control number, [OPP-300505A], must also be submitted to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and
Services Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person,
bring a copy of objections and hearing requests to Rm. 1132, CM #2,
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA.
A copy of objections and hearing requests filed with the Hearing
Clerk may be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail (e-
mail) to: [email protected]. Copies of electronic objections
and hearing requests must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Copies of
electronic objections and hearing requests will also be accepted on
disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. All copies of
electronic objections and hearing requests must be identified by the
docket control number [OPP-300505A]. No Confidential Business
Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Copies of
electronic objections and hearing requests on this rule may be filed
online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Freshteh Toghrol,
Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511W), Office of
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW.,
Washington, DC 20460. Office location, telephone number, and e-mail
address: 5th Floor, Crystal Station 1, 2805 Crystal Drive, Arlington,
VA; (703) 308-7014, e-mail: [email protected]..
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of July 18, 1997 (62
FR 38513) [OPP-300505; FRL-5717-8], EPA proposed, pursuant to section
408(e) of the FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(d) to amend 40 CFR 180.1164 by
establishing an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for corn
gluten in or on all food commodities, when applied in accordance with
good agricultural practice.
There were no comments received in response to the proposed rule.
Based on the reasons set forth in the preamble to the proposed
rule, EPA esablishes an exemption from tolerance for corn gluten as
provided below.
I. Objections and Hearing Requests
The new FFDCA section 408(g) provides essentially the same process
for persons to ``object'' to a regulation for an exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance issued by EPA under new section 408(e) as
was provided in the old section 408 and in section 409. However, the
period for filing objections is 60 days, rather than 30 days. EPA
currently has procedural regulations which governs the submission of
objections and hearing requests. These
[[Page 60661]]
regulations will require some modification to reflect the new law.
However, until those modifications can be made, EPA will continue to
use those procedural regulations with appropriate adjustments to
reflect the new law.
Any person may, by January 12, 1998, file written objections to any
aspect of this regulation (including the automatic revocation
provision) and may also request a hearing on those objections.
Objections and hearing requests must be filed with the Hearing Clerk,
at the address given under the ADDRESSES section (40 CFR 178.20). A
copy of the objections and/or hearing requests filed with the Hearing
Clerk should be submitted to the OPP docket for this rulemaking. The
objections submitted must specify the provisions of the regulation
deemed objectionable and the grounds for the objections (40 CFR
178.25). Each objection must be accompanied by the fee prescribed by 40
CFR 180.33(i). If a hearing is requested, the objections must include a
statement of the factual issue(s) on which a hearing is requested, the
requestor's contentions on such issues, and a summary of any evidence
relied upon by the objector (40 CFR 178.27). A request for a hearing
will be granted if the Administrator determines that the material
submitted shows the following: There is a genuine and substantial issue
of fact; there is a reasonable possibility that available evidence
identified by the requestor would, if established, resolve one or more
of such issues in favor of the requestor, taking into account
uncontested claims or facts to the contrary; and resolution of the
factual issue(s) in the manner sought by the requestor would be
adequate to justify the action requested (40 CFR 178.32). Information
submitted in connection with an objection or hearing request 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 information
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.
II. Public Record and Electronic Submissions
EPA has established a record for this rulemaking under docket
control number [OPP-300505A] (including any comments and data submitted
electronically). 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 Information and Records
Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7506C),
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal
Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Electronic comments may 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 rulemaking, as well as the public
version, as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly,
EPA will transfer any copies of 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 comments submitted directly in writing. The
official rulemaking record is the paper record maintained at the
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
III. Regulatory Assessment Requirements
This action finalizes an exemption from the tolerance requirement
under FFDCA section 408(e). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has exempted these types of actions from review under Executive Order
12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4,
1993). In addition, this final rule does not contain any information
collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose any enforceable duty or
contain any unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4). Nor does
it require any prior consultation as specified by Executive Order
12875, entitled Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership (58 FR
58093, October 28, 1993), or special considerations as required by
Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994), or require special OMB
review in accordance with Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of
Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997).
In addition, under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C.
601 et seq.), the Agency previously assessed whether establishing
tolerances, exemptions from tolerances, raising tolerance levels or
expanding exemptions might adversely impact small entities and
concluded, as a generic matter, that there is no adverse economic
impact. The factual basis for the Agency's generic certification for
tolerance actions published on May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950), and was
provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration.
IV. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office
Under 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A), as added by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, the Agency has submitted a
report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S.
Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General
of the General Accounting Office prior to publication of this rule in
today's Federal Register. This is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and record
keeping requirements.
Dated: October 27, 1997.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:
PART 180--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346a and 371
2. Section 180.1164 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to
read as follows:
Sec. 180.1164 Food and food by-products; exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance.
* * * * *
(c) Corn gluten (CAS Reg. No. 66071-96-3) is exempt from the
requirement of a tolerance on all food commodities when used as an
herbicide in accordance with good agricultural practice.
[FR Doc. 97-29746 Filed 11-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F