[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14461-14462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7300]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-181054; FRL 5778-5]


Pyriproxyfen and Buprofezin; Receipt of Application for Emergency 
Exemptions, Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received specific exemption requests from the Arizona 
Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicant'') 
to use the insect growth regulators pyriproxyfen (CAS 95737-68-1) and 
buprofezin (CAS 69327-76-0) to treat up to 430,000 acres of cotton to 
control the sweet potato, or silverleaf whitefly Bemesia species. In 
the case of pyriproxyfen, the Applicant proposes the first food use of 
an active ingredient. Buprofezin is an unregistered material, and its 
proposed use is thus 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 exemptions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification 
notation ``OPP-181054,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and 
Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, 
bring comments to: Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis 
Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically to: opp-
[email protected]. Follow the instruction under ``SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.'' No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be 
submitted through e-mail.
    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 submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. Information not marked confidential may be included in the 
public record by EPA without prior notice. The public docket is 
available for public inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Andrea Beard, Registration 
Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office 
location, telephone number and e-mail: Rm. 267, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703-308-9356); 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 specific exemptions for the use of 
pyriproxyfen

[[Page 14462]]

and buprofezin on cotton to control the sweet potato, or silverleaf 
whitefly (SLW). Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was 
submitted as part of this request.
    The Applicant states that a new strain or possibly a new species, 
of whitefly, often referred to as the strain B of sweet potato 
whitefly, or silverleaf whitefly (SLW), has been a major pest of cotton 
in Arizona since the early 1990s, and since that time, has caused 
extensive damage to cotton and vegetable crops. The Applicant claims 
that adequate control of the SLW is not being achieved with currently 
registered products and alternative cultural practices. The Applicant 
points out that large populations of whitefly have demonstrated 
resistance to available insecticidal control. The Applicant indicates 
that one application of either one or the other of the requested 
chemicals would not provide adequate control throughout the season, and 
since application of either would be limited to one, is requesting the 
use of both materials. The Applicant indicates that without adequate 
control of the SLW in cotton, significant economic losses will be 
suffered.
    The Applicant proposes to apply pyriproxyfen at a rate of 0.054 lb. 
active ingredient (a.i.) per acre with a maximum of one application per 
crop season on up to 430,000 acres of cotton. The Applicant proposes to 
apply buprofezin at a rate of 0.35 lb., a.i. per acre with a maximum of 
one application per crop season on up to 430,000 acres of cotton. 
Therefore, use under these exemptions could potentially amount to a 
maximum total of 23,200 lbs. of pyriproxyfen and 150,500 lbs. of 
buprofezin.
    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 in the Federal Register for an 
application for a specific exemption proposing the first food use of an 
active ingredient, or for use of a new (unregistered) chemical. Such 
notice provides for opportunity for public comment on the application.
    The official record for this notice, as well as the public version, 
has been established for this notice under docket control number [OPP-
181054] (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 
official notice record is located at the address in ``ADDRESSES'' at 
the beginning of this document.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at: opp-
[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 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
the docket number [OPP-181054]. Electronic comments on this notice may 
be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
    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 Arizona Department of Agriculture.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency 
exemptions.

    Dated: March 12, 1998

James Jones,

Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 98-7300 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am]
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