[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14460-14461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7302]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-181055; FRL 5779-4]


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 
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (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 45,000 
acres of citrus to control California Red Scale. 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-181055,'' 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 and buprofezin on citrus to control California Red Scale. 
Information in

[[Page 14461]]

accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.
    The Applicant states that California Red Scale is a key pest of 
citrus, and the single most costly pest to control. The Applicant 
states that in the past, treatments were not required every year for 
this pest, but in recent years resistance to the registered materials 
has built up and growers have had to treat up to three times in a 
single year. Alternative methods of control (parasite releases and 
packing house washers) are applied where feasible; however, the 
Applicant asserts that a a different chemistry with a different mode of 
action is necessary to control the scale. The Applicant asserts that 
with continued frequent use of currrently registered materials, 
increased resistance is likely, and these materials will quickly become 
wholy ineffective, leaving growers with no tools to control these 
damaging pests. The Applicant states that without adequate control of 
scale in citrus, significant economic losses are expected. 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 proposes to apply pyriproxyfen at a rate of 0.108 lb. 
active ingredient (a.i.) per acre with a maximum of one application per 
crop season on up to 45,000 acres of citrus. The Applicant proposes to 
apply buprofezin at a maximum rate of 2.0 lbs. a.i. per acre with a 
maximum of one application per crop season on up to 45,000 acres of 
cotton. Therefore, use under these exemptions could potentially amount 
to a maximum total of 4,860 lbs. of pyriproxyfen and 90,000 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 number [OPP-181055] 
(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 in 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
the docket number [OPP-181055]. 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 California Department of Pesticide 
Regulation.

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. 98-7302 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am]
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