[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26591-26592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12580]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00535; FRL-5786-8]


 Changes to Registration Priority System Involving 
Organophosphate (OP) Alternatives and Reduced Risk Candidates

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: EPA is soliciting comments on a draft, updated policy for the 
prioritization and expedited review of applications for significant OP 
alternative new active ingredients and new use registration 
applications for

[[Page 26592]]

conventional pesticides handled by the Registration Division (RD). This 
proposed policy would also change how reduce-risk candidates will be 
treated in the priority system. The proposal is available as a draft 
Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice entitled ``Changes to Registration 
Priority System Involving Organophosphate (OP) Alternatives and Reduced 
Risk Candidates,'' which is available upon request as indicated under 
Unit IV.

DATES: Written comments, identified by the docket number [OPP-00535], 
must be received on or before June 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the docket control 
number OPP-00535 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 directly to the OPP 
Docket Office, which is located in Room 119 of Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic 
mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Follow the instructions 
under Unit IV of this document. No Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
    Information submitted as a comment concerning this document 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 will be included in the 
public docket by EPA without prior notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Peter Caulkins, Environmental 
Protection Agency (7505C), 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office 
location and telephone number: Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis 
Highway, Arlington, VA, 22202, (703) 305-5447, fax: (703) 305-6920, e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Federal Register notice announces the 
availability of the draft Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice and 
solicits comments on the proposed guidance.
Electronic Availability:
Internet
    Electronic copies of this document and the draft PR Notice also are 
available from the EPA Home page at the Federal Register - 
Environmental Documents entry for this document under ``Laws and 
Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
Fax-on-Demand
    Using a faxphone call (202) 401-0527 and select item 6111 for a 
copy of this document and the PR Notice.

I. Purpose

    The purpose of the proposed PR Notice is to update EPA's policy for 
the prioritization and expedited review of applications for significant 
OP alternative new active ingredients and new uses for conventional, 
primarily agricultural pesticides. This notice also changes how reduce-
risk candidates will be treated in the priority system.

II. Background

    The Office of Pesticide Programs' (OPP) Reduced-Risk Committee has 
screened five active ingredients (AIs) that are potentially significant 
alternatives for OPs. These five AIs have all passed the reduced-risk 
screen and have been placed into expedited review. Given how important 
it will be to have as many OP alternatives in the market as possible, 
OPP will use the reduced-risk screening mechanism to identify 
significant OP alternatives. If the Reduced-Risk Committee determines 
that a pending registration action is a potentially significant OP 
alternative, it could recommend that action for expedited review even 
if it does not qualify for reduced-risk status.

III. Policy Change

    The proposed PR notice would amend the EPA's current priority 
scheme by making OP alternatives that pass the reduced-risk screen 
would be the second highest priority (#2) behind methyl bromide 
alternatives (#1). Also, any submission that is determined to be a 
significant OP alternative, which is not granted reduced-risk status, 
but is recommended by the Reduced-Risk Committee for expedited review, 
would become an Agency priority as well. Furthermore, any submission 
that passes the reduced-risk screen would become an Agency priority. An 
Agency priority does not count against a company's limit of five 
priorities.

IV. Public Record and Electronic Submissions

    A record has been established for this action under docket number 
``OPP-00535'' (including comments and data submitted electronically as 
described above). 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 Rm. 119 of the Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division, Office 
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall 
#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    The official record for this action, 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 in writing. The 
official record is the paper record maintained at the address in 
ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document.

V. Schedule for Finalizing the PR Notice

    EPA plans to issue and make effective the final PR Notice as soon 
as possible. We anticipate that the guidance will be made final and 
effective within the next 3 months.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agricultural pesticides.

    Dated: April 22, 1998.

James Jones,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 98-12580 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
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