[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24160-24161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11170]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181069; FRL 6078-7]
Emamectin Benzoate, 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 a specific exemption request from the
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the
``Applicant'') to use the insecticide emamectin benzoate (CAS 137512-
74-4) to treat up to 150,000 acres of cotton to control the beet
armyworm. Emamectin benzoate 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 exemption.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 20, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-181069,'' 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 by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Follow the
instructions 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.
[[Page 24161]]
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. The docket is available for
public inspection at the Virginia address given above, 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, D.C. 20460. Office
location, telephone number and e-mail address: Rm. 271, 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 a specific exemption for the use
of emamectin benzoate on cotton to control beet armyworm. Information
in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this
request.
According to the Applicant, the beet armyworm (BAW) has been a
sporadic pest of cotton the past four years, and has caused major
economic losses throughout the cotton growing areas. BAW populations
were present in especially large numbers over the last growing season.
Key outbreak factors are mild winters; late planting; delayed crop
maturity; heavy early season organophosphate and pyrethroid use;
prolonged hot, dry weather; presence of the BAW early in the season;
and weather conditions that support migration of the adult moths. Much
of the acreage in question is in the boll weevil eradication program,
which requires insecticides that are harsh on natural enemies of the
BAW to be used early in the season. The applicant states that this, in
combination with lingering drought conditions and a mild winter are
expected to result in high BAW populations for the upcoming season.
Available insecticides are either ineffective, do not fit into the boll
weevil eradication program, or are not expected to be available in
sufficient quantities to treat all affected acreage.
Under the proposed exemption, emamectin benzoate may be applied at
a rate of 0.0075 - 0.01 lb., active ingredient (a.i.,) (6 - 8 oz.
product) per acre, with up to 3 applications during the growing season,
using ground or aerial equipment. If all acres are treated at the
maximum rate, this could potentially result in a total use of 4,500
lb., a.i., or 28,125 gal. of product.
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 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 under docket number (OPP-181069) 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 record is the paper
record maintained 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-181069). 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 Oklahoma Department of
Agriculture.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, pesticides and pests, emergency
exemptions.
Dated: April 23, 1999.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-11170 Filed 5-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F