[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24149-24150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11303]


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 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 [OPP-34131B; FRL-6079-9]


Azinphos-Methyl, Revised Pesticide Risk Assessment; Notice of 
Public Meeting

  AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  ACTION:  Notice.

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  SUMMARY:  EPA will hold a public meeting to present the revised risk 
assessment for one organophosphate pesticide, azinphos-methyl, to 
interested stakeholders. This public meeting, called a ``Technical 
Briefing,'' will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about 
the data, information, and methodologies that the Agency used in 
revising its risk assessment for azinphos-methyl. In addition, 
representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will also 
provide ideas on possible risk management for azinphos-methyl.

  DATES:  The technical briefing will be held on Wednesday, May 19, 
1999, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

  ADDRESSES:  The technical briefing will be held at the Environmental 
Protection Agency, Rm. 1126, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis 
Hwy., Arlington, VA.

  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Barry O'Keefe, Special 
Review and Registration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (703) 308-8035; e-mail address: [email protected].

  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

 I. General Information

 A. Does This Action Apply To Me?

     This action applies to the public in general. As such, the Agency 
has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 
affected by this action. The Agency believes that a wide range of 
stakeholders will be interested in technical briefings on 
organophosphates, including environmental, human health, and 
agricultural advocates, the chemical industry, pesticide users, and 
members of the public interested in the use of pesticides on food. If 
you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a 
particular entity, consult the person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.

 B. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of This Document or 
Other Documents Discussed in This Notice?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document and other related documents from the EPA Internet Home Page at 
http://www.epa.gov/. To access this document, on the Home Page select 
``Laws and Regulations'' and then look up the entry for this document 
under the `` Federal Register--Environmental Documents.'' You can also 
go directly to the  Federal Register  listings at http://www.epa.gov/
fedrgstr/.
    To access information about organophosphate pesticides, you can 
also go directly to the Home Page for the Office of Pesticide Programs 
(OPP) at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/. In addition, a brief 
summary of the azinphos-methyl revised risk assessment is now available 
at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/status.htm/, as well as in paper as 
part of the public version of the official record as described in Unit 
I.B.2. of this document.
    2. In person or by telephone. If you have any questions or need 
additional information about this document, you may contact the person 
identified in the

[[Page 24150]]

``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.
     In addition, the Agency has established an official record for the 
organophosphate azinphos-methyl under docket control number OPP-34131B. 
The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced 
in this document. This official record includes the documents that are 
physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are 
referenced in those documents. The public version of the official 
record does not include any information claimed as Confidential 
Business Information (CBI). The public version of the official record 
is available for inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson 
Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

 II. Background

    This document announces the Agency's intention to hold a technical 
briefing for the organophosphate pesticide, azinphos-methyl. The Agency 
is presenting the revised risk assessments for azinphos-methyl to 
interested stakeholders. This technical briefing is designed to provide 
stakeholders with an opportunity to become even more informed about an 
organophosphate's risk assessment. EPA will describe in detail the 
revised risk assessment: Including the major points (e.g., contributors 
to risk estimates); how public comment on the preliminary risk 
assessment affected the revised risk assessment; and the pesticide use 
information/data that was used in developing the revised risk 
assessment. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to ask clarifying 
questions. In addition, representatives of the USDA will provide ideas 
on possible risk management.
     The technical briefing is part of the pilot public participation 
process that EPA and USDA are now using for involving the public in the 
reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food Quality Protection 
Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual organophosphate 
pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA). The pilot public participation process was developed as 
part of the EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC), 
which was established in April 1998 as a subcommittee under the 
auspices of EPA's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy 
and Technology. A goal of the pilot public participation process is to 
find a more effective way for the public to participate at critical 
junctures in the Agency's development of organophosphate risk 
assessment and risk management decisions. EPA and USDA began 
implementing this pilot process in August 1998 in response to Vice 
President Gore's directive to increase transparency and opportunities 
for stakeholder consultation.
    On the day of the technical briefing, in addition to making copies 
available at the meeting site, the Agency will also release for public 
viewing the azinphos-methyl revised risk assessments and related 
documents to the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch and 
the OPP Internet web site that are described in Unit I.B.1. of this 
document. In addition, the Agency will issue a Federal Register notice 
to provide an opportunity for a 60-day public participation period 
during which the public may submit risk management and mitigation 
ideas, and recommendations and proposals for transition.

 List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: April 30, 1999.

Lois Rossi,

Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-11303 Filed 4-30-99; 4:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F