[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27258-27260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12591]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34131C; FRL-6082-3]


Organophosphate Pesticide: Azinphos-Methyl; Availability of 
Revised Risk Assessments and Public Participation on Risk Management

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notices announces the availability of the revised risk 
assessments and related documents for one organophosphate pesticide, 
azinphos-methyl. In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public 
participation period during which the public is encouraged to submit 
risk management ideas or proposals. These actions are in response to a 
joint initiative between EPA and the Department of Agriculture to 
increase transparency in the tolerance reassessment process for 
organophosphate pesticides.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34131C, must 
be received by EPA on or before July 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit III. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section. To 
ensure proper receipt by

[[Page 27259]]

EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-
34131C in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Karen Angulo, Special Review 
and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (703) 308-8004; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does This Action Apply To Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general, nevertheless, a 
wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the revised 
risk assessments and submitting risk management comments on azinphos-
methyl, 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. As such, the Agency 
has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 
affected by this action. 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.

II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of This 
Document or Other Related Documents?

A. 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 and obtain 
electronic copies of the revised risk assessments and related documents 
mentioned in this notice, you can also go directly to the Home Page for 
the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) at http://www.epa.gov/
pesticides/op/.

B. In Person

    The Agency has established an official record for this action under 
docket control number OPP-34131C. The official record consists of the 
documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments 
received during an applicable comment period, and other information 
related to this action, including any information claimed as 
Confidential Business Information (CBI). 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 CBI. 
The public version of the official record, which includes printed, 
paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an 
applicable comment period, 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 (PIRIB) telephone 
number is (703) 305-5805.

C. By Telephone

    If you need additional information about this action, you may also 
contact the person identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION'' 
section.

III. How Can I Respond To This Action?

A. How and To Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket control number OPP-34131C in the subject line on the first page 
of your response.

    1. By mail. Submit comments 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.

    2. In person or by courier. Deliver comments to: Public Information 
and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services 
Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., 
Arlington, VA. The Document Control Office (DCO) is open 8 a.m. to 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB 
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

    3. Electronically. Submit electronic comments by e-mail to: ``opp-
[email protected],'' or you may mail or deliver your standard computer 
disk using the addresses in this unit. Do not submit any information 
electronically that you consider to be CBI. 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 
standard computer disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. 
All comments in electronic form must be identified by the docket 
control number OPP-34131C. Electronic comments may also be filed online 
at many Federal Depository Libraries.

B. How Should I Handle CBI Information That I Want To Submit to the 
Agency?

    Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to 
be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to 
this document as CBI 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. In addition to one complete 
version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a 
copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as 
CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the 
official record. Information not marked confidential will be included 
in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If 
you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, 
please consult the person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'' section.

IV. What Action is EPA Taking in This Notice?

     EPA is making available for public viewing the revised risk 
assessments and related documents for one organophosphate, azinphos-
methyl. These documents have been developed as 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 assessments and risk management decisions. EPA and 
USDA began implementing this pilot process in August 1998, to increase 
transparency and opportunities for stakeholder consultation. The 
documents being released to the public

[[Page 27260]]

through this notice provide information on the revisions that were made 
to the azinphos-methyl preliminary risk assessments, which where 
released to the public August 10, 1998 (63 FR 43175) (FRL-6024-3), and 
January 15, 1999 (64 FR 2644) (FRL-6056-9), through notices in the 
Federal Register.

    In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation 
period during which the public is encouraged to submit risk management 
proposals or otherwise comment on risk management for azinphos-methyl. 
The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for 
interested parties to provide written risk management proposals or 
ideas to the Agency on the chemical specified in this notice. Such 
comments and proposals could address ideas about how to manage dietary, 
occupational, or ecological risks on specific azinphos-methyl use sites 
or crops across the United States or in a particular geographic region 
of the country. To address dietary risk, for example, commentors may 
choose to discuss the feasibility of lower application rates, 
increasing the time interval between application and harvest (``pre-
harvest intervals''), modifications in use, or suggest alternative 
measures to reduce residues contributing to dietary exposure. For 
occupational risks, commentors may suggest personal protective 
equipment or technologies to reduce exposure to workers and pesticide 
handlers. Although revisions to the ecological risk assessment are not 
yet complete, EPA welcomes suggestions for reducing environmental 
exposure. EPA will provide other opportunities for public participation 
and comment on issues associated with the organophosphate tolerance 
reassessment program. Failure to participate or comment as part of this 
opportunity will in no way prejudice or limit a commentor's opportunity 
to participate fully in later notice and comment processes. All 
comments and proposals must be received by EPA on or before July 19, 
1999 at the addresses given under the ``ADDRESSES'' section. Comments 
and proposals will become part of the Agency record for the 
organophosphate specified in this notice.

    Dated: May 13, 1999.

Jack E. Housenger,

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

[FR Doc. 99-12591 Filed 5-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F