[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28469-28471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13377]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34186; FRL-6083-4]


Increasing Transparency for the Tolerance Reassessment Process; 
Availability of Preliminary Risk Assessment for the Organophosphate 
Pesticide: Phostebupirim

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of documents that were 
developed as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's process for 
making reregistration eligibility decisions for the organophosphate 
pesticides and for tolerance reassessments consistent with the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) as amended by the Food Quality 
Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). These documents are the preliminary 
human health risk assessment and related documents for phostebupirim. 
This notice also starts a 60-day public comment period for the 
preliminary risk assessment. Comments are to be limited

[[Page 28470]]

to issues directly associated with this organophosphate pesticide. By 
allowing access and opportunity for comment on the preliminary risk 
assessment, EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder involvement and 
help ensure our decisions under FQPA are transparent and based on the 
best available information. The tolerance reassessment process will 
ensure that the United States continues to have the safest and most 
abundant food supply. The Agency cautions that this risk assessment is 
a preliminary assessment only and that further refinements of the risk 
assessment may be appropriate for the phostebupirim organophosphate 
pesticide. This document reflects the analysis conducted as of the time 
it was produced and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes 
available and/or additional analyses are performed, the conclusions in 
it may change.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34186, must be 
received by EPA on or before July 26, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit I. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section. To 
ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-34186 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 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 
affect 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.

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

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document and certain other available documents from the EPA Internet 
Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. 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 the risk assessment for phostebupirim 
organophosphate pesticide, go directly to the Home Page for the Office 
of Pesticide Programs at http: www.epa.gov/pesticides/op.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under the docket control number OPP-34186. 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 
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 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 telephone number is 
(703) 305-5805.

C. 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, it is imperative that 
you identify docket control number OPP-34186 in the subject line on the 
first page of your response.
    1. By mail. Submit your 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 your 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., between 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.
     3. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically by 
e-mail to:`` [email protected]'' or mail or deliver your standard 
computer disk to the appropriate address 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-34186. Electronic comments may also be 
filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. 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 identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'' section.

II. What Action Is EPA Taking?

     EPA is making available preliminary risk assessments that have 
been developed as part of EPA's process for making reregistration 
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for 
tolerance reassessments consistent with the FFDCA as amended by the 
FQPA. The Agency's preliminary human health effects risk assessment for 
this organophosphate pesticide is available in the OPP docket.
     As additional comments, reviews, and risk assessment modifications 
become available, these will also be docketed for the one 
organophosphate pesticide listed in this notice. The Agency cautions 
that this risk assessment is a preliminary assessment only and that

[[Page 28471]]

further refinements of the risk assessment may be appropriate for the 
phostebupirim organophosphate pesticide. This document reflects only 
the work and analysis conducted as of the time it was produced and it 
is appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or 
additional analyses are performed, the conclusions in it may change.
     As the preliminary risk assessments for the remaining 
organophosphate pesticides are completed and registrants are given a 
30-day review period to identify possible computational or other clear 
errors in the risk assessment, these risk assessments and registrant 
responses will be placed in the individual organophosphate pesticide 
dockets. A notice of availability for subsequent assessments will 
appear in the Federal Register.
     The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for 
interested parties to provide written comments and input to the Agency 
on the preliminary risk assessment for the chemical specified in this 
notice. Such comments and input could address, for example, the 
availability of additional data to further refine the risk assessment, 
such as percent crop treated information or submission of residue data 
from food processing studies, or could address the Agency's risk 
assessment methodologies and assumptions as applied to this specific 
chemical. Comments should be limited to issues raised within the 
preliminary risk assessment and associated documents. EPA will provide 
other opportunities for public comment on other science issues 
associated with the organophosphate tolerance reassessment program. 
Failure to comment on any such issues as part of this opportunity will 
in no way prejudice or limit a commenter's opportunity to participate 
fully in later notice and comment processes. All comments should be 
submitted by July 26, 1999, at the address given under ``ADDRESSES.'' 
Comments will become part of the Agency record for each individual 
organophosphate pesticide to which they pertain.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: May 20, 1999.
Jacqueline McQueen,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-13377 Filed 5-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F