[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33486-33487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15715]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00607; FRL-6088-1]


Pesticides; Pesticide Registration Proposal for Isomeric Active 
Ingredients; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On April 28, 1999 EPA issued a Federal Register notice (64 FR 
22863) (FRL-6055-1) soliciting comments on how the Agency should handle 
the registration of pesticide active ingredients (AI's) that are 
composed of chemical isomers. In particular the Agency intended to 
clarify its approach on determining whether a particular isomeric 
pesticide is a new active ingredient or not. The comment period for 
this notice was scheduled to end on June 28, 1999. In response to 
several requests, EPA has decided to extend the comment period 30 days.
DATES: Written comments, identified by the docket control number ``OPP-
00607,'' must be received on or before July 28, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit IV. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section of 
this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Dixon, Registration Division 
(7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 703-305-7237, Fax: 
703-305-6920, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does This Notice Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this notice if you are applying 
for a registration or amended registration of a pesticide product that 
contains isomeric active ingredients and in particular a product 
purified for one or more (usually more chemically active) isomers. If 
you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a 
particular entity, consult the technical person listed in the ``FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.

II. Why is EPA Issuing This Notice?

    The Office of Pesticide Program (OPP) is soliciting comments on how 
the Agency should handle the registration of pesticide active 
ingredients that are composed of chemical isomers. In particular, OPP 
is interested in learning the various opinions on the question of 
whether an AI originally registered at a particular proportion of 
isomers should be subsequently registered as a new AI when purified for 
one or more (usually more chemically active) isomers.
    In the past the Agency has treated some purified isomeric compounds 
as new formulations and some purified isomeric compounds as new AI's. 
Examples of purified isomeric compounds treated as new formulations 
are: Fluazifop butyl and fluazifop-p-butyl, fenoxaprop-ethyl and 
fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, 2,4-DP and 2,4-DP-p, and MCPP

[[Page 33487]]

to MCPP-p. Examples of purified isomeric compounds treated as new AI's 
are: Metolachlor and alpha-metolachlor, and metalaxyl and mefenoxam. 
Some recent regulatory decisions caused the Agency to re-evaluate its 
policy on isomeric active ingredients.
    The Agency is considering three options:
    1. To continue determining case by base whether an isomeric 
compound is a new AI.
    2. To consider all purified isomeric compounds not as new AI's but 
as new formulations.
    3. To consider all purified isomeric compounds as new active 
ingredients.

III. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of This 
Document or Other Documents?

A. Electronic Availability

    You may obtain electronic copies of this document 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 ``Federal Register - Environmental Documents.'' You can also go 
directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/
fedrgstr/.

B. In Person or By Phone

    If you have any questions or need additional information about this 
action, you may contact the technical person identified in the ``FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section. In addition, the official record 
for this notice, including the public version, has been established 
under docket control number ``OPP-00607''. A public version of this 
record, including printed, paper versions of any electronic comments, 
which does not include any information claimed as Confidential Business 
Information (CBI), is available for inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 
#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, 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.

IV. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. Be sure to identify the appropriate docket control 
number, ``OPP-00607'', in your correspondence.

A. By Mail

    Submit written 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.

B. In Person or By Courier

    Deliver written comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division, Rm. 119, 
Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.

C. Electronically

    Submit your comments and/or data electronically by e-mail to: opp-
[email protected]. Do not submit any information electronically that you 
consider to be CBI. Submit electronic comments 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 and data in 
electronic form must be identified by the docket control number ``OPP-
00607''. Electronic comments on this notice may also be filed online at 
many Federal Depository Libraries.

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

    You may claim information that you submit 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. 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. If you have any questions about CBI 
or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult with the technical 
person identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.

VI. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

A. General Tips for Preparing Your Comments

    We invite you to provide your views on the various options we 
propose, new approaches we haven't considered, the potential impacts of 
the various options (including possible unintended consequences), and 
any data or information that you would like the Agency to consider 
during the development of the final action. You may find the following 
suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:
     Explain your views as clearly as possible.
     Describe any assumptions that you used.
     Provide solid technical information and/or data to support 
your views.
     If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate.
     Tell us what you support, as well as what you disagree 
with.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
     Offer alternative ways to improve the document.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
notice.
     At the beginning of your comments (e.g., as part of the 
``Subject'' heading), be sure to properly identify the document you are 
commenting on. You can do this by providing the docket control number 
assigned to the notice, along with the name, date, and Federal Register 
citation.

B. Specific Issues for Your Consideration

    For a detailed description of this section please refer to the 
original Federal Register notice (64 FR 22863) (FRL-6055-1) published 
April 28, 1999.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides.

    Dated: June 15, 1999.

James Jones,

Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-15715 Filed 6-22-99; 8:45 am]
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