[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37967-37968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17945]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34133A; FRL-6091-1]


Organophosphate Pesticide: Ethion; 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, 
ethion. 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-34133A, must 
be received by EPA on or before September 13, 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 EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-34133A 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. 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 ethion, 
including environmental, human health, and agricultural advocates; the 
chemical industry; pesticide users; and members of the public 
interested in the use of pesticides. 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-34133A. 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.

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-34133A 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. PIRIB is open 8:30 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-34133A. 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

[[Page 37968]]

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, ethion. 
These documents have been developed as part of the pilot public 
participation process that EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(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 through this 
notice provide information on the revisions that were made to the 
ethion preliminary risk assessments, which where released to the public 
on September 9, 1998 (63 FR 48213) (FRL-6030-2), through a notice in 
the Federal Register.
    As part of the pilot public participation process, EPA and USDA may 
hold public meetings (called Technical Briefings) to provide interested 
stakeholders with opportunities to become more informed about revised 
organophosphate risk assessments. During the Technical Briefings, EPA 
describes the major points (e.g. risk contributors), use data that were 
used (e.g. data from USDA's Pesticide Data Program (PDP)), and 
discusses how public comments impacted the assessment. USDA provides 
ideas on possible risk management. Stakeholders have an opportunity to 
ask clarifying questions, and all meeting minutes are placed in the OPP 
public docket. Technical Briefings may not be held for chemicals that 
have limited use patterns or low levels of risk concern. Ethion's use 
pattern is predominately citrus, therefore, no Technical Briefing is 
planned. In cases where no Technical Briefing is held, the Agency will 
make a special effort to communicate with interested stakeholders in 
order to better ensure their understanding of the revised assessments 
and how they can participate in the organophosphate pilot public 
participation process. EPA has a good familiarity with the stakeholder 
groups associated with the use of ethion who may be interested in 
participating in the risk assessment/risk management process, and will 
contact them individually to inform them that no Technical Briefing 
will be held. EPA is willing to meet with stakeholders to discuss the 
ethion revised risk assessments. Minutes of all meetings will be 
docketed.
    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 ethion. 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 ethion 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. For ecological 
risks, commentors may suggest ways to reduce environmental exposure, 
e.g., birds, fish, mammals, and other non-target organisms. 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 September 13, 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.

List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: July 8, 1999.

Lois A. Rossi,

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

[FR Doc. 99-17945 Filed 7-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F