[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41933-41934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19784]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-36194; FRL-6097-3]


Organophosphate Pesticide Tolerances-No Finite Residues 
Considered to be Reassessed By EPA

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that EPA is considering as reassessed 80 
meat, milk, poultry, and egg (MMPE) tolerances. These MMPE tolerances 
are for residues of azinphos-methyl, coumaphos, fenthion, isofenphos, 
methidathion, naled, phorate, and profenophos. The Agency has evaluated 
105 MMPE tolerances listed in the table in this Notice and has 
concluded that there are no reasonable expectations of finite pesticide 
residues in or on meat, milk, poultry, or eggs for the listed 
organophosphate pesticides. Since 25 of these tolerances were 
previously reassessed by final rule revocation in the Federal Register, 
80 of the 105 tolerances are counted here as reassessments made toward 
the August 1999 review deadline of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (FFDCA) section 408(q), as amended by the Food Quality Protection 
Act (FQPA) of 1996. EPA will propose a rule to revoke these 80 
reassessed MMPE tolerances in a subsequent Federal Register notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Lowe or Daniel Helfgott, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, DC 20460. 
Telephone: (703) 308-8059 or (703) 308-8054. E-
mail:[email protected] or [email protected]. Office location: 
Crystal Mall 2, 6th floor, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Important Information

A. Does This Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. Although this 
action may be of particular interest to those persons who are 
interested in the implementation of FQPA, the Agency has not attempted 
to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this 
action. If you have any questions regarding the information in this 
notice, consult the person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'' section.

B. How can I get additional information or copies of support documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document from the EPA Home page at the Federal Register - Environmental 
Documents entry for this document under ``Laws and Regulations'' http:/
/www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    2. In person. The official record for this notice, as well as the 
public version, has been established under docket control number [OPP-
36194]. A public version of this record is available for inspection in 
room 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.

II. Background

    This notice announces to the general public that EPA has determined 
that 105 tolerances for residues of organophosphate chemicals on meat, 
milk, poultry, and eggs are unnecessary per 40 CFR 180.6 (see table 
below). EPA has previously reassessed 25 of these tolerances.
    When EPA establishes tolerances for pesticide residues in or on raw 
agricultural commodities, consideration must be given to the possible 
residues of those chemicals in meat, milk, poultry, and/or eggs 
produced by animals that are fed agricultural products (for example, 
grain or hay) containing pesticide residues (40 CFR 180.6). When 
considering this possibility, EPA can conclude that (1) finite residues 
will exist in meat, milk, poultry and/or eggs; (2) there is a 
reasonable expectation that finite residues will exist; or (3) there is 
a reasonable expectation that finite residues will not exist. If there 
is no reasonable expectation of finite pesticide residues in or on 
meat, milk, poultry, or eggs, tolerances do not need to be established 
for these commodities [40 CFR 180.6(b) and 40 CFR 180.6(c)].
    EPA has evaluated the meat, milk, poultry, and egg tolerances 
listed in the table in this document and has concluded that there is no 
reasonable expectation of finite residues of azinphos-methyl, 
methidathion, naled, phorate, or profenphos in or on those commodities 
[180.6(a)(3)]. The determination that there is no reasonable 
expectation of finite residues was made based on feeding studies 
submitted since the time that the

[[Page 41934]]

tolerances were originally established. These feeding studies used 
exaggerated amounts of the compound (10x the dietary burden) and did 
not show measurable residues of the pesticides tested. Additionally, 
EPA has determined that fenthion no longer bears a use that could 
result in residues in poultry. Because there is no reasonable 
expectation of finite residues, these 80 tolerances are not required 
under the FFDCA and can be revoked. The Agency considers these 80 
tolerances as reassessed and are counted in this document toward 
meeting the tolerance reassessment requirements listed in FFDCA section 
408(q). EPA will propose a rule to revoke these 80 reassessed MMPE 
tolerances in a subsequent Federal Register notice.
     Additionally, because there are no registered uses, EPA has 
previously revoked 25 of these OP tolerances: 4 coumaphos tolerances 
(64 FR 39072, July 21, 1999) (FRL-6093-6), 20 isofenphos tolerances and 
1 sulprofos tolerance (63 FR 57067, October 26, 1998) (FRL-6035-6). 
These are also listed on the attached table as having no reasonable 
expectations of finite residues. These 25 tolerances have already been 
counted toward tolerance reassessment.

 Table--Organophosphate (OP) Chemicals with Meat, Milk, Poultry, and/or Egg Tolerances, but, for Which There is
                                  no Reasonable Expectation of Finite Residues
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                                                   No of
                    OP Name                     Tolerances                  Tolerances Reassessed
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Azinphos-methyl...............................          13  cattle, fat; cattle, mbyp; cattle, meat; goats, fat;
                                                             goats, mbyp; goats, meat; horses, fat; horses,
                                                             mbyp; horses, meat; sheep, fat; sheep, mbyp; sheep,
                                                             meat; milk
 
Coumaphos.....................................           4  poultry, fat; poultry, mbyp; poultry, meat; eggs
 
Fenthion......................................           3  poultry, fat; poultry, mbyp; poultry, meat
 
Isofenphos....................................          20  cattle, fat; cattle, mbyp; cattle, meat; goats, fat;
                                                             goats, mbyp; goats, meat; hogs, fat; hogs, mbyp;
                                                             hogs, meat; horses, fat; horses, mbyp; horses,
                                                             meat; poultry, fat; poultry, mbyp; poultry, meat;
                                                             sheep, fat; sheep, mbyp; sheep, meat; milk; eggs
 
Methidathion..................................          20  cattle, fat; cattle, mbyp; cattle, meat; goats, fat;
                                                             goats, mbyp; goats, meat; hogs, fat; hogs, mbyp;
                                                             hogs, meat; horses, fat; horses, mbyp; horses,
                                                             meat; poultry, fat; poultry, mbyp; poultry, meat;
                                                             sheep, fat; sheep, mbyp; sheep, meat; milk; eggs
 
Naled.........................................          20  cattle, fat; cattle, mbyp; cattle, meat; goats, fat;
                                                             goats, mbyp; goats, meat; hogs, fat; hogs, mbyp;
                                                             hogs, meat; horses, fat; horses, mbyp; horses,
                                                             meat; poultry, fat; poultry, mbyp; poultry, meat;
                                                             sheep, fat; sheep, mbyp; sheep, meat; milk; eggs
 
Phorate.......................................          20  cattle, fat; cattle, mbyp; cattle, meat; goats, fat;
                                                             goats, mbyp; goats, meat; hogs, fat; hogs, mbyp;
                                                             hogs, meat; horses, fat; horses, mbyp; horses,
                                                             meat; poultry, fat; poultry, mbyp; poultry, meat;
                                                             sheep, fat; sheep, mbyp; sheep, meat; milk; eggs
 
Profenophos...................................           4  poultry, fat; poultry, mbyp; poultry, meat; eggs
 
Sulprofos.....................................           1  eggs
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List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, pesticides and pests, pesticide 
tolerance(s), tolerance reassessment, organophosphate(s), chemicals.

    Dated: July 28, 1999.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-19784 Filed 7-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F