[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44219-44220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20873]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34161B; FRL-6093-4]


Organophosphate Pesticide: Methyl Parathion; 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, 
methyl parathion. In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public 
participation period during which the public is encouraged to submit 
risk management ideas. 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. Although methyl parathion is beginning the 60-public 
participation process, to address dietary risk from food, the Agency 
has accepted voluntary cancellation of uses on crops that contributed 
most to children's diet. These canceled uses represent 90% of the 
dietary risk to children. Removal of these crops brings the acute 
dietary risk from food to below levels of concern (78% of the 
population adjusted dose). The agreement was signed and became 
effective August 2, 1999, with the basic producers of methyl parathion.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34161B, must 
be received by EPA on or before October 12, 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-34161B 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 methyl 
parathion, 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-34161B. 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-34161B 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-34161B. Electronic comments may also be filed online 
at many Federal Depository Libraries.

[[Page 44220]]

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, methyl 
parathion. 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 through this notice provide 
information on the revisions that were made to the methyl parathion 
preliminary risk assessments, which where released to the public August 
10, 1998 (63 FR 43175) (FRL-6024-3), December 18, 1998 (63 FR 70126) 
(FRL-6052-6), and January 15, 1999 (64 FR 2644) (FRL-6056-9), through 
notices in the Federal Register.
    To address dietary risk from food, the Agency has accepted 
voluntary cancellation of uses on crops that contributed most to 
children's diet. These canceled uses represent 90% of the dietary risk 
to children. Removal of these crops brings the acute dietary risk from 
food to below levels of concern (78% of the population adjusted dose). 
The agreement was signed August 2, 1999, with the basic producers of 
methyl parathion. Specific terms of the agreement include:
    Canceled uses--children's food: All fruit uses (apples, cherries, 
grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, and plums); carrots, succulent 
beans, succulent peas, and tomatoes;
    Other canceled food uses: Artichokes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, 
cauliflower, celery, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, 
rutabagas, spinach, and turnips;
    Canceled non-food uses: Ornamental plants, grasses grown for seed, 
mosquito use, and nursery stock.
    Uses remaining: Alfalfa, almonds, barley, beets, cabbage, corn, 
cotton, dried beans, dried peas, grass, hops, lentils, oats, onions, 
pecans, rape seed, sugar (canola), rice, rye, soybeans, sunflower, 
sweet potato, walnuts, wheat, and white potato.
    The cancellation of uses will take effect prior to the next growing 
season. Methyl parathion application for the canceled uses will be 
prohibited for the 2000 growing season.
    Also, risk to handlers and re-entry workers exceed the Agency's 
level of concern. Cancellation of all fruits and many vegetables will 
reduce risks to workers. For many of the remaining uses, methyl 
parathion is applied aerially and these crops are typically not hand-
harvested. Also, per the agreement, all non-agricultural uses of methyl 
parathion will be canceled. Prior to the next growing season, 
registrants have agreed to increase the reentry intervals to 4-5 days 
from 2 days.
    For the 2001 growing season, the registrants have agreed to use 
enclosed cabs and cockpits, and closed mixing and loading systems. 
Registrants will also generate data to address uncertainties in the 
Agency's occupational risk assessment.
    In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation 
period during which the public is encouraged to comment on risk 
management for methyl parathion. The Agency is providing an 
opportunity, through this notice, for interested parties to provide 
written risk management ideas to the Agency on the chemical specified 
in this notice. The public may comment on the Agency's risk management 
position, which will be reflected in the documents associated with the 
revised risk assessments.
    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 October 12, 
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: August 6, 1999.

Lois Rossi,

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

[FR Doc. 99-20873 Filed 8-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F