[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44921-44922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21244]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34170A; FRL-6095-3]


Chlorethoxyfos; Availability of Organophosphate Risk Assessment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notices announces the availability of the revised risk 
assessment and related documents for one organophosphate pesticide, 
chlorethoxyfos. 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-34170A, must 
be received by EPA on or before October 18, 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-34170A 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 assessment and submitting risk management comments on 
chlorethoxyfos, 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 assessment 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-34170A. 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-34170A in the subject line on the first page 
of your response.
    1. By mail. Submit comments to: Public Information and Records

[[Page 44922]]

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-34170A. 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 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 
assessment and related documents for one organophosphate, 
chlorethoxyfos. 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 
assessment 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 chlorethoxyfos 
preliminary risk assessment, which where released to the public on 
January 15, 1999 (64 FR 2644) (FRL-6056-9), 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 assessment. 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. The use 
pattern of chlorethoxyfos is limited to corn. 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 assessment 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 chlorethoxyfos 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 chlorethoxyfos revised risk assessment. 
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 chlorethoxyfos. 
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. 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 18, 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 10, 1999.

Jack E. Housenger,

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

[FR Doc. 99-21244 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F