[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 170 (Thursday, September 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48164-48165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22746]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34198; FRL-6380-9]


Availability of Preliminary Risk Assessment for the 
Organophosphate Pesticides Coumaphos and Fenitrothion

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of documents that were 
developed as part of the EPA's process for making reregistration 
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for 
tolerance reassessments consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 
1996 (FQPA). These documents are the preliminary human health risk 
assessments and related documents for coumaphos and fenitrothion. This 
notice also starts a 60-day public comment period for the preliminary 
risk assessments. By allowing access and opportunity for comment on the 
preliminary risk assessments, EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder 
involvement and help ensure our decisions under FQPA are transparent 
and based on the best available information. The tolerance reassessment 
process will ensure that the United States continues to have the safest 
and most abundant food supply.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34196 for 
coumaphos and OPP-34197 for fenitrothion, must be received by EPA on or 
before November 1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-34196 for coumaphos and OPP-34197 for fenitrothion 
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. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action applies to the public in general. As such, the Agency 
has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 
affect 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.

B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this 
Document or Other Related Documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document and certain other available documents 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 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 the risk assessments for coumaphos and 
fenitrothion organophosphate pesticides, go directly to the Home Page 
for the Office of Pesticide Programs at http: www.epa.gov/pesticides/
op.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under the docket control number OPP-34196 for coumaphos and 
OPP-34197 for fenitrothion. 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 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 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.

C. 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, it is imperative that 
you identify docket control number OPP-34196 for coumaphos and OPP-
34197 for fenitrothion in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.
    1. By mail. Submit your 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 your 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., between 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
     3. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically by 
e-mail to:`` [email protected]'' or mail or deliver your standard 
computer disk to the appropriate address 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-34196 for coumaphos and OPP-34197 for 
fenitrothion. Electronic comments may also be filed online at many 
Federal Depository Libraries.

D. 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

[[Page 48165]]

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 identified in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

     EPA is making available preliminary risk assessments that have 
been developed as part of EPA's process for making reregistration 
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for 
tolerance reassessments consistent with the FFDCA, as amended by the 
FQPA. The Agency's preliminary human health effects risk assessments 
for these organophosphate pesticides are available in the OPP docket.
     As additional comments, reviews, and risk assessment modifications 
become available, these will also be docketed for the two 
organophosphate pesticides listed in this notice. The Agency cautions 
that these risk assessments are preliminary assessments only and that 
further refinements of the risk assessments may be appropriate for the 
coumaphos and fenitrothion organophosphate pesticides. This document 
reflects only the work and analysis conducted as of the time it was 
produced and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes 
available and/or additional analyses are performed, the conclusions in 
it may change.
     As the preliminary risk assessments for the remaining 
organophosphate pesticides are completed and registrants are given a 
30-day review period to identify possible computational or other clear 
errors in the risk assessment, these risk assessments and registrant 
responses will be placed in the individual organophosphate pesticide 
dockets. A notice of availability for subsequent assessments will 
appear in the Federal Register.
     The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for 
interested parties to provide written comments and input to the Agency 
on the preliminary risk assessments for the chemicals specified in this 
notice. Such comments and input could address, for example, the 
availability of additional data to further refine the risk assessments, 
such as percent crop treated information or submission of residue data 
from food processing studies, or could address the Agency's risk 
assessment methodologies and assumptions as applied to this specific 
chemical. Comments should be limited to issues raised within the 
preliminary risk assessments and associated documents. EPA will provide 
other opportunities for public comment on other science issues 
associated with the organophosphate tolerance reassessment program. 
Failure to comment on any such issues as part of this opportunity will 
in no way prejudice or limit a commenter's opportunity to participate 
fully in later notice and comment processes. All comments should be 
submitted by November 1, 1999 at the address given under ADDRESSES. 
Comments will become part of the Agency record for each individual 
organophosphate pesticide to which they pertain.

List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: August 25, 1999.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-22746 Filed 9-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F