[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54298-54300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26073]


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 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 [OPP-34201; FRL-6387-6]


 Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Revised Risk 
Assessments

  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 two organophosphate pesticides, 
naled and temephos. 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 (USDA) 
to increase transparency in the tolerance reassessment process for 
organophosphate pesticides.

  DATES:  Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-3434136A 
for naled and OPP-34147B for temephos, must be received by EPA on or 
before December 6, 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.'' To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-34136A for naled and OPP-34147B for temephos 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 naled and 
temephos, 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 under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.''

 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://

[[Page 54299]]

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-34136A for naled and OPP-
34147B for temephos. 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 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 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, it is imperative that 
you identify docket control number OPP-34136A for naled and OPP-34147B 
for temephos 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, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., 
Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 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: 
``[email protected],'' or you can submit a computer disk as described 
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 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All 
comments in electronic form must be identified by the docket control 
number OPP-34136A for naled and OPP-34147B for temephos. 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 under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.''

 IV. What Action is EPA Taking in this Notice?

     EPA is making available for public viewing the revised risk 
assessments and related documents for two organophosphates, naled and 
temephos. 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 naled and temephos 
preliminary risk assessments, which where released to the public, 
August 10, 1998 (63 FR 43175) (FRL-6024-3) for naled and September 9, 
1998 (63 FR 48213) (FRL-6030-2) for temephos, through notices 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. The use patterns for naled and temephos are predominately 
mosquito control, 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 naled and temephos who may be interested in participating in 
the risk assessment/risk management process, and will contact

[[Page 54300]]

them individually to inform them that no Technical Briefing will be 
held. EPA is willing to meet with stakeholders to discuss the naled and 
temephos 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 naled and 
temephos. 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 pesticides specified in this notice. Such 
comments and proposals could address ideas about how to manage dietary, 
occupational, or ecological risks on specific naled and temephos use 
sites or crops across the United States or in a particular geographic 
region of the country. To address dietary risk, for example, commenters 
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, for example, commenters 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., exposure to 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 commenter's opportunity to participate fully in 
later notice and comment processes. All comments and proposals must be 
received by EPA on or before December 6, 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: September 30, 1999.

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

[FR Doc. 99-26073 Filed 10-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F