[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57876-57877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28046]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34203; FRL-6389-3]


Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Preliminary Risk 
Assessments

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 and 
ecological risk assessments and related documents for chlorpyrifos. 
This notice also starts a 60-day public comment period for the 
preliminary risk assessments. Comments are to be limited to issues 
directly associated with the one organophosphate that has the risk 
assessments placed in the docket and should be limited to issues raised 
in those documents. 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. The Agency cautions that 
these risk assessments are preliminary assessments only and that 
further refinements of the risk assessments will be appropriate for 
some, if not all, of these organophosphate pesticides. These documents 
reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of the time they were 
produced and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes 
available and/or additional analyses are performed, the conclusions 
they contain may change.

DATES: Comments, identified by the docket control number OPP-34203, 
must be received on or before December 27, 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.'' To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify the docket 
control number OPP-34203 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 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 
chlorpyrifos, 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. Since other 
entities may also be interested, 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 applicability of this action to 
a particular entity, consult the person listed under ``FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.''

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

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document, and certain other related documents that might be available 
electronically, 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/. In addition, copies of the preliminary 
risk assessments for the one organophosphate pesticide may also be 
accessed at http: www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-34203. The official record 
consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, 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 the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch 
(PIRIB), 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.

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 the docket control number OPP-34203 in the subject line on 
the first page of your response.
    1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division 
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), 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 (PIRIB), Information Resources 
and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), 
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. You may submit your comments electronically by 
e-mail to: ``[email protected],'' or you can submit a computer disk as 
described above. Do not submit any information electronically that you 
consider to be CBI. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect 6.1/
8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form

[[Page 57877]]

must be identified by docket control number OPP-34203. Electronic 
comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI 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.''

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
     1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
     2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
     3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you 
used that support your views.
     4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
     5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
     6. Offer alternative ways to improve this notice.
     7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
document.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first 
page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

II. Background

     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 and ecological risk 
assessments for one organophosphate pesticides are available in the 
individual organophosphate pesticide docket: Chlorpyrifos.
     Included in the individual organophosphate pesticide docket is the 
Agency's preliminary risk assessments. As additional comments, reviews, 
and risk assessment modifications become available, these will also be 
docketed for the one organophosphate pesticide listed in this notice. 
The Agency cautions that these risk assessments are preliminary 
assessments only and that further refinements of the risk assessments 
will be appropriate for the one organophosphate pesticide. These 
documents reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of the time 
they were produced and it is appropriate that, as new information 
becomes available and/or additional analyses are performed, the 
conclusions they contain 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 these specific 
chemicals. 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 December 27, 1999 at the address given under Unit I. of 
the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' 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: October 21, 1999.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-28046 Filed 10-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F