[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 219 (Monday, November 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61873-61874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29771]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00630; FRL-6392-2]


FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Open Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: There will be a 2-day meeting of the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Food Quality Protection Act 
(FQPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) to review a set of scientific 
issues being considered by the Agency pertaining to characterization 
and non-target organism data requirements for protein plant-pesticides 
and cumulative risk assessment methodology of pesticide substances that 
have a common mechanism of toxicity. The meeting is open to the public. 
Seating at the meeting will be on a first-come basis. Individuals 
requiring special accommodations at this meeting, including wheelchair 
access, should contact either Paul Lewis or Laura Morris at the address 
listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' at least 5 business 
days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 8 and Thursday, 
December 9, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, VA. The telephone number for the Sheraton hotel is: (703) 
486-1111.
    Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. 
Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in 
Unit I.C. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To ensure proper 
receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control 
number OPP-00630 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Paul Lewis or Laura Morris, 
Designated Federal Officials, FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (7101C), 
Office of Science Coordination and Policy, Office of Prevention, 
Pesticides and Toxic Substance, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; Office location: Rm. 117T, Crystal Mall 
#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA; telephone: (703) 305-
5369; e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. 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 persons listed under ``FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.''

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 related documents that might be available 
electronically, 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/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-00630. 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 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.

[[Page 61874]]

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-00630 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 mail your computer disk to the 
address identified 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 must be identified by docket control number OPP-00630. Electronic 
comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

II. Purpose of the Meeting

    This FIFRA SAP meeting includes two sessions. The first session 
concerns characterization and non-target organism data requirements for 
protein plant-pesticides. This session will entail a discussion of 
proposed Agency data requirements for protein plant-pesticides, 
including both characterization and non-target organisms. 
Characterization includes the identity of the pesticidal substance and 
the genetic material necessary for its production along with expression 
levels, tissue specificity, and plant biology. Non-target organism 
discussions will include the appropriate non-target organisms for 
testing, test substances, and conduct of such studies.
    The second session will be a review of issues pertaining to 
cumulative risk assessment of pesticide substances that have a common 
mechanism of toxicity. EPA is currently preparing guidance for 
assessing cumulative risk in support of the FQPA. At the September 21-
24, 1999 meeting of the FIFRA SAP, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 
(OPP) presented the chapters of the guidance that describe the 
approaches it plans to use to cumulate hazard of pesticide substances 
that cause a common toxic effect by a common mechanism. The FIFRA SAP 
made recommendations for improving the guidance. OPP has revised the 
guidance accordingly and has completed the chapters that pertain to 
assessing exposure to two or more pesticides that share a common 
mechanism of toxicity. At the December, 1999, meeting of the FIFRA SAP, 
OPP will present the following: (1) a summary of the issues presented 
at the September meeting; (2) how EPA has addressed the recommendations 
made by the FIFRA SAP; (3) an overview of cumulative exposure 
assessment and risk characterization section; and (4) a case study that 
illustrates how OPP plans to use the guidance.

III. Availability of Review Materials

    A meeting agenda is currently available and copies of EPA 
background documents for the meeting will be available no later than 
November 9, 1999. The meeting agenda and EPA primary background 
documents will be available on the FIFRA SAP web site -- http://
www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/ or may be obtained by contacting the 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; Office 
location: Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, VA; telephone number: (703) 305-5805.

IV. Written Comments and Oral Presentations at the Meeting

    Members of the public wishing to submit comments should contact the 
persons listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' to confirm 
that the meeting date and the agenda have not been modified or changed. 
Interested persons are permitted to file written statements before the 
meeting. To the extent that time permits, and upon advanced written 
request to the persons listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'', interested persons may be permitted by the Chair of the 
Scientific Advisory Panel to present oral statements at the meeting. 
The request should identify the name of the individual making the 
presentation, the organization (if any) the individual will represent, 
and any requirements for audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead 
projector, 35 mm projector, chalkboard, etc). There is no limit on the 
length of written comments for consideration by the Panel, but oral 
statements before the Panel are limited to approximately 5 minutes. The 
Agency also urges the public to submit written comments in lieu of oral 
presentations. Persons wishing to make oral and/or written statements 
should notify the persons listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'' and submit 40 copies of the summary information. The Agency 
encourages that written statements be submitted before the meeting to 
provide Panel Members the time necessary to consider and review the 
comments.

V. Panel Report

    Copies of the Panel's report of their recommendations will be 
available approximately 45 working days after the meeting, and will be 
posted on the FIFRA SAP web site or may be obtained by contacting the 
Public Information and Records Integrity Branch at the address or 
telephone number listed in Unit III. of this document.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection.

    Dated: November 8, 1999.

Michael Firestone,

Acting Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy.

[FR Doc. 99-29771 Filed 11-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F