[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67263-67265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31050]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34174B; FRL-6397-5]


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 one organophosphate pesticide, 
propetamphos. 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-34174B, must 
be received by EPA on or before January 31, 2000.

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.''

[[Page 67264]]

To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify 
docket control number OPP-34174B 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 
propetamphos, 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://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-34174B. 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-34174B 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: ``opp-
[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-34174B. 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 one organophosphate, 
propetamphos. 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 propetamphos 
preliminary risk assessments, which where released to the public, 
January 15, 1999 (64 FR

[[Page 67265]]

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 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 propetamphos are for indoor pest control and the products 
are predominately used by professional pesticide applicators; 
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 propetamphos 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 propetamphos 
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 propetamphos. 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 propetamphos 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, commenters 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 January 31, 2000, at the addresses given 
under the ``ADDRESSES'' caption. 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: November 23, 1999.

Lois Rossi,

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

[FR Doc. 99-31050 Filed 11-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F