[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68679-68681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31773]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34213; FRL-6399-2]


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, 
methidathion and oxydemeton methyl. 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 numbers OPP-34172B for 
methidathion and OPP-34167B for oxydemeton methyl, must be received by 
EPA on or before February 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as

[[Page 68680]]

provided in Unit III. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control numbers OPP-34172B for methidathion and OPP-34167B for 
oxydemeton methyl 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 
methidathion and oxydemeton methyl, 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 numbers OPP-34172B for methidathion 
and OPP-34167B for oxydemeton methyl. 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 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 numbers OPP-34172B for methidathion and 
OPP-34167B for oxydemeton methyl 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 
numbers OPP-34172B for methidathion and OPP-34167B for oxydemeton 
methyl. 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, 
methidathion and oxydemeton methyl. 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

[[Page 68681]]

documents being released to the public through this notice provide 
information on the revisions that were made to the methidathion and 
oxydemeton methyl preliminary risk assessments, which where released to 
the public on January 15, 1999 (64 FR 2644) (FRL-6056-9) for 
methidathion, and January 8, 1999 (64 FR 1199) (FRL-6055-9) for 
oxydemeton methyl, through notices in the Federal Register.
    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 methidathion and 
oxydemeton methyl. 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 
methidathion and oxydemeton methyl 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 February 7, 2000 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: December 2, 1999.

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

[FR Doc. 99-31773 Filed 12-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F