[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8702-8703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4051]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34218; FRL-6492-2]


Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Revised Risk 
Assessments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the revised risk 
assessments and related documents for two organophosphate pesticides, 
acephate and methamidophos. 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-34164B for 
acephate and OPP-34166B for methamidophos, must be received by EPA on 
or before April 24, 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.'' To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control numbers OPP-34164B for acephate and OPP-34166B for 
methamidophos 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, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., 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 acephate 
and methamidophos, 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-34164B for acephate and 
OPP-34166B for methamidophos. 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 numbers OPP-34164B for acephate and OPP-
34166B for methamidophos 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

[[Page 8703]]

Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
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 
numbers OPP-34164B for acephate and OPP-34166B for methamidophos. 
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 organophosphate pesticides, 
acephate and methamidophos. 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 pesticide 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 acephate and methamidophos preliminary risk assessments, which 
where released to the public, January 8, 1999 (64 FR 1199) (FRL-6055-
9), through a notice 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 managements for acephate and 
methamidophos. 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 chemical specified in this 
notice. Such comments and proposals could address ideas about how to 
manage dietary, occupational, or ecological risks on specific acephate 
and methamidophos 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, 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 pesticide 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 April 24, 2000, at the addresses 
given under the ``ADDRESSES'' section. Comments and proposals will 
become part of the Agency's official record for the organophosphate 
pesticides specified in this notice.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: February 9, 2000.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-4051 Filed 2-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F