[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11050-11052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4789]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34219; FRL-6494-8]


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, 
ethyl parathion and fenitrothion. 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-34171A for 
ethyl parathion and OPP-34197A for fenitrothion, must be received by 
EPA on or before May 1, 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-34171A for ethyl parathion and OPP-34197A for 
fenitrothion 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 ethyl 
parathion and fenitrothion, 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

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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-34171A for ethyl parathion 
and OPP-34197A for fenitrothion. 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-34171A for ethyl parathion and 
OPP-34197A for fenitrothion 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, 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-34171A for ethyl parathion and OPP-34197A for fenitrothion. 
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, 
ethyl parathion and fenitrothion. 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 ethyl parathion and fenitrothion preliminary risk assessments, 
which where released to the public January 15, 1999 (64 FR 10) (FRL-
6056-9) for ethyl parathion and September 2, 1999 (64 FR 170) (FRL-
6380-9) for fenitrothion 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 managements for ethyl parathion 
and fenitrothion. 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 ethyl 
parathion and fenitrothion 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

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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 May 1, 2000 at the addresses given under the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments and proposals will become part of the Agency record 
for the organophosphate pesticides specified in this notice.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: February 22, 2000.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-4789 Filed 2-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-F