[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 54 (Monday, March 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14967-14969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6862]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34173B; FRL-6499-2]


Organophosphate Pesticide; 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, 
phosmet. 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-34173B for 
phosmet, must be received by EPA on or before May 19, 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 number OPP-34173B for phosmet 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 phosmet, 
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

[[Page 14968]]

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-34173B for phosmet. 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-34173B for phosmet 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:``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-
34173B for phosmet. 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 pesticide, 
phosmet. 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 
phosmet preliminary risk assessments, which was released to the public 
January 15, 1999 (64 FR 10) (FRL-6056-9) 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 management for phosmet. 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 phosmet 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, commentors 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 19, 2000 at the addresses given under 
the ``ADDRESSES'' section. Comments and proposals will become part of 
the Agency record for the

[[Page 14969]]

organophosphate pesticide specified in this notice.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: March 13, 2000.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-6862 Filed 3-15-00; 3:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F