[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 59 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16197-16199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7418]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34220; FRL-6551-4]


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, 
phostebupirim and tetrachlorvinphos. 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-34186A for 
phostebupirim and OPP-34175B for tetrachlorvinphos, must be received by 
EPA on or before May 26, 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-34186A for phostebupirim and OPP-34175B for 
tetrachlorvinphos 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 
phostebupirim and tetrachlorvinphos, 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

[[Page 16198]]

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-34186A for phostebupirim and OPP-34175B for 
tetrachlorvinphos. 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-34186A for phostebupirim and 
OPP-34175B for tetrachlorvinphos 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-34186A for phostebupirim and OPP-
34175B for tetrachlorvinphos. 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, 
phostebupirim and tetrachlorvinphos. 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 phostebupirim and tetrachlorvinphos preliminary risk 
assessments, which where released to the public on May 26, 1999 (64 FR 
101) (FRL-6083-4) for phostebupirim and January 15, 1999 (64 FR 10) 
(FRL-6056-9) for tetrachlorvinphos 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 phostebupirim 
and tetrachlorvinphos. 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 
phostebupirim and tetrachlorvinphos 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,

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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 26, 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: March 20, 2000.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-7418 Filed 3-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U