[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 92 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30407-30409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11870]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34223; FRL-6558-3]


Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Preliminary Risk 
Assessments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of documents that were 
developed as part of the EPA's process for making reregistration 
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for 
tolerance reassessments consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 
1996 (FQPA). These documents are the preliminary human health risk 
assessments and related documents for malathion. This notice also 
starts a 60-day public comment period for the preliminary risk 
assessments. Comments and data are to be limited to issues directly 
associated with the organophosphate pesticide that has risk assessments 
placed in the docket and should be limited to issues raised in those 
documents. By allowing access and opportunity for comment on the 
preliminary risk assessments, EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder 
involvement and help ensure our decisions under FQPA are transparent 
and based on the best available information. The tolerance reassessment 
process will ensure that the United States continues to have the safest 
and most abundant food supply. The Agency cautions that these risk 
assessments are preliminary assessments only and that further 
refinements of the risk assessments will be appropriate for some, if 
not all, of these organophosphate pesticides. These documents reflect 
only the work and analysis conducted as of the time they were produced 
and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or 
additional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may 
change.

DATES: Written comments and data on these assessments, identified by 
the docket control number OPP-34223, must be received on or before July 
10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments and data may be submitted by mail, electronically, 
or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method 
as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify the docket 
control number in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Angulo, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508W), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8004; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. 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 
preliminary risk assessments for malathion, 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. Since other entities also may be interested, the 
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may 
be 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.

B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of This 
Document and Other Related Documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document, and certain other related documents that might be available 
electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. 

[[Page 30408]]

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/. In addition, copies 
of the preliminary risk assessments for this organophosphate pesticide 
may also be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-34223. The official record 
consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, 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 the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch 
(PIRIB), 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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments and data through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that 
you identify the docket control number in the subject line on the first 
page of your response.
    1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division 
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources 
and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), 
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. You may submit your comments electronically by 
e-mail to: ``[email protected],'' or you can submit a computer disk as 
described above. Do not submit any information electronically that you 
consider to be CBI. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Electronic submissions will be accepted in Wordperfect 6.1/
8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be 
identified by docket control number OPP-34223. Electronic comments may 
also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI 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.''

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternative ways to improve the notice or collection 
activity.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
document.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first 
page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

II. Background

A. What Action Is the Agency Taking?

    EPA is making available preliminary risk assessments that have been 
developed as part of EPA's process for making reregistration 
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for 
tolerance reassessments consistent with the FFDCA, as amended by the 
FQPA. The Agency's preliminary risk assessments for malathion are 
available in the organophosphate pesticide docket for malathion.
    Included in the organophosphate pesticide docket are the Agency's 
preliminary risk assessments. As additional comments, reviews, and risk 
assessment modifications become available, these will also be docketed 
for the organophosphate pesticide listed in this notice. The Agency 
cautions that these risk assessments are preliminary assessments only 
and that further refinements of the risk assessments will be 
appropriate for this organophosphate pesticide. These documents reflect 
only the work and analysis conducted as of the time they were produced 
and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or 
additional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may 
change.
    As the preliminary risk assessments for the remaining 
organophosphate pesticides are completed and registrants are given a 
30-day review period to identify possible computational or other clear 
errors in the risk assessments, these risk assessments and registrant 
responses will be placed in the individual organophosphate pesticide 
dockets. A notice of availability for subsequent assessments will 
appear in the Federal Register.
    The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for 
interested parties to provide written comments and data and input to 
the Agency on the preliminary risk assessments for the organophosphate 
pesticide specified in this notice. Such comments and data and input 
could address, for example, the availability of additional data to 
further refine the risk assessments, such as percent crop treated 
information or submission of residue data from food processing studies, 
or could address the Agency's risk assessment methodologies and 
assumptions as applied to this specific chemical. Comments and data 
should be limited to issues raised within the preliminary risk 
assessments and

[[Page 30409]]

associated documents. EPA will provide other opportunities for public 
comment and data on other science issues associated with the 
organophosphate pesticide tolerance reassessment program. Failure to 
comment on any such issues 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 data should be 
submitted by July 10, 2000 at the address given under Unit I. Comments 
and data will become part of the Agency record for the organophosphate 
pesticide specified in this notice.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: May 3, 2000.
Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-11870 Filed 5-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F