[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 93 (Friday, May 12, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30543-30545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11872]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-300767A; FRL-6558-5]

Rin 2070-Ab78


Dicamba, Pesticide Tolerances; Technical Amendment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: EPA published in the Federal Register of January 6, 1999, a 
document establishing tolerances for residues of dicamba in/on various 
raw agricultural commodities. BASF Corporation requested the tolerances 
under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by 
the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) (Public Law 104-170). 
The regulation was amended to include a new metabolite and new 
commodities, as described in the Final Rule. Tolerances for soybean, 
forage, and hay were inadvertently omitted from Sec. 180.227(a)(3). 
This technical amendment corrects this error by listing these 
commodities in the existing regulation.

DATES: This technical amendment is effective May 12, 2000. Objections 
and requests for hearings, identified by docket control number OPP-
300767A, must be received by EPA on or before July 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests may be submitted by 
mail, in person, or by courier. Please follow the detailed instructions 
for each method as provided in Unit III. of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, your objections and 
hearing requests must identify docket control number OPP-300767A in the 
subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Joanne Miller, Registration 
Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office 
location, telephone number, and e-mail address: Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, (703) 308-9356; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be affected by this action if you are an agricultural 
producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. Potentially 
affected categories and entities may include, but are not limited to:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Examples of
           Categories                    NAICS            potentially
                                                       affected entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry                          111                 Crop production.
                                  112                 Animal production.
                                  311                 Food
                                                       manufacturing.
                                  32532               Pesticide
                                                       manufacturing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this 
action. Other types of entities not listed in the table could also be 
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining 
whether or not this action might apply to certain entities. If you have 
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/. 
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/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-300767A. 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.

II. Background

    EPA published a document on January 6, 1999 (64 FR 759) (FRL-6049-
2), establishing, revising, and revoking tolerances for residues of 
dicamba in/on various raw agricultural commodities. This regulation 
established maximum permissible levels for residues of dicamba in/on 
food commodities pursuant to section 408(b)(2)(D) of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act 
of 1996. Specifically, EPA amended Sec. 180.227 by redesignating then 
existing paragraphs (b) and (c) as paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3), 
respectively. EPA further amended Sec. 180.227 by revising newly 
designated paragraph (a)(2). In the revision of Sec. 180.227(a)(2), EPA 
left out the tolerances for soybean, forage and soybean, hay with the 
intention of including those tolerances in newly designated paragraph 
(a)(3). However, entries for soybean, forage and soybean, hay were 
inadvertently omitted from the table in paragraph (a)(3). This 
technical amendment corrects that oversight. The tolerance levels for 
soybean, forage and soybean, hay were listed correctly throughout the 
document. The correct tolerance levels, 0.01 ppm in/on soybean forage 
and hay, will be restored by this technical amendment. The tolerances 
were not revoked and have been enforceable during the lapse of time 
they did not appear in the regulation.

III. Objections and Hearing Requests

    Under section 408(g) of the FFDCA, as amended by the FQPA, any 
person may file an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may 
also request a hearing on those objections. The EPA procedural 
regulations which govern the submission of objections and requests for 
hearings appear in 40 CFR part 178. Although the procedures in those 
regulations require some modification to reflect the amendments made to 
the FFDCA by the FQPA of 1996, EPA will

[[Page 30544]]

continue to use those procedures, with appropriate adjustments, until 
the necessary modifications can be made. The new section 408(g) 
provides essentially the same process for persons to ``object'' to a 
regulation for an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance issued 
by EPA under new section 408(d), as was provided in the old FFDCA 
sections 408 and 409. However, the period for filing objections is now 
60 days, rather than 30 days.

A. What Do I Need to Do to File an Objection or Request a Hearing?

    You must file your objection or request a hearing on this 
regulation in accordance with the instructions provided in this unit 
and in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must 
identify docket control number OPP-300767A in the subject line on the 
first page of your submission. All requests must be in writing, and 
must be mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk on or before July 11, 
2000.
    1. Filing the request. Your objection must specify the specific 
provisions in the regulation that you object to, and the grounds for 
the objections (40 CFR 178.25). If a hearing is requested, the 
objections must include a statement of the factual issues(s) on which a 
hearing is requested, the requestor's contentions on such issues, and a 
summary of any evidence relied upon by the objector (40 CFR 178.27). 
Information submitted in connection with an objection or hearing 
request may be claimed confidential 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. A copy of the 
information that does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion 
in the public record. Information not marked confidential may be 
disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice.
    Mail your written request to: Office of the Hearing Clerk (1900), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. You may also deliver your request to 
the Office of the Hearing Clerk in Rm. C400, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., 
SW., Washington, DC 20460. The Office of the Hearing Clerk is open from 
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Office of the Hearing Clerk is (202) 260-4865.
    2. Tolerance fee payment. If you file an objection or request a 
hearing, you must also pay the fee prescribed by 40 CFR 180.33(i) or 
request a waiver of that fee pursuant to 40 CFR 180.33(m). You must 
mail the fee to: EPA Headquarters Accounting Operations Branch, Office 
of Pesticide Programs, P.O. Box 360277M, Pittsburgh, PA 15251. Please 
identify the fee submission by labeling it ``Tolerance Petition Fees.''
    EPA is authorized to waive any fee requirement ``when in the 
judgement of the Administrator such a waiver or refund is equitable and 
not contrary to the purpose of this subsection.'' For additional 
information regarding the waiver of these fees, you may contact James 
Tompkins by phone at (703) 305-5697, by e-mail at [email protected], 
or by mailing a request for information to Mr. Tompkins at Registration 
Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
    If you would like to request a waiver of the tolerance objection 
fees, you must mail your request for such a waiver to: James Hollins, 
Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    3. Copies for the Docket. In addition to filing an objection or 
hearing request with the Hearing Clerk as described in Unit III.A., you 
should also send a copy of your request to the PIRIB for its inclusion 
in the official record that is described in Unit I.B.2. Mail your 
copies, identified by docket control number OPP-300767A, 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. In person or by courier, bring a copy to the 
location of the PIRIB described in Unit I.B.2. You may also send an 
electronic copy of your request via e-mail to: [email protected]. 
Please use an ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters 
and any form of encryption. Copies of electronic objections and hearing 
requests will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 file 
format or ASCII file format. Do not include any CBI in your electronic 
copy. You may also submit an electronic copy of your request at many 
Federal Depository Libraries.

B. When Will the Agency Grant a Request for a Hearing?

    A request for a hearing will be granted if the Administrator 
determines that the material submitted shows the following: There is a 
genuine and substantial issue of fact; there is a reasonable 
possibility that available evidence identified by the requestor would, 
if established resolve one or more of such issues in favor of the 
requestor, taking into account uncontested claims or facts to the 
contrary; and resolution of the factual issues(s) in the manner sought 
by the requestor would be adequate to justify the action requested (40 
CFR 178.32).

IV. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

    This final rule does not impose any new requirements. It only 
implements a technical amendment to the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR). As such, this action does not require review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under Executive Order 12866, entitled 
Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or Executive 
Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health 
Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). This action does 
not impose any enforceable duty, contain any unfunded mandate, or 
impose any significant or unique impact on small governments as 
described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public 
Law 104-4). Nor does it require prior consultation with State, local, 
and tribal government officials as specified by Executive Order 12875, 
entitled ``Federal Register Enhancing the Intergovernmental 
Partnership'' (58 FR 58093, October 28, 1993) and Executive Order 
13084, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments'' 63 FR 27655, May 19, 1998), or special consideration of 
environmental justice related issues under Executive Order 12898, 
entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority 
Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). 
This action does not involve any technical standards that would require 
Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant to 
section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act 
of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 
note). In addition, since this action is not subject to notice and 
comment requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) or 
any other statute, it is not subject to the regulatory flexibility 
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.).

[[Page 30545]]

V. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801  et seq., as added by 
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 
generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the Agency 
promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy 
of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller 
General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this 
rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House 
of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States 
prior to publication of this rule in the Federal Register. This is a 
technical correction to the Federal Register and is not a ``major 
rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: May 4, 2000.
James Jones,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, 40 CFR part 180 is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346(a), and 374.


    2. In Sec. 180.227, the table to paragraph (a)(3) is amended by 
adding alphabetically entries for the commodities ``soybean, forage'' 
and ``soybean, hay'', to read as follows:


Sec. 180.227  Dicamba; tolerances for residues.

    (a) * * *
    (3) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Parts per
                         Commodity                             million
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                          *    *    *    *    *
Soybean, forage............................................         0.01
Soybean, hay...............................................         0.01
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
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[FR Doc. 00-11872 Filed 5-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F