[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39898-39899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16370]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34230; FRL-6595-3]


Pesticides; Availability of Risk Assessments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of risk assessments 
that were developed as part of the EPA's process for making 
Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for 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 risk assessments are the human health and ecological 
risk assessments and related documents for oxamyl, terrazole, and 
triallate. These risk assessments are being released to the public as 
part of the joint initiative between EPA and the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen stakeholder involvement and help 
ensure decisions made 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.

DATES: The risk assessments and related documents are available in the 
OPP Docket. While there is no formal public comment period, the Agency 
will accept comments on the risk assessment documents. Comments 
submitted within the first 30 days are most likely to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit II. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number of the chemical of specific interest 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; and 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 risk 
assessments for oxamyl, terrazole, and triallate, 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/. 
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 pesticide 
risk assessments released to the public may also be accessed at http: 
www.epa.gov/pesticides.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control numbers OPP-34227 for oxamyl, OPP-
34229 for terrazole, and OPP-34226 for triallate. 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. 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 for the specific chemical of 
interest 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, 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 
number of the chemical of specific interest. 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

[[Page 39899]]

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.''

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA is making available to the public the risk assessments that 
have been developed as part of EPA's process for tolerance reassessment 
and reregistration. While there is no formal public comment period, the 
Agency will accept comments on the risk assessment documents. Comments 
submitted within the first 30 days are most likely to be considered. 
REDs for pesticides developed under the interim process will be made 
available for public comment.
    EPA and USDA have been using a pilot public participation process 
for the assessment of organophosphate pesticides since August 1998. In 
considering how to accomplish the movement from the current pilot being 
used for the organophosphate pesticides to the public participation 
process that will be used in the future for non-organophosphates, such 
as oxamyl, terrazole, and triallate, EPA and USDA have adopted an 
interim public participation process for the non-organophosphate 
pesticides scheduled for tolerance reassessment and reregistration in 
2000. The interim public participation process ensures public access to 
the Agency's risk assessments while also allowing EPA to meet its 
reregistration commitments. The interim public participation process 
for the non-organophosphate pesticides scheduled for tolerance 
reassessment and reregistration in 2000 and 2001 takes into account 
that the risk assessment development work on these pesticides is 
substantially complete. The interim public participation process 
involves: A registrant error correction period; a period for the Agency 
to respond to the registrant's error comments; the release of the 
refined risk assessments and risk characterizations to the public via 
the docket and EPA's internet website; a significant effort on 
stakeholder consultations, such as meetings and conference calls; and 
the issuance of the risk management document (i.e., RED) after the 
consideration of issues and discussions with stakeholders. USDA plans 
to hold meetings and conference calls with the public (i.e., interested 
stakeholders such as growers, USDA Cooperative Extension Offices, 
commodity groups, and other Federal government agencies) to discuss any 
identified risks and solicit input on risk management strategies. EPA 
will participate in USDA's meetings and conference calls with the 
public. This feedback will be used to complete the risk management 
decisions and the RED. EPA plans to conduct a close-out conference call 
with interested stakeholders to describe the regulatory decisions 
presented in the RED. REDs for pesticides developed under the interim 
process will be made available for public comment.
    Included in the public version of the official record is the 
Agency's risk assessments and related documents for oxamyl, terrazole, 
and triallate. As additional comments, reviews, and risk assessment 
modifications become available, these will also be docketed for the 
pesticides listed in this notice. These risk assessments 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.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: June 21, 2000.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-16370 Filed 6-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F