[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 161 (Friday, August 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50526-50527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20998]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00658A; FRL-6739-3]


Pesticides; Proposed Guidance on Cumulative Risk Assessment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In the Federal Register of June 30, 2000, EPA announced and 
requested comment on a pesticide draft science policy document entitled 
``Proposed Guidance on Cumulative Risk Assessment of Pesticide 
Chemicals that Have a Common Mechanism of Toxicity.'' EPA is extending 
the comment period to September 15, 2000, in response to requests from 
the public.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-00658A, must 
be received on or before September 15, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-00658A in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean M. Frane, Field and External 
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania, Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (703)-305-5944; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be affected by this action if you manufacture, formulate, 
or are required to register pesticide products (NAICS Code 32532). 
Other types of entities not listed could also be affected. The North 
American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code has been 
provided to assist you and others in determining whether or not this 
notice affects certain entities. 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 or Other Related Documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document, the draft science policy document, and certain other related 
documents that might be available from the Office of Pesticide 
Programs' Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides. On the Office of 
Pesticide Programs' Home Page select ``FQPA'' and then look up the 
entry for this document under ``Science Policies.'' You can also go 
directly to the listings at the EPA Home Page at http://www.epa.gov. On 
the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations,'' Regulations and Proposed 
Rules,'' and then look up the entry for this document under ``Federal 
Register--Environmental Documents.'' You can go directly to the Federal 
Register listings http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.
    2. Fax on demand. You may request a faxed copy of the draft science 
policy document, as well as supporting information, by using a faxphone 
to call (202) 401-0527. Select item 6049 for the paper entitled 
``Proposed Guidance on Cumulative Risk Assessment of Pesticide 
Chemicals That Have a Common Mechanism of Toxicity.'' You may also 
follow the automated menu.
    3. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-00658A. In addition, the 
documents referenced in the framework notice, which published in the 
Federal Register on October 29, 1998 (63 FR 58038) (FRL-6041-5) have 
also been inserted in the docket under docket control number OPP-00557. 
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 through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that 
you identify docket

[[Page 50527]]

control number OPP-00658A 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 Highway, Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8 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-00658A. 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 identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

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

    EPA invites you to provide your views on the various draft science 
policy documents, new approaches we have not considered, the potential 
impacts of the various options (including possible unintended 
consequences), and any data or information that you would like the 
Agency to consider. 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 if any technical information and/or data to 
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 proposed rule or 
collection activity.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
notice.
    8. At the beginning of your comments (e.g., as part of the 
``Subject'' heading), be sure to properly identify the document you are 
commenting on. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that 
you identify docket control number OPP-00658A in the subject line on 
the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, 
and Federal Register citation.

II. Background

    EPA is extending until September 15, 2000 the comment period for 
its draft science policy document entitled, ``Proposed Guidance on 
Cumulative Risk Assessment of Pesticide Chemicals that Have a Common 
Mechanism of Toxicity.'' The original comment period would have closed 
on August 28, 2000. EPA has received requests from a group of 
stakeholders, who wish to comment on the draft document, asking EPA to 
extend the comment period. The group requested an additional 30 days 
for comment, citing the length and complexity of the proposal, as well 
as the difficulty of preparing comment during the summer vacation 
period.

III. Do Any Regulatory Assessment Requirements Apply to this 
Action?

    No. This action is not a rulemaking, it merely extends the date by 
which public comments must be submitted to EPA on a pesticide draft 
science policy document that previously published in the Federal 
Register of June 30, 2000 (65 FR 40644) (FRL-6556-4). For information 
about the applicability of the regulatory assessment requirements to 
that document, please refer to the discussion in Unit I. of the June 
30, 2000, document.

List of Subjects

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


    Dated: August 8, 2000.
Susan H. Wayland,
 Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 00-20998 Filed 8-17-00]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F