[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65314-65316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27928]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00299; FRL-6746-1]


Proposed National Action Plan For Level 1 Pesticide; Notice of 
Availability

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY:  EPA has developed a draft National Action Plan to address the 
remaining risks to the Level 1 priority Persistent, Bioaccumulative, 
and Toxic (PBT) pesticide pollutants. This proposed National Action 
Plan covers the chemical compounds: Aldrin, Dieldrin, Chlordane, DDT, 
Mirex and Toxaphene. These six pesticides are highly chlorinated, 
persistent organic pesticides that were once widely used in large 
quantities in the United States. Because of evidence supporting the 
adverse environmental and human health effects of these substance, 
including their probable carcinogenicity, the pesticide use of all of 
the Level 1 pesticides were canceled in the U.S. in the 1970's and 
80's. Current data substantiate that these Level 1 pesticides are still 
ubiquitous in the environment, and at concentrations that may be of 
concern for both humans and wildlife. This plan, developed pursuant to 
the Agency 's Multimedia Strategy for Priority PBT Pollutants, 
addresses the remaining risks. This Notice announces the availability 
of the proposed Pesticide national Action for public review and 
comment.

DATES:  Comments, identified by docket control number OPPTS -00299, 
must be received on or before December 1, 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. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure proper 
receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control 
number OPPTS -00299 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For general information contact: 
Barbara Cunningham, Director, Office of Program Management and 
Evaluation, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7401), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: 
TSCA-Hotline @epa.gov. For technical information contact: Paul Matthai, 
Pollution Prevention Division Mail Code 7409, Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202 
260-3385; 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. This action may, 
however, be of interest to persons who have unused stocks of these 
canceled pesticide, such as farmers, or who live or work near 
contaminated reservoirs such as sediments, soil and localized 
contaminated industrial and pesticide dealership sites. Since other 
entities may also 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 technical person listed in the  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, and certain other related documents that might be available 
electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/pbt. To access this

[[Page 65315]]

document, on the PBT Home Page select ``What's new. '' 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 OPPTS -00299. 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 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 TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, North 
East Mall Rm. B-607, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. 
The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Center is (202) 
260-7099.

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 control number OPPTS -00299 in the subject line on 
the first page of your response.
    1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Document Control Office 
(7407), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: OPPT Document 
Control Office (DCO) in East Tower Rm. G-099, Waterside Mall, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the 
DCO is (202) 260-7093.
    3. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically by 
e-mail to: [email protected], or mail your computer disk to the 
addresess identified 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 disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All 
comments in electronic form must be identified by docket control number 
OPPTS-00299. Electronic comments may also be filed online at many 
Federal Depository Libraries.

D. 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 technical person identified under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    We invite you to provide your views on the various options we 
propose, 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 
during the development of the final action. 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 rule or collection 
activity.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
notice.
    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. What Action Is the Agency Taking?

    On November 16, 1998, EPA released its draft Agency-wide Multimedia 
Strategy for Priority Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) 
Polutants (PBT Strategy). The goal of the PBT Strategy is to identify 
and reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and 
future exposures to priority PBT pollutants. This document serves as 
the Draft National Action Plan for the Level 1 pesticides; six of the 
12 Level 1 priority PBT pollutants identified for the initial focus of 
action in the PBT Strategy.
    Aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, DDT, mirex, and toxaphene were once 
widely used in large quantities in the United States for applications, 
including: insect control on agricultural crops and cotton, treatment 
of livestock, control of ants, termite control in houses, and control 
of insect carriers of human diseases such as malaria. Because of 
evidence supporting the adverse environmental and human health effects 
of these substances, including their probable carcinogenicity, the 
pesticide uses of all of the Level 1 pesticides were canceled in the 
U.S. in the 1970's and 80's. In general, the remaining sources of Level 
1 pesticides in the United States include: unused stocks of these 
canceled pesticides; contaminated reservoirs such as sediments, soil, 
and localized contaminated industrial and dealership sites; atmospheric 
transport and deposition (from both regional and international 
sources); and DDT present as an impurity (0.1%) in Dicofol, a pesticide 
currently used in the U.S. and Canada.
    Human exposure occurs mainly through the food chain and for the 
most exposed populations, is probably due to the consumption of 
contaminated fish. Potential risk and health consequences due to the 
Level 1 pesticides are of particular concern for certain human 
populations who have increased exposure (e.g., subsistence fishers) 
and/or increased susceptibility (e.g., the developing embryo/fetus, 
nursing infants, and children).
    Data gathered in current multimedia monitoring efforts provided 
substantial evidence that the Level 1 pesticides are still ubiquitous 
in the environment, and at concentrations that may be of concern for 
both humans and wildlife. There are also significant quantities of 
unused, obsolete pesticide stocks stored throughout the U.S. and 
overseas which have the potential to cause serious

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environmental contamination and human health risks if accidentally 
released or not disposed of properly. This plan attempts to address 
these remaining risks by: (1) Supporting programs to collect and 
properly dispose of unwanted pesticides; (2) remediating nonpoint and 
reservoir sources like sediments, contaminated industrial sites, 
agricultural chemical dealer/storage sites, and past use sites on a 
priority basis; (3) reducing human exposure through public education, 
fish consumption advisories, and other outreach activities; (4) working 
with foreign governments to reduce or phase -out production and use of 
these substances, thereby reducing the risks from long -range 
transport; and (5) continued monitoring for environmental levels in 
fish, wildlife, and humans.
    EPA considers stakeholder involvement essential to reaching the 
goals of the PBT Strategy. EPA is seeking stakeholder input and invites 
comment on this draft National Action Plan on the following topics and 
issues related to the PBT Level 1 pesticides:
    1. Quantities of domestic unused stocks of pesticide products.
    2. Historical trends or current soil residues (urban and 
agricultural).
    3. Information on sites with significant Level 1 pesticide 
contamination.
    4. Current indoor levels of pesticides used in residents.
    5. Alternative disposal and soil/sediment remediation methods, and 
performance information.
    6. Other sensitive or highly exposed human subpopulations.
    7. Meaningful and feasible ways to address the problem of canceled 
pesticides in the environment.
    8. Meaningful PBT goals, performance measures, and time frames for 
such accomplishments.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection.


    Dated: October 20, 2000.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and 
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 00-27928 Filed 10-31-00 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S