[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 251 (Friday, December 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83013-83014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33014]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34145C; FRL-6763-4]


Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Interim Risk 
Management Decision Documents

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  This notice announces the availability of the interim risk 
management decision document for the organophosphate pesticide 
fenthion. This decision document has been developed as part of the 
public participation process that EPA and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) are now using for involving the public in the 
reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food Quality Protection 
Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual organophosphate 
pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For general information contact: 
Carol Stangel, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), 
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 
308-8007; e-mail address: [email protected].
    For technical information contact: For questions on the IRED in 
this document, contact the Chemical Review Manager listed in the table 
in Unit I.B.2. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

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 interim 
risk management decision documents for fenthion , 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.

[[Page 83014]]

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'', ``Regulations and 
Proposed Rules,'' 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 interim risk management 
decision documents released to the public may also be accessed at 
http://www.epa.gov/REDs.
     2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control numbers OPP-34145C. 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.
    For questions on the IRED in this document, contact the Chemical 
Review Manager listed in this table:

 
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                                                        Chemical Review
          Chemical name                Case No.             Manager          Telephone no.      E-mail address
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Fenthion                          0290                Tracy Truesdale     (703) 308-8073      [email protected]
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III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA has assessed the risks of fenthion and reached an Interim 
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for this organophosphate 
pesticide. The Agency believes that currently registered uses of 
fenthion pose unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the 
environment, and that mitigation measures are necessary. EPA will 
conduct a public process in the near future to identify the best ways 
to reduce the risks associated with fenthion exposure. This process 
will include a public comment period on the risk mitigation proposed in 
this interim RED, as well as a stakeholder meeting. At the conclusion 
of this process, the Agency will announce a final determination on the 
risk mitigation it believes must be adopted in order for products 
containing fenthion to remain eligible for reregistration.
     The interim risk management decision documents for fenthion were 
made through the organophosphate pesticide pilot public participation 
process, which increases transparency and maximizes stakeholder 
involvement in EPA's development of risk assessments and risk 
management decisions. The pilot public participation process was 
developed as part of the EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory 
Committee (TRAC), which was established in April 1998, as a 
subcommittee under the auspices of EPA's National Advisory Council for 
Environmental Policy and Technology. A goal of the pilot public 
participation process is to find a more effective way for the public to 
participate at critical junctures in the Agency's development of 
organophosphate pesticide risk assessments and risk management 
decisions. EPA and USDA began implementing this pilot process in August 
1998, to increase transparency and opportunities for stakeholder 
consultation.
    EPA worked extensively with affected parties to reach the decisions 
presented in the interim risk management decision document for fenthion 
. As part of the pilot public participation process, numerous 
opportunities for public comment were offered as these interim risk 
management decision documents were being developed. In addition, the 
Agency will provide further opportunity for public involvement through 
a stakeholder meeting to discuss risk mitigation options and approaches 
for fenthion.
    The risk assessments for fenthion were released to the public 
through a notice published in the Federal Register on September 9, 1998 
(63 FR 48213) (OPP-34141; FRL-6030-2) and October 14, 1999 (64 FR 
55712) (OPP-34145A; FRL-6389-2).
    EPA's next step under FQPA is to complete a cumulative risk 
assessment and risk management decision encompassing all the 
organophosphate pesticides, which share a common mechanism of toxicity. 
The interim risk management decision documents on fenthion cannot be 
considered final until this cumulative assessment is complete.
    When the cumulative risk assessment for all organophosphate 
pesticides has been completed, EPA will issue its final tolerance 
reassessment decision for fenthion and further risk mitigation measures 
may be needed.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: December 21, 2000.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 00-33014 Filed 12-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S