[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7648-7650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2183]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00690; FRL-6758-6]


Pesticide Guidelines; Request for Information to Update Plant 
Commodity Table

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

 ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  EPA intends to update its guidance on the residue data 
requirements that support registration of pesticides under the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and that support 
tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) for 
use in the conduct of human health risk assessments. The Agency will 
update the Series 860--Residue Chemistry Test Guidelines by revising 
Table 1 in OPPTS 860.1000, describing raw agricultural commodities 
(RACs), processed foods, and livestock feedstuffs because of changes in 
commercial food/feed processing practices, livestock feeding practices, 
and consumer consumption patterns. The Agency seeks information from

[[Page 7649]]

interested parties on the raw agricultural commodities, processed 
foods, and livestock feedstuffs currently listed in Table 1, as well as 
information about other such commodities that should be considered for 
addition to Table 1.

DATES:  Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-00690, must 
be received on or before April 24, 2001.

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 OPP-00690 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jerry Stokes, Health Effects Division 
(7509C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 
(703) 305-7561; fax number: (703) 305-5147; 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 those persons who are or may be required to 
conduct testing of chemical substances under FFDCA or FIFRA. 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this 
Document and Other Related Documents?

    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,'' 
``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/. You may also obtain copies of the test 
guidelines from the EPA Internet Home page at http://www.epa.gov/opptsfrs/home/guidelin.htm/. The OPPTS 860.1000 test guideline must be 
down-loaded in Adobe portable document format (PDF) in order for the 
current Table 1 to be viewed or printed.

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 OPP-00690 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 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. 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-00690. 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 listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    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 notice 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 include docket 
control number OPP-00690 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal Register 
citation.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    ``Table 1.--Raw Agricultural and Processed Commodities and 
Feedstuffs Derived From Crops,'' appearing in the OPPTS 860.1000 test 
guideline (61 FR 44308, August 28, 1996) (FRL-5390-7), provides a 
listing of most significant food and feed commodities, both raw and 
processed, for which residue data are collected and pesticide 
tolerances may be set. Table 1 also provides a description of the raw 
agricultural commodity and the proper growth stage to take samples for 
residue analysis. In addition, for feedstuffs, Table 1 provides:
    1. The maximum percent of the diet for beef and dairy cattle, 
poultry and swine; and
    2. Guidance on those crops EPA believes it would be appropriate to 
allow label restrictions prohibiting use of commodities as feedstuffs.
    The Agency believes that it is now appropriate to update Table 1 
because there have been significant changes in commercial processing 
and livestock feeding practices. In addition, changes in consumer 
consumption patterns suggest that additional data for some

[[Page 7650]]

processed commodities may help to further refine Agency dietary 
exposure assessments. Commodities that predominate in children's diets 
will be a special focus of attention.
    EPA is seeking stakeholder involvement to make the process most 
effective. Interested parties are asked to provide information on raw 
agricultural commodities, associated processed commodities and 
livestock feedstuffs derived from the RACs, and/or processed 
commodities. Information provided could include:
    1. Amount of RAC, processed commodity, or feedstuff produced;
    2. Common processing practices;
    3. Disposition of processing wastes;
    4. Regional production/distribution of feedstuffs;
    5. Cultural practices and harvesting information needed to assess 
the RAC;
    6. Portion of commodity consumed;
    7. Percent dry matter at sampling stages; or
    8. Changes in the maximum percent of livestock diet.
     Information concerning national or local distribution or 
utilization of livestock feedstuffs is desirable. All information 
supplied should be accompanied with adequate supporting documentation.
    Additional raw agricultural commodities will be incorporated into 
Table 1 as appropriate. It is anticipated that Table 1 will also be 
expanded to include more processed commodities. Interested parties are 
encouraged to submit information on processed commodities not 
previously considered in Table 1.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    In response to a FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel recommendation 
that the Agency, ``. . . retain a standing committee to continue 
monitoring and updating the contents of this table,'' the Agency is now 
updating Table 1. The feedstuffs section of Table 1 was the primary 
focus of revisions reflected in the August 1996 revision. Effectively, 
the processed commodities have not been updated since the original 1982 
version of Table 1.

 List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agricultural commodities, Health, 
Livestock, Test guidelines.


    Dated: January 11, 2001.
Marcia E. Mulkey,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 01-2183 Filed 1-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S