[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11587-11588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4779]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00707; FRL-6772-8]


EPA-USDA Committee to Advise on Reassessment and Transition 
(CARAT); Notice of Public Workshop on Drinking Water Assessment 
Methodology

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY:  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-U.S.Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) Committee to Advise on Reassessment and Transition 
(CARAT) will hold a public workshop on February 28, 2001. This workshop 
will demonstrate the process used to assess the concentrations of 
pesticide residues in surface and ground water sources of drinking 
water. An agenda is available on our website at www.epa.gov/pesticides/carat/. It will include a description of the tiered approach that is 
used to determine concentrations of pesticides in drinking water for 
the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) dietary human health risk 
assessments, an explanation of the models used at each tier, how 
monitoring data are factored into the risk assessments, and a case 
study which is intended to demonstrate the assessment process for an 
actual reregistration of a pesticide. Planned improvements and future 
directions for drinking water assessments will also be discussed.

DATES:  The workshop will be held on February 28, 2001 from 9 a.m. to 4 
p.m.

ADDRESSES:  The meeting will be held at the Radisson Hotel Old Town, 
901 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone number (703) 
683-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Margie Fehrenbach or Terria Northern, 
Office of Pesticide Programs (7501C), Environmental Protection Agency, 
Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (703) 308-4775 or (703) 305-7093; fax number: (703) 
308-4776; e-mail address: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. 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 are concerned about 
implementation of the FQPA (Pub. L. 104-170). Passed in 1996, this new 
law strengthens the nation's system

[[Page 11588]]

for regulating pesticides on food. CARAT is preceded by the Tolerance 
Reassessment Advisory Committee which was established in 1998 in order 
for EPA and USDA to work together to ensure smooth implementation of 
FQPA. 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.

II. 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/. 
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/. To access information about CARAT, go 
directly to the Home Page for EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs at 
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/carat.
    2.  In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this meeting under docket control number OPP-00707. The official record 
consists of the documents specifically referenced in this notice, any 
public comments received during an applicable comment period, and other 
information related to the CARAT. 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, which includes printed, paper versions of any 
electronic comments that may be 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.

III. Background

    CARAT was established in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act as a subcommittee under the auspices of the EPA National 
Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). The 
purpose of CARAT is to provide advice and counsel to the Administrator 
of EPA and the Secretary of Agriculture regarding strategic approaches 
for pest management planning and tolerance reassessment for pesticides 
as required by the FQPA of 1996. CARAT is preceded by the Tolerance 
Reassessment Advisory Committee and is guided by the principles set 
forth by the Vice President for EPA and the USDA to work together to 
ensure smooth implementation of FQPA through use of sound science, 
consultation with stakeholders, increased transparency, and reasonable 
transition for agriculture. CARAT is composed of experts that include 
farmers, environmental/public interest groups, public health officials, 
pediatric experts, pesticide trade associations and manufacturers, food 
processors and distributors, academicians, and tribal, State and local 
governments.

IV. How Can I Participate in this Workshop?

    CARAT meetings and workshops are open to the public under section 
10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463). 
Outside statements by observers are welcome. Oral statements will be 
limited to 3-5 minutes, and it is preferred that only 1 person per 
organization present the statement. Any person who wishes to file a 
written statement may do so before or after the workshop. These 
statements will become part of the permanent record and will be 
available for public inspection at the address listed in Unit II.2. of 
this document.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agriculture, Chemicals, Drinking water, 
Foods, Pesticides, and Pests.


    Dated: February 16, 2001.
Joseph J. Merenda,
Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 01-4779 Filed 2-22-01; 2:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S