[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 144 (Thursday, July 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39040-39042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18655]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34241; FRL-6789-4]


Sodium Acifluorfen; Availability of Risk Assessments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of documents that were 
developed as part of EPA's process for making pesticide reregistration 
eligibility decisions and tolerance reassessments consistent with the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food 
Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). These documents are the human 
health and ecological fate and effects risk assessments and related 
documents for sodium acifluorfen (Blazer). This notice also 
starts a 60-day public comment period for the risk assessments. 
Comments are to be limited to issues directly associated with sodium 
acifluorfen and raised by the risk assessments or other documents 
placed in the docket. By allowing access and opportunity for comment on 
the risk assessments, EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder 
involvement and help ensure that our decisions under FQPA are 
transparent and based on the best available information. The tolerance 
reassessment process will ensure that the United States continues to 
have the safest and most abundant food supply. The Agency cautions that 
these risk assessments for sodium acifluorfen are preliminary and that 
further refinements may be appropriate. Risk assessments reflect only 
the work and analysis conducted as of the time they were produced and 
it is

[[Page 39041]]

appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or 
additional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may 
change.

DATES: Comments, identified by the docket control number OPP-34241 for 
sodium acifluorfen, must be received on or before September 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 the docket control 
number for sodium acifluorfen, OPP-34241, in the subject line on the 
first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Scheltema, Special Review 
and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-2201; 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 the Federal Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), or the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (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?

    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 risk assessments and certain 
related documents for sodium acifluorfen may also be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm .
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-34241. 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 the docket control number for sodium acifluorfen, OPP-
34241, 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/
8.0/9.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be 
identified by docket control number OPP-34241. 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.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
document.
    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. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA is making available risk assessments that have been developed

[[Page 39042]]

as part of the Agency's public participation process for making 
reregistration eligibility and tolerance reassessment decisions for the 
organophosphate and other pesticides consistent with FFDCA, as amended 
by FQPA. The Agency's human health and ecological fate and effects risk 
assessments and other related documents for sodium acifluorfen are 
available in the individual pesticide docket. As additional comments, 
reviews, and risk assessment modifications become available, these will 
also be docketed for sodium acifluorfen.
    The Agency cautions that the sodium acifluorfen risk assessments 
are preliminary and that further refinements may be appropriate. These 
documents reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of the time 
they were produced and it is appropriate that, as new information 
becomes available and/or additional analyses are performed, the 
conclusions they contain may change.
    EPA is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for 
interested parties to provide written comments and input to the Agency 
on the risk assessments for the pesticide specified in this notice. 
Such comments and input could address, for example, the availability of 
additional data to further refine the risk assessments, such as percent 
crop treated information or submission of residue data from food 
processing studies, or could address the Agency's risk assessment 
methodologies and assumptions as applied to this specific chemicals. 
Comments should be limited to issues raised within the risk assessments 
and associated documents. EPA will provide other opportunities for 
public comment on other science issues associated with the pesticide 
tolerance reassessment program. Failure to comment on any such issues 
as part of this opportunity will in no way prejudice or limit a 
commenter's opportunity to participate fully in later notice and 
comment processes. All comments should be submitted by September 24, 
2001 using the methods in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 
Comments will become part of the Agency record for sodium acifluorfen.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: June 14, 2001
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 01-18655 Filed 7-25-01; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S