[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57073-57074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28525]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34203J; FRL-6810-6]


Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Chlorpyrifos Interim 
Risk Management Decision Document

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 chlorpyrifos. In addition, this notice 
starts a 60-day public participation period during which the public is 
encouraged to submit comments on the chlorpyrifos interim risk 
management decision document. This decision document has been developed 
as part of the public participation process that EPA and United States 
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).

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34203G, must 
be received by EPA on or before January 14, 2002. Comments on the 
requested cancellation requests must be submitted to the address 
provided below and identified by docket control number OPP-34203G.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in 
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit III. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-34203G in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Myers, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8589; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. 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 
chlorpyrifos interim risk management decision document and submitting 
comments on chlorpyrifos, 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. As 
such, the Agency has not attempted to specifically describe all the 
entities potentially 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 or Other Related Documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document and other related documents from the EPA Internet homepage at 
http://www.epa.gov/. To access this document, on the homepage 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 organophosphate pesticides and obtain 
electronic copies of the revised risk assessments and related documents 
mentioned in this notice, you can also go directly to the Home Page for 
the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-34203G. 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 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. How Can I Respond to this Action?

A. 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-34203G in the subject line on 
the first page of your response.
    1. By mail. Submit comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), 
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. In person or by courier. Deliver comments to: Public Information 
and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services 
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, 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.

[[Page 57074]]

    3. Electronically. Submit electronic comments by e-mail to: [email protected], or you can submit a computer disk as described 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 computer disks in 
WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic 
form must be identified by the docket control number OPP-34203G. 
Electronic comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository 
Libraries.

B. 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

C. 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 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.

IV. What Action is EPA Taking in this Notice?

    EPA has assessed the risks of chlorpyrifos and reached an interim 
risk management decision for this organophosphate pesticide. Provided 
that risk mitigation measures are adopted, chlorpyrifos fits into its 
own risk cup; its individual, aggregate risks are within acceptable 
levels. Used on numerous food crops (corn, beans, peas, sugar beets, 
cole crops, cucurbits, tree fruits, tree nuts, grapes, and berries, 
among others) chlorpyrifos residues in food and drinking water do not 
pose risk concerns. With previous mitigation eliminating homeowner's 
and children's exposure around the home and the phase out of the 
termiticide uses, chlorpyrifos fits into its own ``risk cup.'' With 
other mitigation measures, worker and ecological risks will be 
acceptable taking into account the benefits of use, except for the open 
pour dust formulations which are ineligible for reregistration at this 
time.
    The interim risk management decision document for chlorpyrifos was 
developed as part of 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 chlorpyrifos.
    In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation 
period during which the public is encouraged to submit written comments 
on the interim risk management decision document for chlorpyrifos. 
Failure to participate or comment as part of this opportunity will in 
no way prejudice or limit a commenter's opportunity to participate 
fully in any later notice and comment processes. Comments submitted 
will become part of the Agency record for chlorpyrifos. The preliminary 
risk assessments for chlorpyrifos were released to the public on 
October 27, 1999 (64 FR 57876) (FRL-6389-3), through a notice published 
in the Federal Register. The revised risk assessments for chlorpyrifos 
were released to the public on August 16, 2000 (65 FR 49982) (FRL-6595-
7), through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    EPA's next step under FQPA is to consider the cumulative risks of 
the organophosphate pesticides, which share a common mechanism of 
toxicity. The interim risk management decision document on chlorpyrifos 
cannot be considered final until this consideration of organophosphate 
cumulative risks is complete.
    When the cumulative risks of the organophosphate pesticides have 
been considered, EPA will issue its final tolerance reassessment 
decision for chlorpyrifos and further risk mitigation measures may be 
needed.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: November 5, 2001.
  Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 01-28525 Filed 11-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S