[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59421-59422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29559]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34168B; FRL-6812-3]


Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of 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 an organophosphate pesticide, 
pirimiphos-methyl. This decision document has been developed as part of 
the public participation process that EPA and the 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: The interim risk management decision document is available in 
the OPP docket under docket control number OPP-34168B.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorilyn Montford, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8170; 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, nevertheless, a 
wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the interim 
risk management decision document for pirimiphos-methyl, 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.

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/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control numbers OPP-34168B. 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.

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA has assessed the risks of pirimiphos-methyl and reached an 
Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for this 
organophosphate pesticide. Provided that risk mitigation measures are 
adopted, pirimiphos-methyl fits into its own risk cup; its individual 
aggregate risks are within acceptable levels. Pirimiphos-methyl is used 
primarily on stored corn, sorghum grain, and seed, in cattle ear tags 
and for the fogging treatment of iris bulbs. Pirimiphos-methyl residues 
in food alone do not pose risk concerns. With mitigation reducing 
worker exposure to pirimiphos-methyl by requiring closed mixing and 
loading systems for admixture grain and seed treatment, and requiring 
additional personal protective equipment for workers, risk will not be 
of concern. Pirimiphos-methyl ecological risks are also below the 
Agency's level of concern.
    The interim risk management decision documents for pirimiphos-
methyl were made available 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

[[Page 59422]]

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 documents, which 
conclude the pilot public participation process for pirimiphos-methyl. 
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. The pirimiphos-
methyl interim risk management decision documents therefore are issued 
in final, without a formal public comment period. The docket remains 
open, however, and any comments submitted in the future will be placed 
in the public docket.
    The risk assessments for pirimiphos-methyl were released to the 
public through a notice published in the Federal Register of January 8, 
1999 (64 FR 1199) (FRL-6055-9), and March 29, 2000 (65 FR 16592) (FRL-
6551-5).
    EPA's next step under FQPA is to complete a cumulative risk 
assessment and risk management decision for the organophosphate 
pesticides, which share a common mechanism of toxicity. The interim 
risk management decision documents on pirimiphos-methyl cannot be 
considered final until this cumulative assessment is complete.
    When the cumulative risk assessment for the organophosphate 
pesticides has been completed, EPA will issue its final tolerance 
reassessment decision(s) for pirimiphos-methyl and further risk 
mitigation measures may be needed.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: November 16, 2001.
Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 01-29559 Filed 11-27-01; 8:45 am]
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