[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67249-67250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31938]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34250; FRL-6816-5]


Preliminary Organophosphorous Cumulative Risk Assessment; Notice 
of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the preliminary 
cumulative risk assessment for the organophosphorous pesticides, which 
was developed as part of EPA's process for tolerance reassessments 
under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by 
the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). The Agency is 
interpreting the results of these analyses, therefore, it is too soon 
to draw firm conclusions about risks or consider risk management 
possibilities. By allowing access and opportunity for comment on the 
preliminary risk assessment, EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder 
involvement and help ensure our decisions under FQPA are transparent 
and based on the best available information.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34250, must be 
received on or before March 8, 2002.

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-34250 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Angulo, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8004; fax number: 
(703) 308-8005; 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 a wide range of stakeholders, 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 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/. 
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/.
    EPA has made the preliminary cumulative risk assessment available 
on the Internet at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-34250. 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 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 docket control number OPP-34250 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 in this unit. 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-34250. 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

[[Page 67250]]

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 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. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    The preliminary organophosphorous cumulative risk assessment is 
being made available for comment. The assessment represents a new way 
of analyzing data about potential exposure to pesticides. The Agency's 
methods result in measurements of the probability of exposure to more 
than one organophophorous pesticide and an assessment of such combined 
exposure. While EPA is interpreting the results of these analyses and 
the soundness of these methods, it is too soon to draw firm conclusions 
about risks or consider risk management possibilities. The risk 
mitigation measures that have already been taken on individual members 
of this group of pesticides have led to significant reduction in 
potential risk, and EPA is continuing to address risks as they are 
identified. The Agency has confidence in the methods used to generate 
the results given the numerous scientific reviews conducted before 
completion of this preliminary cumulative risk assessment. Based on 
this analysis, EPA continues to have confidence in the overall safety 
of our food supply and emphasizes the importance of eating a varied 
diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Pesticide residues in drinking 
water do not appear to be a major contributor to risk. Although most 
indoor uses of organophophorous pesticides have been eliminated through 
earlier risk reduction actions, a few remaining uses may be re-
evaluated.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agricultural commodities, Chemicals, 
Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: December 19, 2001.
Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 01-31938 Filed 12-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S