[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2209-2210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1121]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-341399D; FRL-6814-7]


Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Terbufos Interim Risk 
Management Decision Documents

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notices announces the availability of the interim risk 
management decision document for terbufos. In addition, this notice 
starts a 60-day public participation period during which the public is 
encouraged to submit comments on the terbufos

[[Page 2210]]

interim risk management decision document. This decision document has 
been developed as part of the public participation process that EPA and 
the U.S. 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 documents are available 
under docket control number OPP-341399D.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Olson, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8067; e-mail address: 
olson.eric@gov.

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 documents for terbufos, 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 number OPP-341399D. 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.

II. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA has assessed the risks of terbufos and reached an Interim 
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for this organophosphate 
pesticide. Provided that risk mitigation measures are adopted, terbufos 
fits into its own risk cup its individual, aggregate risks are within 
acceptable levels. Used on corn, sorghum, and sugar beets, terbufos 
residues in food and drinking water do not pose risk concerns with the 
implementation of certain risk mitigation measures. Terbufos has no 
residential uses. With other risk reduction measures, worker and 
ecological risks also will be substantially reduced.
    The interim risk management decision documents for terbufos were 
made 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 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 terbufos. 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. There will also be a 60-day comment 
period on the interim reregistration eligibility decision and the 
docket will remain open after this period for any comments submitted to 
the Agency.
    The risk assessments for terbufos were released to the public 
through a notice published in the Federal Register of August 12, 1998 
(63 FR 43175) (FRL-6024-5), and September 1, 1999 (64 FR 34195) (FRL-
6099-9).
    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 terbufos 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 
terbufos and further risk mitigation measures may be needed.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: January 4, 2002.
  Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-1121 Filed 1-15-02; 8:45 am]
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