[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4426-4427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2238]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34164C; FRL-6821-1]


Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Interim Risk 
Management Decision Documents

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the interim risk 
management decision documents for one organophosphate pesticide, 
acephate. These decision documents have 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 document is available under 
docket control number OPP-34164C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Lowe, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8059; 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 documents for acephate, 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

[[Page 4427]]

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/. 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-34164C. 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?

    Acephate residues in food and drinking water do not pose risk 
concerns, and by reducing exposure in homes and through residential 
lawns, acephate fits into its own ``risk cup.'' EPA made this 
determination after the registrants agreed to drop indoor residential 
uses and certain turf uses. With other mitigation measures, acephate's 
worker and ecological risks also will be below levels of concern for 
reregistration.
    The interim risk management decision documents for acephate 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 (NACEPT). 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 acephate. 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 acephate 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 acephate were released to the public 
through notices published in the Federal Register of January 20, 2000 
(65 FR 3231) (FRL-6489-2), and February 22, 2000 (65 FR 8702) (FRL-
6492-2).
    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 acephate 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 acephate and further risk mitigation 
measures may be needed.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: January 18, 2002.
  Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-2238 Filed 1-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S