[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10193-10196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5315]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-66299; FRL-6824-9]


Acephate; Cancellation Order for Certain Uses and Products

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the cancellation order for all O,S-
dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate (or acephate) product registrations 
cited in voluntary cancellation requests by acephate registrants Valent 
USA Corporation, Micro Flo Company LLC, Drexel Chemical Company, United 
Phosphorus, Inc., Whitmire Micro-Gen Research Labs, The Scotts Company, 
and Pursell Technologies, Inc., and approved by EPA, pursuant to 
section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA). The product cancellation and use deletion requests were 
submitted to reduce certain residential risks which exceeded the 
Agency's level of concern. In a Notice of Receipt of Requests For 
Amendments to Delete Uses and to Voluntarily Cancel Certain Product 
Registrations (66 FR 59422) (FRL-6810-1) November 28, 2001, EPA 
indicated that it would consider any public comments submitted within 
the comment period before acting on the requests. The Agency, however, 
received neither a comment nor withdrawal request. EPA hereby issues in 
this notice a cancellation order approving the requested cancellations 
and use deletions. Any distribution, sale, or use of the products 
subject to this cancellation order is only permitted in accordance with 
the terms of the existing stocks provisions of this cancellation order.

DATES: The approved product cancellation and use deletion dates are 
outlined in Tables 1, 2, and 3 of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: 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: 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. You may be 
potentially affected by this action if you manufacture, sell, 
distribute, or use acephate products. The Congressional Review Act, 5 
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, does not apply because this action is 
not a rule, for purposes of 5 U.S.C. 804(3). 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 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 the risk 
assessment for acephate, go to the homepage for the Office of Pesticide 
Programs or go directly to http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/acephate.htm.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for the 
Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision action on acephate under 
docket control number OPP-34164A. The official record consists of the 
documents 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.

II. Requests to Cancel and Amend Registrations to Delete Uses

A. Background

    During development of the Interim Reregistration Eligibility 
Decision (IRED) on the organophosphorus pesticide, acephate, EPA 
identified risks of concern for residents, including children, who 
contact treated surfaces in homes following indoor application. EPA 
also identified a risk of concern for young children playing on lawns 
treated with acephate. To voluntarily address these health risk 
concerns, Valent and all other relevant acephate registrants agreed to 
request amendment of their registrations to delete these uses.
    The IRED for acephate completed on September 30, 2001, and 
announced in the Federal Register (January 30, 2002) (67 FR 4426) (FRL-
6821-1), noted the need to consult with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services prior to approving a certain request to cancel

[[Page 10194]]

products or delete uses associated with a public health pesticide. 
Although it is unclear whether acephate is a public health pesticide, 
as a courtesy, EPA consulted with the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, as well with officials from the Department of Agriculture's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service before issuing this 
cancellation order.
    The primary technical registrant, Valent, submitted a written 
request on October 15, 2001 to EPA, seeking to amend its manufacturing-
use product (MUP) registrations and end-use product (EUP) registrations 
for acephate. Valent requested that EPA amend all of its registered 
products to delete the use of acephate on residential indoor and 
turfgrass sites (except golf courses, sod farms, and spot or mound 
treatment for harvester and fire ant control). The use deletion 
requests involved seven FIFRA section 3 registrations held by Valent. 
Valent also requested the voluntary cancellation of one section 3 
manufacturing use registration and eight Special Local Need 
registrations under FIFRA section 24(c). These cancellation requests 
were conditioned on EPA granting certain existing stock provisions.
    Nearly identical use deletion requests were received from the other 
three technical registrants of acephate: Drexel Chemical Company, 
United Phosphorus, Inc., and Micro Flo Company LLC. Furthermore, the 
remaining end use product registrants, Whitmire Micro-Gen Research 
Labs, The Scotts Company, and Pursell Technologies, Inc., made similar 
use deletion requests. All registrants requested that EPA waive any 
applicable 180-day public comment period for EPA action on its 
requests.
    For the purposes of this use deletion action, ``residential use'' 
refers to use sites within the definition of the term at 40 CFR 
152.3(u). Thus, residential indoor sites refers to all ``residential 
use'' sites that are indoors. The ``turfgrass'' use deletion refers to 
any turfgrass use site, unless the specific turf use site or pest is 
excepted, as described in this notice. Thus, turfgrass use directions 
on revised labeling would be limited to golf course, sod farm, and spot 
or mound treatment for harvester or fire ant control.
    In response to the requests to delete uses and cancel certain 
product registrations, EPA published a Notice of Receipt of Requests 
For Amendments to Delete Uses and to Voluntarily Cancel Certain Product 
Registrations for acephate (66 FR 59422, November 28, 2001). In that 
notice, EPA waived the 180-day public comment period, as requested, and 
indicated that during the 30-day public comment period that was 
provided it would consider any comments submitted by December 28, 2001 
before deciding whether to act on the requests. Neither a comment was 
received from any member of the public nor a withdrawal request made by 
any registrant in regard to this announcement. EPA also considered the 
registrants' existing stocks request and believes that such a provision 
is consistent with EPA policy on existing stocks and standards 
established under FIFRA.

B. Requests for Voluntary Amendments of Manufacturing-Use Product 
Registrations to Delete Certain Uses

    Table 1 specifies the time frame for the use deletions and use of 
existing stocks of manufacturing use products by formulators. 
``Turfgrass'' in the context of Table 1 does not include the excepted 
uses of golf course, sod farm, and/or spot or mound treatment for 
harvester and fire ant control (unless otherwise specified). In 
addition to conditions specified in Table 1, registrants may continue 
formulating acephate products from these manufacturing use products 
labeled with deleted uses into end use products labeled exclusively for 
non-deleted uses, provided the other time frames in the following Table 
1 are followed. Such formulation may continue until registrant supplies 
of the manufacturing use product are exhausted. In accordance with the 
proposed timetable for the use deletions, all manufacturing use product 
registrations labeled for formulation into pesticides with indoor 
residential uses or turfgrass uses were officially amended on or 
shortly after the proposed use deletion date of December 31, 2001. 
Based on proposed labeling submitted by MUP registrants to terminate 
the subject uses, the Agency approved amendments to three MUPs on 
December 31, 2001 and one MUP on January 11, 2002.

                                 Table 1.--Acephate Manufacturing Use Products: Use Deletions and Use of Existing Stocks
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Last Date for Use of Existing Stocks to        Last Date for
                                                                                     Formulate End Use Products with Deleted Uses    Registrant to Sell
                                        MUP Registration      Actual Amended Label  ----------------------------------------------     and Distribute
              Company                        Number                   Date                                                           Existing Stocks of
                                                                                       Indoor Residential         Turfgrass           Products Bearing
                                                                                                                                        Deleted Uses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drexel Chemical Company............  19713-410.............  1-11-02...............  1-11-02..............  10-31-02.............  1-11-02
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Micro Flo Company..................  51036-246.............  12-31-01..............  12-31-01.............  10-31-02.............  12-31-01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Valent USA Corp....................  59639-41..............  12-31-01..............  12-31-01.............  10-31-02.............  12-31-01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Phosphorus, Inc.............  70506-3...............  12-31-01..............  12-31-01.............  10-31-02.............  12-31-01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Requests for Voluntary Amendments of End-Use Product Registrations 
to Delete Certain Uses

    Table 2 specifies the time frame for implementing the requested use 
deletions and outlines the conditions for use of existing stocks for 
affected end use products. The conditions described in this table 
pertain to the end use registrants of acephate. (N/A in Table 2 means 
``not applicable.'') In accordance with the proposed timetable for the 
use deletions and in response to proposed labeling submitted by EUP 
registrants, all EUP registrations labeled for indoor residential uses 
were officially amended to terminate indoor residential uses on (or 
within one month of) the proposed use deletion date of December 31, 
2001.
    End use products labeled for turfgrass will be amended to terminate 
certain

[[Page 10195]]

turfgrass uses, no later than October 31, 2002. ``Turfgrass'' in the 
context of Table 2 does not include the excepted uses of golf course, 
sod farm, and/or spot or mound treatment for harvester and fire ant 
control (unless otherwise specified). Nearly all registrants of product 
registrations labeled for turfgrass uses have submitted proposed 
labeling to terminate the subject turfgrass uses before the proposed 
use deletion date. EPA has already approved five label amendments and 
is currently reviewing the balance of the submissions. Product 
registrations shown in the following Table 2 with the entry, ``no later 
than 10-31-02'', refers to turfgrass product registrations for which 
proposed labels are still under EPA review or pending. The effective 
date for the turfgrass use deletion is either the date of EPA approval 
for the label amendment terminating the use, or October 31, 2002, 
whichever comes first.

                  Table 2.--Acephate End Use Products: Use Deletions and Use of Existing Stocks
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Last Date for Sale and Distribution of
                                   EUP Registration    Effective Date of     Existing Stocks by the Registrant
             Company                    Number           Use Deletions   ---------------------------------------
                                                                          Indoor Residential       Turfgrass
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Scotts Company..............  239-2406..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-02..........
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  239-2436..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-021.........
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  239-2440..........  1-30-02...........  N/A...............  12-31-02
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  239-2461..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-021.........
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  239-2632..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-02..........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whitmire Micro-Gen..............  499-373...........  12-31-01..........  N/A...............  12-31-02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drexel Chemical Co..............  19713-495.........  1-11-02...........  N/A...............  12-31-02
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  19713-497.........  N/A...............  1-28-02...........  12-31-02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Micro Flo Company...............  51036-236.........  N/A...............  12-31-01..........  12-31-02
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  51036-252.........  N/A...............  1-28-02...........  12-31-02
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  51036-237.........  12-31-01..........  N/A...............  12-31-02
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  51036-337.........  N/A...............  12-31-01..........  12-31-02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Valent USA Corporation..........  59639-26..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-02..........
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  59639-28..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-02..........
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  59639-31..........  1-11-02...........  N/A...............  12-31-02
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  59639-33..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-02..........
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  59639-87..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-02..........
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ..............................  59639-91..........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-02..........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Phosphorus, Inc..........  70506-1...........  N/A...............  No later than.....  12-31-02
                                                                          10-31-021.........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursell Technologies............  73614-1...........  N/A...............  1-30-02...........  12-31-02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1Exception for harvester ant control on turfgrass does not apply to this product; other turfgrass exceptions do
  apply.

D. Requests for Voluntary Cancellation of Product Registrations

    As mentioned above, Valent also requested the voluntary 
cancellation of nine acephate product registrations. The products 
identified by Valent's one section 3 MUP registration and eight section 
24(c) (or Special Local Need) registrations are shown in the following 
Table 3. Insofar as these cancelled product registrations contain one 
or more of the subject indoor residential

[[Page 10196]]

and turfgrass uses, the existing stocks provisions outlined in Table 2 
apply.

      Table 3.--Acephate Product Registration Cancellation Requests
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Product
        Company/Address            Registration       Product Name
                                      Number
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Valent USA Corporation........  59639-42.........  Valent Orthene
1333 N. California Blvd., Ste.                      MFG.
 600.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ............................  AL960001.........  Pinpoint 15
                                                    granular.
                               -----------------------------------------
  ............................  FL890016.........  Orthene turf,
                                                    tree and
                                                    ornamental spray.
                               -----------------------------------------
  ............................  FL960007.........  Pinpoint 15
                                                    granular.
                               -----------------------------------------
  ............................  GA970002.........  Pinpoint 15
                                                    granular.
                               -----------------------------------------
  ............................  LA950011.........  Pinpoint 15
                                                    granular.
                               -----------------------------------------
  ............................  MS960016.........  Pinpoint 15
                                                    granular.
                               -----------------------------------------
  ............................  SC960001.........  Pinpoint 15
                                                    granular.
                               -----------------------------------------
  ............................  TX960011.........  Pinpoint 15
                                                    grandular.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Cancellation Order

    Pursuant to section 6(f) of FIFRA, EPA hereby approves the 
requested acephate product registration cancellations and amendments to 
terminate all indoor residential uses and all turfgrass uses, except 
golf course, sod farm, and/or spot or mound treatment for harvester and 
fire ant control, as identified for deletion in the acephate 6(f) 
notice of receipt published on November 28, 2001. Accordingly, the 
Agency orders that all of the uses identified in Tables 1, and 2 are 
hereby deleted from the acephate product registrations in accordance 
with the time frames given in this notice. The Agency also orders that 
the acephate product registrations identified in Table 3 are hereby 
canceled. Any distribution, sale, or use of existing stocks of the 
products identified in Tables 1, 2, and 3 in a manner inconsistent with 
the terms of this Order or the Existing Stock Provisions in Unit IV of 
this notice will be considered a violation of section 12(a)(2)(K) of 
FIFRA and/or section 12(a)(1)(A) of FIFRA.

IV. Existing Stocks Provisions

    Pursuant to section 6 of FIFRA, EPA grants the existing stocks 
provisions contained within the requests for voluntary amendment and 
cancellation, as described in large part by the time frames shown in 
Tables 1, and 2. For purposes of this cancellation order, the term 
``existing stocks'' is defined, pursuant to EPA's Existing Stocks 
Policy published in the Federal Register of June 26, 1991 (56 FR 
29362), as those stocks of a registered pesticide product which are 
currently in the United States and which have been packaged, labeled, 
and released for shipment prior to the effective date of the amendment 
or cancellation. Any distribution, sale, or use of existing stocks 
after the effective date of this cancellation order that is not 
consistent with the terms of this order will be considered a violation 
of section 12(a)(2)(K) and/or 12(a)(1)(A) of FIFRA.

A. Distribution, Sale, and Use of Products with Deleted Uses by 
Registrants

    The distribution, sale, or use of such stocks by the registrants 
(including supplemental registrants) of acephate products is not lawful 
under FIFRA after the sale, distribution, and use dates listed in 
Tables 1, and 2, except for the purposes of returns and relabeling, 
shipping such stocks for export consistent with the requirements of 
section 17 of FIFRA, or for proper disposal. The effective date of the 
use cancellations for the manufacturing-use products is the approval 
date of the label amendment. The effective date of the use 
cancellations for the end-use products labeled for indoor residential 
use is either the approval date of the label amendment or, if the label 
amendment is still unapproved, the date of this cancellation order. The 
effective date of the use deletions for the end-use products labeled 
for use on turfgrass is either the approval date of the label amendment 
or October 31, 2002, whichever occurs first.

B. Distribution, Sale, and Use of Products with Deleted Uses by Persons 
Other than Registrants

    Retailers, distributors, and end-users may sell, distribute, or use 
existing stocks of end-use products subject to this order, as presented 
in Table 2, until such supplies are exhausted.

C. Distribution, Sale, and Use of Canceled Products

    The effective date of the product cancellations is the date of this 
cancellation order. Except as provided below, the registrant may sell 
or distribute existing stocks for 1 year after the date that the 
cancellation request was received by the Agency, which in this case was 
October 15, 2001. Registrants are also subject to the time frames and 
existing stocks provisions above in Units IV. A, and B for products 
with any uses subject to the use deletions in this order and existing 
stocks provisions. Unless the provisions of an earlier order apply, 
existing stocks already in the hands of dealers or users can be 
distributed, sold or used legally until they are exhausted, provided 
that such further sale and use comply with the EPA-approved label and 
labeling of the affected product(s).

Lists of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Cancellation, Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: February 22, 2002.
Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-5315 Filed 3-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S