[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53505-53506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20748]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-2002-0057; FRL-7193-6]


Objections to Tolerances Established for Certain Pesticide 
Chemicals; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Availability of final rule objections; extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On June 19, the Agency announced the availability of, and 
sought public comment on objections submitted to EPA by the Natural 
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on certain pesticide tolerances. Due 
to the number and complexity of the issues raised in NRDC's objections, 
EPA is extending the comment period for 30 days, from August 19 to 
September 17, 2002.

DATES: Comments, identified by the docket control number OPP-2002-0057, 
must be received on or before September 17, 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-2002-0057 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Caulkins, Registration Division, 
(MC7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: (703) 305-6550; fax number: (703) 305-6920; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
Potentially affected categories and entities may include, but are not 
limited to:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Examples of
           Categories                 NAICS codes         potentially
                                                       affected entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry                          111                 Crop production
                                  112...............  Animal production
                                  311...............  Food manufacturing
                                  32532.............  Pesticide
                                                       manufacturing
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this 
action. Other types of entities not listed in this table could also be 
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 
codes are provided to assist you and others in determining whether or 
not this action might apply to certain entities. If you have 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/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-2002-0057. The official 
record

[[Page 53506]]

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 your comments through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that 
you identify docket control number OPP-2002-0057 in the subject line of 
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, Ariel Rios Bldg., 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 Highway, 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 above. 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, 
Suite 8, or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be 
identified by docket control number OPP-2002-0057. 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 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 final rule or collection 
activity.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this final 
rule extension.
    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. Background

A. What Action is EPA Taking?

    On Feburary 25, 2002, March 19, 2002, and May 7, 2002, NRDC filed 
objections with EPA regarding final rules establishing certain 
tolerances under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a, for the following seven pesticides:
    (1) Imidacloprid;
    (2) Mepiquat;
    (3) Bifenazate;
    (4) Zeta-cypermethrin;
    (5) Diflubenzuron;
    (6) Halosulfuron methyl; and
    (7) Pymetrozine.
    NRDC's objections concern a number of issues under section 408 of 
the FFDCA including the additional 10x safety factor for the protection 
of infants and children and aggregate exposure to pesticide chemical 
residues. In the Federal Register of June 19, 2002, 67 FR 41628 (FRL-
7167-7), the Agency announced the availability of, and sought public 
comment on these objections. EPA has received a request to extend the 
comment period. An extension was requested due to the broad nature of 
the NRDC objections documents and the large number of issues raised. 
The requestor felt that an extension to the comment period would give 
all interested parties the opportunity to develop detailed and 
comprehensive comments on these issues. The objections are available on 
EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2002/June/Day-19/p15465.htm
    The Agency provided a 60-day comment period, which was scheduled to 
end August 19, 2002. In response to the request for an extension, the 
Agency is extending the comment period on the NRDC tolerance objections 
to September 17, 2002.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Tolerances.

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346(a).

    Dated: August 8, 2002.
James Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 02-20748 Filed 8-15-02; 8:45 am]
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