[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59500-59502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24096]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2002-0202; FRL-7273-8]


Lindane Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED); Notice of 
Availability for Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

ACTION: Notices.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Reregistration 
Eligibility Decision (RED) document and technical support documents for 
the pesticide active ingredient, lindane. These documents have been 
developed using a public participation process designed by the EPA and 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to involve the public in the 
reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food Quality Protection 
Act (FQPA) and the reregistration of individual pesticides under the 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This 
notice starts a 60-day public comment period for lindane, during which 
the public is invited to submit comments on the Agency's risk 
management decision.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0202, must be 
received on or before November 22, 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 ID number 
OPP-2002-0202 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Howard, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8172; fax

[[Page 59501]]

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, nevertheless, a 
wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the revised 
risk assessments and submitting risk management comments on lindane 
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. As such, the Agency has 
not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 
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 most 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/.
     You can obtain copies of the RED and related documents discussed 
in this notice from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs' Home Page, 
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ using the following links: 
``Reregistration Eligibility (REDs)'' under the heading 
``Reregistration and Special Review'' and then ``Lindane.'' You can 
also go directly to the ``Lindane RED'' at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm. Available documents include the 
RED, supporting technical documents, and Federal Register notices. 
Information on pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment, 
including the purpose and status of Agency programs to complete REDs, 
Interim REDs, and tolerance reassessment decisions (TREDs), is 
available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/tolerance. General 
information is available on the Office of Pesticide Programs' Home 
Page, http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket ID number OPP-2002-0202. 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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

     You may submit comments on any part of the RED through the mail, 
in person, or electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is 
imperative that you identify docket ID number OPP-2002-0202 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 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 6.1/
8.0/9.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be 
identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0202. 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 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 
ID 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 the Agency Taking?

     The Agency has issued a RED for the pesticide active ingredient 
lindane. Under FIFRA, as amended in 1988 and 1996, EPA is conducting an 
accelerated reregistration program to re-evaluate existing pesticides 
to make sure they

[[Page 59502]]

meet current scientific and regulatory standards. The data base to 
support the reregistration of lindane is substantially complete, and 
the Agency has identified risk mitigation measures that, if adopted by 
the registrant, will address the human health and ecological risks 
associated with the remaining uses of lindane.
     As part of the lindane RED, the Agency will revoke all existing 
lindane tolerances because all lindane products for which the 
tolerances were originally established have been cancelled. The Agency 
has also determined that the currently registered lindane seed 
treatment products would be eligible for reregistration if the 
registrants make the changes to the terms and conditions specified in 
the lindane RED and provide the required data, and if EPA is able to 
establish all required tolerances for residues of lindane in food. The 
RED document includes guidance and time frames for complying with any 
label changes for products containing lindane.
     The reregistration program is being conducted under 
Congressionally mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes both the need 
to make timely reregistration decisions and to involve the public. 
Therefore, EPA is issuing the lindane RED as a final document with a 
60-day public comment period. Although the 60-day comment period does 
not affect the registrants's response due date, it is intended to 
provide an opportunity for public input and a mechanism for initiating 
any necessary amendments to the RED. All comments will be carefully 
considered by the Agency. If any comment significantly affects the 
lindane RED, EPA will amend the RED by publishing the amendment in the 
Federal Register.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

     The legal authority for these RED falls under FIFRA, as amended in 
1988 and 1996. Section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA directs that, after 
submission of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient,``the 
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active 
ingredient are eligible for reregistration.''

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Lindane, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: September 13, 2002.
Lois Ann Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-24096 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S