[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63084-63088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25860]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2002-0265; FRL-7276-4]


FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meetings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: There will be a public pre-meeting teleconference and a 3-day 
face-to-face meeting of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to consider and 
review studies on water disinfection and softening as related to the 
Food Quality Protection

[[Page 63085]]

Act of 1996 (FQPA) drinking water exposure assessments.

DATES: Pre-meeting teleconference: November 21, 2002, from 1 p.m. to 3 
p.m, eastern standard time.
    Face-to-face meetings: December 3-5, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m, 
eastern standard time.
    Comments: For deadlines for submission of requests to present oral 
comments and submission of written comments, see Unit I.E. of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Nominations: Requests for nominations to serve as an ad hoc member 
of the FIFRA SAP for the pre-meeting teleconference and face-to-face 
meetings should be provided on or before October 25, 2002.
    Special seating: Requests for special seating arrangements should 
be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting.

ADDRESSES: Pre-meeting teleconference: This meeting will be held at the 
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA East Bldg., 1201 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Conference Room 4225, Washington, DC. For additional 
information about the pre-meeting teleconference, including how to 
receive the teleconference telephone number, contact the Designated 
Federal Official (DFO) listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. To 
ensure proper receipt by EPA, your request must identify docket ID 
number OPP-2002-0265 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.
    Face-to-face meetings: These meetings will be held at the Sheraton 
Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. The 
telephone number for the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel is (703) 486-1111.
    Comments: Written comments may be submitted electronically, by 
mail, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed 
instructions as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Nominations, Requests to present oral comments, and Special 
seating: To submit nominations to serve as an ad hoc member of the 
FIFRA SAP for the face-to-face meetings and pre-meeting teleconference, 
or requests for special seating arrangements, or requests to present 
oral comments, notify the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, your request must identify 
docket ID number OPP-2002-0265 in the subject line on the first page of 
your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Lewis, DFO, Office of Science 
Coordination and Policy (7202M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 564-8450; fax number: (202) 564-8382; 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. This action may, 
however, be of interest to persons who are or may be required to 
conduct testing of chemical substances under the Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), FIFRA, and FQPA. 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 DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2002-0265. The 
official public docket consists of the documents specifically 
referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other 
information related to this action. Although a part of the official 
docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials 
that is available for public viewing at the Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    A meeting agenda relevant to these meetings is now available. EPA's 
position paper, questions to FIFRA SAP, and FIFRA SAP composition 
(i.e., members and consultants for this meeting) will be available as 
soon as possible, but no later than early November. In addition, the 
Agency may provide additional background documents as the materials 
become available. You may obtain electronic copies of these documents, 
and certain other related documents that might be available 
electronically, from the FIFRA SAP Internet Home Page at http://
www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official 
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that 
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' 
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
    Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets. 
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public 
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic 
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be 
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in 
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent 
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in 
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the 
index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the 
document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket. 
Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you 
may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through 
the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. EPA intends to work 
towards providing electronic access to all of the publicly available 
docket materials through EPA's electronic public docket.
    For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is 
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, 
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public 
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's 
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
    Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or 
delivered to the docket will be

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transferred to EPA's electronic public docket. Public comments that are 
mailed or delivered to the docket will be scanned and placed in EPA's 
electronic public docket. Where practical, physical objects will be 
photographed, and the photograph will be placed in EPA's electronic 
public docket along with a brief description written by the docket 
staff.

C. How and To Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand 
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the 
appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of 
your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the 
specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the 
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider 
these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is 
otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit 
I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information 
protected by statute.
    1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as 
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name, 
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in 
the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the 
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter 
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be 
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact 
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's 
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or 
contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included 
as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, 
and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot 
read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you 
for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
    i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to 
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for 
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/
edocket, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. 
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number 
OPP-2002-0265. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which 
means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to [email protected], 
Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2002-0265. In contrast to EPA's 
electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous 
access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket 
without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail 
system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses 
that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as 
part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and 
made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM 
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These 
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file 
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    2. By mail. Send your comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2002-0265.
    3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Office of Pesticide 
Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 
2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket 
ID Number OPP-2002-0265. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit I.B.1.

D. How Should I Submit CBI to the Agency?

    Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI 
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You 
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part 
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM, 
mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify 
electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that 
is 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 docket and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit 
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside 
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information 
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's 
electronic public docket 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. How May I Participate in These Meetings?

    Requests to present oral comments, written comments, or requests 
for special seating arrangements may be submitted electronically, by 
mail, or through hand delivery/courier. (See Units I.C.-D.) Do not 
submit any information in your request that is considered CBI. To 
ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
ID number OPP-2002-0265 in the subject line on the first page of your 
request.
    1. Oral comments. Oral comments presented at the meetings should 
not be repetitive of previously submitted oral or written comments. 
Although requests to present oral comments are accepted until the date 
of the meeting (unless otherwise stated), to the extent that time 
permits, interested persons may be permitted by the Chair of FIFRA SAP 
to present oral comments at the meeting. Each individual or group 
wishing to make brief oral comments to FIFRA SAP is strongly advised to 
submit their request to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT no later than noon, eastern standard time, November 14, 2002, 
for the pre-meeting teleconference or no later than noon, eastern 
standard time, November 25, 2002, for the face-to-face meetings in 
order to be included on the meeting agenda. The request should identify 
the name of the individual making the presentation and the organization 
(if any) the individual will represent. In addition, any requirements 
for audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead projector, 35 mm projector, 
chalkboard) at the face-to-face meetings should be requested at this 
time. Oral comments before the FIFRA SAP are limited to approximately 5 
minutes unless prior arrangements have been made. In addition, each 
speaker should bring 30 copies of his or her comments and presentation 
slides to the face-to-face meeting.
    2. Written comments. Although submission of written comments are 
accepted until the date of the meeting

[[Page 63087]]

(unless otherwise stated), the Agency encourages that written comments 
be submitted no later than noon, eastern standard time, November 14, 
2002, for the pre-meeting teleconference or no later than noon, eastern 
standard time, November 25, 2002, for the face-to-face meetings, to 
provide the FIFRA SAP the time necessary to consider and review the 
written comments. There is no limit on the extent of written comments 
for consideration by FIFRA SAP. Persons wishing to submit written 
comments at the meeting should contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT and submit 30 copies.
    3. Seating at the meetings. Seating at both meetings will be on a 
first-come basis. Individuals requiring special accommodations at this 
meeting, including wheelchair access, should contact the DFO at least 5 
business days prior to the meeting using the information under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT so that appropriate arrangements can be 
made.

II. Background

A. Purpose of the FIFRA SAP

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 
notice is hereby given of two meetings of the EPA FIFRA SAP. Amendments 
to FIFRA enacted November 28, 1975 (7 U.S.C. 136w(d)), include a 
requirement under section 25(d) of FIFRA that notices of intent to 
cancel or reclassify pesticide regulations pursuant to section 6(b)(2) 
of FIFRA, as well as proposed and final forms of rulemaking pursuant to 
section 25(a) of FIFRA, be submitted to a SAP prior to being made 
public or issued to a registrant. In accordance with section 25(d) of 
FIFRA, the FIFRA SAP is to have an opportunity to comment on the health 
and environmental impact of such actions. The FIFRA SAP also shall make 
comments, evaluations, and recommendations for operating guidelines to 
improve the effectiveness and quality of analyses made by Agency 
scientists. Members are scientists who have sufficient professional 
qualifications, including training and experience, to be capable of 
providing expert comments as to the impact on health and the 
environment of regulatory actions under sections 6(b) and 25(a) of 
FIFRA. The Deputy Administrator appoints seven individuals to serve on 
the FIFRA SAP for staggered terms of 4 years, based on recommendations 
from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science 
Foundation.
    Section 104 of FQPA (Public Law 104-170) established the FQPA 
Science Review Board (SRB). These scientists shall be available to the 
FIFRA SAP on an ad hoc basis to assist in reviews conducted by the 
FIFRA SAP.

B. Pre-meeting Teleconference

    The FIFRA SAP will meet on November 21, 2002, via teleconference 
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., eastern standard time. This teleconference 
meeting will be hosted out of Conference Room 4225, Environmental 
Protection Protection, EPA East Bldg., 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public and seating will be 
on a first-come basis. The public may also attend via telephone. For 
further information concerning the meeting or how to obtain the 
telephone number, please contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The purpose of this public pre-meeting teleconference is to:
    1. Discuss the charge and the adequacy of the review materials 
provided to the FIFRA SAP.
    2. Clarify any questions and issues relating to the charge and the 
review materials.
    3. Discuss specific charge assignments to the Panelists.
    4. Clarify specific points of interest raised by the Panelists in 
preparation for the face-to-face meetings to be held on December 3, 
December 4, and December 5, 2002.

C. Face-to-Face Public Meetings

    On December 3-5, 2002, the Agency will be continuing its 
consultation with the FIFRA SAP to review studies on water disinfection 
and softening as related to FQPA drinking water exposure assessments. 
On September 29, 2000, the Agency updated the FIFRA SAP on their 
progress in improving its drinking water assessment process. In 
addition, the Agency presented a review of the scientific literature on 
the impacts of drinking water treatment on the removal and 
transformation of pesticides. In their recommendations, the FIFRA SAP 
supported the Agency's efforts to better understand the effects of 
water treatment on pesticides and encouraged the Agency to return to 
the FIFRA SAP to report on its progress in developing approaches that 
factor treatment into drinking water exposure assessments.
    Since the previous meeting, the Agency has reviewed additional 
pesticide laboratory and field monitoring studies plus new information 
on the effects of drinking water treatment processes on pesticide 
removal and transformation. In addition, the Agency has developed a 
proposed laboratory protocol to determine the effects of individual and 
combined drinking water treatment processes on pesticide removal and 
transformation. The purpose of this consultation is to update the Panel 
on the Agency's efforts to identify various U.S. drinking water 
treatment processes and to present laboratory studies and field 
monitoring studies that consider treatment effects on pesticides. The 
Agency will also present a proposed laboratory protocol for determining 
the effects of treatment on pesticide removal and transformation plus a 
plan for testing the protocol design and implementation. For this 
consultation, the Panel will review:
    1. The Agency's progress report on effects of treatment processes 
on the levels and stability of pesticides in community water systems 
and;
    2. The Agency's proposed laboratory protocol for assessing water 
treatment effects.

D. Request for Nominations to Serve as Ad Hoc Members of the FIFRA SAP 
for These Meetings

    The FIFRA SAP staff routinely solicit the stakeholder community for 
nominations to serve as ad hoc members of the FIFRA SAP for each 
meeting. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified 
individuals to serve on the FIFRA SAP for a specific meeting. No 
interested person shall be ineligible to serve by reason of their 
membership on any other advisory committee to a Federal Department or 
Agency or their employment by a Federal Department or Agency (except 
the EPA). Individuals nominated should have expertise in one or more of 
the following areas: Water treatment, chemical oxidation, water quality 
assessment, and drinking water risk assessment. Nominees should be 
scientists who have sufficient professional qualifications, including 
training and experience, to be capable of providing expert comments on 
the issues for this meeting. Nominees should be identified by name, 
occupation, position, address, and telephone number. Nominations should 
be provided to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by 
October 25, 2002.
    The criteria for selecting scientists to serve on the FIFRA SAP are 
that these persons be recognized scientists--experts in their fields; 
that they be as impartial and objective as possible; that they 
represent an array of backgrounds and perspectives (within their 
disciplines); have no financial conflict of interest; have not 
previously been involved with the scientific peer review of the 
issue(s) presented; and that they

[[Page 63088]]

be available to participate fully in the review, which will be 
conducted over a relatively short-time frame. Nominees will be asked to 
attend the public meetings and to participate in the discussion of key 
issues and assumptions at these meetings. Finally, they will be asked 
to review and to help finalize the meeting minutes.
    If a FIFRA SAP nominee is considered to assist in a review by the 
FIFRA SAP for a particular session, the nominee is subject to the 
provisions of 5 CFR part 2634, Executive Branch Financial Disclosure, 
as supplemented by the EPA in 5 CFR part 6401. As such, the FIFRA SAP 
nominee is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure 
Report which shall fully disclose, among other financial interests, the 
nominee's employment, stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources 
of research support. EPA will evaluate the nominee's financial 
disclosure form to assess that there are no formal conflict of 
interests before the nominee is considered to serve on the FIFRA SAP. 
Selected FIFRA SAP members will be hired as a Special Government 
Employee. The Agency will review all nominations; a decision on FIFRA 
SAP members for the meeting will be posted on the FIFRA SAP web site or 
may be obtained by contacting the PIRIB at the address or telephone 
number listed in Unit I.

E. FIFRA SAP Meeting Minutes

    The FIFRA SAP will prepare meeting minutes summarizing its 
recommendations to the Agency in approximately 60 days. The meeting 
minutes will be posted on the FIFRA SAP web site or may be obtained by 
contacting the PIRIB at the address or telephone number listed in Unit 
I.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: October 3, 2002.
Joseph J. Merenda, Jr.,
Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy.

[FR Doc. 02-25860 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S