[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 198 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63423-63424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25861]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2002-0266; FRL-7276-1]


Methamidophos; Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Interim 
Risk Management Decision Document

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Interim 
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) document and technical 
support documents for the organophosphate (OP) pesticide, 
methamidophos. These documents have been developed using a public 
participation process designed by EPA and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture to involve the public in the reassessment of pesticide 
tolerances under the Food Quality Protection Act and the reregistration 
of individual OPs under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Hartman, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-0734; fax 
number: (703) 308-8041; 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, but will interest 
a widerange of stakeholders, 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. The 
Agency has not attempted to describe all the persons or entities who 
may be interested in or affected by this action. If you have questions 
in this regard, consult the person 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-2002-0266. 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. Please note 
that technical supporting documents for methamidophos can be found 
under legacy docket number OPP-34166 and may not be available in EPA 
Dockets.
    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/.
    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 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. 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. 
Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate 
docket ID number. Please note that technical supporting documents for 
methamidophos can be found under legacy docket number OPP-34166 and may 
not be available in EPA Dockets.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    For the OP pesticide methamidophos, the Agency is announcing the 
availability of the IRED document and supporting technical documents. 
EPA has assessed the risks associated with the use of methamidophos and 
reached an interim reregistration eligibility decision for 
methamidophos. The methamidophos IRED and supporting technical 
documents were developed using the OP public participation process, 
which was designed to increase transparency and maximize stakeholder 
involvement and to provide numerous opportunities for public comment. 
You can read more about the OP public participation process at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/process.htm. Below is a brief summary of 
EPA's interim decision, which is fully described in the methamidophos 
IRED document.
    EPA has determined that methamidophos is eligible for 
reregistration, pending a full reassessment of the cumulative risk from 
all OP pesticides, and provided that all the conditions identified in 
the IRED document are satisfied, including implementation of risk 
mitigation measures. Without implementation of the risk mitigation 
measures, the Agency has determined that methamidophos products may 
pose unreasonable adverse effects on human health and the environment. 
Therefore, EPA expects that registrant will implement the risk 
mitigation measures as soon as possible. The IRED document describes, 
in detail, what is necessary for implementing the risk mitigation 
measures, such as submission of label amendments for end-use products 
and submission of any required data. Mitigation measures for 
methamidophos include a phase out of methamidophos use on cotton by 
2007. Should a registrant fail to implement any of the risk mitigation 
identified in the IRED document, the Agency may take regulatory action 
to address risk concerns from the use of methamidophos.

[[Page 63424]]

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

    The legal authority for this action 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,'' before calling in 
product-specific data on individual end-use products, and either 
reregistering products or taking ``other appropriate regulatory 
action.''

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: September 24, 2002.
Lois Ann Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Registration 
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-25861 Filed 10-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S