[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5874-5875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2775]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2003-0012; FRL-7288-1]


Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Dicrotophos 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 risk 
management decision document for the organophosphate pesticide 
dicrotophos. This decision document has been developed as part of the 
public participation process that EPA and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) are now using for involving the public in the 
reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food Quality Protection 
Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual organophosphate 
pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Laura Parsons, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-5776; 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 interim 
risk management decision document for dicrotophos, 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. Since other entities also may 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 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-2003-0012. The 
official public docket consists of the document 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/. 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. 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.
    For questions on the IRED in this document, contact the Chemical 
Review Manager listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA has assessed the risks of dicrotophos and reached an Interim 
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for this organophosphate 
pesticide. Provided that risk mitigation measures are adopted, 
dicrotophos fits into its own risk cup -- its individual, aggregate 
risks are within acceptable levels. A restricted use chemical used 
mainly to control insects on cotton, dicrotophos residues in food and 
drinking water do not pose risk concerns. There are no residential uses 
and therefore dicrotophos fits into its own risk cup. To reduce worker 
and ecological risks, dicrotophos may no longer be applied by aerial 
equipment, closed mixing/loading systems and closed cabs are required, 
and total seasonal maximum application is limited to 0.83 lb active 
ingredient and only 0.5 lb of this can be applied prior to August 1 of 
any year. Additionally, to ensure that dicrotophos use does not 
increase dramatically in the future, a production cap is required to 
limit production to an average of the annual amount produced in 1999, 
2000 and 2001. These mitigation measures are expected to reduce, but 
not eliminate worker and ecological risks. These risks are offset by 
the benefit of dicrotophos to control certain insects in cotton.
    The interim risk management decision document for dicrotophos was 
made through the organophosphate pesticide pilot public participation 
process, which increases transparency and maximizes stakeholder 
involvement in EPA's development of risk assessments and risk 
management decisions. The pilot public participation process was 
developed as part of the EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory 
Committee (TRAC), which was established in April 1998, as a 
subcommittee under the auspices of EPA's National Advisory Council for 
Environmental Policy and Technology. A goal of the pilot public 
participation process is to find a more effective way for the public to 
participate at critical junctures in the Agency's development of 
organophosphate pesticide risk assessments and risk management 
decisions. EPA and USDA began implementing this pilot process in August 
1998, to increase transparency

[[Page 5875]]

and opportunities for stakeholder consultation.
    EPA worked extensively with affected parties to reach the decisions 
presented in the interim risk management decision document, which 
conclude the pilot public participation process for dicrotophos. As 
part of the pilot public participation process, numerous opportunities 
for public comment were offered as the interim risk management decision 
document was being developed. The dicrotophos interim risk management 
decision document therefore is issued without a formal public comment 
period concluding review of the individual organophosphate pesticide. 
The docket remains open, however, and any comments submitted in the 
future will be placed in the public docket.
    The risk assessments for dicrotophos were released to the public 
through notices published in the Federal Register on November 10, 1999 
(64 FR 61332) (FRL-6393-9), and June 14, 2000 (65 FR 37371) (FRL-6593-
4).
    EPA's next step under FQPA is to complete a cumulative risk 
assessment and risk management decision for the organophosphate 
pesticides, which share a common mechanism of toxicity. The interim 
risk management decision document on dicrotophos cannot be considered 
final until this cumulative assessment is complete.
    When the cumulative risk assessment for the organophosphate 
pesticides has been completed, EPA will issue its final tolerance 
reassessment decision for dicrotophos and further risk mitigation 
measures may be needed.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: January 22, 2003.
Lois A Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 03-2775 Filed 2-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S