[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8593-8596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4248]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2003-0024; FRL-7291-9]


FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: There will be a meeting of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 
and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to consider 
and review the effect of atrazine on amphibians.

DATES: Pre-meeting teleconference: May 21, 2003, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m, 
eastern standard time.
    Face-to-face meetings: June 3-5, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m, 
eastern standard time.
    Comments: Deadlines for submission of requests to present oral 
comments and submission of written comments, see Unit I.F. of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Nominations: Nominations of persons 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 March 6, 2003.
    Special seating: Requests for special seating arrangements or other 
special accomodations 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, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., EPA 
East Bldg, 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.
    Face-to-face meetings: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton 
Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. 22202. 
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 pre-meeting teleconference and face-to-face meetings, 
or requests for special seating arrangements, or requests to present 
oral comments, notify the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Lewis, DFO, Office of Science 
Coordination and Policy (7202M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 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 the Food Quality Protection Act of 
1996 (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-2003-0024. The 
official public

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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/.
    Meeting agendas relevant to these meetings are now available. EPA's 
position paper, charge/questions to FIFRA SAP, and FIFRA SAP 
composition (i.e., permanent members and ad hoc members for this 
meeting) will be available as soon as possible, but no later than early 
May 2003. 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 accessible through EPA 
Dockets. Information claimed as CBI and other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute, which is not included in the 
official public docket, also will not be available for public viewing 
in EPA's electronic public docket. In addition, 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 on 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 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-2003-0024. 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-2003-0024. 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

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of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID 
Number OPP-2003-0024.
    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-2003-0024. 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. 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 
document.
    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.

F. How May I Participate in this Meeting?

    You may participate in this meeting by following the instructions 
in this unit. For submission of CBI, see Unit I.D. To ensure proper 
receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket ID number 
OPP-2003-0024 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. 
Each individual or group wishing to make brief oral comments to the 
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, May 28, 2003, in order to be included on the meeting 
agenda. The request should identify the name of the individual making 
the presentation, the organization (if any) the individual will 
represent, and any requirements for audiovisual equipment (e.g., 
overhead projector, 35 mm projector, chalkboard). 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 for distribution 
to the FIFRA SAP at the meeting.
    2. Written comments. Although submission of written comments are 
accepted until the date of the meeting (unless otherwise stated), the 
Agency encourages that written comments be submitted, using the 
instructions in Unit I., no later than noon, eastern standard time, May 
28, 2003, 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 the 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 meeting. Seating at the meeting 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.
    4. Request for nominations of persons to serve as ad hoc members of 
the FIFRA SAP for this meeting. 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:
    i. Amphibian toxicology and ecology.
    ii. Xenopus and/or xenopus husbandry.
    iii. Developmental biology, gonadal development, and/or 
endocrinology.
    iv. Ecotoxicology and 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 March 6, 2003.
    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 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

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Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government Employees 
Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA Form 3110-48 5-02) 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; 
nominees who are selected 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.

II. Background

A. Purpose of the 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 pesticides 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

    This pre-meeting teleconference 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 from June 3-5, 
2003.

C. Face-to-Face Public Meeting

    The FIFRA SAP will meet to consider and review the effects of 
atrazine on amphibians. Recent research has generated conflicting 
results on the effects of atrazine on gonadal developmental (e.g., male 
hermaphroditism) in amphibians and how these effects influence 
secondary sexual characteristics (e.g., laryngeal muscle mass). The 
FIFRA SAP will be asked to consider the range of effects associated 
with exposure of amphibians to atrazine and to determine the 
significance of these effects for risk assessment and the likely 
threshold exposure value for eliciting these effects. The Agency 
requests the Panel to identify what additional, specific information, 
if any, would significantly reduce uncertainties in determining a 
causal relationship between atrazine exposure and development in 
amphibians and the extent to which any changes in development can be 
related to effects on survival, growth and reproductive performance. To 
the extent that significant knowledge gaps or areas of variability in 
the existing knowledge base are identified, the FIFRA SAP will be asked 
to prioritize what additional types of data would lead to the greatest 
incremental reductions in risk assessment uncertainties.

D. 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: February 11, 2003.
Joseph J. Merenda,
Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy.
[FR Doc. 03-4248 Filed 2-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S