[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12013-12014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6188]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Chapter I

[OPP-2003-0010; FRL-7298-9]
RIN 2070-AD72


Endangered Species and Pesticide Regulation; Reopening of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This document reopens the public comment period established in 
an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) issued in the Federal 
Register of January 24, 2003. In that document, EPA sought comment on 
an ANPR for an endangered species and pesticide regulation. EPA is 
hereby reopening the comment period, which ended on March 10, 2003. The 
new comment period will end March 25, 2003.

DATES: Comments, identified by the docket ID number OPP-2003-0010, must 
be received on or before March 25, 2003.

ADDRESSES: 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 of the January 24, 
2003 Federal Register document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthur-Jean Williams, Field and 
External Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-5239; fax 
number: (703) 308-3259; 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 and may be of 
particular interest to persons who manufacture, sell or use pesticides 
or who are part of a State or Tribe engaged in the regulation of 
pesticide products and to groups interested in environmental 
regulation. 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 Arthur-Jean Williams at the telephone number/e-mail address 
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-2003-0010. 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 frequently updated 
electronic version of 40 CFR Chapter I is available at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_40/40cfr1_00.html, a 
beta site currently under development.
    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

[[Page 12014]]

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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    To submit comments, or access the official public docket, please 
follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I. of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the January 24, 2003 Federal Register 
document. If you have questions, consult the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. Background

    On January 24, 2003, EPA, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife 
Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and National Marine Fisheries 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, issued a Federal Register document (68 FR 3785) 
(FRL-7287-3) seeking public comment on an ANPR for an endangered 
species and pesticide regulation.
    Among the comments received thus far was a request, signed by 30 
groups, for an extension of the comment period by 45 days. While the 
agencies appreciate the need to provide adequate opportunity for public 
input, the agencies believe a shorter extension is warranted for 
several reasons. First, numerous comments were already received during 
the original comment period. Second, the January 24, 2003 Federal 
Register notice was an ANPR. Thus, the public will have further 
opportunity to comment with future publication of a notice of proposed 
rulemaking.

III. What Action is EPA Taking?

    Since EPA has an electronic docket system that allows distribution 
of materials more easily to interested persons, EPA agreed to take 
responsibility for all of the administrative duties related to 
publication of the ANPR and this document, including the creation of a 
public docket, receipt of public comments, and other related matters. 
Therefore, EPA, on behalf of the three agencies, hereby reopens the 
comment period, which ended on March 10, 2003. The new comment period 
will end March 25, 2003.

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

    The ANPR was issued under the authority of section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA), as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and 
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 
U.S.C. 136 et seq.

V. Do Any Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Apply to this Action?

    No. This action merely extends the date by which public comments 
must be submitted to EPA on an ANPR that previously published in the 
Federal Register of January 24, 2003 (68 FR 3785). For information 
about the applicability of the regulatory assessment requirements to 
the ANPR, please refer to the discussion in Unit IV. of that document 
(68 FR 3785).

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Endangered species, Pesticides.


    Dated: March 10, 2003,
Stephen L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.
[FR Doc. 03-6188 Filed 3-11-03; 2:49 pm]
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