[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27802-27805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12483]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2003-0167; FRL-7306-9]


Carbofuran; Receipt of Applications for Emergency Exemption, 
Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA has received specific exemption requests from the Texas 
Department of Agriculture; the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, 
Food, and Forestry; and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and 
Forestry to use the pesticide flowable carbofuran (Furadan 4F 
Insecticide/Nematicide) (EPA Reg. No. 279-2876) to treat up to 1.8 
million acres of cotton in Texas; 100,000 acres of cotton in Oklahoma; 
and 500,000 acres of cotton in Louisiana to control cotton aphid. The 
Applicants propose the use of a chemical which has been the subject of 
a Special Review within EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, and is 
intended for a use that could pose a risk similar to the risk posed by 
uses evaluated under the Special Review. The granular formulation of 
carbofuran was the subject of a Special Review between the years of 
1986-1991, which resulted in a negotiated settlement whereby most of

[[Page 27803]]

the registered uses of granular carbofuran were phased out. While the 
flowable formulation of carbofuran is not the subject of a Special 
Review, EPA believes that the proposed use of flowable carbofuran on 
cotton could pose a risk similar to the risk assessed by EPA under the 
Special Review of granular carbofuran. EPA is soliciting public comment 
before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

DATES: Written comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2003-0167, 
must be received on or before June 5, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen A. Schaible, Registration 
Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 308-9362; fax number: (703) 308-6920; e-
mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are a Federal 
or State government agency (NAICS 9241) involved in administration of 
environmental quality programs.
    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this 
action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be 
affected. 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-2003-0167. 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/.
    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 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.

[[Page 27804]]

    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-2003-0167. 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-2003-0167. 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-2003-0167.
    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-2003-0167. 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.
    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.

II. Background

What Action is the Agency Taking?

    Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the 
Administrator, a Federal or State agency may be exempted from any 
provision of FIFRA if the Administrator determines that emergency 
conditions exist which require the exemption. The Louisiana Department 
of Agriculture and Forestry; the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, 
Food, and Forestry; and the Texas Department of Agriculture have 
requested the Administrator to issue specific exemptions for the use of 
carbofuran on cotton to control cotton aphids. Information in 
accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.
    As part of this request, the Applicants assert that the States of 
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas are likely to experience non-routine 
infestations of aphids during the 2003 cotton growing season. The 
Applicants further claim that resistance to currently registered 
alternatives may occur and that without a specific exemption from 
registration under FIFRA for the use of flowable carbofuran on cotton 
to control cotton aphids, cotton growers in these states will suffer 
significant economic losses.
    The Applicants propose to make no more than two applications of 
flowable carbofuran on cotton at the rate of 0.25 lb. active ingredient 
(a.i.) (8 fluid ounces) in a minimum of 2 gallons of finished spray per 
acre by air, or 10 gallons of finished spray per acre by ground 
application. The total maximum proposed use during the 2003 growing 
season (April 1, 2003 - October 31, 2003 in Texas, July 1, 2003 - 
October 15, 2003 in Oklahoma, and June 1, 2003 - September 30, 2003 in 
Louisiana) would be 0.5 lb. a.i. (16 fl. oz.) per acre. The Applicants 
propose that the maximum acreage which could be treated under the 
requested exemptions would be 1.8 million acres in Texas; 100,000 acres 
in Oklahoma; and 500,000 acres in Louisiana. If all of these acres were 
treated at the maximum proposed rates and for the maximum allowed 
number of times, 900,000 lb. a.i. (225,000 gallons of Furadan 4F 
Insecticide/Nematicide) would be used in Texas, 50,000 lb. a.i. would 
be used in Oklahoma, and 250,000 lb. a.i. would be used in Louisiana.
    This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application itself. The regulations governing section 18 of FIFRA 
require publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a 
specific exemption proposing use of a chemical (i.e., an active 
ingredient) which has been the subject of a Special Review within EPA's 
Office of Pesticide Programs and is intended for a use that could pose 
a risk similar to the risk posed by uses evaluated under the Special 
Review. The granular formulation of carbofuran was the subject of a 
Special Review between the years of 1986-1991, which resulted in a 
negotiated settlement whereby most of the registered uses of granular 
carbofuran were phased out. While the flowable formulation of 
carbofuran is

[[Page 27805]]

not the subject of a Special Review, EPA believes that the proposed use 
of flowable carbofuran on cotton could pose a risk similar to the risk 
assessed by EPA under the Special Review of granular carbofuran. The 
notice provides an opportunity for public comment on the application.
    The Agency, will review and consider all comments received during 
the comment period in determining whether to issue the specific 
exemptions requested by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and 
Forestry; the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; 
and the Texas Department of Agriculture.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: May 8, 2003.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 03-12483 Filed 5-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S