[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66432-66433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29187]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2003-0335; FRL-7330-3]


Pesticides: Procedural Guidance for EPA's Office of Pesticide 
Programs Procedures Concerning the Development, Modification, and 
Implementation of Policy Guidance Documents; Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Enironmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of a paper discussing 
procedural guidance for policy development in the Office of Pesticide 
Programs (OPP). These procedures have two goals: To increase public 
participation in the development, modification and implementation of 
OPP policy guidance documents; and to clarify that while such documents 
are non-binding policy statements and not legally binding rules, they 
nonetheless play an important role in helping to ensure a consistent 
starting point for OPP decision making. A draft of this document was 
made available for comment on March 12, 2003. A document summarizing 
EPA's response to public comments on the draft is also available in 
EPA's docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Jordan, Senior Policy 
Adviser (7501C), Office of Pesticide

[[Page 66433]]

Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-1049; fax 
number: (703) 308-4776; 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 
interest to a wide range of stakholders, including environmental, human 
health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide 
users; and members of the public interested in the use of pesticides. 
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 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-2003-0335. 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.

II. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    EPA is making available a paper on procedures for developing, 
modifying, and implementing its policy guidance documents concerning 
the regulation of pesticides. These procedures have two goals. The 
first is to increase public participation in the development, 
modification, and implementation of OPP policy guidance documents; the 
second is to clarify that while such documents are not binding policy 
statements and are not legally binding rules, they nonetheless play an 
important role in helping to ensure a consistent starting point for OPP 
decision making.
    EPA has considered comments received on this document, and has 
revised the paper in response to comments, as appropriate. EPA is also 
including in the docket for this action a response to all significant 
comments.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides, Policy guidance.

    Dated: November 10, 2003.
James Jones
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 03-29187 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
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