[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 64 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17303-17304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7474]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 166

[OPP-2004-0039; FRL-7345-7]
RIN 2070-AD36


Pesticides; Emergency Exemption Process Revisions; Notification 
to the Secretary of Agriculture

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notification to the Secretary of Agriculture.

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SUMMARY: This document notifies the public that the Administrator of 
EPA has forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture a draft proposed rule 
as required by section 25(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As described in the Agency's semi-annual 
Regulatory Agenda, the draft proposed rule proposes several 
improvements to the pesticide emergency exemption process under section 
18 of FIFRA. The two primary proposed improvements are currently being 
tested through a limited pilot, and are based on recommendations from 
the States which are the primary applicants for emergency exemptions. 
EPA has established regulations under section 18 of FIFRA which allow a 
Federal or State agency to apply for an emergency exemption to allow an 
unregistered use of a pesticide for a limited time when such use is 
necessary to alleviate an emergency condition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Hogue, Field and External 
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: 703-308-9072; 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. It simply 
announces the submission of a draft proposed rule to the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture and does not otherwise affect any specific 
entities. This action may, however, be of particular interest to 
Federal, State, or Territorial government agencies that petition EPA 
for FIFRA section 18 emergency use authorization for a pesticide, not 
otherwise registered for the use, to address an emergency pest 
situation. Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has 
not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be 
interested in this action. If you have any questions regarding this 
action, 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-2004-0039. 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

[[Page 17304]]

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. Please note that the draft proposed rule 
is not currently publicly available. It will only become publicly 
available when the proposed rule is signed, at which time it will be 
published in the Federal Register.
    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.

II. What Action Is EPA Taking?

    Section 25(a)(2) of FIFRA requires the Administrator to provide the 
Secretary of Agriculture with a copy of any proposed regulation at 
least 60 days before signing it for publication in the Federal 
Register. The draft proposed rule is not available to the public until 
after it has been signed by EPA. If the Secretary comments in writing 
regarding the draft proposed rule within 30 days after receiving it, 
the Administrator shall include the comments of the Secretary and the 
Administrator's response to those comments in the proposed rule when 
published in the Federal Register. If the Secretary does not comment in 
writing within 30 days after receiving the draft proposed rule, the 
Administrator may sign the proposed regulation for publication in the 
Federal Register anytime after the 30-day period.

III. Do Any Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Apply to This 
Notification?

    No. This document is not a proposed rule, it is merely a 
notification of submission to the Secretary of Agriculture. As such, 
none of the regulatory assessment requirements apply to this document.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 166

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Emergency exemptions, Intergovernmental relations, Pesticides and 
pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements


    Dated: March 13, 2004.
James Jones,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 04-7474 Filed 4-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S