[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 14, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 19767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8103]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-2004-0083; FRL-7351-9]


Thifensulfuron-methyl; Withdrawal of Tolerance Actions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Withdrawal of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: Because EPA received relevant adverse comment, the Agency is 
withdrawing the direct final rule for the reinstatement of corn 
tolerances for the herbicide thifensulfuron-methyl. EPA published the 
direct final rule on February 13, 2004 which would have reinstated corn 
tolerances for the herbicide thifensulfuron-methyl that were previously 
established but inadvertently removed shortly thereafter. EPA stated in 
that direct final rule that if relevant adverse comment were received 
by April 13, 2004, the Agency would publish a timely withdrawal in the 
Federal Register. EPA subsequently received relevant adverse comment on 
that direct final rule. EPA will therefore publish a notice of proposed 
rulemaking in a future edition of the Federal Register. The Agency will 
address the comments on the direct final rule as part of that proposed 
rulemaking.

DATES: As of April 14, 2004, EPA withdraws the direct final rule 
published at 69 FR 7161, on February 13, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Nevola, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW.,Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8037; e-mail 
address:[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA received a relevant adverse comment 
during the comment period for the February 13, 2004 (69 FR 7161) (FRL-
7338-6) direct final rule in which the Agency stated that it would 
reinstate corn tolerances for residues of the herbicide thifensulfuron-
methyl that were previously established by rulemaking in the Federal 
Register and that were inadvertently removed from 40 CFR 180.439. 
Because of a relevant adverse comment, EPA is withdrawing the direct 
final rule so that it will not take effect. EPA will publish a notice 
of proposed rulemaking in a future issue of the Federal Register and 
address the comments on the direct final rule as part of that notice of 
proposed rulemaking.
    Currently, there are active products registered under the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) which list corn as 
a use site for thifensulfuron-methyl application. These registrations 
have existed since 1994 with associated tolerances established in May 
1994. In the direct final rule of February 13, 2004 (69 FR 7161), EPA 
stated that the deletion of the corn tolerances from the 40 CFR was 
both inadvertent and improper.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.


    Dated: March 26, 2004.
James Jones,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

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Accordingly, the direct final rule for thifensulfuron-methyl published 
in the Federal Register of February, 13, 2004 at 69 FR 7161 is 
withdrawn.

[FR Doc. 04-8103 Filed 4-13-04; 8:45 am]
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