[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50114-50115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18601]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 156 and 165

[OPP-2004-0049; FRL-7674-4]
RIN 2070-AB95


Standards for Pesticide Containers and Containment; Extension of 
Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of June 30, 2004 
to reopen the comment period for the 1994 proposed rule on pesticide 
containers and containment structures to solicit public input on issues 
or technology that would not have been available or could not have been 
addressed during previous public comment opportunities. This document 
is extending the comment period for 30 days beyond the current August 
16, 2004 deadline.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number OPP-
2004-0049 must be received on or before September 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES:  Follow the detailed instructions for submitting comments as 
provided in the ADDRESSES section of the Federal Register document of 
June 30, 2004 (OPP-2004-0049; 69 FR 39392). In addition, comments may 
be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Fitz, Field and External Affairs 
Division, (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-7385; fax number: (703) 308-3259; e-
mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does This Action Apply to Me?

    The Agency included in the proposed rule and the supplemental 
notice a list of those who may be potentially affected by this action. 
If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a 
particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

[[Page 50115]]

B. How Can I Access Electronic Copies of This Document and Other 
Related Information?

    In addition to using EDOCKET (http://www.epa.gov/edocket/), 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 parts 156 
and 165 is available at E-CFR Beta Site Two at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/.

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

    This document extends the public comment period established in the 
Federal Register of June 30, 2004 (69 FR 39392). In that document, EPA 
reopened the comment period for the rulemaking titled ``Standards for 
Pesticide Containers and Containment,'' which was proposed on February 
11, 1994 (59 FR 6712). In that document, EPA sought comment on proposed 
regulations for pesticide container design and residue removal and for 
containment structures at pesticide storage and container refilling 
operations. Because significant time has passed since the proposed rule 
in 1994 and a supplemental notice in 1999 (64 FR 56918, Oct. 21, 1999), 
EPA reopened the comment period for an additional 45 days to solicit 
public input on issues or technology relating to the proposed 
requirements that would not have been available or could not have been 
addressed during previous public comment opportunities. EPA is hereby 
extending the comment period, which was set to end on August 16, 2004, 
to September 15, 2004.

III. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking This Action?

    The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 
sections 19(e) and (f) grant EPA broad authority to establish standards 
and procedures to assure the safe use, reuse, storage, and disposal of 
pesticide containers. FIFRA section 19(e) requires EPA to promulgate 
regulations for ``the design of pesticide containers that will promote 
the safe storage and disposal of pesticides.''
    A request to extend the comment period in order to gather data for 
a response was received after the publication of the June 30, 2004 
notice in the Federal Register. EPA is hereby extending the comment 
period by 30 days.

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

    This notice neither proposes nor takes final action regarding any 
substantive requirements and is procedural in nature. This notice 
merely keeps the docket open for further comments on a rule that has 
already been proposed. Therefore, it is not subject to the statutory 
and executive order reviews generally applicable to proposed and final 
rules.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Parts 156 and 165

    Environmental protection, Packaging and containers, Pesticides and 
pests.

    Dated: August 4, 2004.
Susan B. Hazen,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic 
Substances.
[FR Doc. 04-18601 Filed 8-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S