[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6860-6863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2511]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2004-0419; FRL-7694-2]


Application for New and Amended Pesticide Registration; Renewal 
of Pesticide Information Collection Activities and Request for Comments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that EPA is seeking public 
comment on the following Information Collection Request (ICR): 
Application for New and Amended Pesticide Registration (EPA ICR No. 
0277.14, OMB Control No. 2070-0060). This is a request to renew an 
existing ICR that is currently approved and due to expire October 31, 
2005. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection 
activity and its expected burden and costs. Before submitting this ICR 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval 
under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
collection.

DATES: Written comments, identified by the docket identification (ID) 
number OPP-2004-0419, must be received on or before April 11, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or 
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as 
provided in Unit III. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cameo G. Smoot, Field and External 
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-5454; fax number: (703) 305-5884; e-
mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
individual or entity engaged in activities related to the registration 
of a pesticide product. Potentially affected entities may include, but 
are not limited to:

[[Page 6861]]

     Pesticide and other agricultural chemical manufacturing 
(NAICS 325320), e.g., individuals or entities engaged in activities 
related to the registration of a pesticide product.
    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 above could also be 
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining 
whether this action might apply to certain entities. To determine 
whether you or your business may be affected by this action, you should 
carefully examine the applicability provisions in section 3 of the 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the 
data requirements of 40 CFR part 158. If you have any questions 
regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, 
consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related 
Information?

A. Docket

    EPA has established an official public docket for this action under 
docket ID number OPP-2004-0419. 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, 1801 S. Bell St., 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.

B. 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 II.A. 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.

III. How Can I Respond to this Action?

A. 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 
III.B. 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.
    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-2004-0419. 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-2004-0419. In contrast to EPA's 
electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail

[[Page 6862]]

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 III.A. 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-2004-0419.
    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, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID 
Number OPP-2004-0419. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit II.A.

B. 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.

C. What Should I Consider when 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 collection activity.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
notice.
    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.

D. What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burdens 
of the proposed collections of information.
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected.
    4. Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

IV. What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does this Action Apply 
to?

    EPA is seeking comments on the following ICR:
    Title: Application for New and Amended Pesticide Registration.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0277.14, OMB Control No. 2070-0060.
    ICR status: This ICR is a renewal of an existing ICR that is 
currently approved by OMB and is due to expire October 31, 2005.
    Abstract: This data collection program is designed to provide EPA 
with necessary data to evaluate an application of a pesticide product 
as required under section 3 of FIFRA. Under FIFRA, all pesticides must 
be registered by EPA before they may be sold or distributed in U.S. 
commerce. Respondents must comply with this collection of information 
in order to obtain or maintain a benefit (i.e., pesticide 
registration).
    An individual or entity seeking to register a new pesticide or to 
amend an existing pesticide registration must submit an application 
package consisting of information relating to the identity and 
composition of the product, proposed labeling, and supporting data (or 
compensation for others' data) for the product as outlined in 40 CFR 
part 158. The EPA bases registration decisions for pesticides on its 
evaluation of a battery of test data provided primarily by applicants 
for registration. Required studies include testing to show whether a 
pesticide has the potential to cause unreasonable adverse human health 
or environmental effects. The Agency currently collects data on 
physical chemistry, acute and chronic toxicology, environmental fate, 
ecological effects, worker exposure, residue chemistry, environmental 
chemistry, and product performance. If EPA's evaluation of the data 
show that the statutory requirements of FIFRA are met, then a 
registration is approved.
    Registrants of EPA-registered pesticide products at times become 
subject to regulations or guidance that include labeling revisions. The 
revised labeling is submitted as an amendment to the Agency along with 
the completed application form (EPA Form 8570-1). Normally, data are 
not required or reviewed for revised labeling regulations or guidance; 
however, it is necessary that the revised labeling be reviewed and 
approved. This review is most often accomplished by a Product Manager 
(PM), or Team Leader, in one of the three regulatory divisions 
responsible for pesticide registration (the Registration Division, the 
Antimicrobial Division, and the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention 
Division), who ensure that revisions are in compliance with the 
applicable labeling requirement or guidance.

[[Page 6863]]

V. What are EPA's Burden and Cost Estimates for this ICR?

    Under the PRA, ``burden'' means the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 
or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal Agency. For this 
collection it includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, 
acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes 
of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and 
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; 
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable 
instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review 
the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the 
information.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is 
only briefly summarized in this notice. The annual public burden for 
this ICR is estimated to be 152,974 hours at an estimated annual cost 
of $15,811,872. The following is a summary of the estimates taken from 
the ICR:
    Respondents/affected entities: Not applicable.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 2,100.
    Frequency of response: As needed.
    Estimated total/average number of responses for each respondent: 3-
5.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 152,974.
    Estimated total annual burden costs: $15,811,872.

VI. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?

    The burden hours for the registrant are based on response 
activities that have not changed since the last ICR approval, nor has 
the aggregate number of responses changed. The only changes are the 
respondent costs as reflected by the increase in labor costs adjusted 
to 2004 dollars, an increase of $1,603,798 (from $14,208,074 to 
$15,811,872).

VII. What is the Next Step in the Process for this ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another 
Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce 
the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit 
additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or 
the approval process, please contact the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.


    Dated: February 1, 2005.
Susan B. Hazen,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and 
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 05-2511 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S