[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55385-55386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18706]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2005-0411; FRL-7737-6]


Ametryn Reregistration Eligibility Decision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration 
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide ametryn. The Agency's risk 
assessments and other related documents also are available in the 
ametryn Docket. Ametryn is a triazine herbicide used on field corn, 
popcorn, pineapple, and sugarcane. EPA has reviewed ametryn through the 
public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public 
in developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment 
decisions. Through these programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides 
meet current health and safety standards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark T. Howard, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8172; fax 
number: (703) 308-8005; 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 stakeholders including environmental, human 
health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide 
users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution, 
or use of pesticides. Since others also may be interested, the Agency 
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be 
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-2004-0411. 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.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet

[[Page 55386]]

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 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. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

     Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides to 
ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. EPA 
has completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the 
pesticide, ametryn under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Ametryn, a 
triazine herbicide, is used on field corn, popcorn, pineapple, and 
sugarcane. EPA has determined that the data base to support 
reregistration is substantially complete and that products containing 
ametryn are eligible for reregistration provided the risks are 
mitigated either in the manner described in the RED or by another means 
that achieves equivalent risk reduction. Upon submission of any 
required product-specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B) and any 
necessary changes to the registration and labeling either to address 
concerns identified in the RED or as a result of product-specific data, 
EPA will make a final reregistration decision under section 4(g)(2)(C) 
for products containing ametryn.
     EPA must review tolerances and tolerance exemptions that were in 
effect when the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was enacted in 
August 1996, to ensure that these existing pesticide residue limits for 
food and feed commodities meet the safety standard established by the 
new law. Tolerances are considered reassessed once the safety finding 
has been made or a revocation occurs. EPA has reviewed and made the 
requisite safety finding for the ametryn tolerances included in this 
notice.
     EPA is applying the principles of public participation to all 
pesticides undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment. The 
Agency's Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Public 
Participation Process, published in the Federal Register on May 14, 
2004 (69 FR 26819) (FRL-7357-9), explains that in conducting these 
programs, EPA is tailoring its public participation process to be 
commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of 
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide. 
Due to its uses, risks, and other factors, ametryn was reviewed through 
the modified 4-Phase public participation process. Through this 
process, EPA worked extensively with stakeholders and the public to 
reach the regulatory decisions for ametryn.
     The reregistration program is being conducted under 
Congressionally mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both 
to make timely decisions and to involve the public. Few substantive 
comments were received during the earlier comment period. Further, for 
this pesticide, all issues related to this pesticide were resolved 
through consultations with stakeholders. The Agency, therefore, is 
issuing the Ametryn RED without a comment period.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

     Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA as amended, directs that, after 
submission of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the 
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active 
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in 
product-specific data on individual end-use products and either 
reregistering products or taking other ``appropriate regulatory 
action.''
     Section 408(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
(FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to review tolerances and 
exemptions for pesticide residues in effect as of August 2, 1996, to 
determine whether the tolerance or exemption meets the requirements of 
section 408(b)(2) or (c)(2) of FFDCA. This review is to be completed by 
August 3, 2006.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: September 14, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-18706 Filed 9-20-05; 8:45 am]
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