[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76828-76829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24465]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2005-0176; FRL-7748-8]


Mancozeb Reregistration Eligibility Decision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration 
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide mancozeb. The Agency's 
risk assessments and other related documents are also available in the 
mancozeb Docket. Mancozeb is a member of the ethylene 
bisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) group of fungicides, which also includes the 
related fungicides maneb and metiram. Mancozeb is used as a broad 
spectrum fungicide on a variety of agricultural crops, ornamentals, and 
turf. As a part of this process, the Agency announced the availability 
of the EBDCs preliminary risk assessments and supporting documents for 
a 90-day comment period and requested risk reduction options under 
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP;2004-0078. Through these 
programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and 
safety standards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Scheltema, Special Review 
and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-2201; 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 may also 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 ID number OPP-2005-0176. 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 under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
     EDOCKET, epa's electronic public docket and comment system was 
replaced on November 25, 2005, by an enhanced Federal-wide electronic 
docketmanagement and comment system located at http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the on-line instructions
     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.


II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

     Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide

[[Page 76829]]

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, mancozeb under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Mancozeb is an 
EBDC fungicide used on a variety of agricultural crops, ornamentals, 
and turf. EPA has determined that the data base to support 
reregistration is substantially complete and that products containing 
mancozeb are eligible for reregistration depending on their specific 
uses, provided that the risk mitigation measures outlined in the RED 
are adopted, and labels are amended to reflect these measures. 
Registrants have requested cancellations and/or deletions of mancozeb 
use as a foliar treatment for cotton, use in pineapple propagation, and 
use on residential lawns, athletic fields, and pachysandra; these uses 
are not eligible for reregistration. 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 mancozeb.
     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 mancozeb 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, mancozeb 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 mancozeb.
     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. Opportunities for 
public comment were offered as this decision was being developed. 
Additionally, all issues related to this pesticide were resolved 
through consultations with stakeholders. The Agency, therefore, is 
issuing the mancozeb 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

     Mancozeb, EBDC fungicides, Environmental protection, Pesticides 
and pests.

    Dated: December 15, 2005.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-24465 Filed 12-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S