[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32895-32899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8826]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0493; FRL-8072-4]


Inert Ingredient; Revocation of a Tolerance Exemption with 
Insufficient Data for Reassessment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: This document proposes under section 408(e)(1) of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to revoke the existing exemption 
from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of one inert 
ingredient because there are insufficient data to make the 
determination of safety required by FFDCA section 408(b)(2). The inert 
ingredient tolerance exemption under 40 CFR 180.920 is ``[alpha]-Alkyl 
(C10-C16)-[omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) 
mixture of dihydrogen phosphate and monohydrogen phosphate esters and 
the corresponding ammonium, calcium, magnesium, monoethanolamine, 
potassium, sodium, and zinc salts of the phosphate esters; the 
poly(oxyethylene) content averages 3-20 moles.'' The revocation action 
in this document contributes towards the Agency's tolerance 
reassessment requirements under FFDCA section 408(q), as amended by the 
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. By law, EPA is required by 
August 2006 to reassess the tolerances that were in existence on August 
2, 1996. The regulatory action in this document pertains to the 
revocation of one tolerance exemption which is counted as tolerance 
reassessment toward the August 2006 review deadline.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 7, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0493, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public 
Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South 
Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only 
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The 
Docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-
2006-0493. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-
mail. The Federal regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous access'' 
system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you 
send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through 
regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made 
available on the Internet. If

[[Page 32896]]

you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your 
name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with 
any disk or CD-ROM you submit. 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. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index. 
Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly 
available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted 
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available 
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are 
available either in the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPP 
Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South 
Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The hours of operation 
of this Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket telephone number is (703) 
305-5805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kerry Leifer, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (703) 308-8811; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).
    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 in this unit 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 Unit II. 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. Background and Statutory Findings

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    On May 3, 2006, EPA published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 25993; FRL-8060-9) to revoke exemptions from the 
requirement of a tolerance for certain inert ingredients used in 
pesticide products. Unfortunately, one inert ingredient tolerance 
exemption was inadvertently omitted from this Federal Register proposed 
rule: ``[alpha]-Alkyl (C10-C16)-[omega]-
hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) mixture of dihydrogen phosphate and 
monohydrogen phosphate esters and the corresponding ammonium, calcium, 
magnesium, monoethanolamine, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts of the 
phosphate esters; the poly(oxyethylene) content averages 3-20 moles.'' 
Therefore, in this proposed rule, EPA is proposing to revoke this one 
inert ingredient tolerance exemption because sufficient data are not 
available to the Agency to make the safety determination required by 
FFDCA section 408(c)(2).
     As described in the Federal Register of May 3, 2006, described in 
this unit, EPA is now in the process of reassessing all inert 
ingredient exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance (``tolerance 
exemptions'') established prior to August 2, 1996, as required by FFDCA 
section 408(q). Under FFDCA section 408(q), tolerance reassessment may 
lead to regulatory action under FFDCA section 408(e)(1). When taking 
action under FFDCA section 408(e)(1), EPA may leave a tolerance 
exemption in effect only if the Agency determines that the tolerance 
exemption is safe. As is the case for the inert ingredient tolerance 
exemptions identified in the May 3 Federal Register, EPA has 
insufficient data available to make the safety determination required 
by FFDCA section 408(c)(2) for this one inert ingredient and is 
proposing to revoke the tolerance exemption.
    In making the FFDCA reassessment safety determination, EPA 
considers the validity, completeness, and reliability of the data that 
are available to the Agency, FFDCA section 408 (b)(2)(D), and the 
available information concerning the special susceptibility of infants 
and children (including developmental effects from in utero exposure), 
FFDCA section 408 (b)(2)(C). Data gaps exist for this inert ingredient 
in areas critical to reassessment. Without these data, the assessment 
of possible effects to infants and children cannot be made. Thus, EPA 
has insufficient data to make the safety finding of FFDCA section 
408(c)(2) and is revoking the inert ingredient tolerance exemption 
identified in this document.
    In developing risk assessment documents for inert ingredient 
tolerance exemptions, EPA currently reviews data submitted to the 
Agency as well as information from reputable, publicly available 
sources. For example, studies may be available in professional (peer-
reviewed) journals, and chemical assessments may be available on the 
Internet from U.S. Government agencies (e.g., EPA, the Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry, National Institutes of Health, Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA)) and international organizations (e.g., 
World Health Organization, Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD)). In some cases, representatives from chemical and 
pesticide manufacturing industry associations endeavored to locate data 
to support reassessment of surfactant chemicals. Nonetheless, 
sufficient valid and reliable data were not available to make the 
requisite FFDCA safety finding.
    EPA could not have made the requisite FFDCA safety finding unless, 
at the very least, a set of basic toxicity studies had been available 
to the Agency. It is possible that the tests agreed to under OECD's 
Screening Information Data Set (SIDS) program would have sufficed. 
Especially important to inert ingredient reassessment is an acceptable 
repeat-dose study. The preferred test for repeat-dose toxicity is the 
``Combined Repeated Dose Toxicity Study with the Reproduction/
Developmental Toxicity Screening Test'' (OECD Test Guideline 422). More 
information about the OECD SIDS and EPA's High Production Volume (HPV) 
programs is found at http://www.epa.gov /oppt/chemrtk/ sidsappb.htm. 
For the inert ingredient subject to this proposed rule and the inert 
ingredients identified in the May 3 Federal Register, the full OECD 
SIDS may not have been necessary in some cases because EPA has 
available a limited number of studies and information on the inert 
ingredient in question (e.g., acute toxicity studies). In other cases, 
the limited toxicity information available to the Agency may

[[Page 32897]]

indicate a need for further testing. EPA always recommends that parties 
interested in supporting an inert ingredient consult with the Agency 
prior to embarking on a testing strategy in order to determine existing 
data gaps and if testing certain chemicals within a multi-chemical 
exemption would serve to represent the entire exemption.
    In summary, the safety finding required by FFDCA section 408(b)(2) 
cannot be made for the one inert ingredient tolerance exemption due to 
insufficient data. Therefore, EPA is revoking under FFDCA section 
408(e)(1) the tolerance exemption identified at the end of this 
document under 40 CFR 180.920 with the revocation effective 2 years 
after the date of publication of the final rule in the Federal 
Register.
    The inert ingredient tolerance exemption that is the subject of 
this revocation proposal is found in 40 CFR 180.920 and reads as 
follows: ``[alpha]-Alkyl (C10-C16)-[omega]-
hydroxypoly (oxyethylene) mixture of dihydrogen phosphate and 
monohydrogen phosphate esters and the corresponding ammonium, calcium, 
magnesium, monoethanolamine, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts of the 
phosphate esters; the poly(oxyethylene) content averages 3-20 moles.'' 
It is noted that the chemical described in this tolerance exemption is 
included in a broader tolerance exemption also found in 40 CFR 180.920 
that was proposed for revocation for insufficient data in the May 3 
Federal Register, which reads as follows: ``[alpha]-Alkyl 
(C10-C16)-[omega]-hydroxypoly (oxyethylene)poly 
(oxypropylene) mixture of di- and monohydrogen phosphate esters and the 
corresponding ammonium, calcium, magnesium, monoethanolamine, 
potassium, sodium, and zinc salts of the phosphate esters; the combined 
poly(oxyethylene) poly(oxypropylene) content averages 3-20 moles.'' The 
public has had an opportunity to comment on the proposed revocation of 
the broader tolerance exemption since May 3. Because the public has had 
an opportunity since May 3 to comment on the broader exemption that 
encompasses this more narrow tolerance exemption, a 30-day comment 
period is provided for this proposed revocation of the more narrow 
tolerance exemption.

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

    A ``tolerance'' represents the maximum level for residues of 
pesticide chemicals legally allowed in or on raw agricultural 
commodities and processed foods. Section 408 of FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a, 
as amended by FQPA, Public Law 104-170, authorizes the establishment of 
tolerances, exemptions from tolerance requirements, modifications in 
tolerances, and revocation of tolerances for residues of pesticide 
chemicals in or on raw agricultural commodities and processed foods. 
Without a tolerance or exemption, food containing pesticide residues is 
considered to be unsafe and therefore ``adulterated'' under FFDCA 
section 402(a), 21 U.S.C. 342(a). Such food may not be distributed in 
interstate commerce (21 U.S.C. 331(a)). For a food-use pesticide to be 
sold and distributed, the pesticide must not only have appropriate 
tolerances under FFDCA, but also must be registered under Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136 et 
seq.). Food-use pesticides not registered in the United States must 
have tolerances in order for commodities treated with those pesticides 
to be imported into the United States.

C. When do These Actions Become Effective?

    EPA is revoking the tolerance exemption identified in this proposed 
rule that has insufficient data effective 2 years after the date of 
publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. Any commodities 
listed in this rule treated with pesticide products containing the 
inert ingredient and in the channels of trade following the tolerance 
revocation shall be subject to FFDCA section 408(1)(5), as established 
by FQPA. Under this section, any residues of this pesticide chemical in 
or on such food shall not render the food adulterated so long as it is 
shown to the satisfaction of FDA that:
    1. The residue is present as the result of an application or use of 
the pesticide at a time and in a manner that was lawful under FIFRA.
    2. The residue does not exceed the level that was authorized at the 
time of the application or use to be present on the food under a 
tolerance or exemption from tolerance. Evidence to show that food was 
lawfully treated may include records that verify the dates when the 
pesticide was applied to such food.

D. What is the Contribution to Tolerance Reassessment?

    By law, EPA is required by August 2006 to reassess the tolerances 
and exemptions from tolerances that were in existence on August 2, 
1996. This document revokes one inert ingredient tolerance exemption, 
which counts as a tolerance reassessment toward the August 2006 review 
deadline under FFDCA section 408(q), as amended by FQPA in 1996.

III. Are the Actions Consistent with International Obligations?

    The tolerance revocation in this rule is not discriminatory and is 
designed to ensure that both domestically produced and imported foods 
meet the food safety standard established by FFDCA. The same food 
safety standards apply to domestically produced and imported foods.
    EPA is working to ensure that the U.S. tolerance reassessment 
program under FQPA does not disrupt international trade. EPA considers 
Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in setting U.S. tolerances and in 
reassessing them. MRLs are established by the Codex Committee on 
Pesticide Residues, a committee within the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission, an international organization formed to promote the 
coordination of international food standards. It is EPA's policy to 
harmonize U.S. tolerances with Codex MRLs to the extent possible, 
provided that the MRLs achieve the level of protection required under 
FFDCA. EPA's effort to harmonize with Codex MRLs is summarized in the 
tolerance reassessment section of individual Reregistration Eligibility 
Decision (RED) documents. EPA has developed guidance concerning 
submissions for import tolerance support which was published in the 
Federal Register of June 1, 2000 (65 FR 35069) (FRL-6559-3). This 
guidance will be made available to interested persons. Electronic 
copies are available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov. On the Home 
Page select ``Laws, Regulations, and Dockets,'' then select 
``Regulations and Proposed Rules'' and then look up the entry for this 
document under ``Federal Register--Environmental Documents.'' You can 
also go directly to the ``Federal Register'' listings at http:// 
www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this type of 
action from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory 
Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this rule 
has been exempted from review under Executive Order 12866 due to its 
lack of significance, this rule is not subject to Executive Order 
13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This rule 
does not contain any information collections subject to OMB approval 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44

[[Page 32898]]

U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose any enforceable duty or contain any 
unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law 104-4). Nor does it require any 
special considerations under Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal 
Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and 
Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994); or OMB review 
or any Agency action under Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection 
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997). This action does not involve any technical 
standards that would require Agency consideration of voluntary 
consensus standards pursuant to section 12(d) of the National 
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 
104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.), the Agency previously assessed whether establishment of 
tolerances, exemptions from tolerances, raising of tolerance levels, 
expansion of exemptions, or revocations might significantly impact a 
substantial number of small entities and concluded that, as a general 
matter, these actions do not impose a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. These analyses for tolerance 
establishments and modifications, and for tolerance revocations were 
published on May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950) and on December 17, 1997 (62 FR 
66020) (FRL-5753-1), respectively, and were provided to the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Taking into 
account this analysis, and available information concerning the 
pesticide chemical listed in this rule, the Agency hereby certifies 
that this action will not have a significant negative economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. Specifically, the Agency has 
concluded in a memorandum dated May 25, 2001 that for import tolerance 
revocation there is a negligible joint probability of certain defined 
conditions holding simultaneously which would indicate an RFA/Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) concern 
and require more analysis. (This Agency document is available in the 
docket of this rule). Furthermore, for the pesticide chemical named in 
this rule, the Agency knows of no extraordinary circumstances that 
exist as to the present rule that would change the EPA's previous 
analysis.
    In addition, the Agency has determined that this action will not 
have a substantial direct effect on States, on the relationship between 
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as 
specified in Executive Order 13132, entitled Federalism (64 FR 43255, 
August 10, 1999). Executive Order 13132 requires EPA to develop an 
accountable process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input by State 
and local officials in the development of regulatory policies that have 
federalism implications.'' ``Policies that have federalism 
implications'' is defined in the Executive order to include regulations 
that have ``substantial direct effects on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government.'' This rule directly regulates growers, food processors, 
food handlers, and food retailers, not States. This action does not 
alter the relationships or distribution of power and responsibilities 
established by Congress in the preemption provisions of section 
408(n)(4) of FFDCA. For these same reasons, the Agency has determined 
that this rule does not have any ``tribal implications'' as described 
in Executive Order 13175, entitled Consultation and Coordination with 
Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000). Executive 
Order 13175 requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure 
``meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of 
regulatory policies that have tribal implications.'' ``Policies that 
have tribal implications'' is defined in the Executive order to include 
regulations that have ``substantial direct effects on one or more 
Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
the Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.'' This rule will not 
have substantial direct effects on tribal governments, on the 
relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, as specified in Executive Order 13175. 
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

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

    Dated: May 31, 2006.
Donald R. Stubbs,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
    Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
    2. In Sec.  180.920, the table is amended by revising the entry in 
the table to read as follows:


Sec.  180.920  Inert ingredients used pre-harvest; exemptions from the 
requirement of a tolerance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Inert Ingredients                                 Limits                    Uses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    * * * * *
 [alpha]-Alkyl (C10-C16)-[omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene)          Expires June 9, 2008      Surfactant; related
 mixture of dihydrogen phosphate and monohydrogen phosphate                                         adjuvants of
 esters and the corresponding ammonium, calcium, magnesium,                                          surfactants
 monoethanolamine, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts of the
 phosphate esters; the poly(oxyethylene) content averages 3-20
 moles........................................................
                                                    * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 32899]]

[FR Doc. E6-8826 Filed 6-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S