[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36687-36690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10093]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0395; FRL-8068-2]


Myclobutanil; Pesticide Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes time-limited tolerances for legume 
vegetables (except soybeans) and foliage of legume vegetables (except 
soybeans) of myclobutanil in or on vegetable, legume (except soybeans) 
and vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybeans). This action is in 
response to EPA's granting of an emergency exemption under section 18 
of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 
authorizing use of the pesticide on vegetable, legume (except soybeans) 
and vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybeans). This regulation 
establishes a maximum permissible level for residues of myclobutanil in 
this food commodity. These tolerances will expire and are revoked on 
June 30, 2009.

DATES: This regulation is effective June 28, 2006. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before August 28, 2006, 
and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 
CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0395. All documents in the 
docket are listed in the index for the docket. Although listed in the 
index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential 
Business Information (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 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 Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number 
for the Docket Facility is (703) 305-5805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacey Groce, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (703) 305-2505; 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 111)
     Animal production (NAICS 112)
     Food manufacturing (NAICS 311)
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS 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

[[Page 36688]]

assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to 
certain entities. 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 Access Electronic Copies of this Document?

    In addition to accessing an electronic copy of this Federal 
Register document through the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov, you may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may also access a 
frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR part 180 through the 
Government Printing Office's pilot e-CFR site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr.

C. Can I File an Objection or Hearing Request?

    Under section 408(g) of the FFDCA, as amended by the FQPA, any 
person may file an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may 
also request a hearing on those objections. The EPA procedural 
regulations which govern the submission of objections and requests for 
hearings appear in 40 CFR part 178. You must file your objection or 
request a hearing on this regulation in accordance with the 
instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by 
EPA, you must identify docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0395 in the 
subject line on the first page of your submission. All requests must be 
in writing, and must be mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk on or 
before August 28, 2006.
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of 
the filing that does not contain any CBI for inclusion in the public 
docket that is described in ADDRESSES. Information not marked 
confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA 
without prior notice. Submit your copies, identified by docket ID 
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0395, 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 
telephone number for the Docket Facility is (703) 305-5805.

II. Background and Statutory Findings

    EPA, on its own initiative, in accordance with sections 408(e) and 
408(l)(6) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 
U.S.C. 346a, is establishing tolerances for combined residues of the 
fungicide myclobutanil, alpha-butyl-alpha-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-
triazole-1-propanenitrile and its alcohol metabolite (alpha-(3-
hydroxybutyl)-alpha-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-propanenitrile 
(free and bound), in or on vegetable, legume (except soybean), Crop 
Group 6 and vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybean), Crop Group 7 
at 1.0 parts per million (ppm). These tolerances will expire and are 
revoked on June 30, 2009. EPA will publish a document in the Federal 
Register to remove the revoked tolerances from the Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    Section 408(l)(6) of the FFDCA requires EPA to establish a time-
limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a tolerance for 
pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from the use of a 
pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA under section 18 
of FIFRA. Such tolerances can be established without providing notice 
or period for public comment. EPA does not intend for its actions on 
section 18 related tolerances to set binding precedents for the 
application of section 408 of the FFDCA and the new safety standard to 
other tolerances and exemptions. Section 408(e) of the FFDCA allows EPA 
to establish a tolerance or an exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance on its own initiative, i.e., without having received any 
petition from an outside party.
    Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of the FFDCA allows EPA to establish a 
tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a 
food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section 
408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``there is 
a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure 
to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary 
exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable 
information.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in 
residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure. 
Section 408(b)(2)(C) of the FFDCA requires EPA to give special 
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide 
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there 
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and 
children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue. . . 
.''
    Section 18 of the FIFRA authorizes EPA to exempt any Federal or 
State agency from any provision of FIFRA, if EPA determines that 
``emergency conditions exist which require such exemption.'' This 
provision was not amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 
(FQPA). EPA has established regulations governing such emergency 
exemptions in 40 CFR part 166.

III. Emergency Exemption for Myclobutanil on Vegetable, Legume (Except 
Soybeans) and Vegetable, Foliage of Legume (Except Soybeans and FFDCA 
Tolerances

    The States of Florida and Tennessee, as lead state agencies in what 
is essentially a ``national'' emergency exemption request for vegetable 
legume growing states, have petitioned the Agency requesting an 
Emergency Exemption for myclobutanil to control soybean rust under 
section 18 of FIFRA. On November 10, 2004, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) 
confirmed the presence of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the pathogen that 
causes soybean rust, on soybean leaf samples taken from two plots 
associated with a Louisiana State University research farm. Soybean 
rust has been designated as a biosecurity threat and therefore it is 
important that control measures be available for this disease. Legume 
crops, in general are considered a suitable host for the pathogen that 
causes soybean rust. So, for this reason, legume crops are vulnerable 
to this plant disease. EPA has authorized under FIFRA section 18 the 
use of myclobutanil on vegetable, legume (except soybeans) and 
vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybeans) for control of soybean 
rust in Florida and Tennessee, and all other states that have requested 
an exemption for this use. After having reviewed the submission, EPA 
concurs that emergency conditions exist for these States.
    As part of its assessment of this emergency exemption, EPA assessed 
the potential risks presented by residues of myclobutanil in or on 
vegetable, legume (except soybeans) and vegetable, foliage of legume 
(except soybeans). In doing

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so, EPA considered the safety standard in section 408(b)(2) of the 
FFDCA, and EPA decided that the necessary tolerance under section 
408(l)(6) of the FFDCA would be consistent with the safety standard and 
with FIFRA section 18. Consistent with the need to move quickly on the 
emergency exemption in order to address an urgent non-routine situation 
and to ensure that the resulting food is safe and lawful, EPA is 
issuing these tolerances without notice and opportunity for public 
comment as provided in section 408(l)(6) of the FFDCA. Although these 
tolerances will expire and are revoked on June 30, 2009, under section 
408(l)(5) of the FFDCA, residues of the pesticide not in excess of the 
amounts specified in the tolerances remaining in or on vegetable, 
legume (except soybeans) and vegetable, foliage of legume (except 
soybeans) after that date will not be unlawful, provided the pesticide 
is applied in a manner that was lawful under FIFRA, and the residues do 
not exceed a level that was authorized by this tolerance at the time of 
that application. EPA will take action to revoke these tolerances 
earlier if any experience with, scientific data on, or other relevant 
information on this pesticide indicate that the residues are not safe.
    Because these tolerances are being approved under emergency 
conditions, EPA has not made any decisions about whether myclobutanil 
meets EPA's registration requirements for use on vegetable, legume 
(except soybeans) and vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybeans) or 
whether permanent tolerances for this use would be appropriate. Under 
these circumstances, EPA does not believe that these tolerances serve 
as a basis for registration of myclobutanil by a State for special 
local needs under FIFRA section 24(c). Nor do these tolerances serve as 
the basis for any State other than those which have been granted 
exemptions as part of the vegetable, legume (except soybeans) and 
vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybeans) section 18 to use this 
pesticide on this crop under section 18 of FIFRA without following all 
provisions of EPA's regulations implementing FIFRA section 18 as 
identified in 40 CFR part 166. For additional information regarding the 
emergency exemption for myclobutanil, contact the Agency's Registration 
Division at the address provided under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

IV. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety

    EPA performs a number of analyses to determine the risks from 
aggregate exposure to pesticide residues. For further discussion of the 
regulatory requirements of section 408 of the FFDCA and a complete 
description of the risk assessment process, see the final rule on 
Bifenthrin Pesticide Tolerances (62 FR 62961, November 26, 1997) (FRL-
5754-7).
    Consistent with section 408(b)(2)(D) of the FFDCA, EPA has reviewed 
the available scientific data and other relevant information in support 
of this action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of 
myclobutanil and to make a determination on aggregate exposure, 
consistent with section 408(b)(2) of the FFDCA, for time-limited 
tolerances for residues of myclobutanil in or on vegetable, legume 
(except soybeans) and vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybeans) at 
1.0 ppm. EPA recently assessed the potential risks presented by 
residues of myclobutanil in or on vegetable, legume (except soybeans) 
and vegetable, foliage of legume (except soybeans) as part of the 
dietary exposure estimates in the human health risk assessment for 
another proposed section 18 use of myclobutanil. EPA was still 
evaluating the emergency application on the specialty legume crops at 
that time and did not include a regulatory expression for these time-
limited tolerances in the earlier notice. However, the human health 
risk assessment of the dietary exposures and risks associated with 
establishing these tolerances is discussed fully in the final rule 
published in the Federal Register of August 24, 2005 (70 FR 49499) 
(FRL-7731-2).

V. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Adequate enforcement methodology (example--gas chromatography) is 
available to enforce the tolerance expression. The method may be 
requested from: Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch, Environmental 
Science Center, 701 Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755-5350; telephone 
number: (410) 305-2905; e-mail address: [email protected].

B. International Residue Limits

    There are no CODEX, Canadian, or Mexican Maximum Residue Limits 
(MRLs) for myclobutanil on legumes (excluding soybeans). Therefore, 
there are no international harmonization issues associated with this 
action.

VI. Conclusion

    Therefore, the tolerances are established for combined residues of 
myclobutanil, alpha-butyl-alpha-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-
propanenitrile and its alcohol metabolite (alpha-(3-hydroxybutyl)-
alpha-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-propanenitrile (free and 
bound), in or on vegetable, legume (except soybeans) and vegetable, 
foliage of legume (except soybeans) at 1.0 ppm.

VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This final rule establishes time-limited tolerances under section 
408 of the FFDCA. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
exempted these types of actions 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 final rule does not contain any information 
collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA), 44 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). Since 
tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis of a FIFRA 
section 18 exemption under section 408 of the FFDCA, such as the 
tolerances in this final rule, do not require the issuance of a 
proposed rule, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do not apply. 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

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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 final 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 the 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.

VIII. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of this final rule in the Federal Register. This final 
rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

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

    Dated: June 16, 2006.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

0
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.

0
2. Section 180.443 is amended by alphabetically adding commodities to 
the table in paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  180.443  Myclobutanil; tolerances for residues.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Expiration/
             Commodity              Parts per million   revocation date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                * * * * *
Vegetable, foliage of legume,                     1.0            6/30/09
 group 07.........................
Vegetable, legume, group 06.......                1.0            6/30/09
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[FR Doc. E6-10093 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S