[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49447-49448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13859]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0497; FRL-8084-5]


Propiconazole 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 
propiconazole. The Agency's risk assessments and other related 
documents also are available in the propiconazole docket. Propiconazole 
is used as a conventional fungicide on agricultural crops, ornamentals, 
and turf and is used as an antimicrobial material preservative and wood 
preservative. EPA has reviewed propiconazole 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:  Christina Scheltema, Special Review 
and Reregistration Division (7508P), 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 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 a docket for this action under 
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0497. 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 Office of Pesticide Programs (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

[[Page 49448]]

holidays. The Docket Facility 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.

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 propiconazole under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. 
Propiconazole is used as a conventional fungicide on agricultural 
crops, ornamentals, and turf and is used as an antimicrobial material 
preservative and wood preservative. EPA has determined that the 
database to support reregistration is substantially complete and that 
currently registered products containing propiconazole 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 
propiconazole.
    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 propiconazole tolerances.
    Although the Propiconazole RED was signed on July 18, 2006, certain 
components of the document, which did not affect the final regulatory 
decision, were undergoing final editing at that time. These components, 
including the list of additional generic data requirements, summary of 
labeling changes, appendices, and other relevant information, have been 
added to the Propiconazole RED document.
    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, propiconazole 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 propiconazole.
    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. Because few substantive comments 
were received during the earlier comment period for this pesticide, and 
all issues related to this pesticide were resolved through 
consultations with stakeholders, no comment period is needed on this 
regulatory decision. The Agency therefore is issuing the Propiconazole 
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, Material preservatives, Pesticides and 
pests, Propiconazole, Triazole fungicides, Wood preservatives.

    Dated: August 14, 2006.
 Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-13859 Filed 8-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S