[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24300-24301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8265]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0874; FRL-8126-9]


Chlorflurenol; 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 
chlorflurenol. The Agency's risk assessments and other related 
documents also are available in the chlorflurenol docket. Chlorflurenol 
is an herbicide and a plant growth regulator registered for use in 
agricultural, commercial, and residential settings. Chlorflurenol has 
no food/feed uses and, therefore, has no tolerances associated with its 
use. EPA has reviewed chlorflurenol through the public participation 
process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing 
pesticide reregistration decisions. Through these programs, EPA is 
ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tracy L. Perry, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-1028; fax 
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: [email protected].

[[Page 24301]]


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-2006-0874. 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 Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal 
Dr., 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.
    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, chlorflurenol under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. 
Chlorflurenol is a plant growth regulator and an herbicide with no 
food/feed uses and, therefore, no tolerances associated with its use. 
It is used for the postemergent control of broadleaf weeds in turf, and 
to retard the growth of ornamental turf/trees, and vegetation in 
nonagricultural rights-of-way and forest management areas. 
Chlorflurenol is also used to stimulate the growth of pineapple 
planting material or sliplets. The Agency does not consider this use on 
pineapples to be a food use, as the first harvest from chlorflurenol-
treated planting material occurs well over one year after planting. EPA 
has determined that the data base to support reregistration is 
sufficently complete and that products containing chlorflurenol are 
eligible for reregistration, provided that the risk mitigation measures 
identified in the RED document are adopted and label amendments are 
made to reflect these measures. 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 chlorflurenol.
    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, chlorflurenol 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 chlorflurenol.
    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 Phase 3, 60-day comment period for chlorflurenol, 
and all issues related to this pesticide were resolved through 
consultations with stakeholders. The Agency therefore is issuing the 
chlorflurenol 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.''

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: April 25, 2007.
 Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-8265 Filed 5-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S