[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24289-24290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8277]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0343; FRL-8127-4]


Soil Fumigant Pesticides; Notice of Public Meetings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is planning to hold 
two stakeholder meetings to obtain public input on risk management 
options for the soil fumigant pesticides chloropicrin, dazomet, metam 
sodium, metam potassium, and methyl bromide. Reregistration for 1,3-
dichloropropene (1,3-D or Telone) was completed in 1998, but it is 
included in the review for comparative purposes. The public meetings 
will be held in the states of Washington and Florida in late May and 
early June 2007. The purpose of the meetings is for the Agency to 
obtain first-hand comments on possible human health risk mitigation 
options from stakeholders who are most affected by soil fumigant use, 
including growers, professional fumigant applicators, farm workers, 
neighbors and community members, local officials, and others. EPA also 
plans to participate in a stakeholder meeting focusing on risk 
mitigation options for the soil fumigants metam sodium and metam 
potassium, held by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in 
late May 2007. California and EPA have been working together on soil 
fumigant issues during the last several years, and use similar 
approaches to reduce exposure. Stakeholders' comments at these meetings 
will help inform EPA's decision later this year on the reregistration 
eligibility of several soil fumigant pesticides. Through the 
reregistration program, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet 
current health and safety standards.

DATES: The meeting in Richland, Washington will be held on May 22, 2007 
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meeting in Ft. Myers, Florida will be held on 
June 6, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 10 
days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to 
process your request. Spanish language translation will be available at 
both meetings.

ADDRESSES: The Washington meeting will be held at the Federal Building, 
825 Jadwin Avenue, Richland, Washington 99352. The Florida meeting will 
be held at the Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe Street, Ft. Myers, 
Florida 33901.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Washington meeting information 
contact. Veronique LaCapra, Special Review and Reregistration Division 
(7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (703) 605-1525; fax number: (703) 308-8090; e-mail address: 
[email protected]/.
    For Florida meeting information contact. Nathan Mottl, Special 
Review and Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-0208; fax 
number: (703) 308-7070; e-mail address: [email protected]/.
    For general information contact. John Leahy, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6703; fax 
number: (703) 308-8090; 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

[[Page 24290]]

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-2007-0343. 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 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

    EPA is currently reviewing six soil fumigant pesticides. Four of 
the six are in review for reregistration, including chloropicrin, 
dazomet, metam sodium, metam potassium, and methyl bromide. A fifth 
chemical, iodomethane, is being reviewed for registration and is a 
possible alternative to methyl bromide. Reregistration for 1,3-
dichloropropene (1,3-D or Telone) was completed in 1998, but is 
included in the review for comparative purposes.
    EPA is reviewing the soil fumigant pesticides using the 6-Phase 
Public Participation Process described in the Agency's May 14, 2004 
Federal Register notice (69 FR 26819)(FRL-7357-9). During Phase 5, the 
Agency is issuing for public comment revised risk assessments, benefits 
assessments, and a paper outlining risk management options for the soil 
fumigants. To obtain additional, first-hand input from stakeholders, 
EPA is holding meetings during the Phase 5 public comment period in 
areas of high soil fumigant use.
    EPA will begin each public meeting with a brief overview of 
predicted risks and benefits of soil fumigant use, as well as possible 
measures that the Agency expects will reduce risks. After providing 
guidelines for making comments, the Agency will take comments from the 
public during the remainder of the day. EPA plans to transcribe the 
meetings so that comments received can be placed in the docket where 
they will be available to other members of the public.
    EPA also plans to participate in a stakeholder meeting held by the 
California Department of Pesticide Regulation on May 30, 2007, focusing 
on California's risk management proposals for soil fumigants that 
produce MITC, specifically metam sodium and metam potassium. California 
and EPA have been working together on soil fumigant issues during the 
last several years. Because the mitigation proposals for these 
chemicals include similar approaches to reduce exposures, EPA will also 
consider public comments provided by stakeholders during this meeting. 
Please visit the California Department of Pesticide Regulation website 
for more information: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/.
    After considering all information and comments received during 
Phase 5 through the public meetings and the docket, EPA plans to 
develop risk management decisions for the soil fumigant pesticides 
later in 2007.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: April 24, 2007.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-8277 Filed 5-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S