[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40870-40871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16016]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0014; FRL-8373-1]


Tetramethrin; 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 tetramethrin. The Agency's 
risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the 
Tetramethrin Docket. Tetramethrin is a broad spectrum, synthetic 
pyrethroid insecticide used to control flying and crawling insects in a 
number of commercial, horticultural, and residential areas. EPA has 
reviewed tetramethrin 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: Jacqueline Guerry, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (215) 814-2184; fax 
number: (215) 814-3113; 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-2008-0014. 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 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. On 
June 23, 2008, EPA completed a RED for the pesticide, tetramethrin 
under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Tetramethrin is a broad-spectrum, 
first-generation pyrethroid insecticide used as a rapid knockdown agent 
against flying and crawling

[[Page 40871]]

insects. Tetramethrin is used for both indoor and outdoor residential 
(including pets and clothes), institutional, industrial, and 
horticultural sites. There are no registered food sites. Tetramethrin 
is applied by aerosol can, handheld sprayers, foggers, and mechanical 
sprayers. EPA has determined that the database to support 
reregistration is substantially complete and that products containing 
tetramethrin are eligible for reregistration, provided the labels are 
amended in the manner described in the RED. Upon submission of any 
required product specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B) of FIFRA 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) of FIFRA for products containing tetramethrin.
    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, tetramethrin 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 tetramethrin.
    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. A public comment period for the 
Tetramethrin RED is not needed because all comments received during the 
risk assessment public comment period were addressed in the Agency's 
response to public comment documents, which are available in the public 
docket, and because there are no risks of concern for the registered 
use patterns. The Agency therefore is issuing the Tetramethrin 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: July 7, 2008.
Steven Bradbury
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-16016 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S