[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 221 (Friday, November 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67511-67512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26966]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0343; FRL-8389-3]


Naphthalene 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 naphthalene. The Agency's 
risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the 
naphthalene Docket. Naphthalene is an insecticide used primarily as a 
moth repellant. EPA has reviewed naphthalene 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: Molly Clayton, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 603-0522; fax 
number: (703) 308-7070; 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-2008-0343. Publicly 
available docket materials are available either in the electronic 
docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only

[[Page 67512]]

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. EPA 
has completed a RED for the pesticide, naphthalene under section 
4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Naphthalene is an insecticide used as a moth 
repellant for the protection of wool clothing and as an animal 
repellant against nuisance vertebrate pests. Naphthalene products are 
formulated as moth balls, flakes, dusts, and granules. All pesticidal 
uses of naphthalene are residential; no food or occupational uses are 
registered.
    EPA has determined that the database to support reregistration is 
substantially complete and that products containing naphthalene are 
eligible for reregistration, provided the risks are mitigated 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 naphthalene.
    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, naphthalene 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 naphthalene.
    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 comments were received during 
the earlier comment period for this pesticide, and all issues related 
to this pesticide were resolved through consultations with 
stakeholders. The Agency therefore is issuing the naphthalene 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: November 5, 2008.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-26966 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S