[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26690-26692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12559]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0518; FRL-8414-1]


Chloropicrin, Dazomet, Metam Sodium/Potassium, and Methyl 
Bromide; Amendments to Reregistration Eligibility Decisions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 26691]]

SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's decision to modify certain risk 
mitigation measures that were specified in the 2008 Reregistration 
Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for the soil fumigant pesticides 
chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and methyl bromide. EPA 
conducted this reassessment of the chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/
potassium, and methyl bromide REDs in response to public comments 
received during the comment period, and new data submitted by the 
Chloropicrin Manufacturers' Task Force and the California Department of 
Pesticide Regulation. Based on the new information received, and in a 
continuing effort to mitigate risk, the Agency has made certain 
modifications in the chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and 
methyl bromide REDs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For pesticide-specific information 
contact the Chemical Review Manager identified in the Table in Unit II. 
For general information contact John Leahy, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division, 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, farm worker, 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 dockets for this action under the 
docket ID numbers listed in the Table in Unit II. 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?

    Section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA) directs EPA to reevaluate existing pesticides to ensure 
that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. In 2008, 
EPA issued REDs for the soil fumigants chloropicrin, dazomet, metam 
sodium/potassium, and methyl bromide under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. 
In response to a notice of availability published in the Federal 
Register on July 16, 2008 (73 FR 40871) (FRL-8372-3), the Agency 
received substantive comments and new data and/or information from 
commenters and the registrant(s). The Agency's response to comments is 
available for viewing in the public dockets. The amended chloropicrin, 
dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and methyl bromide REDs reflect 
changes resulting from Agency consideration of the comments and the new 
data received on provisions of the RED, as well as efforts by the 
Agency to appropriately mitigate overall risk. The RED amendments for 
chloropicrin, dazomet, and metam sodium/potassium, conclude EPA's 
reregistration eligibility decision-making process for these 
pesticides. For methyl bromide, the RED amendment concludes EPA's 
reregistration eligibility decision-making process for the soil uses of 
this chemical. Amendments to the commodity uses of methyl bromide will 
be concluded in the near future.
     Due to the broad scope of these decision documents the Agency put 
the documents out for comment in 2008 to allow stakeholders the 
opportunity to review and provide comments on issues related to the 
implementation of the risk management measures. The Agency received 
numerous comments on the RED mitigation measures and has made changes 
to the following measures based on a review of the impacts and risks 
described in the comments: buffer zones, buffer zone posting, 
respiratory protection, tarp perforation and removal, good agricultural 
practices, fumigant management plans, fumigant site monitoring, 
response information to neighbors, training, and notice to state and 
tribal lead agencies. The Agency also received new chloropicrin and 
dazomet flux studies and has taken these new studies into consideration 
and revised the chloropicrin and dazomet buffer zone tables. The label 
table incorporated into the chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/
potassium, and methyl bromide RED amendments includes modifications 
which specify label language for the changes to the mitigation measures 
described above.

                        Table--Fumigant Contacts
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                                                        Chemical Review
  Reregistration Case Name and                        Manager, Telephone
             Number                Docket ID Number     Number, E-mail
                                                            Address
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Chloropicrin, 0040                EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-03  Andrea Carone
                                   50                 (703) 308-0122
                                                      [email protected]
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Dazomet, 2135                     EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-01  Dana L. Friedman
                                   28                 (703) 347-8827
                                                      [email protected]
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Metam Sodium/Potassium, 2390      EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-01  Karen Santora
                                   25                 (703) 347-8781
                                                      [email protected]
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Methyl Bromide, 0335              EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-01  Susan Bartow
                                   23                 (703) 603-0065
                                                      [email protected]
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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: May 15, 2009.
Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-12559 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S