[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 27543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13474]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0385; FRL-8420-7]


Permethrin; Second Revision to Reregistration Eligibility 
Decision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's decision to modify the 2006 
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide permethrin 
based on the revised occupational and residential (ORE) risk 
assessment. EPA conducted this reassessment of the permethrin RED in 
response to new data submitted by the Consumer Specialty Product 
Association, Permethrin Dermal Absorption Group. Based on the new data 
received, the Agency has revised the ORE risk assessment and the 
permethrin RED, appropriately. In addition, the Agency revised the 
permethrin label table to reflect the updated labeling for permethrin 
residential, agricultural, and wide area public health use products.

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, 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 a docket for this action under 
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0385. 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 April 
2006, EPA issued a reregistration eligibility decision (RED) for 
permethrin under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. The 2006 permethrin RED 
was first revised in December 2007 based on public comments and post-
RED activities. However, the Agency has completed this most recent RED 
revision following receipt of a new study, Estimated Dermal Penetration 
in Humans Based on In Vitro and In Vivo Data, submitted by the Consumer 
Specialty Products Association, Permethrin Dermal Absorption Group. The 
amended permethrin RED reflects changes resulting from Agency 
consideration of the new data, as well as efforts by the Agency to 
appropriately mitigate overall risk.
    The new data served to revise the dermal absorption factor relied 
upon in the cancer portion of the occupational and residential exposure 
(ORE) risk assessment from 15% to 5.7%. The revised RED captures the 
recent ORE cancer risk assessment, and also modifies the required risk 
mitigation appropriately. The Agency has also revised the RED document 
to reflect the current status of Office of Pesticide Program 
initiatives, such as the cumulative risk assessment and the Endangered 
Species Program. Further, in addition to the revised risk mitigation, 
which is captured in the Summary of Labeling Changes for Permethrin 
(label table), the Agency has incorporated a number of revisions to the 
label table to reflect updates in labeling on permethrin residential, 
agricultural, and wide area public health use products.

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, Permethrin.

    Dated: June 1, 2009.
Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-13474 Filed 6-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S