[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50202-50203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23217]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0567; FRL-8435-3]


Pseudomonas fluorescens; Registration Review Final Decision; 
Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's final 
registration review decision for the pesticide Pseudomonas fluorescens, 
case 6006. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide 
registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the 
statutory standard for registration, that is, that the pesticide can 
perform its intended function without causing unreasonable adverse 
effects on human health or the environment. Through this program, EPA 
is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current 
scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health 
and the environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For pesticide-specific information, 
contact: Susanne Cerrelli, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention 
Division (7511P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8077; fax number: (703) 308-7026; e-
mail address: [email protected].
    For general information on the registration review program, 
contact: Kevin Costello, Special Review and Reregistration Division 
(7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (703) 305-5026; 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

[[Page 50203]]

to a particular entity, consult the pesticide-specific contact 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-2007-0567. 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?

    In accordance with 40 CFR 155.58(c), this notice announces the 
availability of EPA's final registration review decision for 
Pseudomonas fluorescens, case 6006. The Registration Review Case for 
Pseudomonas fluorescens was composed of the following active 
ingredients:
    Pseudomonas fluorescens strain A506 (PC Code 006438) is a microbial 
pesticide that is used to prevent or reduce the growth of frost-forming 
bacteria on leaves and blossoms of almonds, apples, peaches, pears, 
tomatoes, cherries, grapes potatoes and strawberries. When Pseudomonas 
fluorescens is used with antibiotic pesticide products in accordance 
with labeling instructions, it can help improve control of fire blight 
and discoloration on pear and apple crops; and bunch rot in grapes 
caused by Acetobacter bacteria when used in combination with 
Aspergillus niger and Botrytis cinerea.
    Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 1629RS (PC Code 006439) is a 
microbial pesticide that is used to prevent or reduce the growth of 
frost-forming bacteria on leaves and blossoms of almonds, apples, 
peaches, pears, tomatoes, cherries, grapes potatoes and strawberries. 
EPA has deleted the Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 1629RS from the 
registration review case in accordance with 40 CFR 155.42(b)(5) because 
all registrations of products containing that active ingredient have 
been canceled. The registrant submitted a voluntary cancellation 
request for all products containing strain 1629RS on April 7, 2008. 
These proposed voluntary cancellations were published September 12, 
2008, (73 FR 53007) (FRL-8380-7). No comments were received to support 
these Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 1629RS products, and they were 
canceled on March 12, 2009.
    The exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of 
Pseudomonas fluorescens strains A506 and 1629RS in or on all raw 
agricultural commodities when applied as a frost protection agent or 
biological control agent to growing agricultural crops in accordance 
with good agricultural practices that is listed in 40 CFR 180.1114 was 
reassessed on June 3, 2002, and it was determined that it meets the 
FQPA 1996 safety standard. The Agency will take separate actions to 
propose revision of any affected exemptions from the requirement of a 
tolerance for Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 1629RS that are not 
supported for import use only.
    In accordance with 40 CFR 155.57, a registration review decision is 
the Agency's determination whether a pesticide meets, or does not meet, 
the standard for registration in FIFRA. EPA has considered Pseudomonas 
fluorescens in light of the FIFRA standard for registration. The 
Pseudomonas fluorescens final decision document in the docket describes 
the Agency's rationale for issuing a registration review final decision 
for this pesticide.
    In addition to the final registration review decision document, the 
registration review docket for Pseudomonas fluorescens also includes 
other relevant documents related to the registration review of this 
case. The proposed registration review decision was posted to the 
docket and the public was invited to submit any comments or new 
information. During the 60-day comment period, no public comments were 
received.
    In accordance with 40 CFR 155.58(c), the registration review case 
docket for Pseudomonas fluorescens will remain open until all actions 
required in the final decision have been completed.
    Background on the registration review program is provided at: 
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review. Links to earlier 
documents related to the registration review of this pesticide are 
provided at: http:www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review/pseudomonas_fluorescens/index.htm.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    Section 3(g) of FIFRA and 40 CFR part 155, subpart C, provide 
authority for this action.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Registration review, Pesticides and 
pests, Pseudomonas fluorescens.

    Dated: September 17, 2009.
 Keith A. Matthews,
Acting Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, 
Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-23217 Filed 9-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S