[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 5808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2267]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0548; FRL-8863-6]


Petition for a Ban on Triclosan; Notice of Availability; 
Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of December 8, 
2010 concerning the availability of a petition submitted by Beyond 
Pesticides and Food & Water Watch to the Environmental Protection 
Agency for review and public comment. The petition asks EPA to use its 
authority under various statutes to regulate triclosan. In a letter to 
the EPA dated January 22, 2011, Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water 
Watch requested a 60 day extension to the comment period. In response 
to this request, this document extends the comment period for 60 days, 
from February 7, 2011 to April 8, 2011.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-
HQ-OPP-2010-0548, must be received on or before April 8, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions as provided under ADDRESSES 
in the Federal Register document of December 8, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy F. McMahon, Antimicrobials 
Division (7510P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 308-6342; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document extends the public comment 
period established in the Federal Register of December 8, 2010 (75 FR 
764613) (FRL-8852-8). In that document, the Agency made available for 
review and public comment a petition submitted by Beyond Pesticides and 
Food & Water Watch (hereafter referred to as ``the petitioners'') to 
the Environmental Protection Agency (hereafter referred to as ``EPA'' 
or ``the Agency''), asking EPA to use its authority under various 
statutes to regulate triclosan. Triclosan is an antimicrobial substance 
used in pesticide products, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, and other 
consumer products. The petitioners claim that the ``pervasive and 
widespread use'' of triclosan poses significant risks to human health 
and the environment. In addition, the petitioners claim that the 
``agency failed to address the impacts posed by triclosan's degradation 
products on human health and the environment, failed to conduct 
separate assessments for triclosan residues in contaminated drinking 
water and food, and is complacent in seriously addressing concerns 
related to antibacterial resistance and endocrine disruption.'' Under 
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the petitioners ask EPA 
to act to cancel and suspend the registration of pesticides containing 
triclosan. Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the petitioners request 
that the Administrator impose technology-based effluent limitations, 
health-based toxic pollutant water quality pretreatment requirements, 
and biosolids regulation for triclosan. Under the Safe Drinking Water 
Act (SDWA), the petitioners request that the Administrator conduct a 
comprehensive assessment of the appropriateness of regulating triclosan 
under SDWA. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the petitioners 
request that the Administrator comply fully with ESA, including 
consultation and biological assessment requirements. In a letter 
submitted to the Agency dated January 22, 2011, Beyond Pesticides and 
Food & Water Watch requested a 60 day extension to the comment period. 
EPA is hereby extending the comment period, which was set to end on 
February 7, 2011, to April 8, 2011.
    To submit comments, or access the docket, please follow the 
detailed instructions as provided under ADDRESSES in the December 8, 
2010 Federal Register document. If you have questions, consult the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Antimicrobial, Pesticides and pest, 
Triclosan, Endocrine.

    Dated: January 26, 2011.
Joan Harrigan Farrelly,
Director, Antimicrobials Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-2267 Filed 2-1-11; 8:45 am]
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