[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45476-45477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16708]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0338; FRL-9948-03]


Alpha-chlorohydrin and Hydrogen Cyanamide Registration Review 
Interim Decisions; Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's interim 
registration review decisions for the pesticides alpha-chlorohydrin 
(case 4120) and hydrogen cyanamide (case 7005). 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: The Chemical Review 
Manager for the pesticide of interest identified in the table in Unit 
II., Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001.
    For general information on the registration review program, 
contact: Richard Dumas, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P), 
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(703) 308-8015; email 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 Chemical Review Manager for the pesticide of interest 
identified in the table in Unit II.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    The docket for this action, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0338 is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory 
Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 
1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPP 
Docket is (703) 305-5805. Please review the visitor instructions and 
additional information about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. What action is the agency taking?

    Pursuant to 40 CFR 155.58(c), this notice announces the 
availability of EPA's interim registration review decisions for the 
pesticides shown in the following table.

                                  Table--Interim Registration Review Decisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Registration review case name and                                                   Chemical review manager,
                No.                            Pesticide docket ID No.           telephone number, email address
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Alpha-chlorohydrin, Case 4120......  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0726......................  Matthew Manupella, (703) 347-
                                                                                  0411,
                                                                                  [email protected].
Hydrogen cyanamide, Case 7005......  EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1014......................  Dana L. Friedman, (703) 347-
                                                                                  8827, [email protected].
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    Alpha-chlorohydrin. The registration review docket for alpha-
chlorohydrin opened in December 2015. For alpha-chlorohydrin, the 
Agency expedited the registration review and opened the docket with the 
proposed interim decision and supporting documents. The only registered 
use for alpha-chlorohydrin is as a tamper-proof bait station/bait 
application delivery system for elimination of Norway rats. Alpha-
chlorohydrin is approved for use in and around commercial/industrial 
facilities and sanitary sewers. The label prohibits the use of the 
product in any facility where children may be present, and no outdoor 
uses are permitted. Exposure to pollinators is unlikely because alpha-
chlorohydrin is deployed in a bait station. Therefore, pollinator data 
will not be required, nor will exposure to pollinators be assessed. The 
Agency has made the following interim decision: (1) No additional data 
are required at this time; (2) no changes to the affected registrations 
or their labeling are needed at this time; and (3) EPA does not expect 
alpha-chlorohydrin to have direct or indirect adverse effects to non-
listed, and listed species or to adversely modify any designated 
critical habitat for such species, and is making a ``no effect'' 
determination under the Endangered Species Act for all listed species 
and designated critical habitat for such species. At this time, EPA is 
making no human health or environmental safety findings associated with 
the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) screening of alpha-
chlorohydrin. EPA's registration review decision for alpha-chlorohydrin 
will depend upon the result of an EDSP Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic 
Act (FFDCA) section 408(p) determination.
    Hydrogen cyanamide. Hydrogen cyanamide is a plant growth regulator 
used to promote uniform bud break in orchard fruit trees and vines; 
there are no residential uses. It is the only registered plant growth 
regulator available to induce uniform bud break in United States fruit 
production, and there are significant economic benefits associated with 
its use in areas where the critical number of chilling hours needed for 
bud break do not occur or are

[[Page 45477]]

not consistent. The Agency conducted a comprehensive human health risk 
assessment and determined that there are potential risks of concern for 
occupational handlers, as well as spray drift concerns for bystanders. 
The occupational risks can be mitigated through modifications to the 
cyanamide label, and spray drift concerns are addressed by a distance 
restriction for bystanders. The Agency also conducted an ecological 
risk assessment and determined that there are potential risks of 
concern for terrestrial animals, but current use practices and label 
mitigation address many of these concerns. In this Interim Registration 
Review Decision, EPA is making no human health or environmental safety 
findings associated with the EDSP screening of cyanamide or risks to 
pollinators, nor is it making a complete endangered species finding. 
The Agency's final registration review decision is dependent upon the 
assessment of risks to threatened and endangered species, and to 
pollinators, and of potential endocrine disruptor risk.
    Pursuant to 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 alpha-
chlorohydrin and hydrogen cyanamide in light of the FIFRA standard for 
registration. The Interim Decision documents in the docket for these 
pesticides describe the Agency's rationale for issuing the interim 
decisions.
    In addition to the interim registration review decision documents, 
the registration review dockets for alpha-chlorohydrin and hydrogen 
cyanamide include other relevant documents related to the registration 
review of these pesticides. The proposed interim registration review 
decisions were posted to the docket and the public was invited to 
submit any comments or new information. EPA addressed the comments or 
information received during the comment period in the discussions for 
alpha-chlorohydrin and hydrogen cyanamide. During the 60-day comment 
period, the public comments received for both pesticides did not affect 
the Agency's interim decisions. Pursuant to 40 CFR 155.58(c), the 
registration review case dockets for alpha-chlorohydrin and hydrogen 
cyanamide will remain open until all actions required in the interim 
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/reg_review_status.htm.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

    Dated: July 6, 2016.
Michael Goodis,
Acting Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-16708 Filed 7-13-16; 8:45 am]
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