[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 70 (Friday, April 10, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20185-20187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07043]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0266; FRL-10005-93]


Autographa Californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus Strain R3; 
Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement 
of a tolerance for residues of Autographa californica multiple 
nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 in or on all food commodities when used 
in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. 
AgBiTech Pty Ltd. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to 
establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Autographa 
californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 in or on all food 
commodities under FFDCA.

DATES: This regulation is effective April 10, 2020. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before June 9, 2020 and 
must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR 
part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0266, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert McNally, Biopesticides and 
Pollution Prevention Division (7511P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; main telephone number: (703) 305-7090; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).

B. How can I get electronic access to other related information?

    You may access a frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR 
part 180 through the Government Publishing Office's e-CFR site at 
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40tab_02.tpl.

C. How can I file an objection or hearing request?

    Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a(g), any person may file 
an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a 
hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a 
hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided 
in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0266 in the subject line on the first 
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must 
be in writing and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before 
June 9, 2020. Addresses for mail and hand delivery of objections and 
hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b).
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please

[[Page 20186]]

submit a copy of the filing (excluding any Confidential Business 
Information (CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket. Information not 
marked confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly 
by EPA without prior notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your objection 
or hearing request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-
0266, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
     Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. Background

    In the Federal Register of June 7, 2019 (84 FR 26630) (FRL-9993-
93), EPA issued a notice pursuant to FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 
346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide tolerance exemption 
petition (PP 8F8697) by AgBiTech Pty Ltd., 8 Rocla Ct., Glenvale, 
Queensland 4350, Australia (c/o V.A. Forster Consulting, Inc., P.O. Box 
4097, Wilmington, DE 19807). The petition requested that 40 CFR part 
180 be amended by establishing an exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance for residues of the insecticide Autographa californica 
multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 in or on all food commodities. 
That notice referenced a summary of the petition prepared by the 
petitioner AgBiTech Pty Ltd. and available in the docket via http://www.regulations.gov. No relevant comments were received.

III. Final Rule

A. EPA's Safety Determination

    Section 408(c)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish an 
exemption from the requirement of a tolerance (the legal limit for a 
pesticide chemical residue in or on a food) only if EPA determines that 
the exemption is ``safe.'' Section 408(c)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines 
``safe'' to mean that ``there is a reasonable certainty that no harm 
will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue, 
including all anticipated dietary exposures and all other exposures for 
which there is reliable information.'' This includes exposure through 
drinking water and in residential settings but does not include 
occupational exposure. Pursuant to FFDCA section 408(c)(2)(B), in 
establishing or maintaining in effect an exemption from the requirement 
of a tolerance, EPA must take into account the factors set forth in 
FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(C), which require EPA to give special 
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide 
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance or tolerance exemption and 
to ``ensure that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will 
result to infants and children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide 
chemical residue . . . .'' Additionally, FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D) 
requires that EPA consider ``available information concerning the 
cumulative effects of [a particular pesticide's] . . . residues and 
other substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity.''
    EPA evaluated the available toxicological and exposure data on 
Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 and 
considered their validity, completeness, and reliability, as well as 
the relationship of this information to human risk. A summary of the 
data upon which EPA relied and its risk assessment based on those data 
can be found within the document entitled ``Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) Safety Determination for Autographa californica 
Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3'' (``Safety Determination 
Document''). This document, as well as other relevant information, is 
available in the docket for this action as described under ADDRESSES.
    The available data demonstrated that, with regard to humans, 
Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 is not 
toxic, pathogenic, or infective via any reasonably foreseeable route of 
exposure and when used in accordance with label directions and good 
agricultural practices. Baculoviruses, such as Autographa californica 
multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3, are ubiquitous in the 
environment and have been extensively studied with no adverse effects 
in mammals observed or known. Although there may be dietary and non-
occupational exposure to residues when Autographa californica multiple 
nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 is used on food commodities, there is 
not a concern due to the lack of potential for adverse effects when 
used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural 
practices. EPA also determined that retention of the Food Quality 
Protection Act safety factor was not necessary as part of the 
qualitative assessment conducted for Autographa californica multiple 
nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3.
    Based upon its evaluation in the Safety Determination Document, EPA 
concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result 
to the U.S. population, including infants and children, from aggregate 
exposure to residues of Autographa californica multiple 
nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 when used in accordance with label 
directions and good agricultural practices. Therefore, an exemption 
from the requirement of a tolerance is established for residues of 
Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3 in or on 
all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and 
good agricultural practices.

B. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    An analytical method for enforcement purposes is not required 
because EPA has determined that reasonably foreseeable exposure to 
residues of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain 
R3 from use of the pesticide will be safe, due to lack of toxicity, 
pathogenicity, and infectivity. Under those circumstances, it is 
unnecessary to have an analytical method to monitor for residues.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action establishes a tolerance exemption under FFDCA section 
408(d) in response to a petition submitted to EPA. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from 
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this action has been 
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this action is not 
subject to Executive Order 13211, entitled ``Actions Concerning 
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or 
Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), or Executive Order 13045, entitled 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), nor is it considered a 
regulatory action under Executive Order 13771, entitled ``Reducing 
Regulations and Controlling Regulatory Costs'' (82 FR 9339, February 3, 
2017). This action does not contain any information

[[Page 20187]]

collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require any special considerations 
under Executive Order 12898, entitled ``Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations'' (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis 
of a petition under FFDCA section 408(d), such as the tolerance 
exemption in this action, do not require the issuance of a proposed 
rule, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq.) do not apply.
    This action directly regulates growers, food processors, food 
handlers, and food retailers, not States or Tribes. As a result, this 
action does not alter the relationships or distribution of power and 
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions 
of FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such, EPA has determined that this 
action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or Tribal 
governments, on the relationship between the National Government and 
the States or Tribal governments, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government or between the 
Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, EPA has determined that 
Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 10, 
1999), and Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and 
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 
2000), do not apply to this action. In addition, this action does not 
impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as 
described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 
1501 et seq.).
    This action does not involve any technical standards that would 
require EPA's consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant 
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

V. Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required 
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of 
the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 4, 2020.
Richard Keigwin,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
    Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.


0
 2. Add Sec.  180.1374 to subpart D to read as follows:


Sec.  180.1374  Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus 
strain R3; exemption from the requirement of a tolerance.

    Residues of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus 
strain R3 are exempt from the requirement of a tolerance in or on all 
food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good 
agricultural practices.

[FR Doc. 2020-07043 Filed 4-9-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P