[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 215 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70615-70617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24524]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2017-0720; FRL-10015-64]


Pesticide Registration Review; Draft Human Health and/or 
Ecological Risk Assessments for Several Pesticides; Notice of 
Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft human 
health and/or ecological risk assessments for the registration review 
of 4-aminopyridine, benzoic acid, cycloate, difenoconazole, 
dimethoxane, fenbuconazole, ferbam, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, 
metaldehyde, phorate, phosmet, polymeric betaine, pyrasulfotole, 
tembotrione, thiophanate methyl and carbendazim (amendment), thiram, 
tolfenpyrad, topramezone, and ziram; and opens a public comment period 
on these documents.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 4, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, to the docket identification (ID) 
number for the specific pesticide of interest provided in the Table in 
Unit IV, 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 Confidential Business 
Information (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.
    Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is closed to visitors with 
limited exceptions. The staff continues to provide remote customer 
service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status 
information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For pesticide specific information 
contact: The Chemical Review Manager for the pesticide of interest 
identified in the Table in Unit IV.
    For general questions on the registration review program, contact: 
Melanie Biscoe, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-7106; 
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 identified in the Table in Unit IV.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the 
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or 
CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as 
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as 
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting 
your comments, see the commenting tips at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.
    3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental 
justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group, 
including minority and/or low-income populations, in the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the 
Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population 
who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other 
factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human 
health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the pesticides 
discussed in this document, compared to the general population.

II. Background

    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, the pesticide can perform 
its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human 
health or the environment. As part of the registration review process, 
the Agency has completed comprehensive draft human health and/or 
ecological risk assessments for all pesticides listed in the Table in 
Unit IV. After reviewing comments received during the public

[[Page 70616]]

comment period, EPA may issue a revised risk assessment, explain any 
changes to the draft risk assessment, and respond to comments and may 
request public input on risk mitigation before completing a proposed 
registration review decision for the pesticides listed in the Table in 
Unit IV. 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.

III. Authority

    EPA is conducting its registration review of the chemicals listed 
in the Table in Unit IV pursuant to section 3(g) of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Procedural 
Regulations for Registration Review at 40 CFR part 155, subpart C. 
Section 3(g) of FIFRA provides, among other things, that the 
registrations of pesticides are to be reviewed every 15 years. Under 
FIFRA, a pesticide product may be registered or remain registered only 
if it meets the statutory standard for registration given in FIFRA 
section 3(c)(5) (7 U.S.C. 136a(c)(5)). When used in accordance with 
widespread and commonly recognized practice, the pesticide product must 
perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on 
the environment; that is, without any unreasonable risk to man or the 
environment, or a human dietary risk from residues that result from the 
use of a pesticide in or on food.

IV. What action is the Agency taking?

    Pursuant to 40 CFR 155.58, this notice announces the availability 
of EPA's human health and/or ecological risk assessments for the 
pesticides shown in the following table and opens a 60-day public 
comment period on the risk assessments. For tolfenpyrad, EPA is taking 
comment on both the Preliminary Work Plan and the draft human health 
and ecological risk assessments. For phosmet and phorate, only the 
ecological risk assessments are being published for comment.

                      Table--Draft Risk Assessments Being Made Available for Public Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Registration review case name and                                                  Chemical review manager and
                 No.                                  Docket ID No.                      contact information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-Aminopyridine, Case 0015..........  EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0030.........................  Moana Appleyard,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 308-8175.
Benzoic Acid, Case 5107.............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0692.........................  Michael McCarroll,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0147.
Cycloate, Case 2125.................  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0288.........................  Robert Little,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-8156.
Difenoconazole, Case 7014...........  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0401.........................  Rachel Fletcher,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0512.
Dimethoxane, Case 3064..............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0686.........................  Kimberly Wilson,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0495.
Fenbuconazole, Case 7012............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0716.........................  Alexander Hazlehurst,
                                                                                      [email protected], (703) 347-0221.
Ferbam, Case 8000...................  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0567.........................  Jaclyn Pyne,
                                                                                      [email protected], (703)
                                                                                      347-0445.
Isoxaflutole, Case 7242.............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0979.........................  Rachel Eberius,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0492.
Mesotrione, Case 7256...............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0779.........................  Samantha Thomas,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0514.
Metaldehyde, Case 0576..............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0649.........................  Rachel Eberius,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0492.
Phorate, Case 0103, (Eco Assessment   EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0055.........................  Lauren Weissenborn,
 only).                                                                               [email protected]
                                                                                      , (703) 347-8601.
Phosmet, Case 0242, (Eco Assessment   EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0316.........................  Lauren Weissenborn,
 only).                                                                               [email protected]
                                                                                      , (703) 347-8601.
Polymeric Betaine, Case 5116........  EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0374.........................  Erin Dandridge,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0185.
Pyrasulfotole, Case 7272............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0391.........................  James Douglass,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-8630.
Tembotrione, Case 7273..............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0063.........................  Carolyn Smith,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-8325.
Thiophanate methyl and Carbendazim    EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0004.........................  Alexandra Feitel,
 (amendment), Case 2680.                                                              [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-8631.
Thiram, Case 0122...................  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0433.........................  Jaclyn Pyne,
                                                                                      [email protected], (703)
                                                                                      347-0445.
Tolfenpyrad, Case 7478..............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0147.........................  Ana Pinto,
                                                                                      [email protected], (703)
                                                                                      347-8421.
Topramezone, Case 7268..............  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0127.........................  Michelle Nolan,
                                                                                      [email protected],
                                                                                      (703) 347-0258.
Ziram, Case 8001....................  EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0568.........................  Jaclyn Pyne,
                                                                                      [email protected], (703)
                                                                                      347-0445.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to 40 CFR 155.53(c), EPA is providing an opportunity, 
through this notice of availability, for interested parties to provide 
comments and input concerning the Agency's draft human health and/or 
ecological risk assessments for the pesticides listed in the Table in 
Unit IV. The Agency will consider all comments received during the 
public comment period and make changes, as appropriate, to a draft 
human health and/or ecological risk assessment. EPA may then issue a 
revised risk assessment, explain any changes to the draft risk 
assessment, and respond to comments.
    Information submission requirements. Anyone may submit data or 
information in response to this document. To be considered during a 
pesticide's registration review, the submitted data or information must 
meet the following requirements:
     To ensure that EPA will consider data or information 
submitted, interested persons must submit the data or information 
during the comment period. The Agency may, at its discretion, consider 
data or information submitted at a later date.
     The data or information submitted must be presented in a 
legible and useable form. For example, an English translation must 
accompany any material that is not in English and a

[[Page 70617]]

written transcript must accompany any information submitted as an 
audiographic or videographic record. Written material may be submitted 
in paper or electronic form.
     Submitters must clearly identify the source of any 
submitted data or information.
     Submitters may request the Agency to reconsider data or 
information that the Agency rejected in a previous review. However, 
submitters must explain why they believe the Agency should reconsider 
the data or information in the pesticide's registration review.
    As provided in 40 CFR 155.58, the registration review docket for 
each pesticide case will remain publicly accessible through the 
duration of the registration review process; that is, until all actions 
required in the final decision on the registration review case have 
been completed.

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

    Dated: October 7, 2020.
Mary Reaves,
Acting Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2020-24524 Filed 11-4-20; 8:45 am]
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