[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35869-35871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11664]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0374; FRL-10959-01-OCSPP]


DCPA Registration Review; Draft Occupational and Residential Risk 
Assessment; 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 occupational and residential risk assessment for the 
registration review of Dimethyl Tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) for the 
registered uses of DCPA and opens a public comment period on the 
assessment. The risk assessment is accompanied by several related 
documents, including an assessment of the benefits associated with the 
use of DCPA and a companion document to aid in interpretation of the 
risk assessment and provide an explanation of the approach being 
considered by EPA to address the potential risks.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0374, through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://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. Additional 
instructions on commenting and visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Douglass, Chemical Review 
Manager, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508M), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 566-2343; 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

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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 listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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 https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
    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 pesticide 
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. Through this program, required by FIFRA 
section 3(g), 7 U.S.C. 136a(g), EPA must ensure that each pesticide's 
registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, 
including its effects on human health and the environment. As part of 
the registration review process, the Agency has completed a draft 
occupational and residential risk assessment for the registered uses of 
DCPA. DCPA is an herbicide used to control grassy and broadleaf weeds 
on a variety of use sites including cole crops, onions, and turf. The 
Agency is taking the unusual step of publishing the DCPA occupational 
and residential risk assessment in advance of other pieces of the human 
health risk assessment and the ecological risk assessment because of 
newly submitted data on the toxicity of DCPA. These data, from a 
Comparative Thyroid Assay conducted in rats, suggest that there are 
potential risks for people exposed to DCPA during their work and 
leisure activities. The Agency anticipates that there is the potential 
for some pregnant workers to be exposed to levels of DCPA that are 
sufficient to cause thyroid hormone perturbations in the fetuses they 
are carrying. In order to determine the best path forward, the Agency 
is seeking comments on the draft occupational and residential risk 
assessment. The assessment is accompanied by several related documents, 
including an assessment of the benefits associated with the use of DCPA 
and a companion document to aid in interpretation of the risk 
assessment and to explain the approach being considered by EPA to 
address the potential risks. After reviewing comments received during 
the public comment period, EPA plans to respond to those comments and, 
if warranted, will issue a revised risk assessment. EPA encourages 
public input on all aspects of the assessment and mitigation of the 
potential occupational and residential risks for DCPA. The Agency will 
also keep the public advised on aspects related to risk mitigation as 
warranted.

III. Authority

    EPA is conducting its registration review of DCPA 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 155.53(c), this notice announces the 
availability of EPA's draft human health occupational and residential 
risk assessment for the pesticide DCPA and opens a 30-day public 
comment period on the risk assessment. In order to expedite Agency 
action to address the risks posed by DCPA, the comment period will not 
be extended. The Agency will consider all comments received during the 
public comment period and make changes, as appropriate, to the draft 
risk assessment. After the close of the public comment period, EPA may, 
as needed, issue a revised occupational and residential risk 
assessment, explain any changes to the draft risk assessment, and 
respond to comments. Public comments received during the 30-day comment 
period will help inform the Agency's next steps. Unless any new 
information comes to light during this time that significantly changes 
the risk conclusions, the Agency is considering if cancellation of all 
DCPA product registrations is necessary.
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 written transcript 
must accompany any information submitted as an audio graphic 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.

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    As provided in 40 CFR 155.58, the registration review docket for 
DCPA 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: May 25, 2023.
Mary Elissa Reaves,
Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-11664 Filed 5-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P