[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96650-96651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28459]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266; FRL-9941-02-OCSPP]
Atrazine; Updated Proposed Mitigation for the Interim
Registration Review Decision; Notice of Availability and Request for
Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is
announcing the availability of and requesting comment on EPA's proposed
updates to the mitigation in the interim registration review decision
for atrazine (Case Number 0062). The updated mitigation proposal for
atrazine reflected in the memorandum being released for comment
incorporates the revised level of concern of 9.7 micrograms per liter
([micro]g/L) as well as corrections to exposure modeling and feedback
received during the 2022 public comment period. EPA is releasing its
updated mitigation proposal to reduce run-off/erosion, which will
expand the number of options of mitigation measures growers can choose
to implement to reduce potential exposure and risk to aquatic plant
communities from atrazine runoff in vulnerable watersheds. The proposal
includes placing mitigations on the product labeling, directing users
to EPA's mitigation menu website and to the Bulletins Live! Two system.
The Agency is not soliciting comment on any other aspects of the
atrazine interim registration review decision.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 3, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266, 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:
For pesticide specific information, contact: Alexander Hazlehurst,
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) 566-2249; email address: [email protected].
For general information on the registration review program,
contact: Melanie Biscoe, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508M),
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Executive Summary
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public in general and may be of
interest to a 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 may be interested, the
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities. 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 is the Agency's authority?
EPA is conducting its registration review of atrazine pursuant to
section 3(g) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136a(g) and the regulations at 40 CFR part 155,
subpart C. FIFRA section 3(g) 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.
C. What is registration review?
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, EPA is ensuring that
each pesticide's registration is based on
[[Page 96651]]
current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human
health and the environment. EPA may pursue mitigation at any time
during the registration review process if it finds that a pesticide has
the potential to pose unreasonable adverse effects to human health or
the environment.
D. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit CBI to EPA through email or
https://www.regulations.gov. If you wish to include CBI in your
comment, please follow the applicable instructions at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets#rules and clearly mark the
information that you claim to be CBI. 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 just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people,
regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation,
or disability, in Agency decision-making and other Federal activities
that affect human health and the environment so that people are fully
protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and
environmental effects (including risks). 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
disproportionate and adverse human health impacts or environmental
effects from exposure to the pesticides discussed in this document,
compared to the general population.
4. Scope of comments sought. This comment opportunity is limited to
the updated proposed mitigation. The Agency is not soliciting comment
on any other aspects of the atrazine interim registration review
decision other than those specifically identified in the proposed
memorandum. The Agency will carefully consider all comments related to
the updated mitigation proposal received by the closing date.
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, 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.
EPA may pursue mitigation at any time during the registration review
process if it finds that a pesticide has the potential to pose
unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.
The registration review docket for a pesticide includes all of the
documents related to the registration review of the case. For example,
the review opened with a Summary Document, containing a Preliminary
Work Plan, for public comment. A Final Work Plan was placed in the
docket following public comment on the initial docket. The documents in
the dockets describe EPA's rationales for conducting additional risk
assessments for the registration review of the pesticide, as well as
EPA's subsequent findings and consideration of mitigation measures,
public comments, and EPA responses.
III. What action is the Agency taking?
EPA is issuing this updated proposed mitigation memorandum for the
atrazine interim registration review decision to: (1) Incorporate the
atrazine concentration of 9.7 micrograms per liter ([micro]g/L) that
triggers mitigations; and (2) Propose supplemental mitigation measures
that are feasible and flexible to protect aquatic communities.
In June 2022, EPA announced proposed revisions to the atrazine
interim registration review decision for public comment. In response to
comments received on the June 2022 proposal, EPA convened a meeting of
the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) in August 2023 to reconsider
a subset of microcosm and mesocosm studies used in the calculation of
the water concentration of atrazine that triggers monitoring and/or
mitigation to protect the aquatic ecosystem. In July 2024, EPA
announced an update to the concentration level to be 9.7 [micro]g/L
following the August 2023 SAP meeting.
The updated proposed mitigation for atrazine reflected in the
memorandum being released for public comment incorporates the revised
level of concern of 9.7 [micro]g/L as well as corrections to exposure
modeling and feedback received during the 2022 public comment period.
EPA is releasing its updated mitigation proposal to reduce run-off/
erosion, which will expand the number of options of mitigation measures
growers can choose to implement to reduce potential exposure and risk
to aquatic plant communities from atrazine runoff in vulnerable
watersheds. The proposed mitigation includes placing mitigations on
product labeling where users will be directed to EPA's mitigation menu
website at https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mitigation-menu and to the
Bulletins Live! Two system at https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/bulletins-live-two-view-bulletins; or an equivalent website to be
determined.
Background on the registration review program is provided at:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-reevaluation. Earlier documents related
to the registration review of this pesticide are also available in the
docket at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: November 22, 2024.
Jean Overstreet,
Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2024-28459 Filed 12-4-24; 8:45 am]
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