[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2749-2750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-588]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-180955; FRL 4926-8]
Receipt of Applications for Emergency Exemptions to use
Propazine; Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Texas
Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicant'')
to use the pesticide propazine (CAS 139-40-2) to treat up to 1,823,000
acres of sorghum to control pigweed. The Applicant proposes the use of
a new (unregistered) chemical; therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR
166.24, EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision
whether or not to grant the exemption.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 26, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-180955,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public
Response and Program Resource Branch, Field Operations Division
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments to: Rm.
1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Information submitted in any comment concerning this notice may be
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as
``Confidential Business Information.'' Information so marked will not
be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR
part 2. A copy of the comment that does not contain Confidential
Business Information must be provided by the submitter for inclusion in
the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed
publicly by EPA without prior notice. All written comments filed
pursuant to this notice will be available for public inspection in Rm.
1132, Crystal Mall No. 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA,
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Andrea Beard, Registration
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460. Office location
and telephone number: Floor 6, Crystal Station #1, 2800 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-8791.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 18 of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p),
the Administrator may, at her discretion, exempt a state agency from
any registration provision of FIFRA if she determines that emergency
conditions exist which require such exemption. The Applicant has
requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use
of propazine on sorghum to control pigweed. Information in accordance
with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.
Sorghum is grown as a rotational crop with cotton and wheat, in
order to comply with the soil conservation requirements. Propazine,
which was formerly registered for use on sorghum, was voluntarily
canceled by the former Registrant, who did not wish to support its re-
registration. The Applicants claim that this has left sorghum growers
in most of Texas with no pre-emergent herbicides that will adequately
control certain broadleaf weeds, especially pigweed. Until 1993, the
year an exemption was first requested, growers were using existing
stocks of propazine. The Applicant states that other available
herbicides have serious limitations on their use, making them
unsuitable for control of pigweed in sorghum. Although the original
Registrant of propazine has decided not to support this chemical
through re-registration, another company has committed to support the
data requirements for this use. Propazine was once registered for this
use, but has now been voluntarily canceled and is therefore considered
to be a new chemical.
The Applicant states that, since growers used existing stocks of
propazine between the time of its voluntary cancellation and the
availability of propazine under an emergency exemption, yields have not
shown a decrease. However, the Applicant claims that significant
economic losses will occur without the availability of propazine.
The Applicant proposes to apply propazine at a maximum rate of 1.2
lbs. active ingredient (a.i.), (2.4 pts. of product) per acre, by
ground or air, with a maximum of one application per crop growing
season. Therefore, use under this exemption could potentially amount to
a maximum total of 2,187,600 lbs. of active ingredient (546,900 gal. of
product) in Texas. This is the third time
[[Page 2750]]
that Texas has applied for this use of propazine on sorghum under
section 18 of FIFRA. Texas was issued exemptions for this use for the
past two growing seasons.
This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the
application itself. The regulations governing section 18 require
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific
exemption proposing use of a new chemical (i.e., an active ingredient
not contained in any currently registered pesticide). Such notice
provides for opportunity for public comment on the application.
Accordingly, interested persons may submit written views on this
subject to the Field Operations Division at the address above.
The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments
received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the
emergency exemption requested by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Crisis exemptions.
Dated: December 22, 1994.
Lois Rossi,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 95-588 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
