01-27384. Technical Briefing on Dietary and Residential Exposure Methodologies for Use in the Organophosphate Pesticide Cumulative Preliminary Risk Assessment

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

EPA is announcing a public technical briefing on November 15, 2001, to discuss the exposure methodologies proposed for use in the organophosphate (OP) cumulative risk assessment for food and residential exposures. The briefing will provide the public with an explanation in non-technical terms of the proposed exposure methodologies. In addition, the briefing will cover how the Calendex model calculates and combines these exposure estimates. This briefing follows the August 22, 2001, briefing on the hazard portion of the assessment and the October 3, 2001, briefing on the water exposure methodology. This technical briefing will complete the background briefings on the proposed OP cumulative risk assessment methodology.

DATES:

The technical briefing will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, November 16, 2001, from 9 a.m. to noon, EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a public meeting of the CARAT Workgroup on Cumulative Risk Assessment/Public Participation Process.

ADDRESSES:

The technical briefing will be held at the Old Town Holiday Inn Select, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA. The telephone number for the hotel is [phone]. Complimentary shuttle service to and from the Ronald Reagon Airport and the King Street Metro Station is available. The CARAT Workgroup Meeting will be held at the Environmental Protection Agency, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Room 1110 (Fishbowl), Arlington, VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information contact: Terria Northern, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; fax number [phone], e-mail address: [e-mail].

For technical questions contact: Kathy Monk, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; fax number [phone], e-mail address: [e-mail].

Deanna Scher, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; fax number [phone], e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, however, be of interest to persons who are concerned about implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Passed in 1996, this new law strengthens the nation's system for regulating pesticides on food. Participants may include environmental/public interest and consumer groups; industry and trade associations; pesticide user and grower groups; Federal, State and local governments; food processors; academia; general public; etc. Since others may also 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and Other Related Documents?

1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this document, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/​. To access this document, on the Home Page select “Laws and Regulations,” “Regulations and Proposed Rules,” and then look up the entry for this document under the “Federal Register—Environmental Documents.” You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/​fedrgstr/​.

To access information about the cumulative process you can also go directly to the Home Page for the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) at http://www.epa.gov/​pesticides/​cumulative.

2. In person. The Agency has established an official record under docket control number OPP-34240. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, and other information related to this action, including any information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment period is available for inspection in the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is [phone].

III. How Can I Request to Participate in this Meeting?

This meeting is open to the public. Outside statements by observers are welcome. Oral statements will be limited to 3 to 5 minutes, and it is preferred that only one person per organization present the statement. Any person who wishes to file a written statement may do so immediately before or after the meeting. These statements will become part of the permanent record and will be available for public inspection at the address listed in Unit II.

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection, organophosphate pesticides

Dated: October 25, 2001.

Marcia E. Mulkey,

Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.