[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54296-54298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26072]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34202; FRL-6387-9]
Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Preliminary Risk
Assessments
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of documents that
were developed as part of the EPA's process for making reregistration
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for
tolerance reassessments consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act
[[Page 54297]]
(FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA).
These documents are the preliminary human health risk assessments and
related documents for chlorpyrifos methyl. This notice also starts a
60-day public comment period for the preliminary risk assessments.
Comments are to be limited to issues directly associated with the one
organophosphate pesticide that has the risk assessments placed in the
docket and should be limited to issues raised in those documents. By
allowing access and opportunity for comment on the preliminary risk
assessments, EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder involvement and
help ensure our decisions under FQPA are transparent and based on the
best available information. The tolerance reassessment process will
ensure that the United States continues to have the safest and most
abundant food supply. The Agency cautions that these risk assessments
are preliminary assessments only and that further refinements of the
risk assessments will be appropriate for some, if not all, of these
organophosphate pesticides. These documents reflect only the work and
analysis conducted as of the time they were produced and it is
appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or
additional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may
change.
DATES: Comments, identified by the docket control number OPP-34202,
must be received on or before December 6, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as
provided in Unit I. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify the docket
control number in the subject line on the first page of your response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Angulo, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (703) 308-8004; and e-mail address:
angulo.karen@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general, nevertheless, a
wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the revised
risk assessments and submitting risk management comments on
chlorpyrifos methyl, including environmental, human health, and
agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide users; and
members of the public interested in the use of pesticides on food.
Since other entities 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.''
B. 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/.
On the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations'' 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/. In addition, copies of the preliminary
risk assessments for the one organophosphate pesticide may also be
accessed at http: www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op.
2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for
this action under docket control number OPP-34202. 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 (703) 305-5805.
C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that
you identify the docket control number in the subject line on the first
page of your response.
1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Public Information and
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services
Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
2. In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources
and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
3. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically by
e-mail to: opp-docket@epa.gov,'' or you can submit a computer disk as
described above. Do not submit any information electronically that you
consider to be CBI. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of
encryption. Electronic submissions will be accepted in Wordperfect 6.1/
8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be
identified by docket control number OPP-34202. Electronic comments may
also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
D. How Should I Handle CBI that I Want to Submit to the Agency?
Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to
be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to
this document as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. In addition to one complete
version of the comment that includes any 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 version of the
official record. Information not marked confidential will be included
in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If
you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,
please consult the person listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.''
[[Page 54298]]
E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
6. Offer alternative ways to improve the notice.
7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this
document.
8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first
page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
II. Background
EPA is making available preliminary risk assessments that have
been developed as part of EPA's process for making reregistration
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for
tolerance reassessments consistent with the FFDCA, as amended by the
FQPA. The Agency's preliminary human health risk assessments for one
organophosphate pesticides are available in the individual
organophosphate pesticide docket: Chlorpyrifos methyl.
Included in the individual organophosphate pesticide docket is the
Agency's preliminary risk assessments. As additional comments, reviews,
and risk assessment modifications become available, these will also be
docketed for the one organophosphate pesticide listed in this notice.
The Agency cautions that these risk assessments are preliminary
assessments only and that further refinements of the risk assessments
will be appropriate for the one organophosphate pesticide. These
documents reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of the time
they were produced and it is appropriate that, as new information
becomes available and/or additional analyses are performed, the
conclusions they contain may change.
As the preliminary risk assessments for the remaining
organophosphate pesticides are completed and registrants are given a
30-day review period to identify possible computational or other clear
errors in the risk assessment, these risk assessments and registrant
responses will be placed in the individual organophosphate pesticide
dockets. A notice of availability for subsequent assessments will
appear in the Federal Register.
The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for
interested parties to provide comments and input to the Agency on the
preliminary risk assessments for the chemicals specified in this
notice. Such comments and input could address, for example, the
availability of additional data to further refine the risk assessments,
such as percent crop treated information or submission of residue data
from food processing studies, or could address the Agency's risk
assessment methodologies and assumptions as applied to these specific
chemicals. Comments should be limited to issues raised within the
preliminary risk assessments and associated documents. EPA will provide
other opportunities for public comment on other science issues
associated with the organophosphate tolerance reassessment program.
Failure to comment on any such issues as part of this opportunity will
in no way prejudice or limit a commenter's opportunity to participate
fully in later notice and comment processes. All comments should be
submitted by December 6, 1999, using the methods in Unit I. of the
``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' Comments will become part of the Agency
record for each individual organophosphate pesticide to which they
pertain.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: September 30, 1999.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-26072 Filed 10-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
