[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61332-61334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29482]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34205; FRL-6393-9]
Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Preliminary Risk
Assessments
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[[Page 61333]]
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 (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 trichlorfon, and the preliminary
human health and ecological risk assessments and related documents for
dicrotophos. 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 two organophosphates that have 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 on these assessments, identified by the docket
control number for the particular organophosphate pesticide of
interest, must be received on or before January 10, 2000. Use the table
in Unit I.C. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' to determine the
docket control number.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as
provided in Unit I.C. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify the docket
control number for the particular organophosphate pesticide of interest
in the subject line on the first page of your response. Use the table
in Unit I.C. to determine the docket control number.
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; 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
preliminary risk assessments for trichlorfon and dicrotophos, 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 also may 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 two organophosphate pesticides may also be
accessed at http: www.epa.gov/pesticides/op.
2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for
this action under docket control number OPP-34206 for dicrotophos and
OPP-34207 for trichlorfon. 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 for the particular
organophosphate pesticide of interest in the subject line on the first
page of your response. Use the following table to determine the docket
control number:
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Chemical OPP Docket no.
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Dicrotophos OPP-34206
Trichlorfon OPP-34207
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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. Electronic comments may also
[[Page 61334]]
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.''
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 or collection
activity.
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 risk assessments for two organophosphate
pesticides are available in the individual organophosphate pesticide
dockets: Dicrotophos and trichlorfon.
Included in the individual organophosphate pesticide dockets are
the Agency's preliminary risk assessments. As additional comments,
reviews, and risk assessment modifications become available, these will
also be docketed for the two organophosphate pesticides 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 two 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.
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 assessments, 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 written comments and input to the Agency
on the preliminary risk assessments for the pesticides 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 January 10, 2000, at the address given under Unit I.C.
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: November 4, 1999.
Lois A. Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-29482 Filed 11-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
