01-28200. Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, Inert Disclosure Stakeholder Workgroup; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces a conference call meeting of the Inert Disclosure Stakeholder Workgroup. The workgroup was established to advise the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) on ways of making information on inert ingredients more available to the public while working within the mandates of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and related Confidential Business Information (CBI) concerns.

DATES:

The meeting will be held by conference call on Tuesday, November 13, 2001, from noon to 3 p.m., eastern standard time.

Written public statements, identified by docket control number OPP-00439A, may be submitted before or after the conference call.

ADDRESSES:

Members of the public may listen to the meeting discussions on site at Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA; conference room 1123. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come first serve basis.

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 docket control number OPP-00439A in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

By mail: Cameo Smoot, Field and External Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location: 11^th floor, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA; telephone number: [phone]; e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public in general and to persons interested in the availability of public information regarding inert or “other” ingredients in pesticide products regulated under FIFRA.

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/​. 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 general background information about the Inert Disclosure Stakeholder Workgroup, its mission and a list of its members, go to http://www.epa.gov/​pesticides/​ppdc/​inert/​.

2. In person. The Agency has established an administrative record for this workgroup under docket control number OPP-00439A. The administrative record consists of the workgroup documents including discussion papers, meeting agenda, as well as comments submitted to the workgroup by members of the public. This administrative 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 administrative record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments that may be 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].

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 docket control number OPP-00439A 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, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 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 [phone].

3. Electronically. You may submit your comments and/or data electronically by e-mail to: [e-mail], or you can submit a computer disk as described in Units III.A.1. and 2. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on standard disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be identified by docket control number OPP-00439A. 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.

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

The Inert Disclosure Stakeholder Workgroup was established to advise the EPA, through the PPDC, on potential measures to increase the availability to the public of information about inert ingredients (also called “other ingredients”) under FIFRA. Among the factors the workgroup has been asked to consider in preparing its recommendations are: Existing law regarding inert ingredients and CBI; current Agency processes and policies for disseminating inert ingredient information to the public, including procedures for the protection of CBI; informational needs for a variety of stakeholders; and business reasons for limiting the disclosure of inert ingredient information.

The Inert Disclosure Stakeholder Workgroup is composed of participants from the following sectors: Environmental/public interest and consumer groups; industry and pesticide users; Federal, State, and local governments; the general public; academia and public health organizations.

The Inert Disclosure Stakeholder Workgroup meeting is open to the public. Written public statements are also welcome and should be submitted to the OPP Docket. Any person who wishes to file a written statement can do so before or after the conference call. These statements will become part of the permanent file and will be provided to the Workgroup members for their information. If you have any questions about the workgroup, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Inerts
• Pesticides and pests

Dated: November 22, 2001.

James Jones,

Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.