[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 223 (Monday, November 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58684-58688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29576]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[PF-671; FRL-5572-7]
Pesticide Tolerance Petition: Notice of Filing
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of a pesticide petition proposing the
establishment of a regulation for residues of glufosinate-ammonium in
or on corn and soybeans. This summary was prepared by the petitioner.
DATES: Comments, identified by the docket number [PF-671], must be
received on or before December 18, 1996.
ADDRESSES: By mail, submit written comments to: Public Response and
Program Resources 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 CM #2,
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Electronic
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be
accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1 file format or ASCII file format.
All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the
docket number [PF-671]. Electronic comments on this notice may be filed
online at many Federal Depository Libraries. Additional information on
electronic submissions can be found below in this document.
Information submitted as comments concerning this notice may be
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as
``Confidential Business Information'' (CBI). CBI should not be
submitted through e-mail. Information marked as CBI 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 CBI must be submitted
for inclusion in the public record. Information not marked confidential
may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice. All written
comments will be available for public inspection in Rm. 1132 at the
address given above, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Joanne I. Miller, Product
Manager (PM) 23, Registration Division (7505C), Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office
location and telephone number: Rm. 237, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis
Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202, (703)-305-6224; e-mail:
miller.joanne@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has received a pesticide petition (PP)
5F4578 pursuant to section 408(d) of the Federal Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act, as amended, 21 U.S.C. Section 346a(d), by the Food
Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-170, 110 Stat. 1489) from
AgrEvo USA Company (AgrEvo), Little Falls Centre One, 2711 Centerville
Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808 proposing to amend 40 CFR 180.473 by
establishing tolerances for residues of the herbicide, glufosinate-
ammonium: butanoic acid, 2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-,
monoammonium salt and its metabolites: 2-acetamido-4-methylphosphinico-
butanoic acid and 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid expressed as
glufosinate free acid equivalents. The new tolerances would be for
residues of the herbicide in or on the following raw agricultural
commodities: field corn grain, at 0.2 parts per million (ppm); field
corn forage, at 4.0 ppm, field corn fodder, at 6.0 ppm, soybeans, at
2.0 ppm, soybean hulls, at 5.0 ppm, aspirated grain fractions, at 25.0
ppm, eggs, at 0.05 ppm, poultry, meat at 0.05 ppm, poultry, fat at 0.05
ppm, and poultry, mbyp (meat byproducts) at 0.10 ppm. The proposed
analytical method for determining residues is gas chromatography.
Pursuant to section 408(d)(2)(A)(i) of the FFDCA, as amended,
AgrEvo has submitted the following summary of information, data and
arguments in support of its pesticide petition. This summary was
proposed by AgrEvo and EPA has not yet fully evaluated the merits of
the petition. The conclusions and arguments presented are those of the
petitioner and not of the EPA although the EPA has edited the summary
for clarification as necessary. Glufosinate-ammonium is a non-selective
herbicide which will be used for post-emergence weed control in corn
and soybeans which have been genetically modified to be resistant to
the herbicide.
I. AgrEvo Petition Summary:
A. Plant Metabolism and Analytical Method
1. Plant Metabolism: The metabolism of glufosinate-ammonium in
plants is adequately understood for the purposes of these tolerances.
The crop residue profile following selective use of glufosinate-
ammonium on transgenic crops is different than that found in
conventional crops. The only crop residue found after non-selective use
is the metabolite 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid, which is found in
only trace amounts. With the exception of corn grain, the principal
residue identified in the metabolism studies after selective use of
glufosinate-ammonium was 2-acetamido-4-methylphosphinico-butanoic acid,
with lesser amounts of glufosinate and 3-methylphosphinico-propionic
acid. In corn grain, which exhibited much lower total radiolabelled
residues than the other commodities, the principal residue identified
was 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid, with lesser amounts of 2-
acetamido-4-methylphosphinico-butanoic acid.
2. Analytical Method: There is a practical analytical method
utilizing gas chromatography for detecting and measuring levels of
glufosinate-ammonium and its metabolites in or on food with a general
limit of quantification of 0.05 ppm that allows monitoring of food with
residues at or above the levels proposed in these tolerances. This
method has been validated by an independent laboratory and the
petitioner has been advised that the EPA concluded its own successful
method try out.
B. Magnitude of the Residue
1. Magnitude of the Residue in Plants: Field residue trials with
glufosinate-ammonium resistant corn and soybean have been conducted in
1993 and 1994 at several different use rates and timing intervals to
represent the use patterns which would most likely result in the
highest residue. In these trials, the primary residue in all samples
was 2-acetamido-4-methylphosphinico-butanoic acid, which was found at
levels at least 2-7 times that of glufosinate or 3-methylphosphinico-
propionic acid. In field corn grain, only 15 out of 301 samples
analyzed exhibited residues 0.05 ppm (the limit of
quantification). The tolerance value has been proposed at 0.2 ppm. In
soybean seed, the total mean glufosinate-ammonium derived residues
range from 0.32 ppm to 1.89 ppm (mean = 0.92 ppm) and the tolerance has
been proposed at 2 ppm. For both corn and
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soybean, the tolerances levels have been proposed assuming the
following: (1) a maximum of two applications of glufosinate-ammonium to
each crop per season, (2) a seasonal maximum rate of 0.8 pound of
active ingredient per acre for each crop, (3) the last application made
to corn no later than the 24 inch stage of growth and (4) the final
soybean application made no later than early bloom.
2. Magnitude of the Residue in Processed Commodities:Studies have
been conducted to determine the level of glufosinate derived residues
found in or on the processed commodities from glufosinate resistant
corn and soybean grain. The studies utilized treatments at
significantly exaggerated rates to provide the necessary test
sensitivity. No concentration of glufosinate derived residue was found
in field corn processed commodities which are relevant food or feed
items, i.e., flour, starch, grits, meal or oil. No processed food
tolerance is indicated for the use of glufosinate-ammonium on
glufosinate-ammonium resistant corn.
In the soybean processing studies, no residues of parent or
metabolites were found in the crude or refined soybean oil. Measurable
levels of residue were found in the soybean hulls and in the meal. Only
the soybean hulls are to be considered a relevant animal feed item and
a tolerance of 5 ppm for soybean hulls has been proposed.
3. Magnitude of the Residue in Animals: Ruminant and poultry
feeding studies were conducted to determine the magnitude of
glufosinate-derived residues in the tissues and milk of cows and the
tissues and eggs of chicken hens which were dosed for 28 consecutive
days with a mixture of parent (glufosinate-ammonium) and metabolite (2-
acetamido-4-methylphosphinico-butanoic acid) in a ratio which
represents the terminal residue in animal feed. No residues were
detected in meat, milk or eggs at the dose calculated to represent the
highest residue legally allowed in livestock feed.
As a consequence of the ruminant and poultry feeding studies, no
secondary tolerances in animal commodities above the limit of
quantification are necessitated as a result of the proposed use of
glufosinate-ammonium on transgenic corn and soybean.
C. Toxicological Profile of Glufosinate-Ammonium
1. Acute Toxicity: The acute oral LD50 values for glufosinate-
ammonium technical ranged from 1510 to 2000 mg/kg in rats and from 200
to 464 mg/kg in mice and dogs. The acute dermal LD50 was 2000 mg/kg in
rabbits and was 4000 mg/kg in rats. The 4-hour rat inhalation LC50 was
1.26 mg/L in males and 2.6 mg/L in females. Glufosinate-ammonium was
not irritating to rabbit skin but was slightly irritating to the eyes.
Glufosinate-ammonium did not cause skin sensitization in guinea pigs.
Glufosinate-ammonium should be classified as Tox Category II for oral
toxicity, Tox Category III for inhalation and dermal toxicity and Tox
Category IV for skin irritation and eye irritation.
2. Genotoxicity: No evidence of genotoxicity was noted in an
extensive battery of in vitro and in vivo studies. The petitioner has
been advised by the EPA that negative studies determined acceptable
included Salmonella, E. coli and mouse lymphoma gene mutation assays, a
mouse micronucleus assay, and an in vitro UDS assay.
3. Reproductive And Developmental Toxicity: Three developmental
toxicity studies were conducted with rats, at dose levels ranging from
0.5 to 250 mg/kg/day. The no observable effect levels (NOELs) for
maternal and developmental effects were determined to be 10 mg/kg/day
for maternal toxicity and 50 mg/kg/day for developmental toxicity,
based on the findings of hyperactivity and vaginal bleeding in dams at
50 mg/kg/day and increased incidence of arrested renal and ureter
development in fetuses at 250 mg/kg/day.
A developmental toxicity study was conducted in rabbits at dose
levels of 0, 2, 6.3 and 20 mg/kg/day. The maternal NOEL for this study
was determined to be 6.3 mg/kg/day, based on increases in abortion and
premature delivery, and decreases in food consumption and weight gain
at 20 mg/kg/day. No evidence of developmental toxicity was noted at any
dose level; thus the developmental NOEL was determined to be 20 mg/kg/
day.
A 2-generation rat reproduction study was conducted at dietary
concentrations of 0, 40, 120 and 360 ppm. The parental NOEL was
determined to be 40 ppm (4 mg/kg/day) based on increased kidney weights
at 120 ppm. The NOEL for reproductive effects was determined to be 120
ppm (12 mg/kg/day) based on reduced numbers of pups at 360 ppm.
4. Subchronic Toxicity: A 90-day feeding study was conducted in
Fisher 344 rats at dietary concentrations of 0, 8, 64, 500 and 4000
ppm. Although slight evidence of toxicity was observed, there were no
treatment-related histopathological findings at any dose level. The
NOEL for this study was determined to be 8 ppm, based on increased
kidney weights at 64 ppm.
A 90-day feeding study was conducted in NMRI mice at dietary
concentrations of 0, 80, 320 and 1280 ppm. There were no treatment-
related pathological findings at any dose level but increases in
absolute and relative liver weights, serum AST, and serum potassium
levels were noted at 320 and/or 1280 ppm. Based on these findings, the
NOEL for this study was determined to be 80 ppm (16.6 mg/kg/day).
A 90-day feeding study was conducted in beagle dogs at dietary
concentrations of 0, 4, 8, 16, 64 and 256 ppm. There were no treatment-
related histopathological findings at any dose level. However, because
of reduced weight gain and decreased thyroid weights at 64 and/or 256
ppm, the NOEL was determined to be 16 ppm (0.53 mg/kg/day).
5. Chronic Toxicity/Oncogenicity: A 12-month feeding study was
conducted in beagle dogs at dose levels of 0, 2, 5 and 8.5 mg/kg/day.
The NOEL was 5 mg/kg/day based on clinical signs of toxicity, reduced
weight gain and mortality at 8.5 mg/kg/day.
A 2-year mouse oncogenicity study was conducted in NMRI mice at
dietary concentrations of 0, 20, 80 and 160 (males) or 320 (females)
ppm. The NOEL was determined to be 80 ppm (10.8 and 16.2 mg/kg/day for
males and females, respectively) based on increased blood glucose,
decreased glutathione levels and increased mortality in the high-dose
males and/or females. No evidence of oncogenicity was noted at any dose
level.
A combined chronic toxicity/oncogenicity study was conducted in
Wistar rats for up to 130 weeks at dietary concentrations of 0, 40, 140
and 500 ppm. A dose-related increase in mortality was noted in females
at 140 and 500 ppm, while increased absolute and relative kidney
weights were noted in 140 and 500 ppm males. Thus, the NOEL for this
study was determined to be 40 ppm (2.1 mg/kg/day). No treatment-related
oncogenic response was noted. However, the high-dose level in this
study did not satisfy the EPA criteria for a Maximum Tolerated Dose and
thus a data gap currently exists for a rat carcinogenicity study. All
glufosinate-ammonium tolerances previously established by the EPA are
time-limited because of this gap. A new rat oncogenicity study is
currently being conducted and is due to the EPA by July 1, 1998.
6. Animal Metabolism: Numerous studies have been conducted to
evaluate the absorption, distribution, metabolism and/or excretion of
glufosinate-ammonium in rats. These studies indicate that glufosinate-
ammonium is
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poorly absorbed (5-10%) after oral administration and is rapidly
eliminated, primarily as parent compound. Small amounts of the
metabolites 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid and 2-acetamido-4-
methylphosphinico-butanoic acid were found in the excreta, although the
latter is believed to be a result of a reversible acetylation and
deacetylation process by intestinal bacteria.
7. Metabolite Toxicology: The primary residue resulting from the
use of glufosinate-ammonium in genetically transformed corn and soybean
consists of the metabolites 2-acetamido-4-methylphosphinico-butanoic
acid and 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid. A considerable number of
toxicity studies have been conducted with these metabolites, including
developmental toxicity studies in rats and rabbits with both
metabolites and a 2-generation rat reproduction study with 2-acetamido-
4-methylphosphinico-butanoic acid. Neither metabolite presents an acute
toxicity hazard and both were determined to be non-genotoxic in an
extensive battery of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies. Neither
metabolite demonstrated significant developmental toxicity to either
rats or rabbits. Subchronic studies in rats, mice and dogs were
conducted with both metabolites with no clear evidence for any specific
target organ toxicity and with NOEL's or No Observed Adverse Effects
Levels (NOAEL's) substantially higher than those seen with glufosinate-
ammonium. Thus, these studies indicate that both metabolites are less
toxic than the parent compound and do not pose any reproductive or
developmental concerns.
8. Endocrine Effects: No special studies investigating potential
estrogenic or endocrine effects of glufosinate-ammonium have been
conducted. However, the standard battery of required studies has been
completed. These studies include an evaluation of the potential effects
on reproduction and development, and an evaluation of the pathology of
the endocrine organs following repeated or long-term exposure. These
studies are generally considered to be sufficient to detect any
endocrine effects but no such effects were noted in any of the studies
with either glufosinate-ammonium or its metabolites.
D. Aggregate Exposure
Glufosinate-ammonium is a non-selective, post-emergent herbicide
with both food and non-food uses. As such, aggregate non-occupational
exposure would include exposures resulting from consumption of
potential residues in food and water, as well as from residue exposure
resulting from non-crop use around trees, shrubs, lawns, walks,
driveways, etc. Thus, the possible human exposure from food, drinking
water and residential uses has been assessed below.
1. Dietary (Food) Exposure: For purposes of assessing the potential
dietary exposure from food under the proposed tolerances, the
petitioner has been advised that the EPA has estimated exposure based
on the Theoretical Maximum Residue Contribution (TMRC) derived from the
previously established tolerances for glufosinate-ammonium on apples,
grapes, tree nuts, bananas, milk and the fat, meat and meat-by-products
of cattle, goats, hogs, horses and sheep as well as the proposed
tolerances for glufosinate-ammonium on field corn grain, at 0.2 ppm,
field corn forage, at 4.0 ppm, field corn fodder, at 6.0 ppm, soybeans,
at 2.0 ppm, soybean hulls, at 5.0 ppm, aspirated grain fractions, at
25.0 ppm, eggs, at 0.05 ppm, poultry, meat at 0.05 ppm, poultry, fat at
0.05 ppm, and poultry, mbyp (meat byproducts) at 0.10 ppm. The TMRC is
obtained by using a model which multiplies the tolerance level residue
for each commodity by consumption data which estimate the amount of
each commodity and products derived from the commodity that are eaten
by the U.S. population and various population subgroups. In conducting
this exposure assessment, the EPA has made very conservative
assumptions--100% of all commodities will contain glufosinate-ammonium
residues and those residues would be at the level of the tolerance--
which result in a large overestimate of human exposure. Thus, in making
a safety determination for these tolerances, the Agency took into
account this very conservative exposure assessment.
2. Dietary (Drinking Water) Exposure: There is no Maximum
Contaminant Level established for residues of glufosinate-ammonium. The
petitioner has been advised by the EPA that all environmental fate data
requirements for glufosinate-ammonium have been satisfied. The
potential for glufosinate-ammonium to leach into groundwater has been
assessed in a total of nine terrestrial field dissipation studies
conducted in several states and in varying soil types. The degradation
of glufosinate-ammonium in these studies was rapid, with half-lives
ranging from a low of 6 to a high of 23 days. Despite the relatively
high water solubility of glufosinate-ammonium, this compound did not
appear to leach under typical test conditions. This is a result of the
combination of its rapid degradation and its tendency to bind to
certain soil elements such as clay or organic matter. Based on these
studies and the expected conditions of use, the potential for finding
significant glufosinate-ammonium residues in water is minimal and the
contribution of any such residues to the total dietary intake of
glufosinate-ammonium will be negligible.
3. Non-Dietary Exposure: As a non-selective, post-emergent
herbicide, homeowner use of glufosinate-ammonium will consist primarily
of spot spraying of weeds around trees, shrubs, walks, driveways,
flower beds, etc. There will be minimal opportunity for post-
application exposure since contact with the treated weeds will rarely
occur. Thus, any exposures to glufosinate-ammonium resulting from
homeowner use will result from dermal exposure during the application
and will be limited to adults, not to infants or children. These
exposures are not expected to pose any acute toxicity concerns.
Furthermore, based on the US EPA National Home and Garden Pesticide Use
Survey (RTI/5100/17-01F, March 1992), the average homeowner is expected
to use non-selective herbicides only about four times a year. Thus,
these exposures would not normally be factored into a chronic exposure
assessment.
E. Cumulative Effects
The potential for cumulative effects of glufosinate-ammonium and
other substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity must also be
considered. The precise mechanism of action for the toxic effects of
glufosinate-ammonium in animals is not known but is believed to result,
at least in part, from interference with the neurotransmitter function
of glutamate, to which it is a close structural analog. No other
registered active ingredients are known to have a similar mechanism of
action. Thus, no cumulative effects with other substances are
anticipated. Furthermore, the residues on transgenic crops will consist
primarily of the metabolites of glufosinate-ammonium, not glufosinate-
ammonium itself. These metabolites are less toxic than glufosinate-
ammonium and, since they are not structural analogs of glutamate, they
should not cause the same effects. Thus, consideration of a common
mechanism of toxicity is not appropriate at this time and only the
potential risks of glufosinate-ammonium need to be considered in its
aggregate exposure assessment.
[[Page 58687]]
F. Safety Determinations
1. U.S. Population in General: Based on a complete and reliable
toxicity database, the EPA has adopted an RfD value of 0.02 mg/kg/day
using the NOEL of 2.1 mg/kg/day from the chronic rat toxicity study and
a 100-fold safety factor. Using the conservative exposure assumptions
described above, the petitioner has been advised that the EPA has
concluded that aggregate exposure to glufosinate-ammonium from the
previously established and the proposed tolerances will utilize 6.1
percent of the RfD for the U.S. population. There is generally no
concern for exposures below 100 percent of the RfD because the RfD
represents the level at or below which daily aggregate dietary exposure
over a lifetime will not pose appreciable risks to human health.
Therefore, there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result
from aggregate exposure to glufosinate-ammonium residues to the U.S.
population in general.
2. Infants and Children: In assessing the potential for additional
sensitivity of infants and children to residues of glufosinate-
ammonium, one should consider data from developmental toxicity studies
in the rat and rabbit and a 2-generation reproduction study in the rat.
The developmental toxicity studies are designed to evaluate adverse
effects on the developing organism resulting from pesticide exposure
during pre- natal development. Reproduction studies provide information
relating to reproductive and other effects on adults and offspring from
pre-natal and post-natal exposure to the pesticide.
Three developmental toxicity studies in rats (including pre- and
post-natal phases), a developmental toxicity study in rabbits, and a 2-
generation rat reproduction study have been conducted with glufosinate-
ammonium. No evidence of developmental toxicity was noted in rabbits,
even at the maternally toxic dose level of 20 mg/kg/day. No
developmental or reproductive effects were noted in rats except at
parentally toxic dose levels. The NOEL's for maternal and developmental
toxicity in the rat developmental toxicity studies were determined to
be 10 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day, respectively, based on findings of
hyperactivity and vaginal bleeding in dams at 50 mg/kg/day and
increased incidence of arrested renal and ureter development in fetuses
at 250 mg/kg/day. The parental and reproductive NOEL's in the 2-
generation rat reproduction study were determined to be 40 ppm (4 mg/
kg/day) and 120 ppm (12 mg/kg/day), respectively, based on increased
parental kidney weights at 120 ppm and decreased numbers of pups at 360
ppm. In all cases, the reproductive and developmental NOEL's were
greater than or equal to the parental NOEL's, thus indicating that
glufosinate-ammonium does not pose any increased risk to infants or
children.
FFDCA section 408 provides that EPA may apply an additional safety
factor for infants and children in the case of threshold effects to
account for pre- and post-natal toxicity and the completeness of the
database. Based on the current toxicological data requirements, the
database relative to pre- and post-natal effects for children is
complete. Further, the NOEL at 2.1 mg/kg/day from the chronic rat study
with glufosinate-ammonium, which was used to calculate the RfD
(discussed above), is already lower than the NOEL's from the
reproductive and developmental studies with glufosinate-ammonium by a
factor of at least 6-fold. Therefore, an additional safety factor is
not warranted and an RfD of 0.02 mg/kg/day is appropriate for assessing
aggregate risk to infants and children.
Using the highly conservative exposure assumptions described above,
the petitioner has been advised that EPA has concluded that the percent
of the RfD that will be utilized by aggregate exposure to residues of
glufosinate-ammonium ranges from 13.6 percent for children 1 to 6 years
old, up to 28.3 percent for non-nursing infants (1 year
old). Using more realistic assumptions concerning anticipated residues
and percent crop treated, the percent of RfD utilized would be no more
than 5% for infants or children. Therefore, based on the completeness
and reliability of the toxicity data and a comprehensive exposure
assessment, it may be concluded that there is a reasonable certainty
that no harm will result to infants and children from aggregate
exposure to glufosinate-ammonium residues.
G. International Tolerances
Glufosinate-ammonium as a non-selective herbicide is currently
registered in more than 60 countries worldwide for both non-crop use as
well as for weed control and desiccation in numerous conventional
crops, including corn and soybeans. The following Codex Alimentarius
Commission (Codex) Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for glufosinate-
ammonium on conventional corn and soybeans have been established:
maize, at 0.1 ppm, maize forage, at 0.2 ppm and soya bean (dry) at 0.1
ppm. These tolerances are for non-selective uses such as no-till
systems or post-directed applications on non-transgenic crops.
The U.S. tolerances for corn and soybean commodities are being
proposed at higher levels based on residue trial data submitted by the
petitioner. The residue trials were conducted in the U.S. on transgenic
corn and soybeans according to the proposed U.S. label parameters for
these crops. These use parameters (application rate, application
timing, crop growth stage, pre-harvest interval etc.) differ for direct
application use on transgenic crops than for non-selective use on
conventional crops. Based on the U.S. data, the petitioner's parent
company, AgrEvo GmbH of Berlin, Germany has petitioned the Joint
Meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization Panel of Experts on
Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the World Health
Organization Expert Group on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) to establish
Codex MRLs for use on transgenic corn and soybeans that are identical
to the tolerances proposed for these commodities in the U.S. It is
anticipated that the JMPR will consider and establish the MRLs for
glufosinate-ammonium on transgenic crops during 1997-1998.
II. Administrative Matters
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the this
notice of filing. Comments must bear a notation indicating the document
control number, [PF-671]. All written comments filed in response to
this petition will be available in the Public Response and Program
Resources Branch, at the address given above from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday,except legal holidays.
A record has been established for this notice under docket number
[PF-671] (including comments and data submitted electronically as
described below). A public version of this record, including printed,
paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include any
information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection from 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The public
record is located in Rm. 1132 of the Public Response and Program
Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2,
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov
Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the
[[Page 58688]]
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
The official record for this notice, as well as the public version,
as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will
transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form
as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official
notice record which will also include all comments submitted directly
in writing. The official notice record is the paper record maintained
at the address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: November 7, 1996.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-29576 Filed 11-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
