96-28548. Pesticides and Ground Water State Management Plan Regulation; Extension of Comment Period

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 57356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28548]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 152 and 156

[OPP-36190A; FRL-5572-6]
RIN 2070-AC46


Pesticides and Ground Water State Management Plan Regulation; 
Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposal; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In the Federal Register of June 26, 1996, EPA announced 
proposed key components of the Agency's 1991 Pesticides and Ground 
Water Strategy. Through the development and use of State Management 
Plans (SMPs), EPA is proposing to restrict the use of certain 
pesticides by providing States with the flexibility to protect the 
ground water in the most appropriate way for local conditions. This 
document announces an extension of the comment period for an additional 
30 days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the docket control 
number OPP-36190A by mail to: Public Response Section, Field Operations 
Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, 
bring comments directly to the OPP docket which is located in Rm. 1132 
of Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending 
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [e-mail]. Electronic 
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form or 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 ``OPP-36190A.'' No Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this 
document may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
    Information submitted as a comment concerning this document may be 
claimed confidential 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. 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 comments will be available for public 
inspection in Rm. 1132 at the Virginia address given above from 8 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Roelofs, Policy and Special 
Projects Staff, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Mail Code (7501C), 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of June 26, 1996 (61 
FR 33260) (FRL-4981-9), EPA announced proposed key components of the 
Agency's 1991 Pesticides and Ground Water Strategy.
    Although the comment period on the proposed rule announced in the 
proposed rule was for 120 days, the Agency has received a number of 
requests for an extension of time in which to submit comments. All of 
these requests are from organizations representing various commodity 
growers, for example, corn growers and grain sorghum producers. The 
requests generally note that the original comment period coincides with 
the busiest time of year for farmers, including the harvest time for 
these crops, and that the organizations representing these people feel 
they need more time to educate their members about the proposed rule, 
and give them an opportunity to comment to the Agency. Some of the 
requests specify a 90-day extension. All of these requests have been 
placed in the public docket for the proposed rule.
    The Agency does want to encourage growers and commodity 
organizations to comment on the proposed rule, but believes that 90 
days would unreasonably disrupt the rulemaking process and not be 
equitable for the many other commenters who have worked to submit 
comments by the original deadline. Therefore, the Agency is announcing 
a 30-day extension for the comment period, and encourages commodity 
organizations and their individual members to take this opportunity to 
submit comments.

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 152

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

40 CFR Part 156

    Environmental protection, Labeling, Occupational safety and health, 
Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: October 31, 1996.
Daniel M. Barolo,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 96-28548 Filed 11-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F