[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 9152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4439]
[[Page 9152]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181066; FRL 6063-1]
Diclosulam; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption,
Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Texas
Department of Agriculture hereafter referred to as the ``Applicant'' to
use the new chemical diclosulam (Strongarm Agriculture Herbicide, EPA
File Symbol 62719-EII) to treat up to 184,000 acres of peanuts, to
control broadleaf weeds. The Applicant proposes the use of a new
chemical which has not been registered by the EPA. Therefore, in
accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is soliciting public comment before
making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 11, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation (OPP-181066) should be submitted by mail to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and
Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person,
bring comments to: Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, VA.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Follow the
instructions under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. No Confidential Business
Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
Information submitted in any comment concerning this notice 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 provided by the submitter for inclusion in
the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed
publicly by EPA without prior notice. The docket is available for
public inspection at the Virginia address given above, from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Barbara Madden, Registration
Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office
location, telephone number and e-mail address: Crystal Mall #2, 1921
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703-305-6463); e-mail:
madden.barbara@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 18 of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p),
the Administrator may, at her discretion, exempt a federal or state
agency from any provision of FIFRA if she determines that emergency
conditions exist which require such exemption. The Applicant has
requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use
of diclosulam on peanut to control broadleaf weeds. Information in
accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.
As part of this request, the Applicant asserts that diclosulam is
the only herbicide available that can be applied preplant incorporated
and provide excellent control of purple nutsedge, eclipta, and golden
crownbeard. Also it is the only herbicide available for the control of
purple nutsedge that allows for cotton to be planted the following
year. According to the Applicant once nutsedge is established in a
field the production and profitably of that field declines year by
year. Diclosulam herbicide has the potential to turn that process
around and thus allow the grower to reclaim unproductive fields that
have been unusable for years. In addition the use of diclosulam will
help to eliminate the two or more year continuous peanut cropping
scheme. This is an economic problem in that it degrades the
productivity of the land through unsound agronomic practice. These
effects include proliferation of difficult to control weeds, increased
disease potential and nematode problems. All of this can result in
economic loss.
The applicant proposes to make no more than one application of
granular or water soluble packets of diclosulam on peanuts at the rate
of 0.38 ounces of active ingredient (a.i.) per acre. The total maximum
proposed use during the 1999 growing season (March 15, 1999 until July
15, 1999) would be 0.38 ounces of a. i. per acre. The applicant
proposes that the maximum acreage which could be treated under the
requested exemption would be 184,000 acres. If all the proposed acres
were treated at the maximum proposed rate, then 4,370 lbs., a.i. would
be used in Texas.
This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the
application itself. The regulations governing section 18 require
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific
exemption proposing use of a new chemical (i.e., an active ingredient)
which has not been registered by the EPA. Such notice provides for
opportunity for public comment on the application.
The official record for this notice, as well as the public version,
has been established under docket number (OPP-181066) (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 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The official notice record is
located at the address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this
document.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at: 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 in 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by
the docket number (OPP-181066). Electronic comments on this notice may
be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
The Agency, will review and consider all comments received during
the comment period in determining whether to issue the emergency
exemption requested by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency
exemptions.
Dated: February 16, 1999
James Jones,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-4439 Filed 2-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
