99-5820. Buprofezin; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 11880-11881]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-5820]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    [OPP-181068; FRL 6066-5]
    
    
    Buprofezin; 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 
    California Department of Pesticide Regulation (hereafter referred to as 
    the ``Applicant'') to use the insect growth regulator buprofezin (CAS 
    69327-76-0) to treat up to 100,000 acres of citrus to control 
    California Red Scale. Buprofezin is an unregistered material, and its 
    proposed use is thus use of a ``new'' chemical. 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 25, 1999.
    
    ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification 
    notation ``OPP-181068,'' 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, 8:30 a.m. to 4 
    p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Andrea Beard, 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: Rm. 271, Crystal Mall 
    #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-9356; e-
    mail: beard.andrea@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 state agency from 
    any registration 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 buprofezin on citrus to control California Red Scale. Information in 
    accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.
        The Applicant states that California Red Scale is a key pest of 
    citrus, and the single most costly pest to control. The Applicant 
    states that in the past, treatments were not required every year for 
    this pest, but in recent years resistance to the registered materials 
    has built up and growers have had to treat up to three times in a 
    single year. Alternative methods of control (parasite releases and 
    packing house washers) are applied where feasible; however, the 
    Applicant asserts that a different chemistry with a different mode of 
    action is necessary to control the scale. The Applicant asserts that 
    with continued frequent use of currrently registered materials, 
    increased resistance is likely, and these materials will quickly become 
    wholy ineffective, leaving growers with no tools to control these 
    damaging pests. The Applicant states that without adequate control of 
    scale in citrus, significant economic losses are expected.
    
    [[Page 11881]]
    
        The Applicant proposes to apply buprofezin at a maximum rate of 2.0 
    lbs. active ingredient (a.i.) per acre with a maximum of one 
    application per crop season on up to 100,000 acres of citrus. 
    Therefore, use under this exemption could potentially amount to a 
    maximum total of 200,000 lbs. of a.i., buprofezin.
        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 in the Federal Register for an 
    application for a specific exemption proposing the use of a new 
    (unregistered) chemical. 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-181068) (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 record is the 
    paper record maintained 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 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file 
    format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
    the docket number (OPP-181068). Electronic comments on this notice may 
    be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
        The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments 
    received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the 
    emergency exemption requested by the California Department of Pesticide 
    Regulation.
    
    List of Subjects
    
        Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency 
    exemptions.
    
        Dated: February 26, 1999
    
    Peter Caulkins,
    Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
    
    [FR Doc. 99-5820 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/10/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
99-5820
Dates:
Comments must be received on or before March 25, 1999.
Pages:
11880-11881 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
OPP-181068, FRL 6066-5
PDF File:
99-5820.pdf