[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