[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11449-11450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6013]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181036; FRL 5593-6]
Propamocarb Hydrochloride; Receipt of Applications for Emergency
Exemptions, Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA has received specific exemption requests from the
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the California Department of
Pesticide Regulation (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicants'') to
use the pesticide propamocarb hydrochloride (CAS 25606-41-1) to treat
potentially up to 5,500 acres in Pennsylvania and 190,000 acres in
California of tomatoes to control immigrant strains of late blight
which are resistant to historically used control materials. The
Applicants propose the first food use of an active ingredient
therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is soliciting public
comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the
exemptions.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 27, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-181036,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public
Response and Program Resource 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, 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. 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 file format or ASCII file
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by
the docket number [OPP-181036]. No Confidential Business Information
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this
proposed rule may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
Additional information on electronic submissions can be found below in
this document.
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. All written comments filed
pursuant to this notice will be available for public inspection in Rm.
1132, Crystal Mall No. 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA,
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT By mail: Libby Pemberton, Registration
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office
location, telephone number and e-mail: Floor 6, Crystal Station #1,
2800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-8326; e-mail:
pemberton.libby@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 Applicants have
requested the Administrator to issue specific exemptions for the use of
propamocarb hydrochloride on tomatoes to control late blight.
Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of
this request.
Recent failures to control late blight in tomatoes as well as
potatoes with the registered fungicides, have been caused almost
exclusively by immigrant strains of late blight Phytophthora infestans,
which are resistant to the control of choice, metalaxyl. Before the
immigrant strains of late blight arrived, all of the strains in the
U.S. were previously controlled by treatment with metalaxyl. The
Applicants state that presently, there are no fungicides registered in
the U.S. that will provide adequate control of the immigrant strains of
late blight. The Applicants state that the requested chemical has been
shown to be effective against these strains of late blight. The active
ingredient holds current registrations throughout many European
countries for control of this disease. The Applicants indicate that at
least a 50 percent yield reduction is expected based on the current
infestation. Net revenues are expected to be reduced by over $500
million for the affected acreage without the use of the requested
chemical.
The Applicants propose to apply propamocarb hydrochloride,
manufactured by AgrEvo USA Company, as Tattoo C, at a maximum rate of
0.9 lbs. a.i. (2.3 pt of product) per acre by chemigation, ground or
air, with a maximum of 5 applications per season. A 7-day Preharvest
Interval (PHI) will be observed. Use under these exemptions could
potentially amount to a maximum 175,950 lbs. of propamocarb
hydrochloride.
This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the
applications. The regulations governing section 18 require publication
of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific exemption
proposing the first food use of an active ingredient. Such notice
provides for opportunity for public comment on the applications.
Accordingly, interested persons may submit written views on this
subject to the Field Operations Division at the address above.
A record has been established for this rulemaking under docket
number [OPP-181036] (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 public record is located in Room 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
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
The official record for this rulemaking, 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 rulemaking record which will also include all comments
submitted directly in writing.
[[Page 11450]]
The official rulemaking record is the paper record maintained at the
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments
received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the
emergency exemptions requested by the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency
exemptions.
Dated: February 28, 1997.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-6013 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
