01-6730. Bifenazate; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Texas Department of Agriculture to use the pesticide bifenazate (CAS No. 149877-41-8) to treat up to 200 acres of greenhouse tomatoes to control spider mites. The Applicant proposes a first food use of this pesticide. EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

DATES:

Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-181080, must be received on or before April 3, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-181080 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen Schaible, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 703 308-9362; fax number: 703 308-5433; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

You may be potentially affected by this action if you petition EPA for emergency exemption under section 18 of FIFRA. Potentially affected categories and entities may include, but are not limited to:

Categories	NAICS Codes	Examples of potentially affected entities
State government	9241	State agencies that petition EPA for section 18 pesticide exemption

This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this action. Other types of entities not listed in the table in this unit could also be regulated. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether or not this action applies to certain entities. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and Other Related Documents?

1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this document, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/​. To access this document, on the Home Page select “Laws and Regulations,” “Regulations and Proposed Rules,” and then look up the entry for this document under the “Federal Register—Environmental Documents.” You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/​fedrgstr/​.

2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for this action under docket control number OPP-181080. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received during an applicable comment period, and other information related to this action, including any information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment period, is available for inspection in the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is [phone].

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-181080 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

2. In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is [phone].

3. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically by e-mail to: [e-mail], or you can submit a computer disk as described above. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be identified by docket control number OPP-181080. Electronic comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI that I Want to Submit to the Agency?

Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to this document as CBI 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. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the official record. Information not marked confidential will be included in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:

1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.

2. Describe any assumptions that you used.

3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used that support your views.

4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you arrived at the estimate that you provide.

5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.

6. Offer alternative ways to improve the proposed rule or collection activity.

7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this document.

8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal Register citation.

II. Background

What Action is the Agency Taking?

Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the Administrator, a Federal or State agency may be exempted from any provision of FIFRA if the Administrator determines that emergency conditions exist which require the exemption. The Texas Department of Agriculture has requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use of bifenazate on greenhouse tomatoes to control spider mites. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.

As part of this request, the Applicant asserts that currently registered alternatives do not provide adequate control of spider mites. Texas greenhouse production of tomatoes utilizes an intensive integrated pest managment (IPM) program with dependence on beneficial insects for control of primary insects and mites. In addition, greenhouse tomato production uses an indeterminate variety of tomatoes that are harvested year round. For these reasons, pesticide products are needed which have a short preharvest interval (PHI <= 3 days), are efficacious against two-spotted spider mites while being safe to beneficial insects and bees, and are labeled for use on greenhouse tomatoes. The Applicant claims that the three chemicals currently registered for use in greenhouses: Dicofol, Abamectin, and Cinnamaldehyde do not meet all of the above qualifications. It is further claimed that the predator normally used to control two-spotted spider mites does not perform well on tomato plants.

The Applicant feels that for those greenhouse growers using biological agents, bifenazate will provide a much needed alternative because of its specificity to spider mites and its relative safety to beneficial insects. It is felt that the effectiveness of the product against multiple tetranychid species makes it useful for single-species and concurrent, multi-species infestations as well as for sequential infestations with two or more species. The Applicant estimates that for the major greenhouse producer, 25% of the 2,000 crop was affected by spider mites. Plants affected with spider mites lose 60% of their value when the secondary effect on quality is included. The difference in gross revenue for the requested use acreage is predicted to be $12,228,000 when using the requested pesticide over the next best alternative.

The Applicant proposes to make no more than two applications of Floramite miticide (EPA Reg. No. 400-481), containing 50% bifenazate, to 200 acres of greenhouse tomatoes in Texas. The product may be applied at a rate of 8 to 16 oz. of product (4-8 oz. of active ingredient (a.i.)) per acre; no more than 16 oz. of product may be applied per acre per year. Application will occur year round throughout the state. Under this exemption, a maximum of 200 lbs. of product (100 lbs. a.i.) may be applied over the course of the year.

This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the application itself. The regulations governing section 18 of FIFRA require publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific exemption proposing a first food use of a chemical. The notice provides an opportunity for public comment on the application.

The Agency, will review and consider all comments received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the specific exemption requested by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Pesticides and pests

Dated: February 20, 2001.

 Peter Caulkins,

Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.