[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14461-14462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7300]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181054; FRL 5778-5]
Pyriproxyfen and Buprofezin; Receipt of Application for Emergency
Exemptions, Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA has received specific exemption requests from the Arizona
Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicant'')
to use the insect growth regulators pyriproxyfen (CAS 95737-68-1) and
buprofezin (CAS 69327-76-0) to treat up to 430,000 acres of cotton to
control the sweet potato, or silverleaf whitefly Bemesia species. In
the case of pyriproxyfen, the Applicant proposes the first food use of
an active ingredient. 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 exemptions.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-181054,'' 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 to: docket@epamail.epa.gov. Follow the instruction 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 submitted for inclusion in the public
record. Information not marked confidential may be included in the
public record by EPA without prior notice. The public docket is
available for public inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, from 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: Rm. 267, 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 specific exemptions for the use of
pyriproxyfen
[[Page 14462]]
and buprofezin on cotton to control the sweet potato, or silverleaf
whitefly (SLW). Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was
submitted as part of this request.
The Applicant states that a new strain or possibly a new species,
of whitefly, often referred to as the strain B of sweet potato
whitefly, or silverleaf whitefly (SLW), has been a major pest of cotton
in Arizona since the early 1990s, and since that time, has caused
extensive damage to cotton and vegetable crops. The Applicant claims
that adequate control of the SLW is not being achieved with currently
registered products and alternative cultural practices. The Applicant
points out that large populations of whitefly have demonstrated
resistance to available insecticidal control. The Applicant indicates
that one application of either one or the other of the requested
chemicals would not provide adequate control throughout the season, and
since application of either would be limited to one, is requesting the
use of both materials. The Applicant indicates that without adequate
control of the SLW in cotton, significant economic losses will be
suffered.
The Applicant proposes to apply pyriproxyfen at a rate of 0.054 lb.
active ingredient (a.i.) per acre with a maximum of one application per
crop season on up to 430,000 acres of cotton. The Applicant proposes to
apply buprofezin at a rate of 0.35 lb., a.i. per acre with a maximum of
one application per crop season on up to 430,000 acres of cotton.
Therefore, use under these exemptions could potentially amount to a
maximum total of 23,200 lbs. of pyriproxyfen and 150,500 lbs. of
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 first food use of an
active ingredient, or for 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 for this notice under docket control number [OPP-
181054] (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 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by
the docket number [OPP-181054]. 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 Arizona Department of Agriculture.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency
exemptions.
Dated: March 12, 1998
James Jones,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-7300 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
