02-7947. FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

There will be a 2-day meeting of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) to review a set of issues being considered by the Agency pertaining to review of the Cumulative and Aggregate Risk Evaluation System (CARES)^TM Model used as a tool for dietary and residential pesticide exposure and risk assessments. The meeting is open to the public. Seating at the meeting will be on a first-come basis. Individuals requiring special accommodations at this meeting, including wheelchair access, should contact Olga Odiott at the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 5 business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

DATES:

The meeting will be held on April 30 - May 1, 2002 from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The telephone number for the Sheraton Hotel is [phone]. Requests to participate 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, your request must identify docket control number OPP-2002-0004 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Olga Odiott, Designated Federal Official, Office of Science Coordination and Policy (7201M), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; fax number: [phone]; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, however, be of interest to those persons who are or may be required to conduct testing of chemical substances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. 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. A meeting agenda and copies of EPA primary background documents for the meeting will be available by the end of March. You may obtain electronic copies of these documents, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the FIFRA/SAP Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov./​scipoly/​sap/​. To access this document, on the Home Page, select “Federal Register Notice Announcing This Meeting.” You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/​fedregstr/​.

2. In person. The Agency has established an administrative record for this meeting under docket control number OPP-2002-0004. The administrative record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this notice, any public comments received during an applicable comment period, and other information related to the review of key features of the CARES^TM model, including any information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This administrative 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 administrative record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments that may be 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 Can I Request to Participate in this Meeting?

You may submit a request to participate in this meeting through the mail, in person, or electronically. Do not submit any information in your request that is considered CBI. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-2002-0004 in the subject line on the first page of your request. Members of the public wishing to submit comments should contact the persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to confirm that the meeting date and agenda have not been modified. Interested persons are permitted to file written statements before the meeting. To the extent that time permits, and upon advance written request to the persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, interested persons may be permitted by the Chair of the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel to present oral statements at the meeting. The request should identify the name of the individual making the presentation, the organization (if any) the individual will represent, and any requirements for audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead projector, 35 mm projector, chalkboard, etc.). There is no limit on the extent of written comments for consideration by the Panel, but oral statements before the panel are limited to approximately 5 minutes. The Agency also urges the public to submit written comments in lieu of oral presentations. Persons wishing to make oral or written statements at the meeting should contact the persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and submit 30 copies of their presentation and/or remarks to the Panel. The Agency encourages that written statements be submitted before the meeting to provide Panel Members the time necessary to consider and review the comments.

1. By mail. You may submit a request 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. 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 request electronically by e-mail to: “[e-mail].” Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Use WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Be sure to identify by docket control number OPP-2002-0004. You may also file a request online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

II. Background

A. Purpose of the Meeting

This 2-day meeting concerns scientific issues undergoing consideration within the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). The Panel will review key features of the CARES^TM Model to include the software code, data requirements, data inputs, and output reports. The presentation will focus on the operating system and will solicit panel comments and advice with respect to the transparency and operation of the model. CARES^TM is a model for assessing aggregate and cumulative exposure and risk to pesticides. To assist the Panel in their evaluation of CARES^TM each Panel member will be provided a copy of the CARES^TM software and supporting documentation. The Panel will also be provided with hypothetical, yet representative, residue and toxicological data sets for assessing aggregate and cumulative exposure and risk via the dietary, residential and drinking water pathways. Interested public parties can obtain a copy of the CARES^TM software by contacting Angelina Duggan at [e-mail]. This program is copyrighted and there will be a charge for a copy of the program.

B. Panel Report

Copies of the Panel's report of their recommendations will be available within 60-working days after the meeting, and will be posted on the FIFRA SAP web site or may be obtained by contacting the Public Information Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) at the address and telephone listed below under Unit I.

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection

Dated: March 25, 2002.

Vanessa T. Vu,

Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy.