[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23460-23461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11020]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181044; FRL 5713-4]
Carbofuran; 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 specific exemption requests from the
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and from the
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (hereafter referred to
as the ``Applicants'') to use the pesticide flowable Carbofuran
(Furadan 4F Insecticide/Nematicide) (EPA Reg. No.
[[Page 23461]]
279-2876) to treat up to 1 million acres of cotton in Mississippi and
to treat up to 1 million acres of cotton in Louisiana, to control
cotton aphids. The Applicants propose the use of a chemical which has
been the subject of a Special Review within EPA's Office of Pesticide
Programs. The granular formulation of carbofuran was the subject of a
Special Review between the years of 1986 - 1991, which resulted in a
negotiated settlement whereby most of the registered uses of granular
carbofuran were phased out. While the flowable formulation of
carbofuran is not the subject of a Special Review, EPA believes that
the proposed use of flowable carbofuran on cotton could pose a risk
similar to the risk assessed by EPA under the Special Review of
granular carbofuran. 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 May 15, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-181044,'' 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 following
the instructions under ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' of this document.
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. 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: David Deegan, Registration
Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office
location and telephone number: Floor 6, Crystal Station #1, 2800
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-8327; e-mail:
deegan.dave@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
carbofuran on cotton to control aphids. Information in accordance with
40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of these requests. As part of
these requests, the Applicants assert that the states of Mississippi
and Louisiana are likely to experience nonroutine infestations of
aphids during the 1996 cotton growing season. The Applicants further
claim that, without specific exemptions of FIFRA for the use of
flowable carbofuran on cotton to control cotton aphids, cotton growers
in much of these states will suffer significant economic losses. The
Applicants also detail use programs designed to minimize risks to
pesticide handlers and applicators, nontarget organisms (both
Federally-listed endangered species, and nonlisted species), and to
reduce the possibility of drift and runoff.
The Applicants propose to make no more than two applications at the
rate of 0.25 lbs. active ingredient [(a.i.)] (8 fluid oz.) in a minimum
of 2 gallons of finished spray per acre by air, or 10 gallons of
finished spray per acre by ground application. The total maximum
proposed use during the 1997 growing season (Mississippi proposes a use
season from the date of EPA issuance until September 15, 1997;
Louisiana proposes a use season beginning June 1, 1997 until September
30, 1997) would be 0.5 lbs. a.i., (16 fluid oz.) per acre. The
Applicants propose that the maximum acreage which could be treated
under the requested exemptions would be 1 million acres in each state.
If all acres were treated at the maximum proposed rates, then 500,000
lbs. a.i. would be used in each state.
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 of an application for a specific
exemption proposing use of a chemical (i.e., an active ingredient)
which has been the subject of a Special Review within EPA's Office of
Pesticide Programs, and the proposed use could pose a risk similar to
the risk assessed by EPA under the previous Special Review. 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 number [OPP-181044]
(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:
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. Comment and data
will also be accepted on disks in Wordperfect 5.1 file format or ASCII
file format. All comments and data in electronic form must be
identified by the docket number [OPP-181044]. 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 exemptions requested by the Mississippi Department of
Agriculture and Commerce, and by the Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and Forestry.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency
exemptions.
Dated: April 18, 1997.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-11020 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
