[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26591-26592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12580]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-00535; FRL-5786-8]
Changes to Registration Priority System Involving
Organophosphate (OP) Alternatives and Reduced Risk Candidates
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: EPA is soliciting comments on a draft, updated policy for the
prioritization and expedited review of applications for significant OP
alternative new active ingredients and new use registration
applications for
[[Page 26592]]
conventional pesticides handled by the Registration Division (RD). This
proposed policy would also change how reduce-risk candidates will be
treated in the priority system. The proposal is available as a draft
Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice entitled ``Changes to Registration
Priority System Involving Organophosphate (OP) Alternatives and Reduced
Risk Candidates,'' which is available upon request as indicated under
Unit IV.
DATES: Written comments, identified by the docket number [OPP-00535],
must be received on or before June 12, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the docket control
number OPP-00535 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 directly to the OPP
Docket Office, which is located in Room 119 of Crystal Mall #2, 1921
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic
mail (e-mail) to: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Follow the instructions
under Unit IV of this document. No Confidential Business Information
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
Information submitted as a comment concerning this document 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 will be included in the
public docket by EPA without prior notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Peter Caulkins, Environmental
Protection Agency (7505C), 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office
location and telephone number: Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, VA, 22202, (703) 305-5447, fax: (703) 305-6920, e-
mail: caulkins.peter@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Federal Register notice announces the
availability of the draft Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice and
solicits comments on the proposed guidance.
Electronic Availability:
Internet
Electronic copies of this document and the draft PR Notice also are
available from the EPA Home page at the Federal Register -
Environmental Documents entry for this document under ``Laws and
Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
Fax-on-Demand
Using a faxphone call (202) 401-0527 and select item 6111 for a
copy of this document and the PR Notice.
I. Purpose
The purpose of the proposed PR Notice is to update EPA's policy for
the prioritization and expedited review of applications for significant
OP alternative new active ingredients and new uses for conventional,
primarily agricultural pesticides. This notice also changes how reduce-
risk candidates will be treated in the priority system.
II. Background
The Office of Pesticide Programs' (OPP) Reduced-Risk Committee has
screened five active ingredients (AIs) that are potentially significant
alternatives for OPs. These five AIs have all passed the reduced-risk
screen and have been placed into expedited review. Given how important
it will be to have as many OP alternatives in the market as possible,
OPP will use the reduced-risk screening mechanism to identify
significant OP alternatives. If the Reduced-Risk Committee determines
that a pending registration action is a potentially significant OP
alternative, it could recommend that action for expedited review even
if it does not qualify for reduced-risk status.
III. Policy Change
The proposed PR notice would amend the EPA's current priority
scheme by making OP alternatives that pass the reduced-risk screen
would be the second highest priority (#2) behind methyl bromide
alternatives (#1). Also, any submission that is determined to be a
significant OP alternative, which is not granted reduced-risk status,
but is recommended by the Reduced-Risk Committee for expedited review,
would become an Agency priority as well. Furthermore, any submission
that passes the reduced-risk screen would become an Agency priority. An
Agency priority does not count against a company's limit of five
priorities.
IV. Public Record and Electronic Submissions
A record has been established for this action under docket number
``OPP-00535'' (including comments and data submitted electronically as
described above). 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 Rm. 119 of the Public Information and Records
Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division, Office
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall
#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
The official record for this action, 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
record which will also include all comments submitted in writing. The
official record is the paper record maintained at the address in
ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document.
V. Schedule for Finalizing the PR Notice
EPA plans to issue and make effective the final PR Notice as soon
as possible. We anticipate that the guidance will be made final and
effective within the next 3 months.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Agricultural pesticides.
Dated: April 22, 1998.
James Jones,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-12580 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
