[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24493-24494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12078]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-181012; FRL 5368-5]
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
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and from the Oklahoma
Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicants'')
to use the pesticide flowable Carbofuran (Furadan 4F Insecticide/
Nematicide) (EPA Reg. No. 279-2876) to treat up to 750,000 acres of
cotton in Louisiana, and up to 148,000 acres of cotton in Oklahoma, 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, and the proposed use 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 30, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification
notation ``OPP-181012,'' 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 sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: 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. Comments and data will also be
accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by
the docket number [OPP-181012]. No Confidential Business Information
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this
notice may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
Additional information on electronic submissions can be found below in
this document.
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 a.m. to 4:30 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 that the Administrator 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 Louisiana and Oklahoma 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, non-target organisms (both Federally-listed endangered
species, and non-listed 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 lb. 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 1996 growing season (Louisiana proposes a use
season of June 01, 1996 until September 30, 1996; Oklahoma proposes a
use season from July 10, 1996 until October 15, 1996) would be 0.5 lb.
a.i. (16 fluid oz.) per acre. The applicants propose that the maximum
acreage which could be treated under the requested exemptions would be
750,000 acres (Louisiana) and 148,000 acres (Oklahoma). If all acres
[[Page 24494]]
were treated at the maximum proposed rates, then 375,000 lbs. a.i.
would be used in Louisiana, and 74,000 lbs. a.i. would be used in
Oklahoma.
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 the
risk assessed by EPA under the previous Special Review. Such notice
provides for opportunity for public comment on the application.
A record has been established for this notice under docket number
[OPP-181012] (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 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The public
record is located in Room 1132 of the Public Response and Program
Resource Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, 1921
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
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.
The official record for this notice, 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 directly in
writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
Accordingly, interested persons may submit written views on this
subject to the Field Operations Division at the address above.
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 Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and Forestry, and from the Oklahoma Department of
Agriculture.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency
exemptions.
Dated: May 1, 1996.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-12078 Filed 5-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
