98-13210. EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee; Notice of Public Meeting

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 95 (Monday, May 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27279-27280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13210]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00537; FRL-5792-4]


EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee; Notice of 
Public Meeting

 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

 ACTION: Notice.

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 SUMMARY: The EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC) 
is being established as a subcommittee under the auspices of the EPA 
National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology 
(NACEPT). The TRAC is in response to Vice President Gore's request for 
EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work together to 
ensure the smooth implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act 
(FQPA).

 DATES: The first set of meetings will be held on Thursday, May 28, 
1998, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, May 29, 1998, from 9 a.m. to 1 
p.m. A background FQPA information session is being offered to the TRAC 
on Wednesday, May 27, 1998, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The dates of the 
three remaining meetings are: June 22 and 23, July 13 and 14, and July 
27 and 28, 1998.

 ADDRESSES: The first set of meetings will be held at the Washington 
National Airport Hilton Hotel (Crystal City), 2399 Jefferson Davis 
Hwy., Arlington, VA; telephone: [phone]; and fax: (703) 418-
3763. Specific locations and times of the three remaining meetings will 
be announced in the Federal Register prior to those meetings. The FQPA 
information session, with limited public seating, will be held in room 
1126 (the ``Fishbowl''), Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., 
Arlington, VA (Crystal City). The permanent record is available for 
inspection during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Crystal Mall #2, Rm. 101, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, 
telephone: [phone].

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Margie Fehrenbach or Linda 
Murray, Office of Pesticide Programs (7501C), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location, 
telephone number, and e-mail address: Crystal Mall #2, Rm. 1119, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA; telephone: [phone]; e-mail: 
[e-mail] or [e-mail].


[[Page 27280]]


 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FQPA, Pub. L.104-170, was passed in 1996, 
this new law strengthens the nation's system for regulating pesticides 
on food. The TRAC will be asked to provide policy guidance on sound 
science, ways to increase transparency in decisionmaking, strategies 
for a reasonable transition for agriculture, and ways to enhance 
consultations with stakeholders, as pesticide tolerances are 
reassessed, including those for organophosphates.
     The TRAC is co-chaired by EPA Deputy Administrator Fred Hansen and 
USDA Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger. The TRAC is composed of experts 
that include farmers, environmentalists, public health officials, 
pediatric experts, pesticide companies, food processors and 
distributors, public interest groups, academicians, and tribal, State, 
and local governments.
     The TRAC meetings are open to the public under section 10(a)(2) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. 92-463. Outside statements 
by observers are welcome. Oral statements will be limited to 2-3 
minutes, and it is preferred that only one person per organization 
present the statement. Any person who wishes to file a written 
statement may do so before or after a TRAC meeting. These statements 
will become part of the permanent record and will be provided to the 
TRAC members. The permanent record will be available for public 
inspection at the address in ``Addresses'' at the beginning of this 
document.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agriculture, Chemicals, Foods, Pesticides 
and pests.

    Dated: May 13, 1998.
Stephen L. Johnson,

Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 98-13210 Filed 5-14-98; 9:43 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F