[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27258-27260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12591]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34131C; FRL-6082-3]
Organophosphate Pesticide: Azinphos-Methyl; Availability of
Revised Risk Assessments and Public Participation on Risk Management
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notices announces the availability of the revised risk
assessments and related documents for one organophosphate pesticide,
azinphos-methyl. In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public
participation period during which the public is encouraged to submit
risk management ideas or proposals. These actions are in response to a
joint initiative between EPA and the Department of Agriculture to
increase transparency in the tolerance reassessment process for
organophosphate pesticides.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34131C, must
be received by EPA on or before July 19, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as
provided in Unit III. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section. To
ensure proper receipt by
[[Page 27259]]
EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-
34131C in the subject line on the first page of your response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Karen Angulo, Special Review
and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (703) 308-8004; e-mail address: angulo.karen@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Does This Action Apply To Me?
This action is directed to the public in general, nevertheless, a
wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the revised
risk assessments and submitting risk management comments on azinphos-
methyl, including environmental, human health, and agricultural
advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide users; and members of the
public interested in the use of pesticides on food. As such, the Agency
has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person
listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.
II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of This
Document or Other Related Documents?
A. Electronically
You may obtain electronic copies of this document and other related
documents from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To
access this document, on the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations''
and then look up the entry for this document under the ``Federal
Register--Environmental Documents.'' You can also go directly to the
Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
To access information about organophosphate pesticides and obtain
electronic copies of the revised risk assessments and related documents
mentioned in this notice, you can also go directly to the Home Page for
the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) at http://www.epa.gov/
pesticides/op/.
B. In Person
The Agency has established an official record for this action under
docket control number OPP-34131C. The official record consists of the
documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments
received during an applicable comment period, and other information
related to this action, including any information claimed as
Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official 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 official record does not include any information claimed as CBI.
The public version of the official record, which includes printed,
paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an
applicable comment period, is available for inspection in 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
Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) telephone
number is (703) 305-5805.
C. By Telephone
If you need additional information about this action, you may also
contact the person identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION''
section.
III. How Can I Respond To This Action?
A. How and To Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify
docket control number OPP-34131C in the subject line on the first page
of your response.
1. By mail. Submit comments 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.
2. In person or by courier. Deliver comments to: Public Information
and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services
Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy.,
Arlington, VA. The Document Control Office (DCO) is open 8 a.m. to 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
3. Electronically. Submit electronic comments by e-mail to: ``docket@epa.gov,'' or you may mail or deliver your standard computer
disk using the addresses in this unit. Do not submit any information
electronically that you consider to be CBI. 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
standard computer disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format.
All comments in electronic form must be identified by the docket
control number OPP-34131C. Electronic comments may also be filed online
at many Federal Depository Libraries.
B. How Should I Handle CBI Information That I Want To Submit to the
Agency?
Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to
be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to
this document as CBI 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. In addition to one complete
version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as
CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the
official record. Information not marked confidential will be included
in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If
you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,
please consult the person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT'' section.
IV. What Action is EPA Taking in This Notice?
EPA is making available for public viewing the revised risk
assessments and related documents for one organophosphate, azinphos-
methyl. These documents have been developed as part of the pilot public
participation process that EPA and USDA are now using for involving the
public in the reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food
Quality Protection Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual
organophosphate pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The pilot public participation process was
developed as part of the EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory
Committee (TRAC), which was established in April 1998, as a
subcommittee under the auspices of EPA's National Advisory Council for
Environmental Policy and Technology. A goal of the pilot public
participation process is to find a more effective way for the public to
participate at critical junctures in the Agency's development of
organophosphate risk assessments and risk management decisions. EPA and
USDA began implementing this pilot process in August 1998, to increase
transparency and opportunities for stakeholder consultation. The
documents being released to the public
[[Page 27260]]
through this notice provide information on the revisions that were made
to the azinphos-methyl preliminary risk assessments, which where
released to the public August 10, 1998 (63 FR 43175) (FRL-6024-3), and
January 15, 1999 (64 FR 2644) (FRL-6056-9), through notices in the
Federal Register.
In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation
period during which the public is encouraged to submit risk management
proposals or otherwise comment on risk management for azinphos-methyl.
The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for
interested parties to provide written risk management proposals or
ideas to the Agency on the chemical specified in this notice. Such
comments and proposals could address ideas about how to manage dietary,
occupational, or ecological risks on specific azinphos-methyl use sites
or crops across the United States or in a particular geographic region
of the country. To address dietary risk, for example, commentors may
choose to discuss the feasibility of lower application rates,
increasing the time interval between application and harvest (``pre-
harvest intervals''), modifications in use, or suggest alternative
measures to reduce residues contributing to dietary exposure. For
occupational risks, commentors may suggest personal protective
equipment or technologies to reduce exposure to workers and pesticide
handlers. Although revisions to the ecological risk assessment are not
yet complete, EPA welcomes suggestions for reducing environmental
exposure. EPA will provide other opportunities for public participation
and comment on issues associated with the organophosphate tolerance
reassessment program. Failure to participate or comment as part of this
opportunity will in no way prejudice or limit a commentor's opportunity
to participate fully in later notice and comment processes. All
comments and proposals must be received by EPA on or before July 19,
1999 at the addresses given under the ``ADDRESSES'' section. Comments
and proposals will become part of the Agency record for the
organophosphate specified in this notice.
Dated: May 13, 1999.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-12591 Filed 5-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
