[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32229-32231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15282]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34190; FRL-6087-9]
Organophosphate Pesticides: Bensulide and Profenofos;
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 two organophosphate pesticides,
bensulide and profenofos. 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 numbers OPP-34132B for
bensulide and OPP-34138B for profenofos, must be received by EPA on or
before August 16, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in
[[Page 32230]]
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as
provided in Unit III. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section. To
ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket
control numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for profenofos
in the subject line on the first page of your response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 bensulide
and profenofos, 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 official records for these actions under
docket control numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for
profenofos. 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 numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for
profenofos 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 8:30 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 numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for profenofos.
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 two organophosphate pesticides,
bensulide and profenofos. 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.
[[Page 32231]]
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
through this notice provide information on the revisions that were made
to the bensulide and profenofos preliminary risk assessments, which
where released to the public August 10, 1998 (63 FR 43175) (FRL-6024-3)
through a notice 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 bensulide and
profenofos. 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 chemicals specified in this
notice. Such comments and proposals could address ideas about how to
manage dietary, occupational, or ecological risks on specific bensulide
and profenofos 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. For ecological risks, commentors may suggest ways
to reduce environmental exposure, e.g., birds, fish, mammals, and other
non-target organisms. 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 August 16, 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.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: June 10, 1999.
Jack E. Housenger,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-15282 Filed 6-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
