2013-14631. Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is giving notice that a public meeting of the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) is being planned for July 10-11, 2013. A draft agenda is under development and will be posted by July 2, 2013. On July 9, 2013, OPP will hold a Stakeholder Workshop titled “Where Vision Meets Action: Practical Application of 21st Century Methods.” This 1-day non-technical workshop is intended to provide an opportunity for stakeholder discussion on how OPP envisions applying new science to change the way pesticide risks are evaluated, and to examine the challenges and benefits of making this transition. Also, on July 10, 2013, four PPDC workgroup meetings are scheduled to meet as follows: PPDC Work Group on Pollinator Protection; PPDC Work Group on Integrated Pest Management; PPDC Work Group on Comparative Safety Statements; and PPDC Work Group on 21st Century Toxicology. All meetings are free, open to the public, and no advance registration is required.

DATES:

The PPDC meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday, July 11, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The PPDC meeting, Stakeholder Workshop, and all PPDC Work Group meetings will be held at 1 Potomac Yard South, 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The PPDC meeting will be held in the lobby-level Conference Center.

On Tuesday, July 9, 2013, a Stakeholder Workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., titled “Where Vision Meets Action: Practical Application of 21st Century Methods.” This Workshop will be held in the lobby-level Conference Center.

On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, PPDC work group meetings are scheduled as follows: Pollinator Protection Work Group, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the lobby-level Conference Center; Integrated Pest Management Work Group, 9:30 a.m. to noon in Conference Room S-4370-80; Comparative Safety Statements Work Group from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in Conference Room S-12100; and 21st Century Toxicology/Integrated Testing Strategies Work Group from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room N-4850. Information regarding PPDC Work Groups is available on EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/​pesticides/​ppdc/​.

To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request.

ADDRESSES:

The PPDC Meeting, PPDC Work Group meetings, and the 21st Century Methods Stakeholder Workshop, will be held at EPA's location at 1 Potomac Yard South, 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The PPDC meeting will be held in the lobby-level Conference Center. EPA's Potomac Yard South building is approximately 1 mile from the Crystal City Metro Station.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Margie Fehrenbach, Office of Pesticide Programs (7501P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: [phone]; fax number: [phone]; email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of particular interest to persons who work in agricultural settings or persons who are concerned about implementation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA); the amendments to both of these major pesticide laws by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996; and the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to: Agricultural workers and farmers; pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental, consumer, and farm worker groups; pesticide users and growers; animal rights groups; pest consultants; State, local, and tribal governments; academia; public health organizations; and the public. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

The docket for this action, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0452, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is [phone], and the telephone number for the OPP Docket is [phone]. Please review the visitor instructions and additional information about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

II. Background

OPP is entrusted with the responsibility to help ensure the safety of the American food supply, the education and protection from unreasonable risk of those who apply or are exposed to pesticides occupationally or through use of products, and general protection of the environment and special ecosystems from potential risks posed by pesticides.

The Charter for EPA's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) was established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, in September 1995, and has been renewed every 2 years since that time. PPDC's Charter was renewed October 28, 2011, for another 2-year period. The purpose of PPDC is to provide advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on issues associated with pesticide regulatory development and reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and science issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides. It is determined that PPDC is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Agency by law. The following sectors are represented on the current PPDC: Environmental/public interest and animal rights groups; farm worker organizations; pesticide industry and trade associations; pesticide user, grower, and commodity groups; Federal and State/local/tribal governments; the general public; public health organizations; and those who promote safe and effective use of pesticides through education and training.

Copies of the PPDC Charter are filed with appropriate committees of Congress and the Library of Congress and are available upon request.

III. How can I request to participate in this meeting?

PPDC meetings are open to the public and seating is available on a first-come basis. Persons interested in attending do not need to register in advance of the meeting. Comments may be made during the public comment session of each meeting or in writing to the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Agricultural workers, Agriculture, Chemicals, Endangered species, Foods, Integrated pest management, Pesticide labels, Pesticides and pests, Public health, Spray drift, 21st Century toxicology.

Dated: June 7, 2013.

Steve Bradbury,

Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.