03-22163. Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee; Request for Nominations

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is inviting nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC). EPA's current Charter for the PPDC will expire in November 2003. EPA intends to seek renewal of the PPDC Charter for another 2-year term, November 2003 to November 2005, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

DATES:

Nominations must be postmarked no later than October 1, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be submitted in writing to Margie Fehrenbach at the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

By mail: Margie Fehrenbach, Designated Federal Officer for PPDC, Office of Pesticide Programs, (7501C), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone] or(703) 305-7090; fax number: [phone]; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does This Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public in general; however, persons may be interested 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); and the amendments to both of these major pesticide laws by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), (Public Law 104-170) of 1996. Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Potentially affected entities may include but are not limited to: Agricultural workers and farmers; pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental, consumer and farmworker groups; pesticide users and growers; pest consultants; State, local and Tribal governments; academia; public health organizations; food processors; and the public. If you have any 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?

1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2003-0275. The official public docket consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other information related to this action. Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials that is available for public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone number is [phone].

2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA Internet under the “Federal Register” listings at http://www.epa.gov/​fedrgstr/​. An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/​edocket/​ to view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. Once in the system, select “search,” then key in the appropriate docket ID number.

II. Background

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

The Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) is a federal advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463. It was originally established in September 1995 for a 2-year term and renewed every 2 years. EPA is seeking to renew the current PPDC Charter, which expires in November 2003, for another 2-year term. PPDC provides advice and recommendations to EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs on a broad range of pesticide regulatory, policy and program implementation issues that are associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides.

EPA intends to appoint members to 1- or 2-year terms. An important consideration in EPA's selection of members will be to maintain balance and diversity of experience and expertise. EPA also intends to seek broad geographic representation from the following sectors: Environmental/public interest and consumer groups; farm worker organizations; pesticide industry and trade associations; pesticide user, grower, and commodity groups; Federal and State/local/Tribal governments; the general public; academia; and public health organizations.

Potential candidates should submit the following information: Name, occupation, organization, position, address, telephone number and a brief resume containing their background, experience, qualifications, and other relevant information as part of the consideration process. Any interested person and/or organization may submit the name(s) of qualified persons.

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

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Agriculture
• Agricultural workers
• Chemicals
• Foods
• Pesticides
• Pests
• Risk assessment
• Tolerance reassessment
• Public health

Dated: August 24, 2003.

James Jones

Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.