97-24145. Reduced Risk Initiative for Pesticides

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 47808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24145]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00501; FRL-5741-8]


Reduced Risk Initiative for Pesticides

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing a final Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice 
entitled ``Guidelines for Expedited Review of Conventional Pesticides 
under the Reduced-Risk Initiative and for Biological Pesticides.'' EPA 
proposed this policy for 30 days of public comment on June 18, 1997 (62 
FR 33078). Interested parties may request a copy of the Agency's final 
policy as set forth in the ADDRESSES unit of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The PR Notice is available by contacting the person whose 
name appears under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Richard Keigwin, Registration 
Division (7505C), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Office location, telephone number, and e-mail 
address: Rm. 713A, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, 
[phone], e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability:
Internet
    Electronic copies of this document and the PR Notice are available 
from the EPA home page at the Environmental Sub-Set entry for this 
document under ``Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
Fax on Demand
    Using a faxphone call 202-401-0527 and select item 6101 for a copy 
of the PR notice.

I. Background

    This Federal Register notice announces the availability of the PR 
Notice entitled ``Guidelines for Expedited Review of Conventional 
Pesticides under the Reduced-Risk Initiative and for Biological 
Pesticides.'' This PR Notice responds to the Food Quality Protection 
Act of 1996 (FQPA) which requires that EPA expedite the review of 
applications for registration of pesticides which:
    1. Reduce the risks of pesticides to human health.
    2. Reduce the risks of pesticides to nontarget organisms.
    3. Reduce the potential for contamination of groundwater surface 
water or other valued environmental resources.
    4. Broaden the adoption of integrated pest management strategies, 
or make such strategies more available or more effective.
    The purpose of the PR Notice is to provide the process and criteria 
to guide applicants in developing their reduced-risk submissions. The 
PR Notice supersedes the criteria published in Federal Register Notices 
of, July 20, 1992 (57 FR 32140), and January 22, 1993 (58 FR 5854), and 
PR Notice 93-9, July 21, 1993. The goal of the Reduced-Risked Pesticide 
Initiative and of the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division 
is to encourage the development, registration, and use of lower-risk 
pesticide products which would result in reduced risks to human health 
and the environment when compared to existing alternatives.

II. Public Comments

    Public comments submitted concerning the draft PR Notice and the 
issues listed in the previous FR Notice of Availability were fully 
considered before this notice was made final. All public comments, as 
well as a summary of the Agency's responses to those comments, are 
filed in the Office of Pesticides Programs' Docket Office under docket 
number ``OPP-00485.'' The public record is located in Rm. 1132, CM #2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, [phone].

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: September 4, 1997.
Daniel M. Barolo,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 97-24145 Filed 9-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F