Fluometuron; Notice of Availability of Risk Assessments and Opening of Docket, 17447-17450 [05-6708]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 6, 2005 / Notices
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t. On
April 20, 2005, the meeting is scheduled
from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., e.t.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place
at the Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.
Meetings will be held in the Decatur
Room on April 18 and April 19 and in
Chesapeake Hall on April 20.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested participants from the public
should contact Marc Santora,
Designated Federal Officer, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Ground Water and Drinking
Water, Water Security Division (Mail
Code 4601–M), 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Please contact Marc Santora at
santora.marc@epa.gov or call 202–564–
1597 to receive additional details.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[FRL–7896–5]
Background
National Drinking Water Advisory
Council’s Water Security Working
Group Meeting Announcement
The WSWG’s mission is to: (1)
Identify, compile, and characterize best
security practices and policies for
drinking water and wastewater utilities
and provide an approach for
considering and adopting these
practices and policies at a utility level;
(2) consider mechanisms to provide
recognition and incentives that facilitate
a broad and receptive response among
the water sector to implement these best
security practices and policies and make
recommendations as appropriate; (3)
consider mechanisms to measure the
extent of implementation of these best
security practices and policies, identify
the impediments to their
implementation, and make
recommendations as appropriate. The
Group is comprised of sixteen members
from water and wastewater utilities,
public health, academia, state
regulators, and environmental and
community interests. It is supported by
technical experts from the
Environmental Protection Agency, the
Department of Homeland Security, the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and the Department of
Defense.
submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional
comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about this ICR or the approval
process, please contact the technical
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: March 25, 2005.
Margaret Schneider,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of
Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 05–6634 Filed 4–5–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announces the fifth
public meeting of the Water Security
Working Group (WSWG) of the National
Drinking Water Advisory Council
(NDWAC), which was established under
the Safe Drinking Water Act. The
purpose of this meeting is to provide an
opportunity for the WSWG members to
continue deliberations on the following
topics: (1) Features of active and
effective security programs for drinking
water and wastewater utilities (water
sector); (2) incentives to encourage
broad adoption of active and effective
security programs in the water sector;
and (3) measures of the performance of
water security programs. The focus of
the meeting will be on review of the
WSWG’s draft report and
recommendations. The meeting will be
open to the public and an opportunity
for public comment will be provided.
The WSWG findings and
recommendations will be provided to
the NDWAC for their consideration. The
WSWG anticipates providing findings
and recommendations to the NDWAC in
spring 2005. This is the final planned
meeting of the WSWG.
DATES: The WSWG meeting is April 18–
20, 2005, in Crystal City, VA, in the
Washington, DC area. On April 18,
2005, the meeting is scheduled from
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., eastern time
(e.t.). On April 19, 2005, the meeting is
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meeting to the public. However, the
Group reserves the right to enter into
closed session, if necessary, late in the
afternoon of April 18, 2005,
immediately before lunch on April 19,
2005, and late in the day on April 20,
2005. If closed sessions are needed,
opportunities for public comment will
be provided before the closed sessions
begin.
If there is a closed meeting session,
only WSWG members, Federal resource
personnel, facilitation support
contractors, and outside experts
identified by the facilitation support
contractors will attend the closed
meeting. A general summary of the
topics discussed during closed meetings
and the individuals present will be
included with the summary of the open
portions of the WSWG meeting.
Public Comment
An opportunity for public comment
will be provided during the open part of
the WSWG meeting. Oral statements
will be limited to five minutes, and it is
preferred that only one person present
the statement on behalf of a group or
organization. Written comments may be
provided at the meeting or may be sent,
by mail, to Marc Santora, Designated
Federal Officer for the WSWG, at the email address listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
Special Accommodations
Any person needing special
accommodations at this meeting,
including wheelchair access, should
contact Marc Santora, Designated
Federal Officer, at the number or e-mail
address listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice. Requests for special
accommodations should be made at
least five business days in advance of
the WSWG meeting.
Dated: April 4, 2005.
Nanci E. Gelb,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 05–6941 Filed 4–5–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Closed and Open Parts of the Meeting
The WSWG is a working group of the
NDWAC; it is not a Federal advisory
committee and therefore not subject to
the same public disclosure laws that
govern Federal advisory committees.
The Group can enter into closed session
as necessary to provide an opportunity
to discuss security-sensitive information
relating to specific water sector
vulnerabilities and security tactics.
Currently, the WSWG does not
anticipate closing any parts of the April
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[OPP–2005–0372]; FRL–7703–5]
Fluometuron; Notice of Availability of
Risk Assessments andOpening of
Docket
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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17448
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 6, 2005 / Notices
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of EPA’srisk assessments,
preliminary risk reduction options, and
related documentsfor fluometuron, a
phenylurea herbicide, and opens a
public comment periodon these
documents. The public is encouraged to
suggest risk managementideas or
proposals to address the risks identified.
EPA is developing aReregistration
Eligibility Decision (RED) for
fluometuron through amodified, 4-Phase
public participation process that the
Agency uses to involve the public in
developing pesticide reregistration and
tolerance reassessment decisions.
Through this program, EPA is ensuring
that all pesticides meet current health
and safety standards.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket
identification (ID) number OPP–2004–
0372, must be received on or before June
6, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted electronically, by mail, or
through hand delivery/courier. Follow
the detailed instructions as provided in
Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kylie Rothwell, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–
0001; courier address: 1801 S. Bell
Street; Arlington, VA 22202; telephone
number: (703) 308–8055; fax number:
(703) 308–8172; e-mail address:
rothwell.kylie@epa.gov.
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 interest to a
wide range of stakeholders including
environmental, human health, and
agricultural advocates; the chemical
industry; pesticide users; and members
of the public interested in the sale,
distribution, or use of pesticides. Since
others also may 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.
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 ID number OPP–2004–
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0372. 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, 1801 S. Bell St., 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 (703) 305–5805.
2. Electronic access. You may access
this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet
under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at
https://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 https://www.epa.gov/edocket/
to submit or 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.
Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’
then key in the appropriate docket ID
number.
Certain types of information will not
be placed in the EPA Dockets.
Information claimed as CBI and other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute, which is not
included in the official public docket,
will not be available for public viewing
in EPA’s electronic public docket. EPA’s
policy is that copyrighted material will
not be placed in EPA’s electronic public
docket but will be available only in
printed, paper form in the official public
docket. To the extent feasible, publicly
available docket materials will be made
available in EPA’s electronic public
docket. When a document is selected
from the index list in EPA Dockets, the
system will identify whether the
document is available for viewing in
EPA’s electronic public docket.
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. EPA
intends to work towards providing
electronic access to all of the publicly
available docket materials through
EPA’s electronic public docket.
For public commenters, it is
important to note that EPA’s policy is
that public comments, whether
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submitted electronically or in paper,
will be made available for public
viewing in EPA’s electronic public
docket as EPA receives them and
without change, unless the comment
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or
other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. When EPA
identifies a comment containing
copyrighted material, EPA will provide
a reference to that material in the
version of the comment that is placed in
EPA’s electronic public docket. The
entire printed comment, including the
copyrighted material, will be available
in the public docket.
Public comments submitted on
computer disks that are mailed or
delivered to the docket will be
transferred to EPA’s electronic public
docket. Public comments that are
mailed or delivered to the docket will be
scanned and placed in EPA’s electronic
public docket. Where practical, physical
objects will be photographed, and the
photograph will be placed in EPA’s
electronic public docket along with a
brief description written by the docket
staff.
C. How and to Whom Do I Submit
Comments?
You may submit comments
electronically, by mail, or through hand
delivery/courier. To ensure proper
receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate
docket ID number in the subject line on
the first page of your comment. Please
ensure that your comments are
submitted within the specified comment
period. Comments received after the
close of the comment period will be
marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not required to
consider these late comments. If you
wish to submit CBI or information that
is otherwise protected by statute, please
follow the instructions in Unit I.D. Do
not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit
CBI or information protected by statute.
1. Electronically. If you submit an
electronic comment as prescribed in this
unit, EPA recommends that you include
your name, mailing address, and an email address or other contact
information in the body of your
comment. Also include this contact
information on the outside of any disk
or CD ROM you submit, and in any
cover letter accompanying the disk or
CD ROM. This ensures that you can be
identified as the submitter of the
comment and allows EPA to contact you
in case EPA cannot read your comment
due to technical difficulties or needs
further information on the substance of
your comment. EPA’s policy is that EPA
will not edit your comment, and any
identifying or contact information
provided in the body of a comment will
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 6, 2005 / Notices
be included as part of the comment that
is placed in the official public docket,
and made available in EPA’s electronic
public docket. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment.
i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA’s
electronic public docket to submit
comments to EPA electronically is
EPA’s preferred method for receiving
comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets
at https://www.epa.gov/edocket/, and
follow the online instructions for
submitting comments. Once in the
system, select ‘‘search,’’ and then key in
docket ID number OPP–2004–0372. The
system is an ‘‘anonymous access’’
system, which means EPA will not
know your identity, e-mail address, or
other contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by
e-mail to opp-docket@epa.gov,
Attention: Docket ID Number OPP–
2004–0372. In contrast to EPA’s
electronic public docket, EPA’s e-mail
system is not an ‘‘anonymous access’’
system. If you send an e-mail comment
directly to the docket without going
through EPA’s electronic public docket,
EPA’s e-mail system automatically
captures your e-mail address. E-mail
addresses that are automatically
captured by EPA’s e-mail system are
included as part of the comment that is
placed in the official public docket, and
made available in EPA’s electronic
public docket.
iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit
comments on a disk or CD ROM that
you mail to the mailing address
identified in Unit I.C.2. These electronic
submissions will be accepted in
WordPerfect or ASCII file format. Avoid
the use of special characters and any
form of encryption.
2. By mail. Send your comments to:
Public Information and Records
Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office
of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001, Attention: Docket ID
Number OPP–2004–0372.
3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver
your comments to: Public Information
and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB),
Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm.
119, Crystal Mall #2, 1801 S. Bell St.,
Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID
Number OPP–2004–0372. Such
deliveries are only accepted during the
docket’s normal hours of operation as
identified in Unit I.B.1.
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D. How Should I Submit CBI to the
Agency?
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI electronically
through EPA’s electronic public docket
or by e-mail. You may claim
information that you submit to EPA as
CBI by marking any part or all of that
information as CBI (if you submit CBI
on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside
of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD ROM the specific information that is
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
docket and EPA’s electronic public
docket. If you submit the copy that does
not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM,
mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM
clearly that it does not contain CBI.
Information not marked as CBI will be
included in the public docket and EPA’s
electronic public docket without prior
notice. If you have any questions about
CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,
please consult the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare
My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following
suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as
possible.
2. Describe any assumptions that you
used.
3. Provide any technical information
and/or data you used that support your
views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or
costs, explain how you arrived at your
estimate.
5. Provide specific examples to
illustrate your concerns.
6. Offer alternatives.
7. Make sure to submit your
comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA,
identify the appropriate docket ID
number in the subject line on the first
page of your response. It would also be
helpful if you provided the name, date,
and Federal Register citation related to
your comments.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
EPA is releasing for public comment
its human health and environmental
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fate and effects risk assessments and
related documents for the phenylurea
herbicide, fluometuron, and is
encouraging the public to suggest risk
management ideas or proposals. EPA is
ensuring that pesticides meet current
standards under the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
and the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by
the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996
(FQPA).
Fluometuron is a preplant,
preemergence and/or postemergence
herbicide used on cotton to control
broadleaf and grass weeds. There are
potential chronic dietary risks of
concern and cancer risks of concern as
a result of drinking water exposure, and
potential acute and chronic ecological
risks of concern. EPA is providing an
opportunity, through this notice, for
interested parties to provide comments
and input on the Agency’s risk
assessments for fluometuron. Such
comments and input could address the
potential risks of concern. The Agency
is interested in obtaining any additional
data or information that may further
refine the risk assessments, such as
additional cancer data, ecological
toxicity data, percent crop treated
information, typical application rates
and timings, etc.
EPA seeks to achieve environmental
justice, the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people,
regardless of race, color, national origin,
or income, in the development,
implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and
policies. To help address potential
environmental justice issues, the
Agency seeks information on any groups
or segments of the population who, as
a result of their location, cultural
practices, or other factors, may have
atypical, unusually high exposure to
fluometuron, compared to the general
population.
EPA is releasing for public comment
its risk assessments for fluometuron, to
provide an opportunity for interested
parties to also provide risk management
proposals or otherwise comment on risk
management. Such comments and
proposals should further discuss ways
to manage fluometuron’s dietary (water),
cancer, and/or ecological risks resulting
from its use on cotton, as discussed in
the Agency’s risk assessments.
EPA is applying the principles of
public participation to all pesticides
undergoing reregistration and tolerance
reassessment. The Agency’s Pesticide
Tolerance Reassessment and
Reregistration; Public Participation
Process, published in the Federal
Register on May 14, 2004, explains that
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in conducting these programs, the
Agency is tailoring its public
participation process to be
commensurate with the level of risk,
extent of use, complexity of the issues,
and degree of public concern associated
with each pesticide. For fluometuron, a
modified, 4-Phase process with one
comment period and ample opportunity
for public consultation seems
appropriate in view of its limited use
pattern. However, if as a result of
comments received during this
comment period EPA finds that
additional issues warranting further
discussion are raised, the Agency may
lengthen the process and include a
second comment period, as needed.
All comments should be submitted
using the methods in Unit I. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, and must
be received by EPA on or before the
closing date. Comments will become
part of the Agency Docket for
fluometuron. Comments received after
the close of the comment period will be
marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not required to
consider these late comments.
B. What is the Agency’s Authority for
Taking this Action?
Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA as amended
directs that, after submission of all data
concerning a pesticide active ingredient,
‘‘the Administrator shall determine
whether pesticides containing such
active ingredient are eligible for
reregistration,’’ before calling in product
specific data on individual end-use
products and either reregistering
products or taking other ‘‘appropriate
regulatory action.’’
Section 408(q) of the FFDCA, 21
U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to review
tolerances and exemptions for pesticide
residues in effect as of August 2, 1996,
to determine whether the tolerance or
exemption meets the requirements of
section 408(b)(2) or (c)(2) of FFDCA.
This review is to be completed by
August 3, 2006.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, pesticides
and pests.
Dated: March 11, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05–6708 Filed 4–5–05; 8:45 am]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[OPP–2005–0059; FRL–7701–7]
Pesticide Products; Registration
Applications
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt
of applications to register pesticide
products containing new active
ingredients not included in any
previously registered products pursuant
to the provisions of section 3(c)(4) of the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended.
DATES: Written comments, identified by
the docket identification (ID) number
OPP–2005–0059, must be received on or
before May 6, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted electronically, by mail, or
through hand delivery/courier. Follow
the detailed instructions as provided in
Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joanne Edwards, Registration Division
(7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001, telephone number:
(703) 305–6736; E-mail address:
edwards.joanne@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are an agricultural
producer, food manufacturer, or
pesticide manufacturer. Potentially
affected entities may include, but are
not limited to:
Crop production (NAICS code 111)
• Animal production (NAICS code
112)
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311)
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532)
This listing is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
affected by this action. Other types of
entities not listed in this unit could also
be affected. The North American
Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes have been provided to
assist you and others in determining
whether this action might apply to
certain entities. If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of
this action to a particular entity, consult
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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 ID number OPP–2005–
0059. 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, 1801 S. Bell St., 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 (703) 305–5805.
2. Electronic access. You may access
this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet
under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at
https://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 https://www.epa.gov/edocket/
to submit or 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.
Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’
then key in the appropriate docket ID
number.
Certain types of information will not
be placed in the EPA Dockets.
Information claimed as CBI and other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute, which is not
included in the official public docket,
will not be available for public viewing
in EPA’s electronic public docket. EPA’s
policy is that copyrighted material will
not be placed in EPA’s electronic public
docket but will be available only in
printed, paper form in the official public
docket. To the extent feasible, publicly
available docket materials will be made
available in EPA’s electronic public
docket. When a document is selected
from the index list in EPA Dockets, the
system will identify whether the
document is available for viewing in
EPA’s electronic public docket.
Although not all docket materials may
be available electronically, you may still
access any of the publicly available
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17447-17450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6708]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2005-0372]; FRL-7703-5]
Fluometuron; Notice of Availability of Risk Assessments
andOpening of Docket
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 17448]]
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA'srisk
assessments, preliminary risk reduction options, and related
documentsfor fluometuron, a phenylurea herbicide, and opens a public
comment periodon these documents. The public is encouraged to suggest
risk managementideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA
is developing aReregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for
fluometuron through amodified, 4-Phase public participation process
that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide
reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions. Through this
program, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and
safety standards.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number OPP-
2004-0372, must be received on or before June 6, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as
provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kylie Rothwell, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; courier address: 1801 S. Bell Street;
Arlington, VA 22202; telephone number: (703) 308-8055; fax number:
(703) 308-8172; e-mail address: rothwell.kylie@epa.gov.
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
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human
health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide
users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution,
or use of pesticides. Since others also may 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.
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 ID number OPP-2004-0372. 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, 1801 S. Bell St., 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 (703) 305-
5805.
2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''
listings at https://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 https://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or 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. Once in the system, select ``search,''
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets.
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the
index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the
document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket.
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. EPA intends to work
towards providing electronic access to all of the publicly available
docket materials through EPA's electronic public docket.
For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper,
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the docket will
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief
description written by the docket staff.
C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the
appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of
your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the
specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider
these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is
otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit
I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information
protected by statute.
1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name,
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in
the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or
contact information provided in the body of a comment will
[[Page 17449]]
be included as part of the comment that is placed in the official
public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If
EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot
contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your
comment.
i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at https://www.epa.gov/
edocket/, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number
OPP-2004-0372. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to opp-docket@epa.gov,
Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2004-0372. In contrast to EPA's
electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous
access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket
without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail
system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses
that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as
part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and
made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
2. By mail. Send your comments to: Public Information and Records
Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2004-0372.
3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Office of Pesticide
Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall
2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID
Number OPP-2004-0372. Such deliveries are only accepted during the
docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit I.B.1.
D. How Should I Submit CBI to the Agency?
Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM,
mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify
electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that
is 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 docket and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's
electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any
questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide any technical information and/or data you used that
support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at your estimate.
5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
6. Offer alternatives.
7. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline
identified.
8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket
ID number in the subject line on the first page of your response. It
would also be helpful if you provided the name, date, and Federal
Register citation related to your comments.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
EPA is releasing for public comment its human health and
environmental fate and effects risk assessments and related documents
for the phenylurea herbicide, fluometuron, and is encouraging the
public to suggest risk management ideas or proposals. EPA is ensuring
that pesticides meet current standards under the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of
1996 (FQPA).
Fluometuron is a preplant, preemergence and/or postemergence
herbicide used on cotton to control broadleaf and grass weeds. There
are potential chronic dietary risks of concern and cancer risks of
concern as a result of drinking water exposure, and potential acute and
chronic ecological risks of concern. EPA is providing an opportunity,
through this notice, for interested parties to provide comments and
input on the Agency's risk assessments for fluometuron. Such comments
and input could address the potential risks of concern. The Agency is
interested in obtaining any additional data or information that may
further refine the risk assessments, such as additional cancer data,
ecological toxicity data, percent crop treated information, typical
application rates and timings, etc.
EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color,
national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. To help
address potential environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks
information on any groups or segments of the population who, as a
result of their location, cultural practices, or other factors, may
have atypical, unusually high exposure to fluometuron, compared to the
general population.
EPA is releasing for public comment its risk assessments for
fluometuron, to provide an opportunity for interested parties to also
provide risk management proposals or otherwise comment on risk
management. Such comments and proposals should further discuss ways to
manage fluometuron's dietary (water), cancer, and/or ecological risks
resulting from its use on cotton, as discussed in the Agency's risk
assessments.
EPA is applying the principles of public participation to all
pesticides undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment. The
Agency's Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Public
Participation Process, published in the Federal Register on May 14,
2004, explains that
[[Page 17450]]
in conducting these programs, the Agency is tailoring its public
participation process to be commensurate with the level of risk, extent
of use, complexity of the issues, and degree of public concern
associated with each pesticide. For fluometuron, a modified, 4-Phase
process with one comment period and ample opportunity for public
consultation seems appropriate in view of its limited use pattern.
However, if as a result of comments received during this comment period
EPA finds that additional issues warranting further discussion are
raised, the Agency may lengthen the process and include a second
comment period, as needed.
All comments should be submitted using the methods in Unit I. of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, and must be received by EPA on or before
the closing date. Comments will become part of the Agency Docket for
fluometuron. Comments received after the close of the comment period
will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider these late
comments.
B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?
Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA as amended directs that, after submission
of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in product
specific data on individual end-use products and either reregistering
products or taking other ``appropriate regulatory action.''
Section 408(q) of the FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to
review tolerances and exemptions for pesticide residues in effect as of
August 2, 1996, to determine whether the tolerance or exemption meets
the requirements of section 408(b)(2) or (c)(2) of FFDCA. This review
is to be completed by August 3, 2006.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, pesticides and pests.
Dated: March 11, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-6708 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
