Dimethoate Revised Risk Assessments; Notice of Availability and Solicitation of Risk Reduction Options, 53005-53008 [05-17545]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 6, 2005 / Notices
appropriate docket identification
number (OW–2004–0041).
For those wishing to make public
comments, it is important to note that
EPA’s policy is that comments, whether
submitted electronically or on 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,
confidential business information (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 mailed or delivered to
the Docket will be transferred to EPA’s
electronic public docket. Written public
comments mailed or delivered to the
Docket will be scanned and placed in
EPA’s electronic public docket.
B. 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 identification number (OW–
2004–0041) in the subject line on the
first page of your comment. Please
ensure that your comments are
submitted within the specified comment
period.
1. Electronically. If you submit an
electronic comment as prescribed
below, 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 submittor of the
comment, and it allows EPA to contact
you if further information on the
substance of the comment is needed or
if your comment cannot be read due to
technical difficulties. 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 be included as part of the
comment 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
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clarification, EPA may not be able to
consider your comment.
i. EDOCKET. 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 EDOCKET at
https://www.epa.gov/edocket/, and
follow the online instructions for
submitting comments. To access EPA’s
electronic public docket from the EPA
Internet Home Page, https://
www.epa.gov, select ‘‘Information
Sources,’’ ‘‘Dockets,’’ and ‘‘EDOCKET.’’
Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’ and
then key in Docket ID No. OW–2004–
0041. 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
electronic mail (e-mail) to
OW.Docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket
ID No. OW–2004–0041. In contrast to
EPA’s electronic public docket, EPA’s email 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 mailed
to the mailing address identified in
section I.B.2 of this notice. These
electronic submissions will be accepted
in Word, WordPerfect or rich text files.
Avoid the use of special characters and
any form of encryption.
2. By Mail. Send your comments to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
OW Docket, EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No.
OW–2004–0041.
3. By Hand Delivery or Courier.
Deliver your comments to: EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC), Room B102, EPA West
Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC, Attention Docket
ID No. OW–2004–0041 (note: this is not
a mailing address). Such deliveries are
only accepted during the docket’s
normal hours of operation as identified
in section I.A.1 of this notice.
Information on Services for
Individuals with Disabilities: For
information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, please
contact Marion Kelly at (202) 566–1045
or email: Kelly.Marion@EPA.GOV to
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request accommodation of a disability,
at least ten days prior to the meeting, to
give EPA as much time as possible to
process your request.
Dated: August 26, 2005.
Richard Reding,
Designated Federal Officer.
[FR Doc. 05–17616 Filed 9–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[OPP–2005–0084; FRL–7730–5]
Dimethoate Revised Risk
Assessments; Notice of Availability
and Solicitation of Risk Reduction
Options
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of EPA’s revised risk
assessments for the organophosphate
pesticide dimethoate. In addition, this
notice solicits public comment on risk
reduction options for dimethoate. The
public is encouraged to suggest risk
management ideas or proposals to
address the risks identified. EPA is
developing an Interim Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (IRED) for
dimethoate through the full, 6–Phase
public participation process that the
Agency uses to involve the public in
developing pesticide reregistration and
tolerance reassessment decisions.
Through these programs, EPA is
ensuring that all pesticides meet current
health and safety standards.
Comments must be received on
or before November 7, 2005.
DATES:
Comments, identified by
docket identification (ID) number OPP–
2005–0084, may be submitted
electronically, by mail, or through hand
delivery/courier. Follow the detailed
instructions as provided in Unit I. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephanie Plummer, Special Review
and Reregistration Division (7508C),
Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001; telephone number:
(703) 305–0076; fax number: (703) 308–
7042; e-mail address:
plummer.stephanie@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 6, 2005 / Notices
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–2005–
0084. 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,
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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
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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
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–2005–0084. 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–
2005–0084. 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 6, 2005 / Notices
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–2005–0084.
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–2005–0084. 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.
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13:21 Sep 02, 2005
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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 making available the Agency’s
revised risk assessments, initially made
available to the public for comment
through a technical briefing on
December 14, 1999, as well as related
documents for dimethoate. EPA also is
soliciting public comment on risk
reduction options for dimethoate,
namely, possible ways to mitigate
drinking water risks, risks to workers,
and risks to wildlife, as well as any data
that may be available on the rate of
conversion of dimethoate to omethoate
during drinking water treatment. EPA
developed the risk assessments for
dimethoate as part of its public process
for making pesticide reregistration
eligibility and tolerance reassessment
decisions. Through these programs, 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).
Dimethoate is a systemic
organophosphate insecticide used for
control of a wide variety of insect pests
on a number of fruit, vegetable, grain,
and field crops, as well as ornamentals
and non-cropland adjacent to
agricultural fields.
EPA is providing an opportunity,
through this notice, for interested
parties to provide risk management
proposals or otherwise comment on risk
management for dimethoate. Risks of
concern associated with the use of
dimethoate are as follows:
1. Dietary risks from food and
drinking water together exceed the
Agency’s level of concern on an acute
basis for all population subgroups, and
on a chronic basis for infants and
children.
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53007
2. Risks to occupational handlers for
some handler scenarios exceed the level
of concern.
3. Post-application risks for some
exposure scenarios exceed the level of
concern.
4. The Agency’s ecological levels of
concern are exceeded for birds on an
acute and chronic basis, mammals on an
acute and chronic basis, freshwater fish
on a chronic basis, and freshwater
invertebrates on an acute and chronic
basis.
In targeting these risks of concern, the
Agency solicits information on effective
and practical risk reduction measures.
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, (69 FR 26819)
(FRL–7357–9), explains that in
conducting these programs, EPA is
tailoring its public participation process
to be commensurate with the level of
risk, extent of use, complexity of issues,
and degree of public concern associated
with each pesticide. Due to its uses,
risks, and other factors, dimethoate is
being reviewed through the full 6–Phase
public participation process.
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
comment period deadline. Comments
and proposals will become part of the
official public docket for dimethoate.
Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ‘‘late.’’
EPA is not required to consider these
late comments.
After considering comments received,
EPA will develop and issue for
comment the dimethoate IRED. The
decisions presented in this IRED may be
supplemented by further risk mitigation
measures when EPA considers its
cumulative assessment of the
organophosphate pesticides.
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
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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,
Dimethoate, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: August 30, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05–17545 Filed 9–1–05; 9:12 am]
National Environmental Policy Act is
also available at the above Internet
address or by mail from the address
listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Diane Smith, EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross
Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202,
Telephone: (214) 665–7191, or via email to the following address:
smith.diane@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulated Entities. Entities potentially
regulated by this action are those which
operate offshore oil and gas extraction
facilities located in the territorial seas
off Texas.
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
Category
Examples of regulated
entities
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
Industry ..........
Offshore Oil and Gas Extraction Platforms.
[FRL–7964–8]
This table lists the types of entities
that EPA is now aware could potentially
be regulated by this action. Other types
of entities not listed in the table could
also be regulated. To determine whether
your (facility, company, business,
organization, etc.) is regulated by this
action, you should carefully examine
the applicability criteria in part I.
section A.1. of the general permit. If you
have questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a
particular entity, consult the person
listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Pursuant to section 402 of the Clean
Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. 1342, EPA
proposed and solicited comments on
NPDES general permit TXG260000 at 66
FR 29948 (November 17, 2003). Notice
of this proposed permit was also
published in the Houston Chronicle on
November 20, 2003. The comment
period closed on January 16, 2004.
Region 6 received comments from the
Offshore Operators Committee, the
International Association of Drilling
Contractors, and the Railroad
Commission of Texas.
EPA Region 6 has considered all
comments received. In response to those
comments the following changes were
made to the proposed permit. Ambient
density stratification data were
examined and the critical dilutions
required for the produced water toxicity
limits were recalculated. The proposed
48-hour acute toxicity limit was
replaced with a seven day chronic
toxicity limit in the final permit. An
exemption for toxicity caused by total
dissolved solids was included for the
24-hour acute toxicity limits. The
permit allows collection of a single grab
sample for toxicity testing. The State
lease and well numbers are required to
Reissuance of the NPDES General
Permit for the Territorial Seas Off
Texas (TXG260000)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Final NPDES General
Permit Reissuance.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator
of Region 6 today issues the final
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) ‘‘General
Permit for the Territorial Seas off Texas’’
(No. TXG260000) for discharges from
existing and new dischargers and New
Sources in the Offshore Subcategory of
the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source
Category (40 CFR part 435, subpart A)
as authorized by section 402 of the
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342. The
permit supercedes the previous general
permit (TX0085651) issued on
September 15, 1983 and published in
the Federal Register at 48 FR 41494.
That permit authorized discharges from
exploration, development, and
production facilities located in and
discharging to the territorial seas off
Texas. Through this reissuance, EPA
includes current technology and water
quality based effluent limitations
consistent with National Effluent
Limitations Guidelines, Federal Ocean
Discharge Criteria, and State Water
Quality Standards.
A copy of the Region’s responses to
comments and the final permit may be
obtained by mail from the address listed
below or from the EPA Region 6 Internet
site: https://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/
6wq.htm.
A Record of Decision which
completes the Environmental
Assessment process required by the
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be reported on the notice of intent to be
covered. Unmeasurable de minimis
discharges of drilling fluids such as
wind blown splatters from pipe racks
are authorized. A number of minor
typographical changes and clarifications
were also made to the permit’s language.
Dated: August 26, 2005.
Miguel I. Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division,
Region 6.
[FR Doc. 05–17614 Filed 9–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
Farm Credit Administration Board;
Regular Meeting
Farm Credit Administration.
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the Government in the
Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(e)(3)), of
the regular meeting of the Farm Credit
Administration Board (Board).
Date and Time: The regular meeting
of the Board will be held at the offices
of the Farm Credit Administration in
McLean, Virginia, on September 8,
2005, from 9 a.m. until such time as the
Board concludes its business.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeanette C. Brinkley, Secretary to the
Farm Credit Administration Board,
(703) 883–4009, TTY (703) 883–4056.
ADDRESSES: Farm Credit
Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive,
McLean, Virginia 22102–5090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Parts of
this meeting of the Board will be open
to the public (limited space available),
and parts will be closed to the public.
In order to increase the accessibility to
Board meetings, persons requiring
assistance should make arrangements in
advance. The matters to be considered
at the meeting are:
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
Open Session
A. Approval of Minutes
• August 11, 2005 (Open and Closed).
B. Reports
• FCS Building Association Quarterly
Report.
C. New Business—Regulations
• Receivership Repudiation
Authorities—Final Rule.
Closed Session*
• OSMO Quarterly Report.
*Session Closed—Exempt pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(8) and (9).
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53005-53008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17545]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2005-0084; FRL-7730-5]
Dimethoate Revised Risk Assessments; Notice of Availability and
Solicitation of Risk Reduction Options
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's revised risk
assessments for the organophosphate pesticide dimethoate. In addition,
this notice solicits public comment on risk reduction options for
dimethoate. The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas
or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing an
Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for dimethoate
through the full, 6-Phase public participation process that the Agency
uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration and
tolerance reassessment decisions. Through these programs, EPA is
ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 7, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number
OPP-2005-0084, 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: Stephanie Plummer, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-0076; fax
number: (703) 308-7042; e-mail address: plummer.stephanie@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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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-2005-0084. 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 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-2005-0084. 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-2005-0084. 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
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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-2005-0084.
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-2005-0084. 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 making available the Agency's revised risk assessments,
initially made available to the public for comment through a technical
briefing on December 14, 1999, as well as related documents for
dimethoate. EPA also is soliciting public comment on risk reduction
options for dimethoate, namely, possible ways to mitigate drinking
water risks, risks to workers, and risks to wildlife, as well as any
data that may be available on the rate of conversion of dimethoate to
omethoate during drinking water treatment. EPA developed the risk
assessments for dimethoate as part of its public process for making
pesticide reregistration eligibility and tolerance reassessment
decisions. Through these programs, 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).
Dimethoate is a systemic organophosphate insecticide used for
control of a wide variety of insect pests on a number of fruit,
vegetable, grain, and field crops, as well as ornamentals and non-
cropland adjacent to agricultural fields.
EPA is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for
interested parties to provide risk management proposals or otherwise
comment on risk management for dimethoate. Risks of concern associated
with the use of dimethoate are as follows:
1. Dietary risks from food and drinking water together exceed the
Agency's level of concern on an acute basis for all population
subgroups, and on a chronic basis for infants and children.
2. Risks to occupational handlers for some handler scenarios exceed
the level of concern.
3. Post-application risks for some exposure scenarios exceed the
level of concern.
4. The Agency's ecological levels of concern are exceeded for birds
on an acute and chronic basis, mammals on an acute and chronic basis,
freshwater fish on a chronic basis, and freshwater invertebrates on an
acute and chronic basis.
In targeting these risks of concern, the Agency solicits
information on effective and practical risk reduction measures.
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, (69 FR 26819) (FRL-7357-9), explains that in conducting these
programs, EPA is tailoring its public participation process to be
commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide.
Due to its uses, risks, and other factors, dimethoate is being reviewed
through the full 6-Phase public participation process.
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 comment period deadline. Comments and proposals will become part of
the official public docket for dimethoate. Comments received after the
close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not
required to consider these late comments.
After considering comments received, EPA will develop and issue for
comment the dimethoate IRED. The decisions presented in this IRED may
be supplemented by further risk mitigation measures when EPA considers
its cumulative assessment of the organophosphate pesticides.
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
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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, Dimethoate, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: August 30, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-17545 Filed 9-1-05; 9:12 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S