Methyl Bromide Risk Assessments for Fumigant Pesticide; Extension of Comment Period, 53659 [05-18009]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 174 (Friday, September 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 53659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18009]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2005-0123; FRL-7738-1]


Methyl Bromide Risk Assessments for Fumigant Pesticide; Extension 
of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of July 13, 2005, 
concerning the availability of EPA's human health and environmental 
fate and effects risk assessments and related documents for the 
fumigant methyl bromide. This document is extending the comment period 
for 30 days, from September 12, 2005 to October 12, 2005.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number OPP-
2005-0123 must be received on or before October 12, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or 
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as 
provided in Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the July 13, 
2005 Federal Register document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Bartow, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 603-0065; fax 
number: (703) 308-8041; e-mail address: bartow.susan@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    The Agency included in the notice a list of those who may be 
potentially affected by this action. If you have questions regarding 
the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket ID number OPP-2005-0123. 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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    To submit comments, or access the official public docket, please 
follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.C. of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the July 13, 2005 Federal Register 
document. If you have questions, consult the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

    This document extends the public comment period established in the 
Federal Register of July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40336) (FRL-7721-3). In that 
document, EPA made available the human health and environmental fate 
and effects risk assessments for methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is a 
broad-spectrum fumigant chemical that can be used as an acaricide, 
antimicrobial, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, and 
vertebrate control agent. The most prevalent use pattern is as a soil 
fumigant; however, it is also used as a structural fumigant and for 
post harvest treatment of commodities. The Agency developed these risk 
assessments 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). The Agency 
received a request from the Methyl Bromide Industry Panel of the 
American Chemistry Council to extend the comment period. EPA is hereby 
extending the comment period, which was set to end on September 12, 
2005, by 30 days. The comment period will now end on October 12, 2005. 
This extension is being given based on the Agency's delay in providing 
legible copies of the appendices supporting the risk assessments.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: September 6, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-18009 Filed 9-7-05; 12:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S