Bitertanol Tolerance Reassessment Decision for Low Risk Pesticide; Notice of Availability, 1750-1752 [E6-99]
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1750
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2006 / Notices
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/.
EDOCKET, EPA’s electronic public
docket and comment system was
replaced on November 25,2005, by an
enhanced Federal-wide electronic
docket management and comment
system located at https://
www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions.
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 view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the
official public docket, and to access
those documents in the public docket
that are available electronically.
Although, not all docket materials may
be available electronically, you may still
access any of the publicly available
docket materials through the docket
facility identified in Unit I.B.1. Once in
the system, select ‘‘search,’’ then key in
the appropriate docket ID number.
rmajette on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
II. Background
On a quarterly interval, the Exposure
Modeling Workgroup meets to discuss
current issues in modeling pesticide
fate, transport, and exposure to
pesticides in support of risk assessment
in a regulatory context.
III. How Can I Request to Participate in
this Meeting?
You may submit a request to
participate in this meeting to the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT. Do not submit any information
in your request that is considered CBI.
Requests to participate in the meeting,
identified by docket ID number EPA–
HQ–OPP–2005–0269, must be received
on or before 30 days after date of
publication in the Federal Register.
IV. Tentative Agenda
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Old Action Items
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3. Brief Updates
• PRZM3.12.2 Evaluation (J.
Hetrick)
• EFED’s Modeling Scenarios (M.
Corbin)
• Terrestrial Field Dissipation (M.
Corbin)
• Spray Drift Update (N. Birchfield)
4. Major Topics
• The FOCUS Version Control
Process - (Russell Jones, Bayer
CropScience)
• EFED Quality Assurance
Procedures for Tools Involving the Use
of Environmental Data - (Lisa
Eisenhauer, OPP-EFED)
• Version Control for Great Lakes
Models on Unix Systems - (Russell
Kreis, ORD-NHERL)
• Model Development and Version
Control Using a Collaboration
Envionment (COLAB) - (TBD, USDAARS, Great Plains Systems Research
Unit)
• Model Version Control in EPA Air
Models - (TBD)
• Evaluation of the AGDISP Ground
Boom Spray Drift Model - (Al Barefoot,
CropLife America
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Modeling,
Pesticides, pests.
Dated: January 4, 2006.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Environmental Fate and Effects
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6–101 Filed 1– 10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–0491; FRL–7756–3]
Bitertanol Tolerance Reassessment
Decision for Low Risk Pesticide;
Notice of Availability
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of EPA’s Report of the Food
Quality Protection Act (FQPA)
Tolerance Reassessment Progress and
Risk Management Decision, known as a
TRED, for the fungicide bitertanol, and
opens a public comment period on this
document, related risk assessments, and
other support documents. EPA has
reviewed the low risk pesticide
bitertanol through a modified,
streamlined version of the public
participation process that the Agency
uses to involve the public in developing
pesticide tolerance reassessment and
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reregistration decisions. Through the
tolerance reassessment program, EPA is
ensuring that all pesticides meet current
health and food safety standards.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket
ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–0491,
must be received on or before February
10, 2006.
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:
Rosanna Louie, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–
0001; telephone number: (703) 308–
0037; fax number: (703) 308–8005; email address: louie.rosanna@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 may also be interested, the
Agency has not attempted to describe all
the specific entities that may be affected
by this action. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this action
to a particular entity, consult the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
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 EPA–HQ–
OPP–2005–0491. 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
E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM
11JAN1
rmajette on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2006 / Notices
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/.
EDOCKET, EPA’s electronic public
docket and comment system was
replaced on November 25, 2005, by an
enhanced Federal-wide electronic
docket management and comment
system located at https://
www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions.
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 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, CBI, or
other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. When EPA
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:20 Jan 10, 2006
Jkt 208001
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
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.
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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 EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–
0491. 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 EPA–HQ–
OPP–2005–0491. 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 EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–0491.
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 EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–0491.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2006 / Notices
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
rmajette on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
EPA has, on November 30, 2005,
reached a tolerance reassessment
decision for 1 existing tolerance or
residue limit for bitertanol on bananas.
Bitertanol is a broad-spectrum fungicide
used to control black sigatoka on banana
and plantain plants. The existing
tolerance for bitertanol allows for
residues on imported bananas and
plantains, as there are no U.S.
registrations for bitertanol. The Agency
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14:20 Jan 10, 2006
Jkt 208001
is now issuing for comment the
resulting Report on Food Quality
Protection Act (FQPA) Tolerance
Reassessment Progress and Risk
Management Decision for bitertanol,
known as a TRED, as well as related risk
assessments and technical support
documents.
EPA developed the bitertanol TRED
through a modified, streamlined version
of its public process for making
tolerance reassessment and
reregistration eligibility decisions.
Through these programs, the Agency is
ensuring that pesticides meet current
standards under the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended
by FQPA. EPA must review tolerances
and tolerance exemptions that were in
effect when the FQPA was enacted to
ensure that these existing pesticide
residue limits for food and feed
commodities meet the safety standard
established by the new law. Tolerances
are considered reassessed once the
safety finding has been made or a
revocation occurs. EPA has reviewed
and made the requisite safety finding for
the bitertanol tolerance included in this
notice.
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 of May 14, 2004 (69 FR 26819)
(FRL–7357–9) explains that 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 issues, and degree of public concern
associated with each pesticide. EPA can
expeditiously reach decisions for
pesticides like bitertanol, that pose no
risk concerns and require no risk
mitigation. Once EPA assesses uses and
risks for such low risk pesticides, the
Agency may go directly to a decision
and prepare a document summarizing
its findings, such as the bitertanol
TRED.
The tolerance reassessment program
is being conducted under
Congressionally mandated time frames,
and EPA recognizes the need both to
make timely decisions and to involve
the public in finding ways to effectively
mitigate pesticide risks. Bitertanol,
however, poses no risks that require
mitigation. The Agency therefore is
issuing the bitertanol TRED, its risk
assessments, and related support
documents simultaneously for public
comment. The comment period is
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intended to provide an opportunity for
public input and a mechanism for
initiating any necessary amendments to
the TRED. 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. These comments will
become part of the Agency Docket for
bitertanol. Comments received after the
close of the comment period will be
marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not required to
consider these late comments.
EPA will carefully consider all
comments received by the closing date
and will provide a Response to
Comments Memorandum in the Docket
and electronic EDOCKET. If any
comment significantly affects the
document, EPA also will publish an
amendment to the TRED in the Federal
Register. In the absence of substantive
comments requiring changes, the
decisions reflected in the TRED will be
implemented as presented.
B. What is the Agency’s Authority for
Taking this 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: January 4, 2006.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6–99 Filed 1–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
Farm Credit Administration Board;
Amendment to Sunshine Act Meeting
Farm Credit Administration.
Pursuant to the Government
in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C.
552b(e)(3)), the Farm Credit
Administration gave notice on January
4, 2006 (71 FR 345) of the regular
meeting of the Farm Credit
Administration Board (Board)
scheduled for January 6, 2006. This
notice is to amend the agenda by adding
an item to the closed session of that
meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roland E. Smith, Secretary to the Farm
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1750-1752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-99]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0491; FRL-7756-3]
Bitertanol Tolerance Reassessment Decision for Low Risk
Pesticide; Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Report of the
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Tolerance Reassessment Progress and
Risk Management Decision, known as a TRED, for the fungicide
bitertanol, and opens a public comment period on this document, related
risk assessments, and other support documents. EPA has reviewed the low
risk pesticide bitertanol through a modified, streamlined version of
the public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the
public in developing pesticide tolerance reassessment and
reregistration decisions. Through the tolerance reassessment program,
EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and food safety
standards.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0491,
must be received on or before February 10, 2006.
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: Rosanna Louie, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-0037; fax
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: louie.rosanna@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 may also be interested, the Agency
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
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 EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0491. 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
[[Page 1751]]
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/.
EDOCKET, EPA's electronic public docket and comment system was
replaced on November 25, 2005, by an enhanced Federal-wide electronic
docket management and comment system located at https://
www.regulations.gov/. Follow the on-line instructions.
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 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, 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
EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0491. 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 EPA-HQ- OPP-2005-0491. 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 EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-
0491.
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 EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0491. 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
[[Page 1752]]
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 has, on November 30, 2005, reached a tolerance reassessment
decision for 1 existing tolerance or residue limit for bitertanol on
bananas. Bitertanol is a broad-spectrum fungicide used to control black
sigatoka on banana and plantain plants. The existing tolerance for
bitertanol allows for residues on imported bananas and plantains, as
there are no U.S. registrations for bitertanol. The Agency is now
issuing for comment the resulting Report on Food Quality Protection Act
(FQPA) Tolerance Reassessment Progress and Risk Management Decision for
bitertanol, known as a TRED, as well as related risk assessments and
technical support documents.
EPA developed the bitertanol TRED through a modified, streamlined
version of its public process for making tolerance reassessment and
reregistration eligibility decisions. Through these programs, the
Agency is ensuring that pesticides meet current standards under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended by
FQPA. EPA must review tolerances and tolerance exemptions that were in
effect when the FQPA was enacted to ensure that these existing
pesticide residue limits for food and feed commodities meet the safety
standard established by the new law. Tolerances are considered
reassessed once the safety finding has been made or a revocation
occurs. EPA has reviewed and made the requisite safety finding for the
bitertanol tolerance included in this notice.
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 of May 14,
2004 (69 FR 26819) (FRL-7357-9) explains that 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
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide.
EPA can expeditiously reach decisions for pesticides like bitertanol,
that pose no risk concerns and require no risk mitigation. Once EPA
assesses uses and risks for such low risk pesticides, the Agency may go
directly to a decision and prepare a document summarizing its findings,
such as the bitertanol TRED.
The tolerance reassessment program is being conducted under
Congressionally mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both
to make timely decisions and to involve the public in finding ways to
effectively mitigate pesticide risks. Bitertanol, however, poses no
risks that require mitigation. The Agency therefore is issuing the
bitertanol TRED, its risk assessments, and related support documents
simultaneously for public comment. The comment period is intended to
provide an opportunity for public input and a mechanism for initiating
any necessary amendments to the TRED. 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. These comments will
become part of the Agency Docket for bitertanol. Comments received
after the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is
not required to consider these late comments.
EPA will carefully consider all comments received by the closing
date and will provide a Response to Comments Memorandum in the Docket
and electronic EDOCKET. If any comment significantly affects the
document, EPA also will publish an amendment to the TRED in the Federal
Register. In the absence of substantive comments requiring changes, the
decisions reflected in the TRED will be implemented as presented.
B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this 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: January 4, 2006.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-99 Filed 1-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
