Metaldehyde Reregistration Eligibility Decision; Notice of Availability, 45551-45554 [E6-12896]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 9, 2006 / Notices
iv. Describe any assumptions and
provide any technical information and/
or data that you used.
v. If you estimate potential costs or
burdens, explain how you arrived at
your estimate in sufficient detail to
allow for it to be reproduced.
vi. Provide specific examples to
illustrate your concerns and suggest
alternatives.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as
possible, avoiding the use of profanity
or personal threats.
viii. Make sure to submit your
comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Background
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
Under section 4 of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating
existing pesticides to ensure that they
meet current scientific and regulatory
standards. EPA has completed a
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED)
for pesticides containing coppers under
section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Coppers are
used in agriculture as a broad-spectrum
fungicide and bactericide used on
virtually all food and ornamental crops,
in catfish aquaculture, and in direct
aquatic applications as an algaecide,
herbicide, molluscicide, and leech
control. Direct aquatic application sites
include a wide range of water bodies
including irrigation waterways, potable
water sources and systems, and
quiescent water bodies. Coppers are also
registered for antimicrobial applications
including use as an anti-foulant and
preservative in wood treatments and
anti-fouling paints. EPA has determined
that the data base to support
reregistration is substantially complete
and that products containing coppers
that are used in agricultural applications
(crops, ornamentals, and direct aquatic
applications) are eligible for
reregistration under FIFRA, provided
that the mitigation measures are
adopted and product labels are
amended as described in the RED
document. The Agency assessed the
homeowner root control use of copper
sulfate pentahydrate, which may
potentially pose additional cost burdens
to publicly owned treatment works
(POTWs) to remove the excess copper
from wastewaters until copper
concentrations reach acceptable levels
as required, as well as the potential risk
to non-target aquatic animals and
plants. However, there is insufficient
data to fully assess this potential burden
to POTWs. The Agency is seeking
comments on the extent of copper use
as a root killer, and the potential burden
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placed on POTWs from this use. Upon
submission of any required product
specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B)
and any necessary changes to the
registration and labeling (either to
address concerns identified in the RED
or as a result of product specific data),
EPA will reregister specific products
under section 4(g)(2)(C).
EPA must review tolerances and
tolerance exemptions that were in effect
when the Food Quality Protection Act
(FQPA) was enacted in August 1996, 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 copper tolerances.
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, coppers were
reviewed through the modified 4-Phase
process. Through this process, EPA
worked extensively with stakeholders
and the public to reach the regulatory
decisions for coppers.
The reregistration program is being
conducted under Congressionally
mandated time frames, and EPA
recognizes the need both to make timely
decisions and to involve the public. The
Agency is issuing the coppers RED for
public comment. This comment period
is intended to provide an additional
opportunity for public input and a
mechanism for initiating any necessary
amendments to the RED. All comments
should be submitted using the methods
in ADDRESSES, and must be received by
EPA on or before the closing date. These
comments will become part of the
Agency Docket for coppers. Comments
received after the close of the comment
period will be marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not
required to consider these late
comments.
The Agency will carefully consider all
comments received by the closing date
and will provide a Response to
Comments document in the Docket and
regulations.gov. If any comment
significantly affects the document, EPA
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45551
also will publish an amendment to the
RED in the Federal Register. In the
absence of substantive comments
requiring changes, the coppers RED will
be implemented as it is now presented.
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 Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (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: August 2, 2006.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6–12899 Filed 8–8–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–0231; FRL–8067–1]
Metaldehyde Reregistration Eligibility
Decision; Notice of Availability
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of EPA’s Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the
pesticide metaldehyde, and opens a
public comment period on this
document. The Agency’s risk
assessments and other related
documents also are available in the
metaldehyde Docket. Metaldehyde is a
molluscicide used to control snails and
slugs on a wide variety of sites,
including turf, ornamentals, berries,
citrus, and vegetables. EPA has
reviewed metaldehyde through the
public participation process that the
Agency uses to involve the public in
developing pesticide reregistration and
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45552
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 9, 2006 / Notices
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 October 10, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–0231, by
one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001.
• Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental
Protection Agency, Rm. S–4400, One
Potomac Yard (South Building), 2777 S.
Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. Deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays). Special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket telephone number is (703) 305–
5805.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–
0231. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the docket
without change and may be made
available on-line at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or E-mail. The
Federal https://www.regulations.gov Web
site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system,
which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless
you provide it in the body of your
comment. If you send an E-mail
comment directly to EPA without going
through https://www.regulations.gov,
your E-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as
part of the comment that is placed in the
docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact
information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM
you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
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19:05 Aug 08, 2006
Jkt 208001
comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form
of encryption, and be free of any defects
or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the docket index. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either in the
electronic docket at https://
www.regulations.gov, or, if only
available in hard copy, at the OPP
Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400,
One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777
S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The
hours of operation of this Docket
Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The Docket Facility telephone
number is (703) 305–5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill
Bloom, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–
0001; telephone number: (703) 308–
8019; fax number: (703) 308–7070; Email address:bloom.jill@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. What Should I Consider as I Prepare
My Comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through https://
www.regulations.gov or E-mail. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information
that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD ROM that
you mail to EPA, 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
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes 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. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments.
When submitting comments, remember
to:
i. Identify the document by docket ID
number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal
Register date and page number).
ii. Follow directions. The Agency may
ask you to respond to specific questions
or organize comments by referencing a
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part
or section number.
iii. Explain why you agree or disagree;
suggest alternatives and substitute
language for your requested changes.
iv. Describe any assumptions and
provide any technical information and/
or data that you used.
v. If you estimate potential costs or
burdens, explain how you arrived at
your estimate in sufficient detail to
allow for it to be reproduced.
vi. Provide specific examples to
illustrate your concerns and suggest
alternatives.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as
possible, avoiding the use of profanity
or personal threats.
viii. Make sure to submit your
comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
Under section 4 of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating
existing pesticides to ensure that they
meet current scientific and regulatory
standards. EPA has completed a
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED)
for the pesticide metaldehyde under
section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA.
Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used to
control snails and slugs on a wide
variety of sites, including turf,
ornamentals, berries, citrus, and
vegetables. EPA has determined that the
data base to support reregistration is
substantially complete. The technical
registrant of metaldehyde, Lonza,
elected not to support many uses
through the development of residue and
other data. Of the uses Lonza is
supporting, turf and dichondra lawns
are not eligible for reregistration, mainly
based on the risks these residential uses
pose to domestic animals, which may be
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 9, 2006 / Notices
poisoned by ingesting metaldehyde
pellets intended as snail and slug baits.
The uses of metaldehyde that are
eligible for reregistration are:
Ornamentals, citrus, cole crops, several
leafy greens (including lettuce and
spinach), tomato, strawberry, berries
(including blackberry, blueberry,
currant, elderberry, gooseberry, and
raspberries), artichoke, and grass grown
for seed. To mitigate the risks associated
with the eligible uses of metaldehyde,
the Agency is requiring that the
registrants implement a number of
measures aimed at reducing exposures
to domestic animals and wildlife,
mainly through reduced numbers of
applications and reduced application
rates, and product labeling and
reformulation. In addition, the Agency
is requiring that the registrants
undertake a comprehensive incident
monitoring program, data from which
will be used by the Agency to determine
whether these risk mitigation measures
adequately reduce numbers and severity
of poisoning incidents for domestic
animals. Upon submission of any
required generic and product-specific
data pursuant to the RED, and any
necessary changes to metaldehyde
registrations and product labeling
(either to address concerns identified in
the RED or resulting from the use of
product-specific data), EPA will make a
final reregistration decision under
section 4(g)(2)(C) for products
containing metaldehyde.
EPA must review tolerances and
tolerance exemptions that were in effect
when the Food Quality Protection Act
(FQPA) was enacted in August 1996, 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 sole existing metaldehyde tolerance.
Although the metaldehyde RED was
signed on July 27, 2006, certain
components of the document, which did
not affect the final regulatory decision,
are undergoing final editing at this time.
These components, including the list of
additional generic data requirements,
summary of labeling changes,
appendices, and other relevant
information, will be added to the
metaldehyde RED when they are
complete. None of these additions will
alter the conclusions documented in the
July 27, 2006 metaldehyde RED.
EPA is applying the principles of
public participation to all pesticides
undergoing reregistration and tolerance
reassessment. The Agency’s Pesticide
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Jkt 208001
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, metaldehyde
was reviewed through the modified 4Phase process. Through this process,
EPA worked extensively with
stakeholders and the public to reach the
regulatory decisions for metaldehyde.
The reregistration program is being
conducted under Congressionally
mandated time frames, and EPA
recognizes the need both to make timely
decisions and to involve the public. The
Agency is issuing the metaldehyde RED
for public comment. This comment
period is intended to provide an
additional opportunity for public input
and a mechanism for initiating any
necessary amendments to the RED. All
comments should be submitted using
the methods in ADDRESSES, and must be
received by EPA on or before the closing
date. These comments will become part
of the Agency Docket for metaldehyde.
Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ‘‘late.’’
EPA is not required to consider these
late comments.
In particular, during the 60–day
comment period following the
publication of this Notice, the Agency is
soliciting input on several of the
mitigation measures required by the
RED.
The Agency is specifically seeking
public comment on how the directions
on home and garden product labels to
exclude children and domestic animals
from treated areas may be enhanced. As
an example, the RED requires that these
product labels include a graphic
representing the prohibition for
allowing children and domestic animals
access to treated areas (e.g., the words
‘‘Children and Pets’’ within a red circle
with a red bar running diagonally
through the circle). The formulators of
metaldehyde products have commented
that they believe a ‘‘Children and Pets’’
graphic of this nature could be
misleading to consumers. Comments on
this feature in particular are requested.
In addition, the Agency seeks public
comment on a requirement that all
metaldehyde granular products be
formulated with a bright blue pigment,
which anecdotal evidence suggests may
deter ingestion by animals. Some
registrants have expressed concern that
the blue color could attract children
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45553
who might mistake the granules for
candy. The Agency is soliciting input on
this issue and data on the potential
effect of the blue color on ingestion of
such material by animals. The
registrants are also concerned that the
blue color in granules could transfer to
produce or the containers in which
harvested produce is transported,
reducing the marketability of the
produce. The Agency believes that the
soil-applied baits should have little
likelihood of transferring color to plants,
but is seeking public comment on
experience with the pigmented
formulations in agricultural sites, where
they are already used.
The Agency is also seeking input on
a prohibition of use for metaldehyde in
strawberries grown as annuals. The
annual growth pattern is typically
associated with lower populations of
slugs which may do little economic
damage to the fruits. The Agency seeks
information to be able to confirm or
refute that the use of metaldehyde on
strawberries grown as annuals is not
necessary.
The Agency will carefully consider all
comments received by the closing date
and subsequently will post a Response
to Comments Memorandum to the
metaldehyde Docket. If any comment
significantly affects the reregistration
decision, EPA also will publish an
amendment to the RED in theFederal
Register. In the absence of substantive
comments requiring changes, the
metaldehyde RED will be implemented
as it is now presented.
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 productspecific data on individual end-use
products and either reregistering
products or taking other ‘‘appropriate
regulatory action.’’
Section 408(q) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (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.
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45554
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 9, 2006 / Notices
Dated: August 2, 2006.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6–12896 Filed 8–8–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–0201; FRL–8085–9]
Organic Arsenical Herbicides (MSMA,
DSMA, CAMA, and Cacodylic Acid),
Reregistration Eligibility Decision;
Notice of Availability
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of EPA’s Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the
organic arsenical herbicides MSMA,
DSMA, CAMA, and cacodylic acid, and
opens a public comment period on this
document. The Agency has determined
that all products containing MSMA,
DSMA, CAMA, and cacodylic acid are
not eligible for reregistration. The
Agency’s risk assessments and other
related documents also are available in
the organic arsenical herbicides docket.
MSMA, DSMA, CAMA, and cacodylic
acid are collectively referred to as the
‘‘organic arsenical herbicides.’’ The
organic arsenic herbicides are used
primarily on cotton and turf, including
golf courses, home lawns, recreational
areas such as school yards and athletic
fields, and rights-of-way. Overall, use in
the United States appears to be
declining. While EPA has identified
some risk associated with the direct use
of these herbicides, the Agency’s
primary concern is the potential for
applied organic arsenical products to
transform to a more toxic inorganic form
of arsenic in soil with subsequent
transport to drinking water. EPA has
reviewed the organic arsenical
herbicides through the 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 October 10, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–0201, by
one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
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19:05 Aug 08, 2006
Jkt 208001
• Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460-0001.
• Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental
Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One
Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S.
Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays). Special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket Facility telephone number is
(703) 305-5805.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–
0201, EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the docket
without change and may be made
available on-line at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or E-mail. The
Federal https://www.regulations.gov Web
site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system,
which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless
you provide it in the body of your
comment. If you send an E-mail
comment directly to EPA without going
through https://www.regulations.gov,
your E-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as
part of the comment that is placed in the
docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact
information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM
you submit. 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. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form
of encryption, and be free of any defects
or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the docket index. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
materials are available either in the
electronic docket at https://
www.regulations.gov, or, if only
available in hard copy, at the OPP
Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400,
One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777
S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours
of operation of this Docket Facility are
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The Docket Facility telephone
number is (703) 305-5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lance Wormell, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001;
telephone number: (703) 603-0523; fax
number: (703) 308-7070; E-mail address:
wormell.lance@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. What Should I Consider as I Prepare
My Comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through https://
www.regulations.gov or E-mail. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information
that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD ROM that
you mail to EPA, 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
claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes 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. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments.
When submitting comments, remember
to:
E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45551-45554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12896]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0231; FRL-8067-1]
Metaldehyde Reregistration Eligibility Decision; Notice of
Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide
metaldehyde, and opens a public comment period on this document. The
Agency's risk assessments and other related documents also are
available in the metaldehyde Docket. Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used
to control snails and slugs on a wide variety of sites, including turf,
ornamentals, berries, citrus, and vegetables. EPA has reviewed
metaldehyde through the public participation process that the Agency
uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration and
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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 October 10, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0231, by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal:https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South
Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-
2005-0231. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or E-mail. The Federal https://www.regulations.gov
Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not
know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the
body of your comment. If you send an E-mail comment directly to EPA
without going through https://www.regulations.gov, your E-mail address
will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that
is placed in the docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. 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. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index.
Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly
available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are
available either in the electronic docket at https://
www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPP
Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.),
2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this
Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703)
305-5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Bloom, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8019; fax
number: (703) 308-7070; E-mail address:bloom.jill@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. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
https://www.regulations.gov or E-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk
or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, 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 claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes 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.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments. When submitting comments,
remember to:
i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and
substitute language for your requested changes.
iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information
and/or data that you used.
v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be
reproduced.
vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and
suggest alternatives.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of
profanity or personal threats.
viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides to
ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. EPA
has completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the
pesticide metaldehyde under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Metaldehyde is
a molluscicide used to control snails and slugs on a wide variety of
sites, including turf, ornamentals, berries, citrus, and vegetables.
EPA has determined that the data base to support reregistration is
substantially complete. The technical registrant of metaldehyde, Lonza,
elected not to support many uses through the development of residue and
other data. Of the uses Lonza is supporting, turf and dichondra lawns
are not eligible for reregistration, mainly based on the risks these
residential uses pose to domestic animals, which may be
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poisoned by ingesting metaldehyde pellets intended as snail and slug
baits. The uses of metaldehyde that are eligible for reregistration
are: Ornamentals, citrus, cole crops, several leafy greens (including
lettuce and spinach), tomato, strawberry, berries (including
blackberry, blueberry, currant, elderberry, gooseberry, and
raspberries), artichoke, and grass grown for seed. To mitigate the
risks associated with the eligible uses of metaldehyde, the Agency is
requiring that the registrants implement a number of measures aimed at
reducing exposures to domestic animals and wildlife, mainly through
reduced numbers of applications and reduced application rates, and
product labeling and reformulation. In addition, the Agency is
requiring that the registrants undertake a comprehensive incident
monitoring program, data from which will be used by the Agency to
determine whether these risk mitigation measures adequately reduce
numbers and severity of poisoning incidents for domestic animals. Upon
submission of any required generic and product-specific data pursuant
to the RED, and any necessary changes to metaldehyde registrations and
product labeling (either to address concerns identified in the RED or
resulting from the use of product-specific data), EPA will make a final
reregistration decision under section 4(g)(2)(C) for products
containing metaldehyde.
EPA must review tolerances and tolerance exemptions that were in
effect when the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was enacted in
August 1996, 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 sole existing metaldehyde tolerance.
Although the metaldehyde RED was signed on July 27, 2006, certain
components of the document, which did not affect the final regulatory
decision, are undergoing final editing at this time. These components,
including the list of additional generic data requirements, summary of
labeling changes, appendices, and other relevant information, will be
added to the metaldehyde RED when they are complete. None of these
additions will alter the conclusions documented in the July 27, 2006
metaldehyde RED.
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, metaldehyde was reviewed
through the modified 4-Phase process. Through this process, EPA worked
extensively with stakeholders and the public to reach the regulatory
decisions for metaldehyde.
The reregistration program is being conducted under Congressionally
mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both to make timely
decisions and to involve the public. The Agency is issuing the
metaldehyde RED for public comment. This comment period is intended to
provide an additional opportunity for public input and a mechanism for
initiating any necessary amendments to the RED. All comments should be
submitted using the methods in ADDRESSES, and must be received by EPA
on or before the closing date. These comments will become part of the
Agency Docket for metaldehyde. Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider
these late comments.
In particular, during the 60-day comment period following the
publication of this Notice, the Agency is soliciting input on several
of the mitigation measures required by the RED.
The Agency is specifically seeking public comment on how the
directions on home and garden product labels to exclude children and
domestic animals from treated areas may be enhanced. As an example, the
RED requires that these product labels include a graphic representing
the prohibition for allowing children and domestic animals access to
treated areas (e.g., the words ``Children and Pets'' within a red
circle with a red bar running diagonally through the circle). The
formulators of metaldehyde products have commented that they believe a
``Children and Pets'' graphic of this nature could be misleading to
consumers. Comments on this feature in particular are requested.
In addition, the Agency seeks public comment on a requirement that
all metaldehyde granular products be formulated with a bright blue
pigment, which anecdotal evidence suggests may deter ingestion by
animals. Some registrants have expressed concern that the blue color
could attract children who might mistake the granules for candy. The
Agency is soliciting input on this issue and data on the potential
effect of the blue color on ingestion of such material by animals. The
registrants are also concerned that the blue color in granules could
transfer to produce or the containers in which harvested produce is
transported, reducing the marketability of the produce. The Agency
believes that the soil-applied baits should have little likelihood of
transferring color to plants, but is seeking public comment on
experience with the pigmented formulations in agricultural sites, where
they are already used.
The Agency is also seeking input on a prohibition of use for
metaldehyde in strawberries grown as annuals. The annual growth pattern
is typically associated with lower populations of slugs which may do
little economic damage to the fruits. The Agency seeks information to
be able to confirm or refute that the use of metaldehyde on
strawberries grown as annuals is not necessary.
The Agency will carefully consider all comments received by the
closing date and subsequently will post a Response to Comments
Memorandum to the metaldehyde Docket. If any comment significantly
affects the reregistration decision, EPA also will publish an amendment
to the RED in theFederal Register. In the absence of substantive
comments requiring changes, the metaldehyde RED will be implemented as
it is now presented.
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 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (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.
[[Page 45554]]
Dated: August 2, 2006.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-12896 Filed 8-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S