Tribenuron Methyl; Pesticide Tolerance, 11784-11789 [E7-4645]

Download as PDF 11784 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 2-hydroxypropyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,2,4triazole-3-thione, and prothioconazole- desthio, a-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-a-[(2chlorophenyl)methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole- 1-ethanol, calculated as parent in or on the following commodities: Commodity Parts per million Barley, grain ............................................................................................................. Barley, hay ............................................................................................................... Barley, straw ............................................................................................................ Grain, aspirated grain fractions ............................................................................... Pea and bean, dried shelled, except soybean, subgroup 6C ................................. Peanut ...................................................................................................................... Peanut, hay .............................................................................................................. Rapeseed, seed ....................................................................................................... Wheat, forage .......................................................................................................... Wheat, grain ............................................................................................................ Wheat, hay ............................................................................................................... Wheat, straw ............................................................................................................ (2) Tolerances are established for combined residues of the fungicide prothioconazole, 2-[2-(1chlorocyclopropyl)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)- 0.35 7.0 4.0 11 0.9 0.02 6.0 0.15 6.0 0.07 4.5 5.0 2-hydroxypropyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,2,4triazole-3-thione, and prothioconazoledesthio, a-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-a-[(2chlorophenyl)methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole- 1-ethanol, and conjugates that can be converted to these two compounds by acid hydrolysis, calculated as parent in or on the following commodities: Commodity Parts per million Cattle, fat ................................................................................................................. Cattle, meat ............................................................................................................. Cattle, meat byproducts ........................................................................................... Goat, fat ................................................................................................................... Goat, meat ............................................................................................................... Goat, meat byproducts ............................................................................................ Hog, meat byproducts ............................................................................................. Horse, fat ................................................................................................................. Horse, meat ............................................................................................................. Horse, meat byproducts .......................................................................................... Milk ........................................................................................................................... Poultry liver .............................................................................................................. Sheep, fat ................................................................................................................ Sheep, meat ............................................................................................................ Sheep, meat byproducts .......................................................................................... (b) Section 18 emergency exemptions. [Reserved] (c) Tolerances with regional registrations. [Reserved] (d) Indirect or inadvertent residues. [Reserved] [FR Doc. E7–4405 Filed 3–13–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 180 [EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–0207; FRL–8117–2] Tribenuron Methyl; Pesticide Tolerance Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of tribenuron methyl in or on corn, field, forage; corn, field, grain; corn, field, stover; rice, grain; rice, straw; sorghum, forage; VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:23 Mar 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 sorghum, grain, grain; sorghum, grain, stover; soybean, seed; and sunflower, seed. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Inc. requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). DATES: This regulation is effective March 14, 2007. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before May 14, 2007, and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ– OPP–2006–0207. All documents in the docket are listed in the index for the docket. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as ADDRESSES: AGENCY: 0.1 0.02 0.2 0.1 0.02 0.2 0.05 0.1 0.02 0.2 0.02 0.02 0.1 0.02 0.2 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available 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 Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vickie Walters, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 703305-7504; e-mail address: walters.vickie@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\14MRR1.SGM 14MRR1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to: • Crop production (NAICS codes 111), e.g., agricultural workers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; farmers. • Animal production (NAICS codes 112), e.g., cattle ranchers and farmers, dairy cattle farmers, livestock farmers. • Food manufacturing (NAICS codes 311), e.g., agricultural workers; farmers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; ranchers; pesticide applicators. • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS codes 32532), e.g., agricultural workers; commercial applicators; farmers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; residential users. This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES B. How Can I Access Electronic Copies of this Document? In addition to accessing an electronic copy of this Federal Register document through the electronic docket at https:// www.regulations.gov, you may access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA Internet under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may also access a frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR part 180 through the Government Printing Office’s pilot e-CFR site at https:// www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr. To access the OPPTS Harmonized Guidelines referenced in this document, go directly to the guidelines at https://www.epa.gpo/ opptsfrs/home/guidelin.htm C. Can I File an Objection or Hearing Request? Under section 408(g) of the FFDCA, as amended by the FQPA, any person may file an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a hearing on those objections. The EPA procedural regulations which govern the VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:23 Mar 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 submission of objections and requests for hearings appear in 40 CFR part 178. You must file your objection or request a hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify docket ID number EPA–HQ– OPP–2006–0207 in the subject line on the first page of your submission. All requests must be in writing, and must be mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk on or before May 14, 2007. In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of the filing that does not contain any CBI for inclusion in the public docket that is described in ADDRESSES. Information not marked confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice. Submit your copies, identified by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–0207, 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) 3055805. II. Background and Statutory Findings In the Federal Register of July 14, 2006 (71 FR 40102) (FRL–8058–7), EPA issued a notice pursuant to section 408(d)(3) of FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP 4F6890) by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Laurel Run Plaza, P. O. Box 80038, Wilmington, DE 19880-0038 and Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR4), 681 Highway No. 1 South, North Brunswick, NJ 08902. The petition requested that 40 CFR 180. 451 be amended by establishing a tolerance fo residues of the herbicide tribenuron methyl (methyl 2-[[[[(4-methoxy-6methyl-1, 3, ,5-triazin-2yl)methylamino] carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate, in or on field corn and grain sorghum (forage, PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 11785 grain, and stover) rice (grain and straw); soybean ,seed; and sunflowers at 0.05.parts per million (ppm). The notice referenced a summary of the petition prepared by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, the registrant, that has been placed into the public docket. A comment was received in response to this notice of filing from B. Sachau, 15 Elm Street, Florham Park, NJ 07932. The comment and EPA’s response to this comment is discussed in Unit IV C below. During the course of the review the Agency noticed that the name of the regulated chemical is incorrect and that the Petition Number for the sunflowers tolerance was inadvertently left out of the notice. The Agency is correcting these errors at this time. The Agency is also updating the commodity listing to agree with current terminology. Therefore the proposed tolerances are corrected to read: tolerances are established for residues of the herbicide tribenuron methyl, (methyl-2-[[[[N-(4methoxy-6-methyl-1, 3, 5-triazin -2yl)methylamino] carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate) in or on corn, field, forage at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, stover at 0.05 ppm; rice, grain at 0.05 ppm; rice, straw at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, forage at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, grain at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, stover at 0.05 ppm, soybean, seed at 0.05 ppm (4F6890) and sunflower, seed at 0.05 ppm (4E6855). Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ‘‘safe.’’ Section 408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ‘‘safe’’ to mean that ‘‘there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable information.’’ This includes exposure through drinking water and in residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ‘‘ensure that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue. . . .’’ EPA performs a number of analyses to determine the risks from aggregate exposure to pesticide residues. For further discussion of the regulatory requirements of section 408 of the FFDCA and a complete description of E:\FR\FM\14MRR1.SGM 14MRR1 11786 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations the risk assessment process, see https:// www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/1997/ November/Day-26/p30948.htm. III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety Consistent with section 408(b)(2)(D) of FFDCA, EPA has reviewed the available scientific data and other relevant information in support of this action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to make a determination on aggregate exposure, consistent with section 408(b)(2) of FFDCA, for a tolerance for residues of tribenuron methyl, (methyl-2-[[[[N-(4methoxy-6-methyl-1, 3, 5-triazin -2yl)methylamino] carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate) in or on corn, field, forage at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, stover at 0.05 ppm; rice, grain at 0.05 ppm; rice; straw at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, forage at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, grain at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, stover at 0.05 ppm, soybean, seed at 0.05 ppm and sunflower, seed at 0.05 ppm. EPA’s assessment of exposures and risks associated with establishing the tolerances follows. cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES A. Toxicological Profile EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered its validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of the results of the studies to human risk. EPA has also considered available information concerning the variability of the sensitivities of major identifiable subgroups of consumers, including infants and children. Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the toxic effects caused by tribenuron methyl as well as the noobserved-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-effectlevel (LOAEL) from the toxicity studies can be found in Unit III. A. of the final rule published in the Federal Register of September 22, 2004 (69 FR 56711) (FRL–7679–5). B. Toxicological Endpoints For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no appreciable risk, the dose at which the NOAEL from the toxicology study identified as appropriate for use in risk assessment is used to estimate the toxicological level of concern (LOC). However, the LOAEL of concern are identified is sometimes used for risk assessment if no NOAEL was achieved in the toxicology study selected. An uncertainty factor (UF) is applied to reflect uncertainties inherent in the extrapolation from laboratory animal data to humans and in the variations in sensitivity among members VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:23 Mar 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 of the human population as well as other unknowns. The linear default risk methodology (Q*) is the primary method currently used by the Agency to quantify nonthreshold hazards such as cancer. The Q* approach assumes that any amount of exposure will lead to some degree of cancer risk, and estimates risk in terms of the probability of occurrence of additional cancer cases. More information can be found on the general principles EPA uses in risk characterization at https://www.epa.gov/ pesticides/health/human.htm. A summary of the toxicological endpoints for tribenuron methyl used for human risk assessment is discussed in Unit III.B. of the final rule published in the Federal Register of September 22, 2004 (69 FR 56711) (FRL–7679–5). C. Exposure Assessment 1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. Tolerances have been established (40 CFR 180.451) for the residues of tribenuron methyl, in or on a variety of raw agricultural commodities. No tolerances for meat product, eggs, or milk are established. Risk assessments were conducted by EPA to assess dietary exposures from tribenuron methyl in food as follows: i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute dietary exposure and risk assessments are performed for a food-use pesticide, if a toxicological study has indicated the possibility of an effect of concern occurring as a result of a 1-day or single exposure. No effect attributable to a single dose was observed in any studies in the toxicology database for tribenuron methyl. As a result, no acute dietary endpoint was identified and no acute risk assessment was performed. ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure assessment EPA used the Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model software with the Food Commodity Intake Database (DEEM-FCIDTM), which incorporates food consumption data as reported by respondents in the USDA 1994-1996 and 1998 Nationwide Continuing Surveys of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII), and accumulated exposure to the chemical for each commodity. The following assumptions were made for the chronic exposure assessments: tolerance level residues and 100% crop treated (CT). No empirical processing factors were used. A DEEM (Version 7.81) default processing factor was used for corn syrup. Anticipated residues or estimates of percent crop treated (PCT) were not used. iii. Cancer. Tribenuron methyl is classified as a Group C (possible human carcinogen) because of the increased PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinomas in female SpragueDawley rats. Tribenuron methyl was not shown to be mutagenic in any tests conducted. EPA considers the chronic risk assessment to be protective of any potential risk of carcinogenicity. Further discussion is found in Unit III.C. of the final rule published in the Federal Register of September 22, 2004, 69 FR 56711 (FRL–7679–5). 2. Dietary exposure from drinking water. The Agency lacks sufficient monitoring exposure data to complete a comprehensive dietary exposure analysis and risk assessment for tribenuron methyl in drinking water. Because the Agency does not have comprehensive monitoring data, drinking water concentration estimates are made by reliance on simulation or modeling taking into account data on the physical characteristics of tribenuron methyl. Further information regarding EPA drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be found at https://www.epa.gov/ oppefed/models/water/index.htm. Based on the first index reservoir screening tool (FIRST) and screening concentration in ground water (SCIGROW) models, the estimated drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) of tribenuron methyl for acute exposures are estimated to be 4.1 parts per billion (ppb) for surface water and 6.8 ppb for ground water. The EDWCs for chronic exposures are estimated to be 2.7 ppb for surface water and 6.8 ppb for ground water. Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly entered into the dietary exposure model (DEEMFCID). For the chronic dietary risk assessment the higher ground water value of 6.8 ppb was used. 3. From non-dietary exposure. The term ‘‘residential exposure’’ is used in this document to refer to nonoccupational, non-dietary exposure (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control, termiticides, and flea and tick control on pets)Tribenuron methyl is not registered for use on any sites that would result in residential exposure. 4. Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of toxicity. Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of the FFDCA requires that, when considering whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the Agency consider ‘‘available information’’ concerning the cumulative effects of a particular pesticide’s residues and ‘‘other substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity.’’ Unlike other pesticides for which EPA has followed a cumulative risk approach E:\FR\FM\14MRR1.SGM 14MRR1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES based on a common mechanism of toxicity, EPA has not made a common mechanism of toxicity finding as to tribenuron methyl and any other substances and tribenuron methyl does not appear to produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has not assumed that tribenuron methyl has a common mechanism of toxicity with other substances. For information regarding EPA’s efforts to determine which chemicals have a common mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate the cumulative effects of such chemicals, see the policy statements released by EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs concerning common mechanism determinations and procedures for cumulating effects from substances found to have a common mechanism on EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/ pesticides/cumulative. D. Safety Factor for Infants and Children 1. In general. Section 408 of FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply an additional tenfold margin of safety for infants and children in the case of threshold effects to account for prenatal and postnatal toxicity and the completeness of the data base on toxicity and exposure unless EPA determines based on reliable data that a different margin of safety will be safe for infants and children. Margins of safety are incorporated into EPA risk assessments either directly through use of a MOE analysis or through using uncertainty (safety) factors in calculating a dose level that poses no appreciable risk to humans. In applying this provision, EPA either retains the default value of 10X when reliable data do not support the choice of a different factor, or, if reliable data are available, EPA uses a different additional safety factor value based on the use of traditional uncertainty factors and/or special FQPA safety factors, as appropriate. 2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. Developmental and reproductive toxicity studies in rats and rabbits indicated no increased susceptibility (quantitative or qualitative) following in utero or prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to tribenuron methyl. 3. Conclusion. EPA determined that reliable data show that it would be safe for infants and children to reduce the FQPA safety factor to 1X. That decision is based on the following findings. i. The toxicity data base for tribenuron methyl is complete. The impact of tribenuron methyl on the nervous system has been specially evaluated in VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:23 Mar 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 neurotoxicity studies. There was no evidence of neurotoxicity or neuropathology seen in the acute, subchronic, chronic or reproductive studies. Therefore, a developmental neurotoxicity study is required for tribenuron methyl. ii. The available data from the developmental and reproductive toxicity studies do not indicate a potential susceptibility of infants and children to tribenuron methyl. iii. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure databases. The dietary food assessments were performed based on 100% CT and tolerance level residues. Conservative ground water estimates were used in the risk assessment. This assessment will not underestimate the exposure and risks posed by tribenuron methyl. E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety 1. Acute risk. No toxic effect attributable to a single dose was observed in any studies in the toxicology database. As a result, no acute risk is expected. 2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that exposure to tribenuron methyl from food and water will utilize 4.7% of the cPAD for the U.S. population, 9.8% of the cPAD for all infants (<1 year old), and 9.1% of the cPAD for children 3-5 years old. There are no residential uses for tribenuron methyl that result in chronic residential exposure to tribenuron methyl. EPA does not expect the aggregate exposure to exceed 100% of the cPAD. 3. Short-term risk. Short-term aggregate exposure takes into account residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure level). Tribenuron methyl is not registered for use on any sites that would result in residential exposure. Therefore, the aggregate risk is the sum of the risk from food and water, which does not exceed the Agency’s level of concern. 4. Intermediate-term risk. Intermediate-term aggregate exposure takes into account residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure level). Tribenuron methyl is not registered for use on any sites that would result in residential exposure. Therefore, the aggregate risk is the sum of the risk from food and water, which does not exceed the Agency’s level of concern. 5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. The Agency considers the chronic risk assessment, making use of PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 11787 the cPAD, to be protective of any aggregate cancer risk. See Unit III. E.2. Therefore, the aggregate risk is not expected to exceed the Agency’s level of concern. 6. Determination of safety. Based on these risk assessments, EPA concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to the general population and to infants and children from aggregate exposure to tribenuron methyl residues. IV. Other Considerations A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology Adequate enforcement methodology (including high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photoconductivity and liquid chromatography with detection via electrospray mass spectroscopy (LC/MS)) are available to enforce the tolerance expression. The method may be requested from: Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch, Environmental Science Center, 701 Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755-5350; telephone number: (410) 305-2905; email address: residuemethods@epa.gov. B. International Residue Limits No Mexican or Codex Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) have been established for tribenuron methyl. Canadian MRLs have been established for tribenuron methyl on certain crops; however, no MRLs have been established for corn, field, forage; corn, field, grain; corn, field, stover; rice, grain; rice, straw; sorghum, grain, forage; sorghum, grain, grain; sorghum, grain, stover; soybean, seed; or sunflower, seed, therefore no questions of compatibility exist for these commodities. C. Response to Comments A comment was received from Ms. B. Sachau in response to the notice of filing. Ms. Sachau stated that the chemical should not be manufactured or sold. Ms. Sachau based her conclusion on the following: eye irritation potential, effects on the liver and kidney, and its carcinogenic potential. Ms. Sachau also questioned the availability of testing for this chemical in combination with other chemicals in use today. The effects on the kidney and liver were the basis of the chronic reference dose (cRfD) and cPAD used for the chronic dietary risk assessment. As discussed in Unit III. E.2, EPA does not expect the aggregate exposure to exceed 100% of the cPAD which does not exceed the Agency’s level of concern. After review of available data, the Agency considers the chronic risk E:\FR\FM\14MRR1.SGM 14MRR1 11788 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations assessment, making use of the cPAD, to be protective of any aggregate cancer risk. Ms. Sachau did not submit any scientific information to support a revision of Agency conclusions. EPA generally does not require companies to conduct studies to evaluate the potential for synergistic effects from exposure to combinations of chemical exposure. Such testing rarely shows any kind of interaction (synergistic or antagonistic), and there are a nearly infinite number of possible combinations, making the cost of indiscriminate testing prohibitively high. Because synergism does not occur often, the scientific community believes that exposure to multiple chemicals is best assessed by looking the effects caused by exposure to each chemical individually. The only exception to that is when people are exposed to multiple chemicals that share a common mechanism of toxicity. Then the effects of exposure to multiple chemicals are expected to be additive, adjusted for the relative toxicity of the different chemicals. This is done through Agency cumulative risk assessments, which are discussed in Unit III.C.4. of this document. Ms. Sachau did not submit any scientific information to support a revision of Agency conclusions. cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES V. Conclusion Therefore, the tolerances are established for residues of tribenuron methyl, (methyl-2-[[[[N-(4-methoxy-6methyl-1, 3, 5-triazin -2yl)methylamino] carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate) in or on corn, field, forage at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, stover at 0.05 ppm; rice, grain at 0.05 ppm; rice; straw at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, forage at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, grain at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, stover at 0.05 ppm, soybean, seed at 0.05 ppm and sunflower, seed at 0.05 ppm. VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews This final rule establishes a tolerance under section 408(d) of FFDCA in response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this rule has been exempted from review under Executive Order 12866 due to its lack of significance, this rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:23 Mar 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This final rule does not contain any information collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law 104-4). Nor does it require any special considerations under Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994); or OMB review or any Agency action under Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). This action does not involve any technical standards that would require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note). Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis of a petition under section 408(d) of FFDCA, such as the tolerance in this final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed rule, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do not apply. In addition, the Agency has determined that this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132, entitled Federalism(64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). Executive Order 13132 requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have federalism implications’’ is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations that have ‘‘substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.’’ This final rule directly regulates growers, food processors, food handlers and food retailers, not States. This action does not alter the relationships or distribution of power and responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions of section 408(n)(4) of PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 FFDCA. For these same reasons, the Agency has determined that this rule does not have any ‘‘tribal implications’’ as described in Executive Order 13175, entitled Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000). Executive Order 13175, requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have tribal implications’’ is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations that have ‘‘substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and the Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.’’ This rule will not have substantial direct effects on tribal governments, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified in Executive Order 13175. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule. VII. Congressional Review Act The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of this final rule in the Federal Register. This final rule is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180 Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: March 5, 2007. Lois Rossi, Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows: I E:\FR\FM\14MRR1.SGM 14MRR1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 14, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 2. Section 180.451 is amended by alphabetically adding commodities to the table in paragraph (a) to read as follows: I PART 180—[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows: I 11789 § 180.451 Tribenuron methyl; tolerances for residues. (a) * * * Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371. Commodity Parts per million * * * * * Corn, field, forage ................................................................................................................................................................ Corn, field, grain .................................................................................................................................................................. Corn, field, stover ................................................................................................................................................................ * * * * * Rice, grain ............................................................................................................................................................................ Rice, straw ........................................................................................................................................................................... Sorghum, grain, forage ........................................................................................................................................................ Sorghum, grain, grain .......................................................................................................................................................... Sorghum, grain, stover ........................................................................................................................................................ Soybean, seed ..................................................................................................................................................................... Sunflower, seed ................................................................................................................................................................... * * * * * * * * * * [FR Doc. E7–4645 Filed 3–13–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–S FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 64 [CG Docket 03–123; DA 06–2532] Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals With Hearing and Speech Disabilities Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Final rule; extension of waiver. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission extends for an additional year the waiver of the emergency call handling requirement for providers of Video Relay Service (VRS). The Commission extends the waiver for one year in view of continued technological challenges to determining the geographic location of telecommunications relay service (TRS) calls that originate via the Internet. DATES: The waiver of the emergency call handling requirement will expire on January 1, 2008, or upon the release of an order addressing the VRS emergency call handling issue, whichever comes first. cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Chandler, (202) 418–1475 (voice), (202) 418–0597 (TTY), or e-mail Thomas.Chandler@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 31, 2001, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:23 Mar 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 Disabilities, Waiver Order, DA 01–3029, CC Docket No. 98–67, 17 FCC Rcd 157 (2001), granting VRS providers a waiver until December 31, 2003, of certain TRS mandatory minimum standards, including the emergency call handling requirement. On December 19, 2003, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Order, DA 03–4029, CC Docket No. 98–67, 18 FCC Rcd 26309 (2003), extending the waiver to June 30, 2004. On June 30, 2004, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, 2004 TRS Report and Order, FCC 04–137, CC Docket No. 98– 67, published at 69 FR 53382, September 1, 2004, extending the waiver until January 1, 2006. On December 5, 2005, the Commission released Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Order, DA 05–3139, CG Docket No. 03–123, published at 70 FR 76712, December 28, 2005, again extending the waiver until January 1, 2007. This is a summary of the Commission’s document DA 06–2532, adopted December 15, 2006, released December 15, 2006. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice) or (202) 418–0432 (TTY). The Commission’s document DA 06–2532 can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb.dro. PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 Synopsis The Commission’s TRS regulations set forth operational, technical, and functional mandatory minimum standards applicable to the provision of TRS. See 47 CFR 64.604 of the Commission’s rules (the TRS ‘‘mandatory minimum standards’’). To be eligible for reimbursement from the Interstate TRS Fund for the provision of TRS, the provider must offer service in compliance with all applicable mandatory minimum standards, unless waived. See Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Improved TRS Order and FNPRM), FCC 00–56, CC Docket No. 98–67, published at 65 FR 38432, June 21, 2000 and 65 FR 38490, June 21, 2000. The mandatory minimum standards require TRS providers to handle emergency calls by immediately and automatically transferring the calls to an appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP). See 47 CFR 64.604(a)(4) of the Commission’s rules. The Commission recognized that many individuals use VRS and IP Relay to contact emergency services despite the fact that persons with hearing and speech disabilities can make calls directly to the PSAP by calling 911 through a TTY and a traditional telephone line. See Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (VRS 911 NPRM), FCC 05– 196, CG Docket No. 03–123, published at 71 FR 5221, February 1, 2006. Regulations require state and local governments to make emergency E:\FR\FM\14MRR1.SGM 14MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11784-11789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4645]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0207; FRL-8117-2]


Tribenuron Methyl; Pesticide Tolerance

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
tribenuron methyl in or on corn, field, forage; corn, field, grain; 
corn, field, stover; rice, grain; rice, straw; sorghum, forage; 
sorghum, grain, grain; sorghum, grain, stover; soybean, seed; and 
sunflower, seed. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Inc. requested 
these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
(FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA).

DATES: This regulation is effective March 14, 2007. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before May 14, 2007, and 
must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR 
part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0207. All documents in the 
docket are listed in the index for the docket. Although listed in the 
index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential 
Business Information (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 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 Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, 
Arlington, VA. The 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vickie Walters, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: 703-305-7504; e-mail address: walters.vickie@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 11785]]

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to:
     Crop production (NAICS codes 111), e.g., agricultural 
workers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; farmers.
     Animal production (NAICS codes 112), e.g., cattle ranchers 
and farmers, dairy cattle farmers, livestock farmers.
     Food manufacturing (NAICS codes 311), e.g., agricultural 
workers; farmers; greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture workers; 
ranchers; pesticide applicators.
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS codes 32532), e.g., 
agricultural workers; commercial applicators; farmers; greenhouse, 
nursery, and floriculture workers; residential users.
    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this 
action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be 
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining 
whether this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any 
questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular 
entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

B. How Can I Access Electronic Copies of this Document?

    In addition to accessing an electronic copy of this Federal 
Register document through the electronic docket at https://
www.regulations.gov, you may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may also access a 
frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR part 180 through the 
Government Printing Office's pilot e-CFR site at https://
www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr. To access the OPPTS Harmonized Guidelines 
referenced in this document, go directly to the guidelines at https://
www.epa.gpo/opptsfrs/home/guidelin.htm

C. Can I File an Objection or Hearing Request?

    Under section 408(g) of the FFDCA, as amended by the FQPA, any 
person may file an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may 
also request a hearing on those objections. The EPA procedural 
regulations which govern the submission of objections and requests for 
hearings appear in 40 CFR part 178. You must file your objection or 
request a hearing on this regulation in accordance with the 
instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by 
EPA, you must identify docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0207 in the 
subject line on the first page of your submission. All requests must be 
in writing, and must be mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk on or 
before May 14, 2007.
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of 
the filing that does not contain any CBI for inclusion in the public 
docket that is described in ADDRESSES. Information not marked 
confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA 
without prior notice. Submit your copies, identified by docket ID 
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0207, 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.

II. Background and Statutory Findings

    In the Federal Register of July 14, 2006 (71 FR 40102) (FRL-8058-
7), EPA issued a notice pursuant to section 408(d)(3) of FFDCA, 21 
U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP 
4F6890) by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Laurel Run Plaza, P. O. 
Box 80038, Wilmington, DE 19880-0038 and Interregional Research Project 
No. 4 (IR-4), 681 Highway No. 1 South, North Brunswick, NJ 08902. The 
petition requested that 40 CFR 180. 451 be amended by establishing a 
tolerance fo residues of the herbicide tribenuron methyl (methyl 2-
[[[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1, 3, ,5-triazin-2-
yl)methylamino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate, in or on field corn 
and grain sorghum (forage, grain, and stover) rice (grain and straw); 
soybean ,seed; and sunflowers at 0.05.parts per million (ppm). The 
notice referenced a summary of the petition prepared by E.I. DuPont de 
Nemours and Company, the registrant, that has been placed into the 
public docket. A comment was received in response to this notice of 
filing from B. Sachau, 15 Elm Street, Florham Park, NJ 07932. The 
comment and EPA's response to this comment is discussed in Unit IV C 
below.
    During the course of the review the Agency noticed that the name of 
the regulated chemical is incorrect and that the Petition Number for 
the sunflowers tolerance was inadvertently left out of the notice. The 
Agency is correcting these errors at this time. The Agency is also 
updating the commodity listing to agree with current terminology. 
Therefore the proposed tolerances are corrected to read: tolerances are 
established for residues of the herbicide tribenuron methyl, (methyl-2-
[[[[N-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1, 3, 5-triazin -2-
yl)methylamino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate) in or on corn, field, 
forage at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, stover 
at 0.05 ppm; rice, grain at 0.05 ppm; rice, straw at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, 
grain, forage at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, grain at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, 
grain, stover at 0.05 ppm, soybean, seed at 0.05 ppm (4F6890) and 
sunflower, seed at 0.05 ppm (4E6855).
    Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a 
tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a 
food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section 
408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``there is a 
reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure 
to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary 
exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable 
information.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in 
residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure. 
Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special 
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide 
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there 
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and 
children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue. . . 
.''
    EPA performs a number of analyses to determine the risks from 
aggregate exposure to pesticide residues. For further discussion of the 
regulatory requirements of section 408 of the FFDCA and a complete 
description of

[[Page 11786]]

the risk assessment process, see https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/
1997/November/Day-26/p30948.htm.

III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety

    Consistent with section 408(b)(2)(D) of FFDCA, EPA has reviewed the 
available scientific data and other relevant information in support of 
this action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to 
make a determination on aggregate exposure, consistent with section 
408(b)(2) of FFDCA, for a tolerance for residues of tribenuron methyl, 
(methyl-2-[[[[N-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1, 3, 5-triazin -2-
yl)methylamino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate) in or on corn, field, 
forage at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, stover 
at 0.05 ppm; rice, grain at 0.05 ppm; rice; straw at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, 
grain, forage at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, grain at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, 
grain, stover at 0.05 ppm, soybean, seed at 0.05 ppm and sunflower, 
seed at 0.05 ppm. EPA's assessment of exposures and risks associated 
with establishing the tolerances follows.

A. Toxicological Profile

    EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered its 
validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of 
the results of the studies to human risk. EPA has also considered 
available information concerning the variability of the sensitivities 
of major identifiable subgroups of consumers, including infants and 
children. Specific information on the studies received and the nature 
of the toxic effects caused by tribenuron methyl as well as the no-
observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-
effect-level (LOAEL) from the toxicity studies can be found in Unit 
III. A. of the final rule published in the Federal Register of 
September 22, 2004 (69 FR 56711) (FRL-7679-5).

B. Toxicological Endpoints

    For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no 
appreciable risk, the dose at which the NOAEL from the toxicology study 
identified as appropriate for use in risk assessment is used to 
estimate the toxicological level of concern (LOC). However, the LOAEL 
of concern are identified is sometimes used for risk assessment if no 
NOAEL was achieved in the toxicology study selected. An uncertainty 
factor (UF) is applied to reflect uncertainties inherent in the 
extrapolation from laboratory animal data to humans and in the 
variations in sensitivity among members of the human population as well 
as other unknowns.
    The linear default risk methodology (Q*) is the primary method 
currently used by the Agency to quantify non-threshold hazards such as 
cancer. The Q* approach assumes that any amount of exposure will lead 
to some degree of cancer risk, and estimates risk in terms of the 
probability of occurrence of additional cancer cases. More information 
can be found on the general principles EPA uses in risk 
characterization at https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/human.htm.
    A summary of the toxicological endpoints for tribenuron methyl used 
for human risk assessment is discussed in Unit III.B. of the final rule 
published in the Federal Register of September 22, 2004 (69 FR 56711) 
(FRL-7679-5).

C. Exposure Assessment

    1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. Tolerances have been 
established (40 CFR 180.451) for the residues of tribenuron methyl, in 
or on a variety of raw agricultural commodities. No tolerances for meat 
product, eggs, or milk are established. Risk assessments were conducted 
by EPA to assess dietary exposures from tribenuron methyl in food as 
follows:
    i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute dietary exposure and risk 
assessments are performed for a food-use pesticide, if a toxicological 
study has indicated the possibility of an effect of concern occurring 
as a result of a 1-day or single exposure. No effect attributable to a 
single dose was observed in any studies in the toxicology database for 
tribenuron methyl. As a result, no acute dietary endpoint was 
identified and no acute risk assessment was performed.
    ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure 
assessment EPA used the Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model software with 
the Food Commodity Intake Database (DEEM-FCID\TM\), which incorporates 
food consumption data as reported by respondents in the USDA 1994-1996 
and 1998 Nationwide Continuing Surveys of Food Intakes by Individuals 
(CSFII), and accumulated exposure to the chemical for each commodity. 
The following assumptions were made for the chronic exposure 
assessments: tolerance level residues and 100% crop treated (CT). No 
empirical processing factors were used. A DEEM (Version 7.81) default 
processing factor was used for corn syrup. Anticipated residues or 
estimates of percent crop treated (PCT) were not used.
    iii. Cancer. Tribenuron methyl is classified as a Group C (possible 
human carcinogen) because of the increased incidence of mammary gland 
adenocarcinomas in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Tribenuron methyl was 
not shown to be mutagenic in any tests conducted. EPA considers the 
chronic risk assessment to be protective of any potential risk of 
carcinogenicity. Further discussion is found in Unit III.C. of the 
final rule published in the Federal Register of September 22, 2004, 69 
FR 56711 (FRL-7679-5).
    2. Dietary exposure from drinking water. The Agency lacks 
sufficient monitoring exposure data to complete a comprehensive dietary 
exposure analysis and risk assessment for tribenuron methyl in drinking 
water. Because the Agency does not have comprehensive monitoring data, 
drinking water concentration estimates are made by reliance on 
simulation or modeling taking into account data on the physical 
characteristics of tribenuron methyl. Further information regarding EPA 
drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be 
found at https://www.epa.gov/oppefed/models/water/index.htm.
    Based on the first index reservoir screening tool (FIRST) and 
screening concentration in ground water (SCI-GROW) models, the 
estimated drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) of tribenuron methyl 
for acute exposures are estimated to be 4.1 parts per billion (ppb) for 
surface water and 6.8 ppb for ground water. The EDWCs for chronic 
exposures are estimated to be 2.7 ppb for surface water and 6.8 ppb for 
ground water.
    Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly 
entered into the dietary exposure model (DEEM-FCID). For the chronic 
dietary risk assessment the higher ground water value of 6.8 ppb was 
used.
    3. From non-dietary exposure. The term ``residential exposure'' is 
used in this document to refer to non-occupational, non-dietary 
exposure (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control, 
termiticides, and flea and tick control on pets)Tribenuron methyl is 
not registered for use on any sites that would result in residential 
exposure.
    4. Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of 
toxicity. Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of the FFDCA requires that, when 
considering whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the 
Agency consider ``available information'' concerning the cumulative 
effects of a particular pesticide's residues and ``other substances 
that have a common mechanism of toxicity.''
    Unlike other pesticides for which EPA has followed a cumulative 
risk approach

[[Page 11787]]

based on a common mechanism of toxicity, EPA has not made a common 
mechanism of toxicity finding as to tribenuron methyl and any other 
substances and tribenuron methyl does not appear to produce a toxic 
metabolite produced by other substances. For the purposes of this 
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has not assumed that tribenuron methyl 
has a common mechanism of toxicity with other substances. For 
information regarding EPA's efforts to determine which chemicals have a 
common mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate the cumulative effects of 
such chemicals, see the policy statements released by EPA's Office of 
Pesticide Programs concerning common mechanism determinations and 
procedures for cumulating effects from substances found to have a 
common mechanism on EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
cumulative.

D. Safety Factor for Infants and Children

    1. In general. Section 408 of FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply 
an additional tenfold margin of safety for infants and children in the 
case of threshold effects to account for prenatal and postnatal 
toxicity and the completeness of the data base on toxicity and exposure 
unless EPA determines based on reliable data that a different margin of 
safety will be safe for infants and children. Margins of safety are 
incorporated into EPA risk assessments either directly through use of a 
MOE analysis or through using uncertainty (safety) factors in 
calculating a dose level that poses no appreciable risk to humans. In 
applying this provision, EPA either retains the default value of 10X 
when reliable data do not support the choice of a different factor, or, 
if reliable data are available, EPA uses a different additional safety 
factor value based on the use of traditional uncertainty factors and/or 
special FQPA safety factors, as appropriate.
    2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. Developmental and 
reproductive toxicity studies in rats and rabbits indicated no 
increased susceptibility (quantitative or qualitative) following in 
utero or prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to tribenuron methyl.
    3. Conclusion. EPA determined that reliable data show that it would 
be safe for infants and children to reduce the FQPA safety factor to 
1X. That decision is based on the following findings.
    i. The toxicity data base for tribenuron methyl is complete. The 
impact of tribenuron methyl on the nervous system has been specially 
evaluated in neurotoxicity studies. There was no evidence of 
neurotoxicity or neuropathology seen in the acute, subchronic, chronic 
or reproductive studies. Therefore, a developmental neurotoxicity study 
is required for tribenuron methyl.
    ii. The available data from the developmental and reproductive 
toxicity studies do not indicate a potential susceptibility of infants 
and children to tribenuron methyl.
    iii. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure 
databases. The dietary food assessments were performed based on 100% CT 
and tolerance level residues. Conservative ground water estimates were 
used in the risk assessment. This assessment will not underestimate the 
exposure and risks posed by tribenuron methyl.

E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety

    1. Acute risk. No toxic effect attributable to a single dose was 
observed in any studies in the toxicology database. As a result, no 
acute risk is expected.
    2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this 
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that exposure to 
tribenuron methyl from food and water will utilize 4.7% of the cPAD for 
the U.S. population, 9.8% of the cPAD for all infants (<1 year old), 
and 9.1% of the cPAD for children 3-5 years old. There are no 
residential uses for tribenuron methyl that result in chronic 
residential exposure to tribenuron methyl. EPA does not expect the 
aggregate exposure to exceed 100% of the cPAD.
    3. Short-term risk. Short-term aggregate exposure takes into 
account residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water 
(considered to be a background exposure level).
    Tribenuron methyl is not registered for use on any sites that would 
result in residential exposure. Therefore, the aggregate risk is the 
sum of the risk from food and water, which does not exceed the Agency's 
level of concern.
    4. Intermediate-term risk. Intermediate-term aggregate exposure 
takes into account residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food 
and water (considered to be a background exposure level).
    Tribenuron methyl is not registered for use on any sites that would 
result in residential exposure. Therefore, the aggregate risk is the 
sum of the risk from food and water, which does not exceed the Agency's 
level of concern.
    5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. The Agency considers 
the chronic risk assessment, making use of the cPAD, to be protective 
of any aggregate cancer risk. See Unit III. E.2. Therefore, the 
aggregate risk is not expected to exceed the Agency's level of concern.
    6. Determination of safety. Based on these risk assessments, EPA 
concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result 
to the general population and to infants and children from aggregate 
exposure to tribenuron methyl residues.

IV. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Adequate enforcement methodology (including high performance liquid 
chromatography (HPLC) with photo-conductivity and liquid chromatography 
with detection via electrospray mass spectroscopy (LC/MS)) are 
available to enforce the tolerance expression. The method may be 
requested from: Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch, Environmental 
Science Center, 701 Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755-5350; telephone 
number: (410) 305-2905; e-mail address: residuemethods@epa.gov.

B. International Residue Limits

    No Mexican or Codex Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) have been 
established for tribenuron methyl. Canadian MRLs have been established 
for tribenuron methyl on certain crops; however, no MRLs have been 
established for corn, field, forage; corn, field, grain; corn, field, 
stover; rice, grain; rice, straw; sorghum, grain, forage; sorghum, 
grain, grain; sorghum, grain, stover; soybean, seed; or sunflower, 
seed, therefore no questions of compatibility exist for these 
commodities.

C. Response to Comments

    A comment was received from Ms. B. Sachau in response to the notice 
of filing. Ms. Sachau stated that the chemical should not be 
manufactured or sold. Ms. Sachau based her conclusion on the following: 
eye irritation potential, effects on the liver and kidney, and its 
carcinogenic potential. Ms. Sachau also questioned the availability of 
testing for this chemical in combination with other chemicals in use 
today.
    The effects on the kidney and liver were the basis of the chronic 
reference dose (cRfD) and cPAD used for the chronic dietary risk 
assessment. As discussed in Unit III. E.2, EPA does not expect the 
aggregate exposure to exceed 100% of the cPAD which does not exceed the 
Agency's level of concern. After review of available data, the Agency 
considers the chronic risk

[[Page 11788]]

assessment, making use of the cPAD, to be protective of any aggregate 
cancer risk. Ms. Sachau did not submit any scientific information to 
support a revision of Agency conclusions.
    EPA generally does not require companies to conduct studies to 
evaluate the potential for synergistic effects from exposure to 
combinations of chemical exposure. Such testing rarely shows any kind 
of interaction (synergistic or antagonistic), and there are a nearly 
infinite number of possible combinations, making the cost of 
indiscriminate testing prohibitively high.
    Because synergism does not occur often, the scientific community 
believes that exposure to multiple chemicals is best assessed by 
looking the effects caused by exposure to each chemical individually. 
The only exception to that is when people are exposed to multiple 
chemicals that share a common mechanism of toxicity. Then the effects 
of exposure to multiple chemicals are expected to be additive, adjusted 
for the relative toxicity of the different chemicals. This is done 
through Agency cumulative risk assessments, which are discussed in Unit 
III.C.4. of this document. Ms. Sachau did not submit any scientific 
information to support a revision of Agency conclusions.

V. Conclusion

    Therefore, the tolerances are established for residues of 
tribenuron methyl, (methyl-2-[[[[N-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1, 3, 5-triazin 
-2-yl)methylamino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate) in or on corn, 
field, forage at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm; corn, field, 
stover at 0.05 ppm; rice, grain at 0.05 ppm; rice; straw at 0.05 ppm; 
sorghum, grain, forage at 0.05 ppm; sorghum, grain, grain at 0.05 ppm; 
sorghum, grain, stover at 0.05 ppm, soybean, seed at 0.05 ppm and 
sunflower, seed at 0.05 ppm.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This final rule establishes a tolerance under section 408(d) of 
FFDCA in response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from 
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and 
Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this rule has been 
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866 due to its lack of 
significance, this rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, 
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This final rule does 
not contain any information collections subject to OMB approval under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose 
any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as described under 
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law 
104-4). Nor does it require any special considerations under Executive 
Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice 
in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, 
February 16, 1994); or OMB review or any Agency action under Executive 
Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health 
Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). This action does 
not involve any technical standards that would require Agency 
consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant to section 
12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 
(NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note). Since 
tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis of a 
petition under section 408(d) of FFDCA, such as the tolerance in this 
final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed rule, the 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.) do not apply. In addition, the Agency has determined that this 
action will not have a substantial direct effect on States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government, as specified in Executive Order 13132, entitled 
Federalism(64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). Executive Order 13132 
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful 
and timely input by State and local officials in the development of 
regulatory policies that have federalism implications.'' ``Policies 
that have federalism implications'' is defined in the Executive Order 
to include regulations that have ``substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government.'' This final rule directly regulates 
growers, food processors, food handlers and food retailers, not States. 
This action does not alter the relationships or distribution of power 
and responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption 
provisions of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. For these same reasons, the 
Agency has determined that this rule does not have any ``tribal 
implications'' as described in Executive Order 13175, entitled 
Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR 
67249, November 6, 2000). Executive Order 13175, requires EPA to 
develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input 
by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have 
tribal implications.'' ``Policies that have tribal implications'' is 
defined in the Executive Order to include regulations that have 
``substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the 
relationship between the Federal Government and the Indian tribes, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes.'' This rule will not have substantial 
direct effects on tribal governments, on the relationship between the 
Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, 
as specified in Executive Order 13175. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does 
not apply to this rule.

VII. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of this final rule in the Federal Register. This final 
rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 5, 2007.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

0
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

[[Page 11789]]

PART 180--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.

0
2. Section 180.451 is amended by alphabetically adding commodities to 
the table in paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  180.451  Tribenuron methyl; tolerances for residues.

    (a) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Commodity                        Parts per million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                * * * * *
Corn, field, forage............................                     0.05
Corn, field, grain.............................                     0.05
Corn, field, stover............................                     0.05
                                * * * * *
Rice, grain....................................                     0.05
Rice, straw....................................                     0.05
Sorghum, grain, forage.........................                     0.05
Sorghum, grain, grain..........................                     0.05
Sorghum, grain, stover.........................                     0.05
Soybean, seed..................................                     0.05
Sunflower, seed................................                     0.05
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. E7-4645 Filed 3-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
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