Bromonitrostyrene Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability and Risk Reduction Options, 39416-39418 [E7-13804]

Download as PDF 39416 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 18, 2007 / Notices Registration Review Implementation Work Group will hold a public meeting on July 24, 2007. An agenda for this meeting will be developed and posted on EPA’s Web site. The Registration Review Implementation Work Group will review initial registration review dockets for antimicrobial and biopesticide cases, and may make recommendations to improve future dockets. The Registration Review Work Group meeting will be held on July 24, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Future meetings will be announced on the work group’s Web sites (see: Active Workgroups menu at: https:// www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/ppdc/). To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. ADDRESSES: The meeting will all be held at EPA’s offices at 2777 South Crystal Dr., First Floor Conference Center, Arlington, VA 22202. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amaris Johnson, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460– 0001; telephone number: (703) 305– 9542; fax number: (703) 308–7090; email address: johnson.amaris@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES 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 persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information? 1. Docket. EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ– OPP–2007–0137. Publicly accessible docket materials are available either in VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:02 Jul 17, 2007 Jkt 211001 the electronic docket at https:// www.regulations.gov, or, available in hard copy, at the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S–4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal D. 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 telephone number is (703) 305–5805. 2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA Internet under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. II. Background The Office of Pesticide Programs is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the American food supply, protection and education of those who apply or are exposed to pesticides occupationally or through use of products, and the general protection of the environment and special ecosystems from potential risks posed by pesticides. PPDC was established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, in September 1995 for a two-year term and has been renewed every two years since that time. PPDC provides advice and recommendations to OPP on a broad range of pesticide regulatory, policy, and program implementation issues that are associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides. The following sectors are represented on the PPDC: pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental/public interest and consumer groups; farm worker organizations; pesticide user, grower, and commodity groups; federal/ state/local/ and tribal governments; the general public; academia; and public health organizations. Copies of the PPDC charter are filed with appropriate committees of Congress, the Library of Congress, and are available upon request. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests. Dated: March 5, 2007. Peter Caulkins, Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division [FR Doc. E7–13629 Filed 7–17–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–S PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–0540; FRL–8139–3] Bromonitrostyrene Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability and Risk Reduction Options Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA’s risk assessment, and related documents for the pesticide bromonitrostyrene (BNS), and opens a public comment period on these documents. The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for BNS through a modified, 4-Phase public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration decisions. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2007. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–0540, 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 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 telephone number is (703) 305– 5805. Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2007– 0540. 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. E:\FR\FM\18JYN1.SGM 18JYN1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 18, 2007 / Notices Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or email. The Federal regulations.gov website 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 regulations.gov, your email 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 available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to https:// www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Advanced Search,’’ then ‘‘Docket Search.’’ Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the ‘‘Submit’’ button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov Web site to view the docket index or access available documents. 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 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 telephone number is (703) 305–5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ShaRon Carlisle, Antimicrobials Division (7510P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (703) 308–6427; fax number: (703) 308–8481; e-mail address:carlisle.sharon@epa.gov. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:02 Jul 17, 2007 Jkt 211001 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 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. PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39417 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? EPA is releasing for public comment its human health and environmental fate and effects risk assessments and related documents for BNS, and soliciting public comment on risk management ideas or proposals. BNS is currently registered as an antimicrobial agent for use in the manufacture of a variety of materials as a materials preservative in industrial lubricants, polymer emulsions, aqueous emulsions, cutting oils, paints, adhesives, and fuel oil. EPA developed the risk assessment and risk characterization for BNS through a modified version of its public process for making pesticide reregistration eligibility and tolerance reassessment decisions. Through these programs, EPA is ensuring that pesticides meet current standards under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). The primary use sites for BNS are use as a materials preservative in cleaners, caulks, inks, paints, paper, and fuel oil, and as an industrial fungicide for metal working fluids, water cooling towers and pulp and paper mills. EPA is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for interested parties to provide comments and input on the Agency’s risk assessment for BNS. Such comments and input could address, for example, the availability of additional data to further refine the risk assessments, such as a 90–day oral toxicity study in rats, a carcinogenicity study in rats, a biodegradation study, non-target plant phytotoxicity studies, and monitoring or Tier II modeling of once-through cooling tower effluents could address the Agency’s risk assessment methodologies and assumptions as applied to this specific pesticide. Through this notice, EPA also is providing an opportunity for interested parties to provide risk management proposals or otherwise comment on risk management for BNS. There are risks of concern associated with the use of BNS from the once through cooling tower use. In targeting these risks of concern, the Agency solicits information on effective and practical risk reduction measures. E:\FR\FM\18JYN1.SGM 18JYN1 39418 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 18, 2007 / Notices pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other factors, may have atypical, unusually high exposure to BNS, compared to the general population. 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, the Agency is tailoring its public participation process to be commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of the issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide. For BNS, a modified, 4-Phase process with 1 comment period and ample opportunity for public consultation seems appropriate in view of its refined risk assessment, few complex issues, and/or other factors. However, if as a result of comments received during this comment period EPA finds that additional issues warranting further discussion are raised, the Agency may lengthen the process and include a second comment period, as needed. All comments should be submitted using the methods in ADDRESSES, and must be received by EPA on or before the closing date. Comments will become part of the Agency Docket for BNS. Comments received after the close of the comment period will be marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not required to consider these late comments. 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 enduse products and either reregistering products or taking other ‘‘appropriate regulatory action.’’ Section 408(q) of the FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to review tolerances and exemptions for pesticide VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:02 Jul 17, 2007 Jkt 211001 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 was completed by August 3, 2006. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, antimicrobials, Bromonitrostyrene. Dated: July 9, 2007. Frank Sanders, Director, Antimicrobials Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. E7–13804 Filed 7–17–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–0414; FRL–8141–7] 2-Octyl-3 (2H)-isothiazolone (Octhilinone) Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability and Risk Reduction Options; Reopening of Comment Period Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA’s risk assessment(s), and related documents for the pesticide 2-octyl-3 (2H)-isothiazolone (also known as octhilinone or OIT), and opens a public comment period on these documents. The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for octhilinone through a modified, 4-Phase public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration decisions. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards. DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 17, 2007. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–0414, 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 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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–2007– 0414. 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 regulations.gov or email. The Federal regulations.gov website 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 regulations.gov, your email 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 available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to https:// www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Advanced Search,’’ then ‘‘Docket Search.’’ Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the ‘‘Submit’’ button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov Web site to view the docket index or access available documents. 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 E:\FR\FM\18JYN1.SGM 18JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39416-39418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13804]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0540; FRL-8139-3]


Bromonitrostyrene Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability and 
Risk Reduction Options

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's risk 
assessment, and related documents for the pesticide bromonitrostyrene 
(BNS), and opens a public comment period on these documents. The public 
is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address 
the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility 
Decision (RED) for BNS through a modified, 4-Phase public participation 
process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing 
pesticide reregistration decisions. Through this program, EPA is 
ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0540, 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 
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 telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-
2007-0540. 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.

[[Page 39417]]

Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise 
protected through regulations.gov or e-mail. The Federal 
regulations.gov website 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 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 
available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to 
https://www.regulations.gov, select ``Advanced Search,'' then ``Docket 
Search.'' Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the 
``Submit'' button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov Web 
site to view the docket index or access available documents. 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 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 
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ShaRon Carlisle, Antimicrobials 
Division (7510P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 308-6427; fax number: (703) 308-8481; e-
mail address:carlisle.sharon@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 
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?

    EPA is releasing for public comment its human health and 
environmental fate and effects risk assessments and related documents 
for BNS, and soliciting public comment on risk management ideas or 
proposals. BNS is currently registered as an antimicrobial agent for 
use in the manufacture of a variety of materials as a materials 
preservative in industrial lubricants, polymer emulsions, aqueous 
emulsions, cutting oils, paints, adhesives, and fuel oil. EPA developed 
the risk assessment and risk characterization for BNS through a 
modified version of its public process for making pesticide 
reregistration eligibility and tolerance reassessment decisions. 
Through these programs, EPA is ensuring that pesticides meet current 
standards under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
(FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as 
amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA).
    The primary use sites for BNS are use as a materials preservative 
in cleaners, caulks, inks, paints, paper, and fuel oil, and as an 
industrial fungicide for metal working fluids, water cooling towers and 
pulp and paper mills. EPA is providing an opportunity, through this 
notice, for interested parties to provide comments and input on the 
Agency's risk assessment for BNS. Such comments and input could 
address, for example, the availability of additional data to further 
refine the risk assessments, such as a 90-day oral toxicity study in 
rats, a carcinogenicity study in rats, a biodegradation study, non-
target plant phytotoxicity studies, and monitoring or Tier II modeling 
of once-through cooling tower effluents could address the Agency's risk 
assessment methodologies and assumptions as applied to this specific 
pesticide.
    Through this notice, EPA also is providing an opportunity for 
interested parties to provide risk management proposals or otherwise 
comment on risk management for BNS. There are risks of concern 
associated with the use of BNS from the once through cooling tower use. 
In targeting these risks of concern, the Agency solicits information on 
effective and practical risk reduction measures.

[[Page 39418]]

    EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, 
national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and 
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. To help 
address potential environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks 
information on any groups or segments of the population who, as a 
result of their location, cultural practices, or other factors, may 
have atypical, unusually high exposure to BNS, compared to the general 
population.
    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, the Agency is tailoring its public participation process to 
be commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of 
the issues, and degree of public concern associated with each 
pesticide. For BNS, a modified, 4-Phase process with 1 comment period 
and ample opportunity for public consultation seems appropriate in view 
of its refined risk assessment, few complex issues, and/or other 
factors. However, if as a result of comments received during this 
comment period EPA finds that additional issues warranting further 
discussion are raised, the Agency may lengthen the process and include 
a second comment period, as needed.
    All comments should be submitted using the methods in ADDRESSES, 
and must be received by EPA on or before the closing date. Comments 
will become part of the Agency Docket for BNS. Comments received after 
the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not 
required to consider these late comments.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA as amended directs that, after submission 
of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the 
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active 
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in 
product-specific data on individual end-use products and either 
reregistering products or taking other ``appropriate regulatory 
action.''
    Section 408(q) of the FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to 
review 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 
was completed by August 3, 2006.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, antimicrobials, 
Bromonitrostyrene.


    Dated: July 9, 2007.
Frank Sanders,
Director, Antimicrobials Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-13804 Filed 7-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
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