FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meeting, 7891-7893 [E9-3502]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 33 (Friday, February 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7891-7893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3502]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0104; FRL-8403-1]


FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: There will be a 4-day meeting of the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to 
consider and review ``The Ecological Significance of Atrazine Effects 
on Primary Producers in Surface Water Streams in the Corn and Sorghum 
Growing Region of the United States (Part II).''

DATES: The meeting will be held on May 12-15, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 
approximately 5:30 p.m.
    Comments. The Agency encourages that written comments be submitted 
by May 4, 2009, and requests for oral comments be submitted by May 8, 
2009. However, written comments and requests to make oral comments may 
be submitted until the date of the meeting, but anyone submitting 
written comments after May 4, 2009, should contact the Designated 
Federal Official (DFO) listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
For additional instructions, see Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.
    Nominations. Nominations of candidates to serve as ad hoc members 
of FIFRA SAP for this meeting should be provided on or before March 6, 
2009.
    Special accommodations. For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, and to request accommodation of a 
disability, please contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT at least 10 days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time 
as possible to process your request.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Conference Center, Lobby Level, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 
2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202.
    Comments: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0104, 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 Facility'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-
2009-0104. If your comments contain any information that you consider 
to be CBI or otherwise protected, please contact the DFO listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to obtain special instructions before 
submitting your comments. 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 e-mail. The 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 at https://www.regulations.gov. 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 Facility telephone 
number is (703) 305-5805.
    Nominations, requests to present oral comments, and requests for 
special accommodations. Submit nominations to serve as ad hoc members 
of FIFRA SAP, requests for special seating accommodations, or requests 
to present oral comments to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharlene Matten, DFO, Office of 
Science Coordination and Policy (7201M), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; 
telephone number: (202) 564-0130; fax number: (202) 564-8382; e-mail 
address: matten.sharlene@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, 
however, be of interest to persons who are or may be required to 
conduct testing of chemical substances under the Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), FIFRA, and the Food Quality Protection Act of 
1996 (FQPA). Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency 
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be 
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the DFO 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    When submitting comments, remember to:
    1. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying

[[Page 7892]]

information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
    2. 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.
    3. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and 
substitute language for your requested changes.
    4. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information 
and/or data that you used.
    5. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you 
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
    6. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and 
suggest alternatives.
    7. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of 
profanity or personal threats.
    8. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline 
identified.

C. How May I Participate in this Meeting?

    You may participate in this meeting by following the instructions 
in this unit. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that 
you identify docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0104 in the subject line 
on the first page of your request.
    1. Written comments. The Agency encourages that written comments be 
submitted, using the instructions in ADDRESSES, no later than May 4, 
2009, to provide FIFRA SAP the time necessary to consider and review 
the written comments. Written comments are accepted until the date of 
the meeting, but anyone submitting written comments after May 4, 2009, 
should contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Anyone submitting written comments at the meeting should bring 30 
copies for distribution to FIFRA SAP.
    2. Oral comments. The Agency encourages that each individual or 
group wishing to make brief oral comments to FIFRA SAP submit their 
request to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no 
later than May 8, 2009, in order to be included on the meeting agenda. 
Requests to present oral comments will be accepted until the date of 
the meeting and, to the extent that time permits, the Chair of FIFRA 
SAP may permit the presentation of oral comments at the meeting by 
interested persons who have not previously requested time. The request 
should identify the name of the individual making the presentation, the 
organization (if any) the individual will represent, and any 
requirements for audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead projector, 35 mm 
projector, chalkboard). Oral comments before FIFRA SAP are limited to 
approximately 5 minutes unless prior arrangements have been made. In 
addition, each speaker should bring 30 copies of his or her comments 
and presentation slides for distribution to the FIFRA SAP at the 
meeting.
    3. Seating at the meeting. Seating at the meeting will be open and 
on a first-come basis.
    4. Request for nominations to serve as ad hoc members of FIFRA SAP 
for this meeting. As part of a broader process for developing a pool of 
candidates for each meeting, FIFRA SAP staff routinely solicits the 
stakeholder community for nominations of prospective candidates for 
service as ad hoc members of FIFRA SAP. Any interested person or 
organization may nominate qualified individuals to be considered as 
prospective candidates for a specific meeting. Individuals nominated 
for this meeting should have expertise in one or more of the following 
areas: Aquatic ecology, aquatic community modeling, environmental 
sampling statistics, environmental monitoring design and exposure 
assessment, watershed vulnerability assessment, including experience in 
evaluating chemical run-off potential, and soil science. Nominees 
should be scientists who have sufficient professional qualifications, 
including training and experience, to be capable of providing expert 
comments on the scientific issues for this meeting. Nominees should be 
identified by name, occupation, position, address, and telephone 
number. Nominations should be provided to the DFO listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT on or before March 6, 2009. The Agency will 
consider all nominations of prospective candidates for this meeting 
that are received on or before this date. However, final selection of 
ad hoc members for this meeting is a discretionary function of the 
Agency.
    The selection of scientists to serve on FIFRA SAP is based on the 
function of the panel and the expertise needed to address the Agency's 
charge to the panel. No interested scientists shall be ineligible to 
serve by reason of their membership on any other advisory committee to 
a Federal department or agency or their employment by a Federal 
department or agency except the EPA. Other factors considered during 
the selection process include availability of the potential panel 
member to fully participate in the panel's reviews, absence of any 
conflicts of interest or appearance of lack of impartiality, 
independence with respect to the matters under review, and lack of 
bias. Although, financial conflicts of interest, the appearance of lack 
of impartiality, lack of independence, and bias may result in 
disqualification, the absence of such concerns does not assure that a 
candidate will be selected to serve on FIFRA SAP. Numerous qualified 
candidates are identified for each panel. Therefore, selection 
decisions involve carefully weighing a number of factors including the 
candidates' areas of expertise and professional qualifications and 
achieving an overall balance of different scientific perspectives on 
the panel. In order to have the collective breadth of experience needed 
to address the Agency's charge for this meeting, the Agency anticipates 
selecting approximately 10-12 ad hoc scientists.
    FIFRA SAP members are subject to the provisions of 5 CFR part 2634, 
Executive Branch Financial Disclosure, as supplemented by the EPA in 5 
CFR part 6401. In anticipation of this requirement, prospective 
candidates for service on the FIFRA SAP will be asked to submit 
confidential financial information which shall fully disclose, among 
other financial interests, the candidate's employment, stocks and 
bonds, and where applicable, sources of research support. EPA will 
evaluate the candidates financial disclosure form to assess whether 
there are financial conflicts of interest, appearance of a lack of 
impartiality or any prior involvement with the development of the 
documents under consideration (including previous scientific peer 
review) before the candidate is considered further for service on FIFRA 
SAP. Those who are selected from the pool of prospective candidates 
will be asked to attend the public meetings and to participate in the 
discussion of key issues and assumptions at these meetings. In 
addition, they will be asked to review and to help finalize the meeting 
minutes. The list of FIFRA SAP members participating at this meeting 
will be posted on the FIFRA SAP website at https://www.epa.gov/scipoly/
sap or may be obtained from the OPP Regulatory Public Docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.

II. Background

A. Purpose of FIFRA SAP

    FIFRA SAP serves as the primary scientific peer review mechanism of 
EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) and 
is structured to provide scientific advice, information and 
recommendations to the EPA Administrator on pesticides and pesticide-
related issues as to the

[[Page 7893]]

impact of regulatory actions on health and the environment. FIFRA SAP 
is a Federal advisory committee established in 1975 under FIFRA that 
operates in accordance with requirements of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. FIFRA SAP is composed of a permanent panel consisting of 
seven members who are appointed by the EPA Administrator from nominees 
provided by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science 
Foundation. FIFRA, as amended by FQPA, established a Science Review 
Board consisting of at least 60 scientists who are available to the SAP 
on an ad hoc basis to assist in reviews conducted by the SAP. As a peer 
review mechanism, FIFRA SAP provides comments, evaluations and 
recommendations to improve the effectiveness and quality of analyses 
made by Agency scientists. Members of FIFRA SAP are scientists who have 
sufficient professional qualifications, including training and 
experience, to provide expert advice and recommendation to the Agency.

B. Public Meeting

    The Interim Risk Assessment Eligibility Document (IRED) for 
atrazine in 2003 presented the results of an ecological risk assessment 
that identified the potential for community and population risk to 
sensitive aquatic species. As a condition of reregistration, the 
atrazine registrants were required to develop a monitoring program to 
determine the extent to which atrazine concentrations associated with 
corn and sorghum production may be exceeding levels that could cause 
effects to aquatic communities. Forty watersheds out of a potential 
1,172 representing high atrazine use locations most vulnerable to 
atrazine runoff were selected for monitoring using a stratified, random 
statistical survey design. Sampling within these watersheds began in 
2004 and is ongoing in selected watersheds. The Agency intends to 
evaluate the results of the atrazine monitoring study in order to 
identify the characteristics of those watersheds that resulted in 
atrazine exposures that exceeded the Agency's level of concern (LOC) 
and to extrapolate those results to other non-monitored locations to 
determine where other exceedences of the LOC may occur.
    In December 2007, the Agency presented to the SAP the use of the 
Comprehensive Aquatic Systems Model (CASM) as a tool to determine a LOC 
that relates time variable monitoring data to effects identified in a 
series of microcosm and mesocosm studies which were used in the 
original atrazine (IRED) assessment. In addition, the Agency presented 
an approach on how to identify other potential sites outside of the 40 
that were monitored based on similar use, watershed vulnerability and 
other factors. The SAP recommended that the Agency make the population 
time series more realistic in the CASM--Atrazine model, provide a 
better validation of this model, and perform a more comprehensive 
sensitivity analysis. In May 2009, the Agency will present evaluations 
of the applicability of a revised CASM--Atrazine model to freshwater 
atrazine risk assessments and reasons for deciding not to proceed with 
further development and application of this model. A simpler 
alternative to the CASM-based approach will be presented for relating 
surface water monitoring data to the microcosm and mesocosm data. Other 
issues presented will include a revised assessment of the microcosm and 
mesocosm exposure profiles, an update on the monitoring program 
results, interpretation of the surface water monitoring results with 
both the revised CASM and the alternative approach, identification of 
the watershed factors driving atrazine runoff, and extrapolation of 
those results to the entire atrazine use area to identify other areas 
where atrazine exposures may exceed the levels of concern. Finally, 
EPA's Office of Water is examining statistical alternatives for 
expressing the model results as a numeric criterion applicable to 
potentially sparse data sets typical of what is often available for 
water bodies.

C. FIFRA SAP Documents and Meeting Minutes

    EPA's background paper, related supporting materials, charge/
questions to FIFRA SAP, FIFRA SAP composition (i.e., members and ad hoc 
members for this meeting), and the meeting agenda will be available by 
April 27, 2009. In addition, the Agency may provide additional 
background documents as the materials become available. You may obtain 
electronic copies of these documents, and certain other related 
documents that might be available electronically, at https://
www.regulations.gov and the FIFRA SAP homepage at https://www.epa.gov/
scipoly/sap.
    FIFRA SAP will prepare meeting minutes summarizing its 
recommendations to the Agency approximately 90 days after the meeting. 
The meeting minutes will be posted on the FIFRA SAP website or may be 
obtained from the OPP Regulatory Public Docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: February 12, 2009.
Frank Sanders,
Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy.
[FR Doc. E9-3502 Filed 2-19-09; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S