Etoxazole; Pesticide Tolerances, 3617-3621 [2012-1254]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 25, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
[FR Doc. 2012–1360 Filed 1–24–12; 8:45 am]
I. General Information
BILLING CODE P
A. Does this action apply to me?
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2010–0968; FRL–9334–9]
Etoxazole; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Final rule.
This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of etoxazole in or
on field corn and popcorn. Valent
U.S.A. Corporation requested these
tolerances under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
SUMMARY:
This regulation is effective
January 25, 2012. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before March 26, 2012, and must
be filed in accordance with the
instructions provided in 40 CFR part
178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
DATES:
EPA has established a
docket for this action under docket
identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2010–0968. 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., 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 Bldg.),
2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The
Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket
Facility telephone number is (703) 305–
5805.
ADDRESSES:
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Autumn Metzger, Registration Division
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001; telephone number:
(703) 305–5314; email address: metzger.
autumn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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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 those engaged in the
following activities:
• Crop production (NAICS code 111).
• Animal production (NAICS code
112).
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
This listing is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather to provide 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 get electronic access to
other related information?
You may access a frequently updated
electronic version of EPA’s tolerance
regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through
the Government Printing Office’s e-CFR
site at https://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/
text/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/
Title40/40tab_02.tpl. To access the
harmonized guidelines referenced in
this document electronically, please go
to https://www.epa.gov/ocspp and select
‘‘Test Methods and Guidelines.’’
C. How can I file an objection or hearing
request?
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21
U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an
objection to any aspect of this regulation
and may also request a hearing on those
objections. 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–2010–0968 in the subject line on
the first page of your submission. All
objections and requests for a hearing
must be in writing, and must be
received by the Hearing Clerk on or
before March 26, 2012. Addresses for
mail and hand delivery of objections
and hearing requests are provided in 40
CFR 178.25(b).
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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. Information not marked
confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2
may be disclosed publicly by EPA
without prior notice. Submit a copy of
your non-CBI objection or hearing
request, identified by docket ID number
EPA–HQ–OPP–2010–0968, 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.
II. Summary of Petitioned-For
Tolerance
In the Federal Register of February
25, 2011 (76 FR 10584) (FRL–8863–3),
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 0F7783) by Valent
USA Corporation, 1600 Riviera Avenue,
Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. The
petition requested that 40 CFR 180.593
be amended by establishing tolerances
for residues of the miticide/ovicide
etoxazole, 2-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4-[4(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-ethoxyphenyl]4,5-dihydrooxazole, in or on corn, field,
grain at 0.01 parts per million (ppm);
corn, field, forage at 0.6 ppm; corn,
field, stover at 2.5 ppm; corn, field,
refined oil at 0.03 ppm; corn, pop, grain
at 0.01 ppm; corn, pop, stover at 2.5
ppm; poultry, fat at 0.01 ppm; and
poultry, liver at 0.02 ppm. That notice
referenced a summary of the petition
prepared by Valent, the registrant,
which is available in the docket, https://
www.regulations.gov. There were no
comments received in response to the
notice of filing.
Based upon review of the data
supporting the petition, EPA has
modified the levels at which some of the
tolerances are being set and determined
tolerances are not needed for poultry.
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The reasons for these changes are
explained in Unit IV.D.
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III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and
Determination of Safety
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 * * *.’’
Consistent with section 408(b)(2)(D)
of FFDCA, and the factors specified in
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 for etoxazole
including exposure resulting from the
tolerances established by this action.
EPA’s assessment of exposures and risks
associated with etoxazole 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.
Etoxazole possesses low acute toxicity
via all routes of exposure. It is not an
eye or dermal irritant or a dermal
sensitizer. No toxicity was seen at the
limit dose in a 28-day dermal toxicity
study in rats.
The liver is the main target organ in
mice, rats and dogs. In a 90-day toxicity
study in dogs, increased liver weights
and centrilobular hepatocellular
swelling in the liver were observed.
Similar effects were observed in a
chronic toxicity study in dogs at similar
doses, indicating that systemic effects
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(mainly liver effects) occur at similar
dose levels following short- through
long-term exposure without increasing
in severity. In a 90-day toxicity study in
mice, hepatotoxicity (increased relative
liver weight, liver enlargement, and
centrilobular hepatocellular swelling)
was observed at high doses. Similar
effects were observed at the high dose
in a mouse carcinogenicity study.
Subchronic and chronic toxicity studies
in rats produced similar effects
(increased liver weights, centrilobular
hepatocellular swelling, etc.) to those
seen in mice and dogs. In addition,
slight increases in thyroid weights and
incisors were observed in subchronic
and chronic toxicity studies in rats at
high doses and at terminal stages of the
study. Toxicity was not observed at the
highest dose tested (HDT) in another
carcinogenicity study in mice. There is
no evidence of immunotoxicity or
neurotoxicity in any of the submitted
studies.
Two studies in mice showed no
evidence of carcinogenicity up to the
HDT. In a rat carcinogenicity study,
which was deemed unacceptable due to
inadequate dosing, benign interstitial
cell tumors (testis) and pancreas benign
islet cell adenomas were observed (in
females) at the high dose. These effects
were not observed in an acceptable
carcinogenicity study in rats at higher
doses. In special mechanistic male rat
studies there were no observable
changes in serum hormone levels
(estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH),
prolactin and testosterone) or
reproductive effects (interstitial cell
proliferation or spermatogenesis) noted.
EPA classified etoxazole as ‘‘not likely
to be carcinogenic to humans.’’
Etoxazole is not mutagenic.
The toxicology data for etoxazole
provides no indication of increased
susceptibility, as compared to adults, of
rat and rabbit fetuses to in utero
exposure in developmental studies. The
rabbit developmental toxicity study
included maternal toxic effects (liver
enlargement, decreased weight gain, and
decreased food consumption) at the
same dose as developmental effects
(increased incidences of 27 presacral
vertebrae and 27 presacral vertebrae
with 13th ribs). In the 2-generation
reproduction study conducted with rats,
offspring toxicity was more severe (pup
mortality) than parental toxicity
(increased liver and adrenal weights) at
the same dose, indicating increased
qualitative susceptibility.
Specific information on the studies
received and the nature of the adverse
effects caused by etoxazole as well as
the no-observed-adverse-effect-level
(NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-
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adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the
toxicity studies can be found at https://
www.regulations.gov in document titled
‘‘Etoxazole. Human Health Risk
Assessment for Proposed Uses in/on
Field Corn and Pop Corn,’’ pp. 24–27 in
docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2010–
0968.
B. Toxicological Points of Departure/
Levels of Concern
Once a pesticide’s toxicological
profile is determined, EPA identifies
toxicological points of departure (POD)
and levels of concern to use in
evaluating the risk posed by human
exposure to the pesticide. For hazards
that have a threshold below which there
is no appreciable risk, the toxicological
POD is used as the basis for derivation
of reference values for risk assessment.
PODs are developed based on a careful
analysis of the doses in each
toxicological study to determine the
dose at which no adverse effects are
observed (the NOAEL) and the lowest
dose at which adverse effects of concern
are identified (the LOAEL). Uncertainty/
safety factors are used in conjunction
with the POD to calculate a safe
exposure level—generally referred to as
a population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a
reference dose (RfD)—and a safe margin
of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold
risks, the Agency assumes that any
amount of exposure will lead to some
degree of risk. Thus, the Agency
estimates risk in terms of the probability
of an occurrence of the adverse effect
expected in a lifetime. For more
information on the general principles
EPA uses in risk characterization and a
complete description of the risk
assessment process, see https://www.epa.
gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.
htm.
A summary of the toxicological
endpoints for etoxazole used for human
risk assessment is discussed in Unit
III.B., in the Table of the final rule
published in the Federal Register of
April 13, 2011 (76 FR 20537) (FRL–
8867–5) (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/
FR-2011-04-13/pdf/2011-8550.pdf.)
C. Exposure Assessment
1. Dietary exposure from food and
feed uses. In evaluating dietary
exposure to etoxazole, EPA considered
exposure under the petitioned-for
tolerances as well as all existing
etoxazole tolerances in 40 CFR 180.593.
EPA assessed dietary exposures from
etoxazole 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
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occurring as a result of a 1-day or single
exposure.
No such effects were identified in the
toxicological studies for etoxazole;
therefore, a quantitative acute dietary
exposure assessment is unnecessary.
ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting
the chronic dietary exposure assessment
EPA used the food consumption data
from the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) 1994–1996 and
1998 Continuing Surveys for Food
Intake by Individuals (CSFII). As to
residue levels in food, an unrefined,
chronic dietary exposure assessment
was performed for the general U.S.
population and various population
subgroups using tolerance-level residues
for all agricultural commodities and 100
percent crop treated (PCT) information.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data
summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
concluded that etoxazole does not pose
a cancer risk to humans. Therefore, a
dietary exposure assessment for the
purpose of assessing cancer risk is
unnecessary.
iv. Anticipated residue and PCT
information. EPA did not use
anticipated residue and/or PCT
information in the dietary assessment
for etoxazole. Tolerance level residues
and/or 100 PCT were assumed for all
food commodities.
2. Dietary exposure from drinking
water. The Agency used screening level
water exposure models in the dietary
exposure analysis and risk assessment
for etoxazole in drinking water. These
simulation models take into account
data on the physical, chemical, and fate/
transport characteristics of etoxazole.
Further information regarding EPA
drinking water models used in pesticide
exposure assessment can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/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
etoxazole for chronic exposures for noncancer assessments are estimated to be
4.761 parts per billion (ppb) for surface
water and 0.746 ppb for ground water.
Modeled estimates of drinking water
concentrations were directly entered
into the dietary exposure model. For
chronic dietary risk assessment, the
water concentration of value 4.761 ppb
was used to assess the contribution to
drinking water.
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
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flea and tick control on pets). Etoxazole
is not registered for any specific use
patterns that would result in residential
exposure.
4. Cumulative effects from substances
with a common mechanism of toxicity.
Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of 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.’’
EPA has not found etoxazole to share
a common mechanism of toxicity with
any other substances, and etoxazole
does not appear to produce a toxic
metabolite produced by other
substances. For the purposes of this
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has
assumed that etoxazole does not have 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 EPA’s Web site at https://
www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.
D. Safety Factor for Infants and
Children
1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of
FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply
an additional tenfold (10X) 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 database on toxicity
and exposure unless EPA determines
based on reliable data that a different
margin of safety will be safe for infants
and children. This additional margin of
safety is commonly referred to as the
FQPA Safety Factor (SF). In applying
this provision, EPA either retains the
default value of 10X, or uses a different
additional safety factor when reliable
data available to EPA support the choice
of a different factor.
2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity.
The toxicology data for etoxazole
provides no indication of increased
susceptibility, as compared to adults, of
rat and rabbit fetuses to in utero
exposure in developmental studies. In a
rat reproduction study, offspring
toxicity was more severe (pup mortality)
than parental toxicity (increased liver
and adrenal weights) at the same dose;
thereby indicating increased qualitative
susceptibility. Based on the concerns in
this unit, a Degree of Concern Analysis
was performed by EPA, which
concluded that concern is low since:
i. The effects in pups are wellcharacterized with a clear NOAEL;
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ii. The pup effects occur at the same
dose as parental toxicity; and
iii. The doses selected for various risk
assessment scenarios are lower (∼3000fold lower) than the doses that caused
offspring toxicity in the rat 2-generation
reproduction study. Therefore, the
endpoints selected for risk assessment
are protective of the effects seen in the
rat reproduction study.
3. Conclusion. EPA has determined
that reliable data show the safety of
infants and children would be
adequately protected if the FQPA SF
were reduced to 1x. That decision is
based on the following findings:
i. The toxicity database for etoxazole
is complete except for acute and
subchronic neurotoxicity and
immunotoxicity studies. Changes to 40
CFR 180.158 make acute and subchronic
neurotoxicity testing (OPPTS Guideline
870.6200), and immunotoxicity testing
(OPPTS Guideline 870.7800) required
for pesticide registration. Although
these studies are not yet available for
etoxazole, the available data do not
show any evidence of treatment-related
effects on the immune system. Further,
there is no evidence of neurotoxicity in
any study in the toxicity database for
etoxazole. Therefore, the EPA does not
believe that conducting neurotoxicity
and immunotoxicity studies will result
in a NOAEL lower than the NOAEL of
4.62 milligrams/kilograms/day (mg/kg/
day) already established for etoxazole.
Consequently, an additional database
uncertainty factor does not need to be
applied.
ii. There is no indication that
etoxazole is a neurotoxic chemical and
there is no need for a developmental
neurotoxicity study or additional UFs to
account for neurotoxicity.
iii. Although there is qualitative
evidence of increased susceptibility of
offspring (pup mortality) compared to
less severe parental effects (increased
liver and adrenal weights) at the same
dose in the rat multi-generation
reproduction study, the Agency did not
identify any residual uncertainties after
establishing toxicity endpoints and
traditional UFs (10X for interspecies
variation and 10X for intraspecies
variation) to be used in the risk
assessment. Therefore, there are no
residual concerns regarding
developmental effects in the young.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties
identified in the exposure databases.
The dietary food exposure assessments
were performed based on 100 PCT and
tolerance-level residues. EPA made
conservative (protective) assumptions in
the ground and surface water modeling
used to assess exposure to etoxazole in
drinking water. These assessments will
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not underestimate the exposure and
risks posed by etoxazole.
E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of
Safety
EPA determines whether acute and
chronic dietary pesticide exposures are
safe by comparing aggregate exposure
estimates to the acute PAD (aPAD) and
chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer
risks, EPA calculates the lifetime
probability of acquiring cancer given the
estimated aggregate exposure. Short-,
intermediate-, and chronic-term risks
are evaluated by comparing the
estimated aggregate food, water, and
residential exposure to the appropriate
PODs to ensure that an adequate MOE
exists.
1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk
assessment takes into account acute
exposure estimates from dietary
consumption of food and drinking
water. No adverse effect resulting from
a single oral exposure was identified
and no acute dietary endpoint was
selected. Therefore, etoxazole is not
expected to pose an acute risk.
2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure
assumptions described in this unit for
chronic exposure, EPA has concluded
that chronic exposure to etoxazole from
food and water will utilize 11% of the
cPAD for children 1–2 years old, the
population group receiving the greatest
exposure. There are no residential uses
for etoxazole.
3. Short and intermediate-term risk.
Short- and intermediate-term aggregate
exposure takes into account short- and
intermediate-term residential exposure
plus chronic exposure to food and water
(considered to be a background
exposure level).
A short- and/or intermediate-term
adverse effect was identified; however,
etoxazole is not registered for any use
patterns that would result in short- and/
or intermediate-term residential
exposure. Short- and/or intermediateterm risk is assessed based on shortand/or intermediate term residential
exposure plus chronic dietary exposure.
Because there is no short- and/or
intermediate-term residential exposure
and chronic dietary exposure has
already been assessed under the
appropriately protective cPAD (which is
at least as protective as the POD used to
assess short- and/or intermediate-term
risk), no further assessment of shortand/or intermediate-term risk is
necessary, and EPA relies on the
chronic dietary risk assessment for
evaluating short- and/or intermediateterm risk for etoxazole.
4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S.
population. Based on the lack of
evidence of carcinogenicity in two
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adequate rodent carcinogenicity studies,
etoxazole is not expected to pose a
cancer risk to humans.
5. 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, or to infants and children
from aggregate exposure to etoxazole
residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate enforcement methodology
(gas chromatography/nitrogenphosphorus detection (GC/NPD) and gas
chromatography/mass selective
detection (GC/MSD) methods) 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
In making its tolerance decisions, EPA
seeks to harmonize U.S. tolerances with
international standards whenever
possible, consistent with U.S. food
safety standards and agricultural
practices. EPA considers the
international maximum residue limits
(MRLs) established by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as
required by FFDCA section 408(b)(4).
The Codex Alimentarius is a joint U.N.
Food and Agriculture Organization/
World Health Organization food
standards program, and it is recognized
as an international food safety
standards-setting organization in trade
agreements to which the United States
is a party. EPA may establish a tolerance
that is different from a Codex MRL;
however, FFDCA section 408(b)(4)
requires that EPA explain the reasons
for departing from the Codex level.
The Codex has not established a MRL
for etoxazole for the commodities
discussed in this document.
C. Revisions to Petitioned-For
Tolerances
Based upon analysis of the data
supporting the petition using the
Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development tolerance calculation
procedures, the EPA revised the
tolerance levels for corn, field, forage
from 0.6 ppm to 0.80 ppm; corn, field,
stover from 2.5 ppm, to 4.0 ppm and
corn, pop, stover from 2.5 ppm to 4.0
ppm.
There is no reasonable expectation of
finding quantifiable residues of
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etoxazole in poultry commodities based
on the calculated maximum reasonable
dietary burden (MRDB) for poultry
(0.0077 ppm) and the results from the
poultry metabolism study. Therefore,
tolerances for residues of etoxazole in
poultry, fat and poultry, liver were not
required for this petition.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established
for residues of etoxazole in or on corn,
field, grain at 0.01 ppm; corn, field,
forage at 0.80 ppm; corn, field, stover at
4.0 ppm; corn, field, refined oil at 0.03
ppm; corn, pop, grain at 0.01 ppm; corn,
pop, stover at 4.0 ppm.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
This final rule establishes tolerances
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 final rule
has been exempted from review under
Executive Order 12866, this final rule is
not subject to Executive Order 13211,
entitled Actions Concerning Regulations
That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045,
entitled Protection of Children from
Environmental Health Risks and Safety
Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997).
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., 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).
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.
This final rule directly regulates
growers, food processors, food handlers,
and food retailers, not States or tribes,
nor does this action alter the
relationships or distribution of power
and responsibilities established by
Congress in the preemption provisions
of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. As such,
the Agency has determined that this
action will not have a substantial direct
effect on States or tribal governments,
E:\FR\FM\25JAR1.SGM
25JAR1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 25, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
on the relationship between the national
government and the States or tribal
governments, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government or between
the Federal Government and Indian
tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined
that Executive Order 13132, entitled
Federalism (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999) and Executive Order 13175,
entitled Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR
67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply
to this final rule. In addition, this final
rule does not impose any enforceable
duty or contain any unfunded mandate
as described under Title II of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(UMRA) (Pub. L. 104–4).
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).
VII. Congressional Review Act
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedure,
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: January 13, 2012.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
amended as follows:
sroberts on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with RULES
PART 180—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 180
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
2. Section 180.593 is amended in
paragraph (a) by alphabetically adding
VerDate Mar<15>2010
21:03 Jan 24, 2012
Jkt 226001
§ 180.593 Etoxazole; tolerances for
residues.
(a) General. * * *
Parts per
million
Commodity
*
*
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
*
*
field, forage ...................
field, grain .....................
field, refined oil .............
field, stover ...................
pop, grain ......................
pop, stover ....................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0.80
0.01
0.03
4.0
0.01
4.0
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2012–1254 Filed 1–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
submit a rule report 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).
■
the following commodities to the table
to read as follows:
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2010–1017; FRL–9332–1]
Rimsulfuron; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of rimsulfuron in
or on the caneberry subgroup 13–07A
and the bushberry subgroup 13–07B.
Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR–
4) requested these tolerances under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective
January 25, 2012. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before March 26, 2012, 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–2010–1017. 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., 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.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
3621
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 Bldg.),
2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The
Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket
Facility telephone number is (703) 305–
5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Ertman, Registration Division
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001; telephone number:
(703) 308–9367; email address:
ertman.andrew@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 those engaged in the
following activities:
• Crop production (NAICS code 111).
• Animal production (NAICS code
112).
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
This listing is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather to provide 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 get electronic access to
other related information?
You may access a frequently updated
electronic version of EPA’s tolerance
regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through
the Government Printing Office’s e-CFR
site at https://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/
text/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/
Title40/40tab_02.tpl.
C. How can I file an objection or hearing
request?
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21
U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an
E:\FR\FM\25JAR1.SGM
25JAR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3617-3621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1254]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0968; FRL-9334-9]
Etoxazole; Pesticide Tolerances
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of
etoxazole in or on field corn and popcorn. Valent U.S.A. Corporation
requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective January 25, 2012. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before March 26, 2012, 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-2010-0968. 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., 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 Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The Docket
Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703)
305-5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Autumn Metzger, Registration Division
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone
number: (703) 305-5314; email address: metzger.autumn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 those
engaged in the following activities:
Crop production (NAICS code 111).
Animal production (NAICS code 112).
Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to
provide 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 get electronic access to other related information?
You may access a frequently updated electronic version of EPA's
tolerance regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through the Government
Printing Office's e-CFR site at https://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40tab_02.tpl. To access the
harmonized guidelines referenced in this document electronically,
please go to https://www.epa.gov/ocspp and select ``Test Methods and
Guidelines.''
C. How can I file an objection or hearing request?
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an
objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a
hearing on those objections. 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-2010-0968 in the subject line on the first
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must
be in writing, and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before
March 26, 2012. Addresses for mail and hand delivery of objections and
hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b).
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. Information not marked confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2
may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice. Submit a copy of
your non-CBI objection or hearing request, identified by docket ID
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0968, 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.
II. Summary of Petitioned-For Tolerance
In the Federal Register of February 25, 2011 (76 FR 10584) (FRL-
8863-3), 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
0F7783) by Valent USA Corporation, 1600 Riviera Avenue, Suite 200,
Walnut Creek, CA 94596. The petition requested that 40 CFR 180.593 be
amended by establishing tolerances for residues of the miticide/ovicide
etoxazole, 2-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4-[4- (1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-
ethoxyphenyl]-4,5-dihydrooxazole, in or on corn, field, grain at 0.01
parts per million (ppm); corn, field, forage at 0.6 ppm; corn, field,
stover at 2.5 ppm; corn, field, refined oil at 0.03 ppm; corn, pop,
grain at 0.01 ppm; corn, pop, stover at 2.5 ppm; poultry, fat at 0.01
ppm; and poultry, liver at 0.02 ppm. That notice referenced a summary
of the petition prepared by Valent, the registrant, which is available
in the docket, https://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments
received in response to the notice of filing.
Based upon review of the data supporting the petition, EPA has
modified the levels at which some of the tolerances are being set and
determined tolerances are not needed for poultry.
[[Page 3618]]
The reasons for these changes are explained in Unit IV.D.
III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety
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 * *
*.''
Consistent with section 408(b)(2)(D) of FFDCA, and the factors
specified in 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 for etoxazole including
exposure resulting from the tolerances established by this action.
EPA's assessment of exposures and risks associated with etoxazole
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.
Etoxazole possesses low acute toxicity via all routes of exposure.
It is not an eye or dermal irritant or a dermal sensitizer. No toxicity
was seen at the limit dose in a 28-day dermal toxicity study in rats.
The liver is the main target organ in mice, rats and dogs. In a 90-
day toxicity study in dogs, increased liver weights and centrilobular
hepatocellular swelling in the liver were observed. Similar effects
were observed in a chronic toxicity study in dogs at similar doses,
indicating that systemic effects (mainly liver effects) occur at
similar dose levels following short- through long-term exposure without
increasing in severity. In a 90-day toxicity study in mice,
hepatotoxicity (increased relative liver weight, liver enlargement, and
centrilobular hepatocellular swelling) was observed at high doses.
Similar effects were observed at the high dose in a mouse
carcinogenicity study. Subchronic and chronic toxicity studies in rats
produced similar effects (increased liver weights, centrilobular
hepatocellular swelling, etc.) to those seen in mice and dogs. In
addition, slight increases in thyroid weights and incisors were
observed in subchronic and chronic toxicity studies in rats at high
doses and at terminal stages of the study. Toxicity was not observed at
the highest dose tested (HDT) in another carcinogenicity study in mice.
There is no evidence of immunotoxicity or neurotoxicity in any of the
submitted studies.
Two studies in mice showed no evidence of carcinogenicity up to the
HDT. In a rat carcinogenicity study, which was deemed unacceptable due
to inadequate dosing, benign interstitial cell tumors (testis) and
pancreas benign islet cell adenomas were observed (in females) at the
high dose. These effects were not observed in an acceptable
carcinogenicity study in rats at higher doses. In special mechanistic
male rat studies there were no observable changes in serum hormone
levels (estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin and
testosterone) or reproductive effects (interstitial cell proliferation
or spermatogenesis) noted. EPA classified etoxazole as ``not likely to
be carcinogenic to humans.'' Etoxazole is not mutagenic.
The toxicology data for etoxazole provides no indication of
increased susceptibility, as compared to adults, of rat and rabbit
fetuses to in utero exposure in developmental studies. The rabbit
developmental toxicity study included maternal toxic effects (liver
enlargement, decreased weight gain, and decreased food consumption) at
the same dose as developmental effects (increased incidences of 27
presacral vertebrae and 27 presacral vertebrae with 13th ribs). In the
2-generation reproduction study conducted with rats, offspring toxicity
was more severe (pup mortality) than parental toxicity (increased liver
and adrenal weights) at the same dose, indicating increased qualitative
susceptibility.
Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the
adverse effects caused by etoxazole 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 at https://www.regulations.gov in document titled ``Etoxazole. Human Health Risk
Assessment for Proposed Uses in/on Field Corn and Pop Corn,'' pp. 24-27
in docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0968.
B. Toxicological Points of Departure/Levels of Concern
Once a pesticide's toxicological profile is determined, EPA
identifies toxicological points of departure (POD) and levels of
concern to use in evaluating the risk posed by human exposure to the
pesticide. For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no
appreciable risk, the toxicological POD is used as the basis for
derivation of reference values for risk assessment. PODs are developed
based on a careful analysis of the doses in each toxicological study to
determine the dose at which no adverse effects are observed (the NOAEL)
and the lowest dose at which adverse effects of concern are identified
(the LOAEL). Uncertainty/safety factors are used in conjunction with
the POD to calculate a safe exposure level--generally referred to as a
population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a reference dose (RfD)--and a safe
margin of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold risks, the Agency assumes
that any amount of exposure will lead to some degree of risk. Thus, the
Agency estimates risk in terms of the probability of an occurrence of
the adverse effect expected in a lifetime. For more information on the
general principles EPA uses in risk characterization and a complete
description of the risk assessment process, see https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm.
A summary of the toxicological endpoints for etoxazole used for
human risk assessment is discussed in Unit III.B., in the Table of the
final rule published in the Federal Register of April 13, 2011 (76 FR
20537) (FRL-8867-5) (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-04-13/pdf/2011-8550.pdf.)
C. Exposure Assessment
1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary
exposure to etoxazole, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-for
tolerances as well as all existing etoxazole tolerances in 40 CFR
180.593. EPA assessed dietary exposures from etoxazole 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
[[Page 3619]]
occurring as a result of a 1-day or single exposure.
No such effects were identified in the toxicological studies for
etoxazole; therefore, a quantitative acute dietary exposure assessment
is unnecessary.
ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure
assessment EPA used the food consumption data from the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1994-1996 and 1998 Continuing Surveys
for Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII). As to residue levels in food,
an unrefined, chronic dietary exposure assessment was performed for the
general U.S. population and various population subgroups using
tolerance-level residues for all agricultural commodities and 100
percent crop treated (PCT) information.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
concluded that etoxazole does not pose a cancer risk to humans.
Therefore, a dietary exposure assessment for the purpose of assessing
cancer risk is unnecessary.
iv. Anticipated residue and PCT information. EPA did not use
anticipated residue and/or PCT information in the dietary assessment
for etoxazole. Tolerance level residues and/or 100 PCT were assumed for
all food commodities.
2. Dietary exposure from drinking water. The Agency used screening
level water exposure models in the dietary exposure analysis and risk
assessment for etoxazole in drinking water. These simulation models
take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/transport
characteristics of etoxazole. Further information regarding EPA
drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be
found at https://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/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 etoxazole for
chronic exposures for non-cancer assessments are estimated to be 4.761
parts per billion (ppb) for surface water and 0.746 ppb for ground
water.
Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly
entered into the dietary exposure model. For chronic dietary risk
assessment, the water concentration of value 4.761 ppb was used to
assess the contribution to drinking water.
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). Etoxazole is not
registered for any specific use patterns that would result in
residential exposure.
4. Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of
toxicity. Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of 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.''
EPA has not found etoxazole to share a common mechanism of toxicity
with any other substances, and etoxazole does not appear to produce a
toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the purposes of this
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that etoxazole does not
have 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 EPA's Web site at https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.
D. Safety Factor for Infants and Children
1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA provides that EPA
shall apply an additional tenfold (10X) 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 database on toxicity
and exposure unless EPA determines based on reliable data that a
different margin of safety will be safe for infants and children. This
additional margin of safety is commonly referred to as the FQPA Safety
Factor (SF). In applying this provision, EPA either retains the default
value of 10X, or uses a different additional safety factor when
reliable data available to EPA support the choice of a different
factor.
2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. The toxicology data for
etoxazole provides no indication of increased susceptibility, as
compared to adults, of rat and rabbit fetuses to in utero exposure in
developmental studies. In a rat reproduction study, offspring toxicity
was more severe (pup mortality) than parental toxicity (increased liver
and adrenal weights) at the same dose; thereby indicating increased
qualitative susceptibility. Based on the concerns in this unit, a
Degree of Concern Analysis was performed by EPA, which concluded that
concern is low since:
i. The effects in pups are well-characterized with a clear NOAEL;
ii. The pup effects occur at the same dose as parental toxicity;
and
iii. The doses selected for various risk assessment scenarios are
lower (~3000-fold lower) than the doses that caused offspring toxicity
in the rat 2-generation reproduction study. Therefore, the endpoints
selected for risk assessment are protective of the effects seen in the
rat reproduction study.
3. Conclusion. EPA has determined that reliable data show the
safety of infants and children would be adequately protected if the
FQPA SF were reduced to 1x. That decision is based on the following
findings:
i. The toxicity database for etoxazole is complete except for acute
and subchronic neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity studies. Changes to 40
CFR 180.158 make acute and subchronic neurotoxicity testing (OPPTS
Guideline 870.6200), and immunotoxicity testing (OPPTS Guideline
870.7800) required for pesticide registration. Although these studies
are not yet available for etoxazole, the available data do not show any
evidence of treatment-related effects on the immune system. Further,
there is no evidence of neurotoxicity in any study in the toxicity
database for etoxazole. Therefore, the EPA does not believe that
conducting neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity studies will result in a
NOAEL lower than the NOAEL of 4.62 milligrams/kilograms/day (mg/kg/day)
already established for etoxazole. Consequently, an additional database
uncertainty factor does not need to be applied.
ii. There is no indication that etoxazole is a neurotoxic chemical
and there is no need for a developmental neurotoxicity study or
additional UFs to account for neurotoxicity.
iii. Although there is qualitative evidence of increased
susceptibility of offspring (pup mortality) compared to less severe
parental effects (increased liver and adrenal weights) at the same dose
in the rat multi-generation reproduction study, the Agency did not
identify any residual uncertainties after establishing toxicity
endpoints and traditional UFs (10X for interspecies variation and 10X
for intraspecies variation) to be used in the risk assessment.
Therefore, there are no residual concerns regarding developmental
effects in the young.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure
databases. The dietary food exposure assessments were performed based
on 100 PCT and tolerance-level residues. EPA made conservative
(protective) assumptions in the ground and surface water modeling used
to assess exposure to etoxazole in drinking water. These assessments
will
[[Page 3620]]
not underestimate the exposure and risks posed by etoxazole.
E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety
EPA determines whether acute and chronic dietary pesticide
exposures are safe by comparing aggregate exposure estimates to the
acute PAD (aPAD) and chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer risks, EPA
calculates the lifetime probability of acquiring cancer given the
estimated aggregate exposure. Short-, intermediate-, and chronic-term
risks are evaluated by comparing the estimated aggregate food, water,
and residential exposure to the appropriate PODs to ensure that an
adequate MOE exists.
1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk assessment takes into
account acute exposure estimates from dietary consumption of food and
drinking water. No adverse effect resulting from a single oral exposure
was identified and no acute dietary endpoint was selected. Therefore,
etoxazole is not expected to pose an acute risk.
2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to
etoxazole from food and water will utilize 11% of the cPAD for children
1-2 years old, the population group receiving the greatest exposure.
There are no residential uses for etoxazole.
3. Short and intermediate-term risk. Short- and intermediate-term
aggregate exposure takes into account short- and intermediate-term
residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water
(considered to be a background exposure level).
A short- and/or intermediate-term adverse effect was identified;
however, etoxazole is not registered for any use patterns that would
result in short- and/or intermediate-term residential exposure. Short-
and/or intermediate-term risk is assessed based on short- and/or
intermediate term residential exposure plus chronic dietary exposure.
Because there is no short- and/or intermediate-term residential
exposure and chronic dietary exposure has already been assessed under
the appropriately protective cPAD (which is at least as protective as
the POD used to assess short- and/or intermediate-term risk), no
further assessment of short- and/or intermediate-term risk is
necessary, and EPA relies on the chronic dietary risk assessment for
evaluating short- and/or intermediate-term risk for etoxazole.
4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. Based on the lack of
evidence of carcinogenicity in two adequate rodent carcinogenicity
studies, etoxazole is not expected to pose a cancer risk to humans.
5. 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, or to infants and children from aggregate
exposure to etoxazole residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate enforcement methodology (gas chromatography/nitrogen-
phosphorus detection (GC/NPD) and gas chromatography/mass selective
detection (GC/MSD) methods) 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
In making its tolerance decisions, EPA seeks to harmonize U.S.
tolerances with international standards whenever possible, consistent
with U.S. food safety standards and agricultural practices. EPA
considers the international maximum residue limits (MRLs) established
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as required by FFDCA
section 408(b)(4). The Codex Alimentarius is a joint U.N. Food and
Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization food standards
program, and it is recognized as an international food safety
standards-setting organization in trade agreements to which the United
States is a party. EPA may establish a tolerance that is different from
a Codex MRL; however, FFDCA section 408(b)(4) requires that EPA explain
the reasons for departing from the Codex level.
The Codex has not established a MRL for etoxazole for the
commodities discussed in this document.
C. Revisions to Petitioned-For Tolerances
Based upon analysis of the data supporting the petition using the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development tolerance
calculation procedures, the EPA revised the tolerance levels for corn,
field, forage from 0.6 ppm to 0.80 ppm; corn, field, stover from 2.5
ppm, to 4.0 ppm and corn, pop, stover from 2.5 ppm to 4.0 ppm.
There is no reasonable expectation of finding quantifiable residues
of etoxazole in poultry commodities based on the calculated maximum
reasonable dietary burden (MRDB) for poultry (0.0077 ppm) and the
results from the poultry metabolism study. Therefore, tolerances for
residues of etoxazole in poultry, fat and poultry, liver were not
required for this petition.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of etoxazole in
or on corn, field, grain at 0.01 ppm; corn, field, forage at 0.80 ppm;
corn, field, stover at 4.0 ppm; corn, field, refined oil at 0.03 ppm;
corn, pop, grain at 0.01 ppm; corn, pop, stover at 4.0 ppm.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
This final rule establishes tolerances 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 final rule has been
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this final rule is
not subject to Executive Order 13211, entitled Actions Concerning
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or
Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, entitled
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
(62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). 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., 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).
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.
This final rule directly regulates growers, food processors, food
handlers, and food retailers, not States or tribes, nor does this
action alter the relationships or distribution of power and
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions
of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. As such, the Agency has determined that
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or
tribal governments,
[[Page 3621]]
on the relationship between the national government and the States or
tribal governments, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government or between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined
that Executive Order 13132, entitled Federalism (64 FR 43255, August
10, 1999) and Executive Order 13175, entitled Consultation and
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000) do not apply to this final rule. In addition, this final rule
does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as
described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4).
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).
VII. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report 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: January 13, 2012.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:
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 180.593 is amended in paragraph (a) by alphabetically adding
the following commodities to the table to read as follows:
Sec. 180.593 Etoxazole; tolerances for residues.
(a) General. * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts per
Commodity million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Corn, field, forage....................................... 0.80
Corn, field, grain........................................ 0.01
Corn, field, refined oil.................................. 0.03
Corn, field, stover....................................... 4.0
Corn, pop, grain.......................................... 0.01
Corn, pop, stover......................................... 4.0
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2012-1254 Filed 1-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P