Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerances, 56393-56395 [2015-23359]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
subpart DDDD of part 62, the
Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste
Incineration (CISWI) rule, 10 CSR 10–
6.161, which became effective on
November 21, 2013. This revision was
submitted on March 5, 2014.
(b) Identification of sources. The plan
applies to existing commercial and
industrial solid waste incineration
(CISWI) units that commenced
construction on or before November 30,
1999.
(c) The effective date of the amended
plan is November 17, 2015.
[FR Doc. 2015–23390 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0375; FRL–9933–02]
Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This regulation establishes a
tolerance for residues of fluensulfone in
or on tomato, paste. Makhteshim Agan
of North America, Inc., doing business
as ADAMA requested these tolerances
under the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective
September 18, 2015. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before November 17, 2015, 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: The docket for this action,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0375, is
available at https://www.regulations.gov
or at the Office of Pesticide Programs
Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)
in the Environmental Protection Agency
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20460–0001. The Public Reading Room
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the OPP
Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review
the visitor instructions and additional
information about the docket available
at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Lewis, Registration Division
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
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Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001; main telephone
number: (703) 305–7090; email address:
RDFRNotices@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. The following
list of North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) codes is
not intended to be exhaustive, but rather
provides a guide to help readers
determine whether this document
applies to them. Potentially affected
entities may include:
• Crop production (NAICS code 111).
• Animal production (NAICS code
112).
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
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://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/textidx?&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
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–2015–0375 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 November 17, 2015. 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 (excluding
any Confidential Business Information
(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
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56393
notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your
objection or hearing request, identified
by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–
2015–0375, by one of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be CBI or
other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
• Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental
Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/
DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001.
• Hand Delivery: To make special
arrangements for hand delivery or
delivery of boxed information, please
follow the instructions at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
Additional instructions on
commenting or visiting the docket,
along with more information about
dockets generally, is available at
https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
II. Summary of Petitioned-For
Tolerance
In the Federal Register of July 17,
2015 (80 FR 42462) (FRL–9929–13),
EPA issued a document pursuant to
FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C.
346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a
pesticide petition (PP 5F8365) by
Makhteshim Agan of North America,
Inc., doing business as ADAMA, 3120
Highwoods Blvd., Suite 100, Raleigh,
NC 27604. The petition requested that
40 CFR part 180 be amended by
establishing tolerances for residues of
the insecticide fluensulfone, 3,4,4trifluoro-but-3-ene-1-sulfonic acid, in or
on tomato, paste at 1.0 parts per million
(ppm). That document referenced a
summary of the petition prepared by
ADAMA, the registrant, which is
available in the docket, https://
www.regulations.gov. There were no
comments received in response to the
notice of filing.
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
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tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
56394
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
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 FFDCA section
408(b)(2)(D), EPA has reviewed the
available scientific data and other
relevant information in support of this
action. EPA has sufficient data to assess
the hazards of and to make a
determination on aggregate exposure,
consistent with FFDCA section
408(b)(2).
In the Federal Register of September
24, 2014 (79 FR 56963) (FRL–9914–35),
EPA established tolerances for residues
of fluensulfone in or on cucurbit
vegetable crop group 9 and fruiting
vegetable crop group 8–10 at 0.50 parts
per million (ppm). The information
available to the Agency in support of the
September 24, 2014 final rule showed
no concentration of fluensulfone or the
metabolite BSA in or on fruiting
vegetable commodities and that separate
tolerances for residues in or on
processed tomato products were
unnecessary. Therefore, EPA established
a tolerance for residues of fluensulfone
in or on fruiting vegetable crop group 8–
10 at 0.50 ppm and determined that a
separate tolerance for tomato, paste was
not necessary.
Since the time of the September 24,
2014 final rule, EPA received a new
tomato processing study that
demonstrates a concentration of BSA
residues in tomato paste (3.5X). Based
on this concentration factor and the
highest average field trial (HAFT)
residues in tomato (0.29 ppm), the
Agency determined that the fruiting
vegetable crop group 8–10 tolerance at
0.5 ppm is insufficient to cover residues
in tomato, paste and therefore a
tolerance of 1.0 ppm in or on tomato,
paste is necessary to cover residues of
BSA.
The Agency assessed the use of
fluensulfone in or on tomato, paste at
the tolerance of 1.0 ppm and
determined that there would be no
resulting change in the risk estimates
from the previous risk assessment for
the chemical. Since the publication of
the September 24, 2014 final rule, the
toxicity profile of fluensulfone has not
changed, and the risk assessments that
supported the establishment of those
tolerances published in the Federal
Register remain valid. The dietary risk
assessments for fluensulfone are based
on residues of the parent compound
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only. Since residues of the parent did
not concentrate in tomato paste, a new
risk assessment is not necessary.
Therefore, EPA relies upon those
supporting risk assessments and the
findings made in the September 24,
2014 Federal Register document, as
well as the review of the additional
tomato processing data in support of
this rule. 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 fluensulfone residues.
For a detailed discussion of the
aggregate risk assessments and
determination of safety for the proposed
tolerances, please refer to the September
24, 2014 Federal Register document and
its supporting documents, available at
https://www.regulations.gov in docket ID
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2012–0593.
Further information about EPA’s
determination that a separate tolerance
should be established in or on tomato,
paste may be found in the document,
‘‘Fluensulfone—Revised Tolerance
Recommendation for Tomato Paste.’’ in
docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–
0375.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate enforcement methodology,
a reverse-phase high performance liquid
chromatography with dual mass
spectrometry/mass spectrometry
(HPLC–MS/MS), is 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
United Nations 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,
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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 fluensulfone.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established
for residues of fluensulfone, 3,4,4trifluoro-but-3-ene-1-sulfonic acid, in or
on tomato, paste at 1.0 ppm.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
This action establishes a tolerance
under FFDCA section 408(d) 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 action
has been exempted from review under
Executive Order 12866, this action 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 action 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 FFDCA section 408(d), 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 action 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 FFDCA
section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency
has determined that this action will not
have a substantial direct effect on States
or tribal governments, 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
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 action. In addition, this action
does not impose any enforceable duty or
contain any unfunded mandate as
described under Title II of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C.
1501 et seq.).
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
(NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
Pursuant to the Congressional Review
Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 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 the rule in the Federal
Register. This action 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: September 4, 2015.
Susan Lewis,
Director, Registration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
amended as follows:
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. In § 180.680, add alphabetically the
following commodity to the table in
paragraph (a) to read as follows:
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
§ 180.680 Fluensulfone; tolerances for
residues.
(a) * * *
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Tomato, paste .......................
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[FR Doc. 2015–23359 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jessica Franks, Ph.D., Marine and
Coastal Section (6WQ–EC),
1.0 Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite
1200, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733,
telephone (214) 665–8335, fax number
(214) 665–6689; email address
franks.jessica@epa.gov.
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 228
[EPA–R06–OW–2015–0121; FRL–9934–25–
Region 6]
Ocean Dumping: Modification of Final
Site Designation
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
VII. Congressional Review Act
■
Parts per
million
Commodity
56395
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) today is modifying the
use restrictions of the Galveston, TX
Dredged Material Site, Freeport Harbor,
TX, New Work (45 Foot Project),
Freeport Harbor, TX, Maintenance (45
Foot Project), Matagorda Ship Channel,
TX, Corpus Christi Ship Channel, TX,
Port Mansfield, TX, Brazos Island
Harbor, TX and Brazos Island Harbor
(42-Foot Project), TX Ocean Dredged
Material Disposal Sites (ODMDSs)
located in the Gulf of Mexico offshore
of Galveston, Freeport, Matagorda,
Corpus Christi, Port Mansfield and
Brownsville, Texas, respectively. These
sites are EPA designated ocean dumping
sites for the disposal of suitable dredged
material. This action is being taken at
the request of the United States Army
Corps of Engineers Galveston District to
allow disposal of suitable dredged
material from the vicinity of the federal
navigation channels to alleviate
pressure on the capacity of their upland
dredged material placement areas, when
necessary.
DATES: This document is effective on
October 19, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The EPA established a
docket for this action under Docket No.
EPA–R06–OW–2015–0121. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the https://www.regulations.gov Web
site. Publicly available docket materials
are available electronically through
https://www.regulations.gov.
SUMMARY:
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A. Potentially Affected Persons
B. Background
C. Final Action
D. Responses to Comments
E. Administrative Review
1. Executive Order 12866
2. Paperwork Reduction Act
3. Regulatory Flexibility Act, as Amended
by the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
4. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
5. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
6. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments
7. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children from Environmental Health and
Safety Risks
8. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use Compliance with
Administrative Procedure Act
9. National Technology Transfer
Advancement Act
10. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low Income
Populations
A. Potentially Affected Persons
Persons potentially affected by this
action include those who seek or might
seek permits or approval by EPA to
dispose of dredged material into ocean
waters pursuant to the Marine
Protection Research and Sanctuaries
Act, 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq. EPA’s action
would be relevant to persons, including
organizations and government bodies
seeking to dispose of dredged material
in ocean waters offshore of Galveston,
Freeport, Matagorda, Corpus Christi,
Port Mansfield and Brownsville, Texas.
Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) and other persons
with permits to use designated sites
offshore of Galveston, Freeport,
Matagorda, Corpus Christi, Port
Mansfield, and Brownsville, Texas
would be most impacted by this final
action. Potentially affected categories
and persons include:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56393-56395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23359]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0375; FRL-9933-02]
Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerances
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of
fluensulfone in or on tomato, paste. Makhteshim Agan of North America,
Inc., doing business as ADAMA requested these tolerances under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective September 18, 2015. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before November 17, 2015,
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: The docket for this action, identified by docket
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0375, is available at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory
Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334,
1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPP
Docket is (703) 305-5805. Please review the visitor instructions and
additional information about the docket available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Lewis, Registration Division
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; main telephone
number: (703) 305-7090; email address: RDFRNotices@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.
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them.
Potentially affected entities may include:
Crop production (NAICS code 111).
Animal production (NAICS code 112).
Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).
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://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/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
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-2015-0375 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
November 17, 2015. 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 (excluding any Confidential Business Information (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 the non-CBI copy of your objection or hearing
request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0375, by one of
the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20460-0001.
Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the
instructions at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along
with more information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
II. Summary of Petitioned-For Tolerance
In the Federal Register of July 17, 2015 (80 FR 42462) (FRL-9929-
13), EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21
U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP
5F8365) by Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc., doing business as
ADAMA, 3120 Highwoods Blvd., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27604. The petition
requested that 40 CFR part 180 be amended by establishing tolerances
for residues of the insecticide fluensulfone, 3,4,4-trifluoro-but-3-
ene-1-sulfonic acid, in or on tomato, paste at 1.0 parts per million
(ppm). That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by
ADAMA, the registrant, which is available in the docket, https://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in response to the
notice of filing.
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
[[Page 56394]]
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 FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has reviewed the
available scientific data and other relevant information in support of
this action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to
make a determination on aggregate exposure, consistent with FFDCA
section 408(b)(2).
In the Federal Register of September 24, 2014 (79 FR 56963) (FRL-
9914-35), EPA established tolerances for residues of fluensulfone in or
on cucurbit vegetable crop group 9 and fruiting vegetable crop group 8-
10 at 0.50 parts per million (ppm). The information available to the
Agency in support of the September 24, 2014 final rule showed no
concentration of fluensulfone or the metabolite BSA in or on fruiting
vegetable commodities and that separate tolerances for residues in or
on processed tomato products were unnecessary. Therefore, EPA
established a tolerance for residues of fluensulfone in or on fruiting
vegetable crop group 8-10 at 0.50 ppm and determined that a separate
tolerance for tomato, paste was not necessary.
Since the time of the September 24, 2014 final rule, EPA received a
new tomato processing study that demonstrates a concentration of BSA
residues in tomato paste (3.5X). Based on this concentration factor and
the highest average field trial (HAFT) residues in tomato (0.29 ppm),
the Agency determined that the fruiting vegetable crop group 8-10
tolerance at 0.5 ppm is insufficient to cover residues in tomato, paste
and therefore a tolerance of 1.0 ppm in or on tomato, paste is
necessary to cover residues of BSA.
The Agency assessed the use of fluensulfone in or on tomato, paste
at the tolerance of 1.0 ppm and determined that there would be no
resulting change in the risk estimates from the previous risk
assessment for the chemical. Since the publication of the September 24,
2014 final rule, the toxicity profile of fluensulfone has not changed,
and the risk assessments that supported the establishment of those
tolerances published in the Federal Register remain valid. The dietary
risk assessments for fluensulfone are based on residues of the parent
compound only. Since residues of the parent did not concentrate in
tomato paste, a new risk assessment is not necessary. Therefore, EPA
relies upon those supporting risk assessments and the findings made in
the September 24, 2014 Federal Register document, as well as the review
of the additional tomato processing data in support of this rule. 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 fluensulfone residues.
For a detailed discussion of the aggregate risk assessments and
determination of safety for the proposed tolerances, please refer to
the September 24, 2014 Federal Register document and its supporting
documents, available at https://www.regulations.gov in docket ID number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0593. Further information about EPA's determination
that a separate tolerance should be established in or on tomato, paste
may be found in the document, ``Fluensulfone--Revised Tolerance
Recommendation for Tomato Paste.'' in docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-
0375.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate enforcement methodology, a reverse-phase high performance
liquid chromatography with dual mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry
(HPLC-MS/MS), is 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 United Nations
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 fluensulfone.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of fluensulfone,
3,4,4-trifluoro-but-3-ene-1-sulfonic acid, in or on tomato, paste at
1.0 ppm.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
This action establishes a tolerance under FFDCA section 408(d) 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 action has been
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this action 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 action 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 FFDCA section 408(d), 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 action 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 FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency has determined that
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or
tribal governments, 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
[[Page 56395]]
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 action. In addition, this
action does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded
mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
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 (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
VII. Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.),
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
the rule in the Federal Register. This action 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: September 4, 2015.
Susan Lewis,
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. In Sec. 180.680, add alphabetically the following commodity to the
table in paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 180.680 Fluensulfone; tolerances for residues.
(a) * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts per
Commodity million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomato, paste........................................... 1.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-23359 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P