Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemptions for Oxytetracycline and Streptomycin; Solicitation of Public Comment, 4624-4626 [2016-01659]
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4624
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 17 / Wednesday, January 27, 2016 / Notices
vacature of sulfoxaflor registrations by
the United States District Court for the
Central District of California. In
accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is
soliciting public comment before
making a decision whether or not to
grant the exemption.
B. What should I consider as I prepare
my comments for EPA?
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through
www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information
that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD–ROM that
you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the
disk or CD–ROM as CBI and then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD–ROM the specific information that
is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments.
When preparing and submitting your
comments, see the commenting tips at
https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
comments.html.
3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to
achieve environmental justice, the fair
treatment and meaningful involvement
of any group, including minority and/or
low income populations, in the
development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies. To help
address potential environmental justice
issues, the Agency seeks information on
any groups or segments of the
population who, as a result of their
location, cultural practices, or other
factors, may have atypical or
disproportionately high and adverse
human health impacts or environmental
effects from exposure to the pesticide
discussed in this document, compared
to the general population.
I. General Information
II. What action is the Agency taking?
A. Does this action apply to me?
Under section 18 of the FIFRA (7
U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the
EPA Administrator, a Federal or State
agency may be exempted from any
provision of FIFRA if the EPA
Administrator determines that
emergency conditions exist which
require the exemption. The Texas
Department of Agriculture has requested
the EPA Administrator to issue a repeat
specific exemption for the use of
sulfoxaflor on sorghum to control
sugarcane aphid. Information in
accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was
submitted as part of this request.
As part of this request, the applicant
asserts that an emergency situation
exists based on unusually high
populations of sugarcane aphid
(Melanaphis sacchari), which can cause
Comments must be received on
or before February 11, 2016.
DATES:
Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0643, 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
Confidential Business Information (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.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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.
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).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:41 Jan 26, 2016
Jkt 238001
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
direct plant death from aphid feeding as
well as indirect damage and harvesting
problems from the aphid honeydew
residue in Texas sorghum fields. Based
on information provided by the states in
previous submissions, sugarcane aphid
is either a new pest or new biotype of
M. sacchari. Currently, there are no
registered insecticides or any
economically or environmentally
feasible alternative control practices
available to adequately control this nonroutine pest infestation. The state has
asserted that without the use of
sulfoxaflor, uncontrolled aphid
infestations are likely to result in
significant economic losses.
The applicant proposes to make no
more than two applications at a rate of
0.75–1.5 ounces of product (0.023–0.047
lb a.i.) per acre or a seasonal maximum
application rate of 3.0 ounces of product
(0.094 lb a.i.) per acre per year, resulting
in the use of 70,314 gallons of product.
A maximum of 3,000,000 acres of
sorghum fields (grain and forage) may
be treated in Texas. Applications would
potentially be made through November
30, 2016.
This notice does not constitute a
decision by EPA on the application
itself. The regulations governing FIFRA
section 18 do not expressly require
publication of a notice of receipt of an
application for a specific exemption
proposing a use of a pesticide that has
been subject to a judicial vacatur,
however, EPA considers public notice
appropriate in this instance.
Accordingly, this notice provides an
opportunity for public comment on the
application.
The Agency, will review and consider
all comments received during the
comment period in determining
whether to issue the specific exemption
requested by the Texas Department of
Agriculture.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: January 15, 2016.
Daniel J. Rosenblatt,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office
of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016–01571 Filed 1–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0849; FRL–9941–48]
Receipt of Application for Emergency
Exemptions for Oxytetracycline and
Streptomycin; Solicitation of Public
Comment
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM
27JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 17 / Wednesday, January 27, 2016 / Notices
ACTION:
Notice.
EPA has received a request
from the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services for
specific exemptions to use the
pesticides oxytetracycline calcium (CAS
No. 7179–50–2), oxytetracycline
hydrochloride (CAS No. 2058–46–0),
and streptomycin sulfate (CAS No.
3810–74–0) to treat up to 388,534 acres
of citrus to control Candidatus
Liberibacter asiaticus the bacteria which
causes Huanglongbing (HLB), also
referred to as citrus greening disease.
Because the applicant proposes use of
pesticides which are also used as
human and animal antibiotic drugs,
EPA is soliciting public comment before
making decisions whether or not to
grant the exemptions.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before February 11, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0849, 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
Confidential Business Information (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.
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:
SUMMARY:
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:41 Jan 26, 2016
Jkt 238001
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. What should I consider as I prepare
my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through
www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information
that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD–ROM that
you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the
disk or CD–ROM as CBI and then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD–ROM the specific information that
is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments.
When preparing and submitting your
comments, see the commenting tips at
https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
comments.html.
3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to
achieve environmental justice, the fair
treatment and meaningful involvement
of any group, including minority and/or
low income populations, in the
development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies. To help
address potential environmental justice
issues, the Agency seeks information on
any groups or segments of the
population who, as a result of their
location, cultural practices, or other
factors, may have atypical or
disproportionately high and adverse
human health impacts or environmental
effects from exposure to the pesticides
discussed in this document, compared
to the general population.
II. What action is the Agency taking?
Under section 18 of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the
discretion of the EPA Administrator, a
Federal or State agency may be
exempted from any provision of FIFRA
if the EPA Administrator determines
that emergency conditions exist which
require the exemption. The Florida
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4625
Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services has requested the
EPA Administrator to issue specific
exemptions for the uses of
oxytetracycline calcium, oxytetracycline
hydrochloride, and streptomycin sulfate
on citrus to control Candidatus
Liberibacter asiaticus, the bacteria
which causes HLB, also referred to as
citrus greening disease. Information in
accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was
submitted as part of the requests.
As part of the requests, the applicant
states that Florida’s citrus production
will be seriously jeopardized if HLB
cannot be adequately controlled. The
disease has been known in China for
more than 100 years, and is considered
to be the most serious disease of citrus
worldwide, affecting all citrus species
and their hybrids. Since the discovery of
HLB in Florida in 2005, it has rapidly
spread to all 34 commercial production
areas in the state, and the applicant
claims that the severity of HLB far
exceeds that of any previously known
citrus disease. HLB causes decreases in
fruit yield and quality, and infected
trees decline and eventually die, even
when producers incorporate all
management options currently
available. Thus far, efforts to control the
disease have focused on removal of
diseased trees, nutritional support, and
rigorous efforts to control the Asian
citrus psyllid (the vector of the HLB
bacteria). However, research over the
past several years on use of agricultural
antimicrobial agents has shown promise
for suppressing the disease and
improving tree health. The applicant is
now requesting use of three
antimicrobials, oxytetracycline calcium,
oxytetracycline hydrochloride, and
streptomycin sulfate, and indicates that
the recent research suggests that
multiple bactericide applications will be
necessary to improve tree health and
suppress the effects of HLB disease yearlong on infected citrus trees. The HLB
disease has caused significant economic
losses as well as losses of jobs related to
citrus production. The applicant states
that millions of trees have been lost in
both commercial and residential citrus,
and the long-term viability of Florida’s
citrus production is threatened if the
disease cannot be effectively managed.
The proposed application method for
all three materials is foliar spray using
ground application equipment. The
applicant proposes to make up to three
applications of streptomycin sulfate at a
rate of 0.45 lb. per acre on up to 388,534
acres of citrus, for a maximum use of
520,540 lbs. of streptomycin sulfate. The
applicant also proposes up to eight
applications of oxytetracycline calcium
at a rate of 0.255 lb. per acre on up to
E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM
27JAN1
4626
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 17 / Wednesday, January 27, 2016 / Notices
388,534 acres of citrus for a maximum
of 762,309 lbs. Additionally, the
applicant proposes up to three
applications of oxytetracycline
hydrochloride at a rate of 0.27 lb. per
acre on up to 388,534 acres of citrus, for
a maximum use of 314,712 lbs.
Applications are proposed statewide in
citrus production areas.
This notice does not constitute a
decision by EPA on the application
itself. The regulations governing FIFRA
section 18 allow publication of a notice
of receipt of an application for a specific
exemption if the Administrator
determines that publication of a notice
of receipt is appropriate. The
application proposes use of three
pesticides which are also used as
human and animal antibiotic drugs, and
therefore this notice provides an
opportunity for public comment on the
application.
The Agency will review and consider
all comments received during the
comment period in determining
whether to issue the specific
exemptions requested by the Florida
Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: January 15, 2016.
Daniel J. Rosenblatt,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office
of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016–01659 Filed 1–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OARM–2011–0997; FRL–9939–
85–OEI]
Information Collection Request
Submitted to OMB for Review and
Approval; Comment Request;
Recordkeeping and Reporting Related
to Diesel Fuel Sold in 2001 and Later
Years; Tax-Exempt (Dyed) Highway
Diesel Fuel; and Non-Road Locomotive
& Marine Diesel Fuel (Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency has submitted an information
collection request (ICR),
‘‘Recordkeeping and Reporting Related
to Diesel Fuel Sold in 2001 & Later
Years; for Tax-Exempt (Dyed) Highway
Diesel Fuel; & Non-Road Locomotive &
Marine Diesel Fuel’’ (EPA ICR No.
1718.10, OMB Control No. 2060–0308)
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval in
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:41 Jan 26, 2016
Jkt 238001
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
which is currently approved through
May 29, 2015. Public comments were
previously requested via the Federal
Register (80 FR 30677) on May 29, 2015
during a 60-day comment period. This
notice allows for an additional 30 days
for public comments. A fuller
description of the ICR is given below,
including its estimated burden and cost
to the public. An Agency may not
conduct or sponsor and a person is not
required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
DATES: Additional comments may be
submitted on or before February 26,
2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID Number EPA–
HQ–OAR–2007–1121, to (1) EPA online
using www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), by email to a-and-rDocket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via
email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
Address comments to OMB Desk Officer
for EPA.
EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes profanity, threats,
information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Geanetta Heard, Fuel Compliance
Center, 64106J, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: 202–343–9017; fax
number: 202–565–2085; email address:
heard.geanetta@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Supporting documents which explain in
detail the information that the EPA will
be collecting are available in the public
docket for this ICR. The docket can be
viewed online at www.regulations.gov
or in person at the EPA Docket Center,
WJC West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington,
DC. The telephone number for the
Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For
additional information about EPA’s
public docket, visit https://www.epa.gov/
dockets.
Abstract: The EPA’s diesel fuel
regulations under 40 CFR part 80,
subpart I, are applicable to highway
(‘‘motor vehicle’’ or ‘‘MV’’) diesel fuel
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
and non-road, locomotive and marine
diesel fuel (NRLM) and heating oil (HO).
Most of the information collected under
this ICR is used to evaluate compliance
with the requirements of the
regulations. Since virtually all MV
diesel fuel was required to meet a 15
part per million (ppm) standard as of
June 1, 2010, very little reporting related
to MV diesel fuel remains. However,
reporting related to NRLM and HO will
continue throughout the course of this
proposed ICR renewal. The activities
associated with this ICR include:
Registration (all parties have registered;
updates to existing registrations are still
possible); compliance reports (mostly
covering NRLM and HO; updates to
prior compliance reports for MV diesel
are still possible); research and
development (R&D) exemptions;
generation and retention of quality
assurance (QA) records; foreign refiner
recordkeeping and reporting; placement
of PTD codes (a typically automated
process, to indicate the presence of dye
in tax-exempt fuel and/or sulfur
content). This ICR renewal contains
provisions related to qualification of
laboratories on performance-based test
methods. Virtually all applications have
already been received from laboratories
and acted upon by EPA.
Form Numbers: EPA Forms 5900–351,
5900–333, 5900–352, 5900–323, 5900–
324, 5900–325, 5900–326, 5900–327,
5900–328, 5900–329, 5900–350, and
420–B–14–066a.
Respondents/affected entities:
Refiners, importers, testing labs.
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Mandatory (40 CFR part 80).
Estimated number of respondents:
5753 (total).
Frequency of response: Yearly and
semiannually.
Total estimated burden: 11,078 hours
(per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $1,118,878 (per
year), includes $0 annualized capital or
operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is a
decrease of 7,872 hours in the total
estimated respondent burden compared
with the ICR currently approved by
OMB. This is due to the decreased
number of reports required.
Courtney Kerwin,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies
Division.
[FR Doc. 2016–01634 Filed 1–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM
27JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4624-4626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01659]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0849; FRL-9941-48]
Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemptions for
Oxytetracycline and Streptomycin; Solicitation of Public Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[[Page 4625]]
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA has received a request from the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services for specific exemptions to use the
pesticides oxytetracycline calcium (CAS No. 7179-50-2), oxytetracycline
hydrochloride (CAS No. 2058-46-0), and streptomycin sulfate (CAS No.
3810-74-0) to treat up to 388,534 acres of citrus to control Candidatus
Liberibacter asiaticus the bacteria which causes Huanglongbing (HLB),
also referred to as citrus greening disease. Because the applicant
proposes use of pesticides which are also used as human and animal
antibiotic drugs, EPA is soliciting public comment before making
decisions whether or not to grant the exemptions.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 11, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0849, 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 Confidential Business
Information (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.
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. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or
CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting
your comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.
3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental
justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group,
including minority and/or low income populations, in the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the
Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population
who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other
factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human
health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the pesticides
discussed in this document, compared to the general population.
II. What action is the Agency taking?
Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the EPA
Administrator, a Federal or State agency may be exempted from any
provision of FIFRA if the EPA Administrator determines that emergency
conditions exist which require the exemption. The Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services has requested the EPA Administrator
to issue specific exemptions for the uses of oxytetracycline calcium,
oxytetracycline hydrochloride, and streptomycin sulfate on citrus to
control Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the bacteria which causes
HLB, also referred to as citrus greening disease. Information in
accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of the requests.
As part of the requests, the applicant states that Florida's citrus
production will be seriously jeopardized if HLB cannot be adequately
controlled. The disease has been known in China for more than 100
years, and is considered to be the most serious disease of citrus
worldwide, affecting all citrus species and their hybrids. Since the
discovery of HLB in Florida in 2005, it has rapidly spread to all 34
commercial production areas in the state, and the applicant claims that
the severity of HLB far exceeds that of any previously known citrus
disease. HLB causes decreases in fruit yield and quality, and infected
trees decline and eventually die, even when producers incorporate all
management options currently available. Thus far, efforts to control
the disease have focused on removal of diseased trees, nutritional
support, and rigorous efforts to control the Asian citrus psyllid (the
vector of the HLB bacteria). However, research over the past several
years on use of agricultural antimicrobial agents has shown promise for
suppressing the disease and improving tree health. The applicant is now
requesting use of three antimicrobials, oxytetracycline calcium,
oxytetracycline hydrochloride, and streptomycin sulfate, and indicates
that the recent research suggests that multiple bactericide
applications will be necessary to improve tree health and suppress the
effects of HLB disease year-long on infected citrus trees. The HLB
disease has caused significant economic losses as well as losses of
jobs related to citrus production. The applicant states that millions
of trees have been lost in both commercial and residential citrus, and
the long-term viability of Florida's citrus production is threatened if
the disease cannot be effectively managed.
The proposed application method for all three materials is foliar
spray using ground application equipment. The applicant proposes to
make up to three applications of streptomycin sulfate at a rate of 0.45
lb. per acre on up to 388,534 acres of citrus, for a maximum use of
520,540 lbs. of streptomycin sulfate. The applicant also proposes up to
eight applications of oxytetracycline calcium at a rate of 0.255 lb.
per acre on up to
[[Page 4626]]
388,534 acres of citrus for a maximum of 762,309 lbs. Additionally, the
applicant proposes up to three applications of oxytetracycline
hydrochloride at a rate of 0.27 lb. per acre on up to 388,534 acres of
citrus, for a maximum use of 314,712 lbs. Applications are proposed
statewide in citrus production areas.
This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the
application itself. The regulations governing FIFRA section 18 allow
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific
exemption if the Administrator determines that publication of a notice
of receipt is appropriate. The application proposes use of three
pesticides which are also used as human and animal antibiotic drugs,
and therefore this notice provides an opportunity for public comment on
the application.
The Agency will review and consider all comments received during
the comment period in determining whether to issue the specific
exemptions requested by the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: January 15, 2016.
Daniel J. Rosenblatt,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-01659 Filed 1-26-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P