Fluroxypyr; Pesticide Tolerances, 29702-29706 [2018-13724]
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[FR Doc. 2018–13598 Filed 6–25–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2017–0225; FRL–9978–70]
Fluroxypyr; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of fluroxypyr in
or on teff forage, teff grain, teff hay, and
teff straw. Interregional Research Project
Number 4 (IR–4) requested these
tolerances under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective June
26, 2018. Objections and requests for
hearings must be received on or before
August 27, 2018, 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–2017–0225, 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
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SUMMARY:
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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:
Michael Goodis, 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
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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–2017–0225 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 August 27, 2018. 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–
2017–0225, 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
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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.
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II. Summary of Petitioned-for Tolerance
In the Federal Register of October 23,
2017 (82 FR 49020) (FRL–9967–37),
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 7E8550) by IR–4,
Rutgers, The State University of New
Jersey, 500 College Road East, Suite 201
W, Princeton, NJ 08540. The petition
requested that 40 CFR part 180 be
amended by establishing tolerances for
residues of herbicide fluroxypyr 1methylheptyl ester [1-methylheptyl ((4amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2pyridinyl)oxy) acetate] and its
metabolite fluroxypyr [((4-amino-3,5dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy)acetic
acid] in or on teff, forage at 12.0 ppm;
teff, grain at 0.5 ppm; teff, straw at 12.0
ppm; and teff, hay at 20.0 ppm. That
document referenced a summary of the
petition prepared by Dow AgroSciences,
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
changed the numerical expression of the
proposed tolerance values in order to
conform to current Agency policy on
significant figures.
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
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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), and the factors specified in
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 for fluroxypyr
including exposure resulting from the
tolerances established by this action.
EPA’s assessment of exposures and risks
associated with fluroxypyr 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.
The active ingredient used in
formulating end-use herbicide products
is fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester.
However, since the ester form has been
shown to rapidly hydrolyze to the acid
form, the residues of fluroxypyr 1methylheptyl ester along with its
fluroxypyr acid metabolite (free and
conjugated), are collectively expressed
as ‘‘fluroxypyr’’ and are therefore
regulated together for tolerance
enforcement. In terms of toxicity, the
ester and acid forms are considered the
same.
Fluroxypyr has low acute toxicity by
the oral and dermal routes of exposure
and moderate to mild acute toxicity by
the inhalation route of exposure, based
on lethality studies. Fluroxypyr is not a
dermal sensitizer, nor is it irritating to
the skin; however, it is a mild eye
irritant.
The kidney is the target organ for
fluroxypyr following oral exposure to
rats, mice, and dogs. In the rat,
increased kidney weight,
nephrotoxicity, and death were
observed in both sexes in the 90-day
feeding study, and increased kidney
weight and microscopic kidney lesions
were observed in both sexes in the
chronic study. Increased kidney weight
was also observed in maternal rats in
the developmental toxicity study, and
kidney effects (deaths due to renal
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failure; increased kidney weight, and
microscopic kidney lesions) were
observed in both sexes in the 2generation reproduction study in rats.
Although microscopic kidney lesions
were observed in dogs in the 28-day
feeding study, no kidney effects or other
treatment related toxicity were seen in
the chronic feeding study in dogs at the
same doses used in the 28-day study.
Microscopic kidney lesions were
observed in mice following long-term
exposure.
There was no evidence of increased
susceptibility (quantitative/qualitative)
following in utero exposure in rats and
rabbits, or following pre and/or
postnatal exposure in rats. Neither
developmental toxicity nor reproductive
toxicity was observed in rats. In rabbits,
developmental toxicity was not
observed following exposure to dose
levels that resulted in maternal death;
however, abortions were observed in
rabbits following exposure to fluroxypyr
at the limit dose. There was no evidence
of neurotoxicity or neuropathology in
any of the studies. An immunotoxicity
study in rats found no indication of
immunotoxicity. Fluroxypyr is
classified ‘‘not likely to be carcinogenic
to humans’’ due to lack of evidence to
suggest carcinogenicity in the database,
and there is no concern for its
mutagenicity potential.
Specific information on the studies
received and the nature of the adverse
effects caused by fluroxypyr as well as
the no-observed-adverse-effect-level
(NOAEL) and the lowest-observedadverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the
toxicity studies can be found at https://
www.regulations.gov in the document
titled ‘‘Fluroxypyr: Human Health Risk
Assessment to Support Proposed New
Use on Teff’’ on pages 13–16 in docket
ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2017–0225.
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
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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://
www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-andassessing-pesticide-risks/assessinghuman-health-risk-pesticides.
A summary of the toxicological
endpoints for fluroxypyr used for
human risk assessment is discussed in
Unit III.B. of the final rule published in
the Federal Register of January 16, 2013
(78 FR 3328) (FRL–9371–1).
C. Exposure Assessment
1. Dietary exposure from food and
feed uses. In evaluating dietary
exposure to fluroxypyr, EPA considered
exposure under the petitioned-for
tolerances as well as all existing
fluroxypyr tolerances in 40 CFR
180.535. EPA assessed dietary
exposures from fluroxypyr 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
occurring as a result of a 1-day or single
exposure. No such effects were
identified in the toxicological studies
for fluroxypyr; 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 U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey, ‘‘What
We Eat in America’’ (NHANES/WWEIA)
dietary survey conducted in 2003–2008.
As to residue levels in food, EPA
assumed tolerance-level residues with
100 percent crop treated (PCT) for all
existing and proposed crop uses and
default processing factors for processed
commodities.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data
summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
concluded that fluroxypyr 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 or PCT information
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in the dietary assessment for fluroxypyr.
Tolerance-level residues and 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 fluroxypyr in drinking water. These
simulation models take into account
data on the physical, chemical, and fate/
transport characteristics of fluroxypyr.
Further information regarding EPA
drinking water models used in pesticide
exposure assessment can be found at
https://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-scienceand-assessing-pesticide-risks/aboutwater-exposure-models-used-pesticide.
Based on the Tier 1 Rice Model and
Screening Concentration in Ground
Water (SCI–GROW) models, the
estimated drinking water concentrations
(EDWCs) of fluroxypyr for chronic
exposures are estimated to be 540 parts
per billion (ppb) for surface water and
0.055 ppb for ground water.
Modeled estimates of drinking water
concentrations were directly entered
into the dietary exposure model. For the
chronic dietary risk assessment, the
water concentration value of 540 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
flea and tick control on pets).
Fluroxypyr is currently registered for
the following uses that could result in
residential exposures: Residential
turfgrass, golf courses, parks and sports
fields. Residential handler exposure was
not assessed because all the labels
require the use of personal-protective
equipment (PPE) and are not intended
for application by homeowners.
For post-application exposure,
although adults and children
performing physical activities on treated
turf (e.g., golfing, mowing) may receive
dermal exposure to fluroxypyr residues,
a quantitative risk assessment for the
dermal route of exposure was not
conducted since there are no toxicity
findings for the short-term dermal route
of exposure up to the limit dose. In
addition, a quantitative post-application
inhalation exposure assessment was not
conducted because of the low acute
inhalation toxicity, low vapor pressure,
and the relatively low use rate.
Young children 1 to <2 years old may
receive incidental oral post-application
exposure to fluroxypyr from treated turf.
The post-application exposures for
children playing on treated turf
resulting in incidental oral exposure as
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a result of mouthing behaviors were
assessed.
Further information regarding EPA
standard assumptions and generic
inputs for residential exposures may be
found at https://www2.epa.gov/pesticidescience-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/
standard-operating-proceduresresidential-pesticide.
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 fluroxypyr to share
a common mechanism of toxicity with
any other substances, and fluroxypyr
does not appear to produce a toxic
metabolite produced by other
substances. For the purposes of this
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has
assumed that fluroxypyr 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 website at https://
www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-andassessing-pesticide-risks/cumulativeassessment-risk-pesticides.
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.
There is no evidence of increased
qualitative or quantitative susceptibility
following in utero exposure in rats and
rabbits or following pre and/or postnatal
exposure in rats.
Fluroxypyr is neither a developmental
nor a reproductive toxicant in rats.
Fluroxypyr has been evaluated for
potential developmental effects in the
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rat and rabbit (gavage administration).
Maternal toxicity included death in rats
and rabbits. There were no
developmental effects in the rat, and
while abortions were observed in the
rabbit, they occurred only at the limit
dose.
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 fluroxypyr
is complete.
ii. There is no indication that
fluroxypyr is a neurotoxic chemical and
there is no need for a developmental
neurotoxicity study or additional UFs to
account for neurotoxicity.
iii. There is no evidence that
fluroxypyr results in increased
susceptibility in in utero rats or rabbits
in the prenatal developmental studies or
in young rats in the 2-generation
reproduction study.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties
identified in the exposure databases.
The chronic dietary food exposure
assessment utilizes tolerance-level
residue estimates and assumes 100 PCT
for all commodities. This assessment
will not underestimate exposure/risk.
EPA made conservative (protective)
assumptions in the ground and surface
water modeling used to assess exposure
to fluroxypyr in drinking water. EPA
used similarly conservative assumptions
to assess post-application exposure of
children as well as incidental oral
exposure of toddlers. These assessments
will not underestimate the exposure and
risks posed by fluroxypyr.
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, fluroxypyr is not
expected to pose an acute risk.
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2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure
assumptions described in this unit for
chronic exposure, EPA has concluded
that chronic exposure to fluroxypyr
from food and water will utilize 3.5% of
the cPAD for all infants less than 1-yearold, the population group receiving the
greatest exposure. Based on the
explanation in Unit III.C.3., regarding
residential use patterns, chronic
residential exposure to residues of
fluroxypyr is not expected.
3. Short-term risk. Short-term
aggregate exposure takes into account
short-term residential exposure plus
chronic exposure to food and water
(considered to be a background
exposure level).
Fluroxypyr is currently registered for
uses that could result in short-term
residential exposure, and the Agency
has determined that it is appropriate to
aggregate chronic exposure through food
and water with short-term residential
exposures to fluroxypyr.
Using the exposure assumptions
described in this unit for short-term
exposures, EPA has concluded the
combined short-term food, water, and
residential exposures result in an
aggregate MOE of 2,500 for children 1–
2 years old. Because EPA’s level of
concern for fluroxypyr is a MOE of 100
or below, this MOE is not of concern.
4. Intermediate-term risk.
Intermediate-term aggregate exposure
takes into account intermediate-term
residential exposure plus chronic
exposure to food and water (considered
to be a background exposure level).
An intermediate-term adverse effect
was identified; however, fluroxypyr is
not registered for any use patterns that
would result in intermediate-term
residential exposure. Intermediate-term
risk is assessed based on intermediateterm residential exposure plus chronic
dietary exposure. Because there is no
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 intermediate-term risk), no
further assessment of intermediate-term
risk is necessary, and EPA relies on the
chronic dietary risk assessment for
evaluating intermediate-term risk for
fluroxypyr.
5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S.
population. Based on the lack of
evidence of carcinogenicity in two
adequate rodent carcinogenicity studies,
fluroxypyr is not expected to pose a
cancer risk to humans.
6. Determination of safety. Based on
these risk assessments, EPA concludes
that there is a reasonable certainty that
no harm will result to the general
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29705
population, or to infants and children
from aggregate exposure to fluroxypyr
residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate GC/ECD (gas
chromatography/electron-capture
detection) analytical methods are
available to enforce the proposed plant
tolerances. The available methods for
plant commodities involve extraction of
fluroxypyr residues with acetone,
partitioning with hexane, purification
using a florisil column, and analysis of
residues by GC/ECD. 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 fluroxypyr on teff.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established
for the combined residues of fluroxypyr
1-methylheptyl ester [1-methylheptyl
((4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2pyridinyl)oxy)acetate] and its metabolite
fluroxypyr [((4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy)acetic acid] in or
on teff, forage at 12 ppm; teff, grain at
0.50 ppm; teff, hay at 20 ppm; and teff,
straw at 12 ppm.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
This action establishes tolerances
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
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29706
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 123 / Tuesday, June 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
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), nor is it considered a
regulatory action under Executive Order
13771, entitled ‘‘Reducing Regulations
and Controlling Regulatory Costs’’ (82
FR 9339, February 3, 2017). 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
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.).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:05 Jun 25, 2018
Jkt 244001
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: June 8, 2018.
Michael Goodis,
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 § 180.535, add alphabetically the
entries ‘‘Teff, forage’’; ‘‘Teff, grain’’;
‘‘Teff, hay’’; and ‘‘Teff, straw’’ to the
table in paragraph (a) to read as follows:
■
§ 180.535 Fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester;
tolerances for residues.
(a) * * *
Parts per
million
Commodity
*
Teff,
Teff,
Teff,
Teff,
*
*
*
forage .................................
grain ...................................
hay ......................................
straw ...................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
12
0.50
20
12
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2018–13724 Filed 6–25–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 228
[EPA–R10–OW–2018–0284; FRL–9979–31—
Region 10]
Ocean Dumping; Withdrawal of
Designated Disposal Site; Grays
Harbor, Washington
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is taking direct final
action to withdraw from EPA regulation
and management one designated ocean
dredged material disposal site, the Grays
Harbor Eight Mile Site, located near the
mouth of Grays Harbor, Washington.
This action is pursuant to the Marine
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
Act, as amended. The disposal site was
designated by the EPA for a specific
one-time use in 1990. The Grays Harbor
Eight Mile Site fulfilled its intended
purpose in 1990 as a single-use disposal
site, and monitoring indicates that there
will be no unacceptable adverse impacts
to the marine environment once the
EPA relinquishes management of the
site. Five other open-water dredged
material disposal sites remain in close
proximity to the mouth of Grays Harbor.
These sites remain available for use for
the disposal of suitable dredged material
and are not affected by this withdrawal.
DATES: This rule is effective on
September 24, 2018 without further
notice, unless the EPA receives adverse
comment by July 26, 2018. If the EPA
receives adverse comment, the Agency
will publish a timely withdrawal in the
Federal Register informing the public
that the rule will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. [EPA–R10–
OW–2018–0284; FRL–9979–31—Region
10], at https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for
submitting comments. Once submitted,
comments cannot be edited or removed
from Regulations.gov. The EPA may
publish any comment received to its
public docket. Do not submit
electronically any information you
consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is
considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points
you wish to make. The EPA will
generally not consider comments or
comment contents located outside of the
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29702-29706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13724]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2017-0225; FRL-9978-70]
Fluroxypyr; Pesticide Tolerances
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of
fluroxypyr in or on teff forage, teff grain, teff hay, and teff straw.
Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these
tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective June 26, 2018. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before August 27, 2018,
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-2017-0225, 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: Michael Goodis, 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: [email protected].
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-2017-0225 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
August 27, 2018. 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-2017-0225, 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
[[Page 29703]]
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 October 23, 2017 (82 FR 49020) (FRL-
9967-37), 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
7E8550) by IR-4, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500
College Road East, Suite 201 W, Princeton, NJ 08540. The petition
requested that 40 CFR part 180 be amended by establishing tolerances
for residues of herbicide fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester [1-
methylheptyl ((4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy) acetate]
and its metabolite fluroxypyr [((4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-
pyridinyl)oxy)acetic acid] in or on teff, forage at 12.0 ppm; teff,
grain at 0.5 ppm; teff, straw at 12.0 ppm; and teff, hay at 20.0 ppm.
That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by Dow
AgroSciences, 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
changed the numerical expression of the proposed tolerance values in
order to conform to current Agency policy on significant figures.
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 FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), and the factors
specified in 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 for fluroxypyr including exposure
resulting from the tolerances established by this action. EPA's
assessment of exposures and risks associated with fluroxypyr 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.
The active ingredient used in formulating end-use herbicide
products is fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester. However, since the ester
form has been shown to rapidly hydrolyze to the acid form, the residues
of fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester along with its fluroxypyr acid
metabolite (free and conjugated), are collectively expressed as
``fluroxypyr'' and are therefore regulated together for tolerance
enforcement. In terms of toxicity, the ester and acid forms are
considered the same.
Fluroxypyr has low acute toxicity by the oral and dermal routes of
exposure and moderate to mild acute toxicity by the inhalation route of
exposure, based on lethality studies. Fluroxypyr is not a dermal
sensitizer, nor is it irritating to the skin; however, it is a mild eye
irritant.
The kidney is the target organ for fluroxypyr following oral
exposure to rats, mice, and dogs. In the rat, increased kidney weight,
nephrotoxicity, and death were observed in both sexes in the 90-day
feeding study, and increased kidney weight and microscopic kidney
lesions were observed in both sexes in the chronic study. Increased
kidney weight was also observed in maternal rats in the developmental
toxicity study, and kidney effects (deaths due to renal failure;
increased kidney weight, and microscopic kidney lesions) were observed
in both sexes in the 2-generation reproduction study in rats. Although
microscopic kidney lesions were observed in dogs in the 28-day feeding
study, no kidney effects or other treatment related toxicity were seen
in the chronic feeding study in dogs at the same doses used in the 28-
day study. Microscopic kidney lesions were observed in mice following
long-term exposure.
There was no evidence of increased susceptibility (quantitative/
qualitative) following in utero exposure in rats and rabbits, or
following pre and/or postnatal exposure in rats. Neither developmental
toxicity nor reproductive toxicity was observed in rats. In rabbits,
developmental toxicity was not observed following exposure to dose
levels that resulted in maternal death; however, abortions were
observed in rabbits following exposure to fluroxypyr at the limit dose.
There was no evidence of neurotoxicity or neuropathology in any of the
studies. An immunotoxicity study in rats found no indication of
immunotoxicity. Fluroxypyr is classified ``not likely to be
carcinogenic to humans'' due to lack of evidence to suggest
carcinogenicity in the database, and there is no concern for its
mutagenicity potential.
Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the
adverse effects caused by fluroxypyr 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 the document titled ``Fluroxypyr: Human Health
Risk Assessment to Support Proposed New Use on Teff'' on pages 13-16 in
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2017-0225.
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
[[Page 29704]]
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://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/assessing-human-health-risk-pesticides.
A summary of the toxicological endpoints for fluroxypyr used for
human risk assessment is discussed in Unit III.B. of the final rule
published in the Federal Register of January 16, 2013 (78 FR 3328)
(FRL-9371-1).
C. Exposure Assessment
1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary
exposure to fluroxypyr, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-
for tolerances as well as all existing fluroxypyr tolerances in 40 CFR
180.535. EPA assessed dietary exposures from fluroxypyr 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 occurring
as a result of a 1-day or single exposure. No such effects were
identified in the toxicological studies for fluroxypyr; 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 U.S. Department
of Agriculture's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,
``What We Eat in America'' (NHANES/WWEIA) dietary survey conducted in
2003-2008. As to residue levels in food, EPA assumed tolerance-level
residues with 100 percent crop treated (PCT) for all existing and
proposed crop uses and default processing factors for processed
commodities.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
concluded that fluroxypyr 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 or PCT information in the dietary assessment for
fluroxypyr. Tolerance-level residues and 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 fluroxypyr in drinking water. These simulation models
take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/transport
characteristics of fluroxypyr. Further information regarding EPA
drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be
found at https://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/about-water-exposure-models-used-pesticide.
Based on the Tier 1 Rice Model and Screening Concentration in
Ground Water (SCI-GROW) models, the estimated drinking water
concentrations (EDWCs) of fluroxypyr for chronic exposures are
estimated to be 540 parts per billion (ppb) for surface water and 0.055
ppb for ground water.
Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly
entered into the dietary exposure model. For the chronic dietary risk
assessment, the water concentration value of 540 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).
Fluroxypyr is currently registered for the following uses that
could result in residential exposures: Residential turfgrass, golf
courses, parks and sports fields. Residential handler exposure was not
assessed because all the labels require the use of personal-protective
equipment (PPE) and are not intended for application by homeowners.
For post-application exposure, although adults and children
performing physical activities on treated turf (e.g., golfing, mowing)
may receive dermal exposure to fluroxypyr residues, a quantitative risk
assessment for the dermal route of exposure was not conducted since
there are no toxicity findings for the short-term dermal route of
exposure up to the limit dose. In addition, a quantitative post-
application inhalation exposure assessment was not conducted because of
the low acute inhalation toxicity, low vapor pressure, and the
relatively low use rate.
Young children 1 to <2 years old may receive incidental oral post-
application exposure to fluroxypyr from treated turf. The post-
application exposures for children playing on treated turf resulting in
incidental oral exposure as a result of mouthing behaviors were
assessed.
Further information regarding EPA standard assumptions and generic
inputs for residential exposures may be found at https://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/standard-operating-procedures-residential-pesticide.
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 fluroxypyr to share a common mechanism of
toxicity with any other substances, and fluroxypyr does not appear to
produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the
purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that
fluroxypyr 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 website at https://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/cumulative-assessment-risk-pesticides.
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. There is no evidence of
increased qualitative or quantitative susceptibility following in utero
exposure in rats and rabbits or following pre and/or postnatal exposure
in rats.
Fluroxypyr is neither a developmental nor a reproductive toxicant
in rats. Fluroxypyr has been evaluated for potential developmental
effects in the
[[Page 29705]]
rat and rabbit (gavage administration). Maternal toxicity included
death in rats and rabbits. There were no developmental effects in the
rat, and while abortions were observed in the rabbit, they occurred
only at the limit dose.
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 fluroxypyr is complete.
ii. There is no indication that fluroxypyr is a neurotoxic chemical
and there is no need for a developmental neurotoxicity study or
additional UFs to account for neurotoxicity.
iii. There is no evidence that fluroxypyr results in increased
susceptibility in in utero rats or rabbits in the prenatal
developmental studies or in young rats in the 2-generation reproduction
study.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure
databases. The chronic dietary food exposure assessment utilizes
tolerance-level residue estimates and assumes 100 PCT for all
commodities. This assessment will not underestimate exposure/risk. EPA
made conservative (protective) assumptions in the ground and surface
water modeling used to assess exposure to fluroxypyr in drinking water.
EPA used similarly conservative assumptions to assess post-application
exposure of children as well as incidental oral exposure of toddlers.
These assessments will not underestimate the exposure and risks posed
by fluroxypyr.
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,
fluroxypyr 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
fluroxypyr from food and water will utilize 3.5% of the cPAD for all
infants less than 1-year-old, the population group receiving the
greatest exposure. Based on the explanation in Unit III.C.3., regarding
residential use patterns, chronic residential exposure to residues of
fluroxypyr is not expected.
3. Short-term risk. Short-term aggregate exposure takes into
account short-term residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food
and water (considered to be a background exposure level).
Fluroxypyr is currently registered for uses that could result in
short-term residential exposure, and the Agency has determined that it
is appropriate to aggregate chronic exposure through food and water
with short-term residential exposures to fluroxypyr.
Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for short-
term exposures, EPA has concluded the combined short-term food, water,
and residential exposures result in an aggregate MOE of 2,500 for
children 1-2 years old. Because EPA's level of concern for fluroxypyr
is a MOE of 100 or below, this MOE is not of concern.
4. Intermediate-term risk. Intermediate-term aggregate exposure
takes into account intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic
exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure
level).
An intermediate-term adverse effect was identified; however,
fluroxypyr is not registered for any use patterns that would result in
intermediate-term residential exposure. Intermediate-term risk is
assessed based on intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic
dietary exposure. Because there is no 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 intermediate-term risk), no further assessment
of intermediate-term risk is necessary, and EPA relies on the chronic
dietary risk assessment for evaluating intermediate-term risk for
fluroxypyr.
5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. Based on the lack of
evidence of carcinogenicity in two adequate rodent carcinogenicity
studies, fluroxypyr is not expected to pose a cancer risk to humans.
6. 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 fluroxypyr residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate GC/ECD (gas chromatography/electron-capture detection)
analytical methods are available to enforce the proposed plant
tolerances. The available methods for plant commodities involve
extraction of fluroxypyr residues with acetone, partitioning with
hexane, purification using a florisil column, and analysis of residues
by GC/ECD. 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:
[email protected].
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 fluroxypyr on teff.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established for the combined residues of
fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester [1-methylheptyl ((4-amino-3,5-dichloro-
6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy)acetate] and its metabolite fluroxypyr [((4-
amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy)acetic acid] in or on teff,
forage at 12 ppm; teff, grain at 0.50 ppm; teff, hay at 20 ppm; and
teff, straw at 12 ppm.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
This action establishes tolerances 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
[[Page 29706]]
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), nor is
it considered a regulatory action under Executive Order 13771, entitled
``Reducing Regulations and Controlling Regulatory Costs'' (82 FR 9339,
February 3, 2017). 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
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: June 8, 2018.
Michael Goodis,
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. 180.535, add alphabetically the entries ``Teff, forage'';
``Teff, grain''; ``Teff, hay''; and ``Teff, straw'' to the table in
paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 180.535 Fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester; tolerances for
residues.
(a) * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts per
Commodity million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Teff, forage................................................ 12
Teff, grain................................................. 0.50
Teff, hay................................................... 20
Teff, straw................................................. 12
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-13724 Filed 6-25-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P