Etoxazole; Pesticide Tolerances, 51863-51867 [2018-22279]
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BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2017–0273; FRL–9983–96]
Etoxazole; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of etoxazole in or
on multiple commodities which are
identified and discussed later in this
document. In addition, it removes
certain previously established
tolerances that are superseded by this
final rule. Interregional Research Project
Number 4 (IR–4) requested these
tolerances under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective
October 15, 2018. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before December 14, 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–2017–0273, 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 L. 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.
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I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
[FR Doc. 2018–22282 Filed 10–12–18; 8:45 am]
SUMMARY:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are an agricultural
producer, food manufacturer, or
pesticide manufacturer. The following
list of North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) codes is
not intended to be exhaustive, but rather
provides a guide to help readers
determine whether this document
applies to them. Potentially affected
entities may include:
• Crop production (NAICS code 111).
• Animal production (NAICS code
112).
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
B. How can I get electronic access to
other related information?
You may access a frequently updated
electronic version of EPA’s tolerance
regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through
the Government Printing Office’s e-CFR
site at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/textidx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/
40tab_02.tpl.
C. How can I file an objection or hearing
request?
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21
U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an
objection to any aspect of this regulation
and may also request a hearing on those
objections. You must file your objection
or request a hearing on this regulation
in accordance with the instructions
provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, you must
identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2017–0273 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 December 14, 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–
2017–0273, by one of the following
methods:
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51863
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be CBI or
other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
• Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental
Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/
DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001.
• Hand Delivery: To make special
arrangements for hand delivery or
delivery of boxed information, please
follow the instructions at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
Additional instructions on
commenting or visiting the docket,
along with more information about
dockets generally, is available at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
II. Summary of Petitioned-For
Tolerance
In the Federal Register of 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 7E8559) by IR–4
Project Headquarters, 500 College Road
East, Suite 201 W, Princeton, New
Jersey 08540. The petition requested
that 40 CFR 180.593 be amended by
establishing tolerances for residues of
the miticide/insecticide etoxazole, (2(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4-[4-(1,1dimethylethyl)-2-ethoxyphenyl]-4,5dihydrooxazole), in or on Corn, sweet,
kernel plus cob with husks removed at
0.01 parts per million (ppm); Corn,
sweet, forage at 1.5 ppm; Corn, sweet,
stover at 5.0 ppm; Fruit, pome, group
11–10 at 0.20 ppm; Nut, tree, group 14–
12 at 0.01 ppm; Fruit, stone, group 12–
12 at 1.0 ppm; and Cottonseed subgroup
20C at 0.05 ppm. In addition, upon
establishment of new tolerances
referenced above, the petitioner
requested the removal of existing
tolerances in 40 CFR 180.593 for
residues of etoxazole in or on Fruit,
pome, group 11 at 0.20 ppm; Fruit,
stone, group 12, except plum at 1.0
ppm; Nut, tree, group 14 at 0.01 ppm;
Cotton, undelinted seed at 0.05 ppm;
Pistachio at 0.01 ppm; Plum at 0.15
ppm; and Plum, prune, dried at 0.30
ppm. That document referenced a
summary of the petition prepared by
Valent U.S.A. Corporation, the
registrant, which is available in the
docket, https://www.regulations.gov.
There were no comments received in
response to the notice of filing.
Consistent with the authority in
FFDCA 408(d)(4)(A)(i), EPA is issuing
tolerances that vary from what the
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petitioner sought. The reasons for these
changes are explained in Unit IV.C.
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 etoxazole
including exposure resulting from the
tolerances established by this action.
EPA’s assessment of exposures and risks
associated with etoxazole follows.
A. Toxicological Profile
EPA has evaluated the available
toxicity data and considered its validity,
completeness, and reliability as well as
the relationship of the results of the
studies to human risk. EPA has also
considered available information
concerning the variability of the
sensitivities of major identifiable
subgroups of consumers, including
infants and children.
The effects in the etoxazole database
show liver toxicity in all species tested
(enzyme release, hepatocellular swelling
and histopathological indicators), and
the severity does not appear to increase
with time. In rats only, there were
effects on incisors (elongation,
whitening, and partial loss of upper
and/or lower incisors). There is no
evidence of neurotoxicity or
immunotoxicity. No toxicity was seen at
the limit dose in a 28-day dermal
toxicity study in rats. Etoxazole was not
mutagenic.
No increased quantitative or
qualitative susceptibilities were
observed following in utero exposure to
rats or rabbits in the developmental
studies; however, offspring toxicity was
more severe (increased pup mortality)
than maternal toxicity (increased liver
and adrenal weights) at the same dose
(158.7 milligram/kilogram/day (mg/kg/
day)) in the rat reproduction study
indicating increased qualitative
susceptibility. Etoxazole is not likely to
be carcinogenic. This decision was
based on weight-of-evidence approach
including the lack of carcinogenicity in
two studies in mice, lack of
carcinogenicity in one study in rats, and
the lack of hormonal and reproductive
effects in special studies. Etoxazole was
categorized as having low acute toxicity
via the oral, dermal, and inhalation
routes. It is not an eye or dermal irritant
or a dermal sensitizer.
Specific information on the studies
received and the nature of the adverse
effects caused by etoxazole as well as
the no-observed-adverse-effect-level
(NOAEL) and the lowest-observedadverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the
toxicity studies can be found at https://
www.regulations.gov in document titled
‘‘Etoxazole: Human Health Risk
Assessment in Support of Proposed Use
a Sweet Corn, and Proposed Crop Group
Updates for Pome Fruit 11–10, Tree Nut
Group 14–12, Stone Fruit Group 12–12,
and Cotton Subgroup 20C at pages 22–
27 in docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–
2017–0273.
B. Toxicological Points of Departure/
Levels of Concern
Once a pesticide’s toxicological
profile is determined, EPA identifies
toxicological points of departure (POD)
and levels of concern to use in
evaluating the risk posed by human
exposure to the pesticide. For hazards
that have a threshold below which there
is no appreciable risk, the toxicological
POD is used as the basis for derivation
of reference values for risk assessment.
PODs are developed based on a careful
analysis of the doses in each
toxicological study to determine the
dose at which no adverse effects are
observed (the NOAEL) and the lowest
dose at which adverse effects of concern
are identified (the LOAEL). Uncertainty/
safety factors are used in conjunction
with the POD to calculate a safe
exposure level—generally referred to as
a population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a
reference dose (RfD)—and a safe margin
of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold
risks, the Agency assumes that any
amount of exposure will lead to some
degree of risk. Thus, the Agency
estimates risk in terms of the probability
of an occurrence of the adverse effect
expected in a lifetime. For more
information on the general principles
EPA uses in risk characterization and a
complete description of the risk
assessment process, see https://
www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-andassessing-pesticide-risks/assessinghuman-health-risk-pesticides.
A summary of the toxicological
endpoints for etoxazole used for human
risk assessment is shown in Table 1 of
this unit.
TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR ETOXAZOLE FOR USE IN HUMAN HEALTH RISK
ASSESSMENT
Exposure/Scenario
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Chronic dietary (All populations)
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POD and uncertainty/FQPA Safety
factors
NOAEL = 4.62 mg/
kg/day.
UFA = 10x ................
UFH = 10x ................
FQPA SF = 1x .........
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RfD, PAD, LOC for
risk assessment
cPAD = cRfD =
0.046 mg/kg/day.
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Study and toxicological effects
Chronic Oral Toxicity Study—Dog.
LOAEL = 23.5 mg/kg/day based upon increased alkaline phosphatase activity, increased liver weights, liver enlargement
(females), and incidences of centrilobular hepatocellular
swelling in the liver.
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TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR ETOXAZOLE FOR USE IN HUMAN HEALTH RISK
ASSESSMENT—Continued
Exposure/Scenario
Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhalation).
POD and uncertainty/FQPA Safety
factors
RfD, PAD, LOC for
risk assessment
Study and toxicological effects
EPA has classified etoxazole as ‘‘not likely to be carcinogenic to humans’’ according to EPA Proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (April 10, 1996).
FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. mg/kg/day = milligram/kilogram/day.
NOAEL = no-observed-adverse-effect-level. PAD = population-adjusted dose (a = acute, c = chronic). RfD = reference dose. UF = uncertainty
factor. UFA = extrapolation from animal to human (interspecies). UFH = potential variation in sensitivity among members of the human population
(intraspecies).
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C. Exposure Assessment
1. Dietary exposure from food and
feed uses. In evaluating dietary
exposure to etoxazole, EPA considered
exposure under the petitioned-for
tolerances as well as all existing
etoxazole tolerances in 40 CFR 180.593.
EPA assessed dietary exposures from
etoxazole in food as follows:
i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute
dietary exposure and risk assessments
are performed for a food-use pesticide,
if a toxicological study has indicated the
possibility of an effect of concern
occurring as a result of a 1-day or single
exposure.
No such effects were identified in the
toxicological studies for etoxazole;
therefore, a quantitative acute dietary
exposure assessment is unnecessary.
ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting
the chronic dietary exposure assessment
EPA used the food consumption data
from the USDA National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey, What We
Eat in America (NHANES/WWEIA;
2003–2008). As to residue levels in
food, EPA assumed tolerance-level
residues or tolerance-level residues
adjusted to account for the residues of
concern, 100% crop treated (PCT), and
in the absence of empirical data, default
processing factors.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data
summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
classified etoxazole as ‘‘not likely’’ to be
carcinogenic to humans. Therefore, a
dietary exposure assessment for the
purpose of assessing cancer risk is
unnecessary.
iv. Anticipated residue and percent
crop treated (PCT) information. EPA did
not use anticipated residue and/or PCT
information in the dietary assessment
for etoxazole. 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 etoxazole in drinking water. These
simulation models take into account
data on the physical, chemical, and fate/
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transport characteristics of etoxazole.
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 First Index Reservoir
Screening Tool (FIRST), and Pesticide
Root Zone Model Ground Water (PRZM
GW) models, the estimated drinking
water concentrations (EDWCs) of
etoxazole for chronic exposures are
estimated to be 4.761 parts per billion
(ppb) for surface water and <0.01 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 of value 4.761 ppb
was used to assess the contribution to
drinking water.
3. From non-dietary exposure. The
term ‘‘residential exposure’’ is used in
this document to refer to nonoccupational, non-dietary exposure
(e.g., for lawn and garden pest control,
indoor pest control, termiticides, and
flea and tick control on pets). Etoxazole
is not registered for any specific use
patterns that would result in residential
exposure.
4. Cumulative effects from substances
with a common mechanism of toxicity.
Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA
requires that, when considering whether
to establish, modify, or revoke a
tolerance, the Agency consider
‘‘available information’’ concerning the
cumulative effects of a particular
pesticide’s residues and ‘‘other
substances that have a common
mechanism of toxicity.’’
EPA has not found etoxazole to share
a common mechanism of toxicity with
any other substances, and etoxazole
does not appear to produce a toxic
metabolite produced by other
substances. For the purposes of this
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has
assumed that etoxazole does not have a
common mechanism of toxicity with
other substances. For information
regarding EPA’s efforts to determine
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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
Food Quality Protection Act Safety
Factor (FQPA SF). In applying this
provision, EPA either retains the default
value of 10X, or uses a different
additional safety factor when reliable
data are available to EPA support the
choice of a different factor.
2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity.
No increased quantitative or qualitative
susceptibilities were observed following
in utero exposure to rats or rabbits in the
developmental studies. There is
evidence of increased qualitative
offspring susceptibility in the rat
reproduction study, but the concern is
low since: (1) The effects in pups are
well-characterized with a clear NOAEL;
(2) the selected endpoints are protective
of the doses where the offspring toxicity
is observed; and (3) offspring effects
occur at the same doses as parental
toxicity so protecting for parental effects
is protective of offspring effects. There
are no residual uncertainties for preand post-natal toxicity.
3. Conclusion. EPA has determined
that reliable data show the safety of
infants and children would be
adequately protected if the FQPA SF
were reduced to 1x. That decision is
based on the following findings:
i. The toxicity database for etoxazole
is complete.
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ii. There is no indication that
etoxazole is a neurotoxic chemical and
there is no need for a developmental
neurotoxicity study or additional UFs to
account for neurotoxicity.
iii. The observed qualitative postnatal
susceptibility is protected for by the
selected endpoints.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties
identified in the exposure databases.
The dietary food exposure assessments
were performed based on 100 PCT and
tolerance-level residues. EPA made
conservative (protective) assumptions in
the ground and surface water modeling
used to assess exposure to etoxazole in
drinking water. These assessments will
not underestimate the exposure and
risks posed by etoxazole.
E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of
Safety
EPA determines whether acute and
chronic dietary pesticide exposures are
safe by comparing aggregate exposure
estimates to the acute PAD (aPAD) and
chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer
risks, EPA calculates the lifetime
probability of acquiring cancer given the
estimated aggregate exposure. Short-,
intermediate-, and chronic-term risks
are evaluated by comparing the
estimated aggregate food, water, and
residential exposure to the appropriate
PODs to ensure that an adequate MOE
exists.
1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk
assessment takes into account acute
exposure estimates from dietary
consumption of food and drinking
water. No adverse effect resulting from
a single oral exposure was identified
and no acute dietary endpoint was
selected. Therefore, etoxazole is not
expected to pose an acute risk.
2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure
assumptions described in this unit for
chronic exposure, EPA has concluded
that chronic exposure to etoxazole from
food and water will utilize 15% of the
cPAD for children 1–2 years old, the
population group receiving the greatest
exposure. There are no residential uses
for etoxazole.
3. Short- and Intermediate-term risks.
Short- and intermediate-term aggregate
exposures take into account short- and
intermediate-term residential exposure
plus chronic exposure to food and water
(considered to be a background
exposure level).
A short- and intermediate-term
adverse effect was identified; however,
etoxazole is not registered for any use
patterns that would result in either
short- or intermediate-term residential
exposure. Short- and intermediate-term
risks are assessed based on short- or
intermediate-term residential exposure
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plus chronic dietary exposure. Because
there is no short- or intermediate-term
residential exposure and chronic dietary
exposure has already been assessed
under the appropriately protective
cPAD (which is at least as protective as
the POD used to assess short- or
intermediate-term risks), no further
assessment of short- or intermediateterm risk is necessary, and EPA relies on
the chronic dietary risk assessment for
evaluating short- and intermediate-term
risks for etoxazole.
4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S.
population. Based on the lack of
evidence of carcinogenicity in two
adequate rodent carcinogenicity studies,
etoxazole is not expected to pose a
cancer risk to humans.
5. Determination of safety. Based on
these risk assessments, EPA concludes
that there is a reasonable certainty that
no harm will result to the general
population, or to infants and children
from aggregate exposure to etoxazole
residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate methodologies (Valent
Method RM–37, gas chromatography/
mass-selective detector (GC/MSD) or
GC/nitrogen-phosphorus detector
(NPD)) are available to enforce the
tolerance expression.
The method may be requested from:
Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch,
Environmental Science Center, 701
Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755–5350;
telephone number: (410) 305–2905;
email address: residuemethods@
epa.gov.
B. International Residue Limits
In making its tolerance decisions, EPA
seeks to harmonize U.S. tolerances with
international standards whenever
possible, consistent with U.S. food
safety standards and agricultural
practices. EPA considers the
international maximum residue limits
(MRLs) established by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as
required by FFDCA section 408(b)(4).
The Codex Alimentarius is a joint
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.
Codex has established maximum
residue limits (MRLs) for residues of
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etoxazole in or on pome fruit (0.07 ppm)
and tree nut (0.01 ppm). The relevant
U.S. tolerances are harmonized with the
tree nut MRL but cannot be harmonized
with the pome fruit MRL because doing
so could result in exceedances for
application consistent with the
domestic registration.
C. Revisions to Petitioned-for Tolerances
Instead of the petitioned-for tolerance
on Fruit, stone, group 12–12 at 1.0 ppm,
EPA is establishing separate subgroup
tolerances for this crop group including
Cherry subgroup 12–12A at 1.0 ppm,
Peach subgroup 12–12B at 1.0 ppm, and
Plum subgroup 12–12C at 0.15 ppm;
and is retaining the existing separate,
lower tolerance on Plum, prune, dried at
0.30 ppm as that remains necessary to
cover the processed commodity.
Separate subgroup tolerances are being
established because there is more than
a factor of five between the residue
levels for the cherry and peach
subgroups and the residues levels for
commodities in the plum subgroup.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established
for residues of etoxazole, (2-(2,6difluorophenyl)-4-[4-(1,1dimethylethyl)-2-ethoxyphenyl]-4,5dihydrooxazole, in or on Cherry
subgroup 12–12A at 1.0 ppm; Corn,
sweet, forage at 1.5 ppm; Corn, sweet,
kernel plus cob with husks removed at
0.01 ppm; Corn, sweet, stover at 5.0
ppm; Cottonseed subgroup 20C at 0.05
ppm; Fruit, pome, group 11–10 at 0.20
ppm; Nut, tree group 14–12 at 0.01 ppm,
Peach subgroup 12–12B at 1.0 ppm and
Plum subgroup 12–12C at 0.15 ppm. In
addition, this regulation removes
existing tolerances in 40 CFR 180.593
for residues of etoxazole in or on Fruit,
pome, group 11 at 0.20 ppm; Fruit,
stone, group 12, except plum at 1.0
ppm; Nut, tree, group 14 at 0.01 ppm;
Cotton, undelinted seed at 0.05 ppm;
Pistachio at 0.01 ppm; and Plum at 0.15
ppm that are superseded by this action.
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
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
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); or 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:29 Oct 12, 2018
Jkt 247001
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).
Parts per
million
Commodity
*
*
*
*
Plum subgroup 12–12C ..............
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0.15
*
*
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedure,
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
[FR Doc. 2018–22279 Filed 10–12–18; 8:45 am]
Dated: October 2, 2018.
Michael L. Goodis,
Director, Registration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
47 CFR Part 1
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
amended as follows:
Accelerating Wireless and Wireline
Broadband Deployment by Removing
Barriers to Infrastructure Investment
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
1. The authority citation for part 180
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
2. Amend the table in § 180.593(a) as
follows:
■ a. Add alphabetically the entries for
‘‘Cherry subgroup 12–12A’’; ‘‘Corn,
sweet, forage’’; ‘‘Corn, sweet, kernel
plus cob with husks removed’’; ‘‘Corn,
sweet, stover’’; ‘‘Cottonseed subgroup
20C’’; ‘‘Fruit, pome, group 11–10’’;
‘‘Nut, tree group 14–12’’; Peach
subgroup 12–12B’’; and ‘‘Plum subgroup
12–12C’’.
■ b. Remove the entries for ‘‘Cotton,
undelinted seed’’; ‘‘Fruit, pome, group
11’’; ‘‘Fruit, stone, group 12, except
plum’’; ‘‘Nut, tree, group 14’’;
‘‘Pistachio’’; and ‘‘Plum.’’
■
§ 180.593 Etoxazole; tolerances for
residues.
(a) * * *
Parts per
million
*
*
*
*
Cherry subgroup 12–12A ...........
*
*
*
*
*
Corn, sweet, forage ....................
Corn, sweet, kernel plus cob
with husks removed ................
Corn, sweet, stover .....................
*
0.01
5.0
*
*
*
*
Cottonseed subgroup 20C .........
Fruit, pome, group 11–10 ...........
*
0.05
0.20
*
*
*
*
Nut, tree group 14–12 ................
*
0.01
*
*
*
*
Peach subgroup 12–12B ............
*
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[WT Docket No. 17–79, WC Docket No. 17–
84; FCC 18–133]
PART 180—[AMENDED]
Commodity
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
1.0
1.5
1.0
In this document, the Federal
Communications Commission
(‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘FCC’’) issues
guidance and adopts rules to streamline
the wireless infrastructure siting review
process to facilitate the deployment of
next-generation wireless facilities.
Specifically, in the Declaratory Ruling,
the Commission identifies specific fee
levels for the deployment of Small
Wireless Facilities, and it addresses
state and local consideration of aesthetic
concerns that effect the deployment of
Small Wireless Facilities. In the Order,
the Commission addresses the ‘‘shot
clocks’’ governing the review of wireless
infrastructure deployments and
establishes two new shot clocks for
Small Wireless Facilities.
DATES: Effective January 14, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jiaming Shang, Deputy Chief (Acting)
Competition and Infrastructure Policy
Division, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, (202) 418–1303, email
Jiaming.shang@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s
Declaratory Ruling and Third Report
and Order (Declaratory Ruling and
Order), WT Docket No. 17–79 and WC
Docket No. 17–84; FCC 18–133, adopted
September 26, 2018 and released
September 27, 2018. The full text of this
document is available for inspection
and copying during business hours in
the FCC Reference Information Center,
Portals II, 445 12th Street SW, Room
CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. Also,
it may be purchased from the
Commission’s duplicating contractor at
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15OCR1.SGM
15OCR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51863-51867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22279]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2017-0273; FRL-9983-96]
Etoxazole; Pesticide Tolerances
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of
etoxazole in or on multiple commodities which are identified and
discussed later in this document. In addition, it removes certain
previously established tolerances that are superseded by this final
rule. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these
tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective October 15, 2018. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before December 14, 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-2017-0273, 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 L. 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-2017-0273 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
December 14, 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-2017-0273, by one of
the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460-0001.
Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the
instructions at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along
with more information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
II. Summary of Petitioned-For Tolerance
In the Federal Register of 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
7E8559) by IR-4 Project Headquarters, 500 College Road East, Suite 201
W, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. The petition requested that 40 CFR
180.593 be amended by establishing tolerances for residues of the
miticide/insecticide etoxazole, (2-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4-[4-(1,1-
dimethylethyl)-2-ethoxyphenyl]-4,5-dihydrooxazole), in or on Corn,
sweet, kernel plus cob with husks removed at 0.01 parts per million
(ppm); Corn, sweet, forage at 1.5 ppm; Corn, sweet, stover at 5.0 ppm;
Fruit, pome, group 11-10 at 0.20 ppm; Nut, tree, group 14-12 at 0.01
ppm; Fruit, stone, group 12-12 at 1.0 ppm; and Cottonseed subgroup 20C
at 0.05 ppm. In addition, upon establishment of new tolerances
referenced above, the petitioner requested the removal of existing
tolerances in 40 CFR 180.593 for residues of etoxazole in or on Fruit,
pome, group 11 at 0.20 ppm; Fruit, stone, group 12, except plum at 1.0
ppm; Nut, tree, group 14 at 0.01 ppm; Cotton, undelinted seed at 0.05
ppm; Pistachio at 0.01 ppm; Plum at 0.15 ppm; and Plum, prune, dried at
0.30 ppm. That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared
by Valent U.S.A. Corporation, the registrant, which is available in the
docket, https://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in
response to the notice of filing.
Consistent with the authority in FFDCA 408(d)(4)(A)(i), EPA is
issuing tolerances that vary from what the
[[Page 51864]]
petitioner sought. The reasons for these changes are explained in Unit
IV.C.
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 etoxazole including exposure
resulting from the tolerances established by this action. EPA's
assessment of exposures and risks associated with etoxazole follows.
A. Toxicological Profile
EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered its
validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of
the results of the studies to human risk. EPA has also considered
available information concerning the variability of the sensitivities
of major identifiable subgroups of consumers, including infants and
children.
The effects in the etoxazole database show liver toxicity in all
species tested (enzyme release, hepatocellular swelling and
histopathological indicators), and the severity does not appear to
increase with time. In rats only, there were effects on incisors
(elongation, whitening, and partial loss of upper and/or lower
incisors). There is no evidence of neurotoxicity or immunotoxicity. No
toxicity was seen at the limit dose in a 28-day dermal toxicity study
in rats. Etoxazole was not mutagenic.
No increased quantitative or qualitative susceptibilities were
observed following in utero exposure to rats or rabbits in the
developmental studies; however, offspring toxicity was more severe
(increased pup mortality) than maternal toxicity (increased liver and
adrenal weights) at the same dose (158.7 milligram/kilogram/day (mg/kg/
day)) in the rat reproduction study indicating increased qualitative
susceptibility. Etoxazole is not likely to be carcinogenic. This
decision was based on weight-of-evidence approach including the lack of
carcinogenicity in two studies in mice, lack of carcinogenicity in one
study in rats, and the lack of hormonal and reproductive effects in
special studies. Etoxazole was categorized as having low acute toxicity
via the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. It is not an eye or dermal
irritant or a dermal sensitizer.
Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the
adverse effects caused by etoxazole as well as the no-observed-adverse-
effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level
(LOAEL) from the toxicity studies can be found at https://www.regulations.gov in document titled ``Etoxazole: Human Health Risk
Assessment in Support of Proposed Use a Sweet Corn, and Proposed Crop
Group Updates for Pome Fruit 11-10, Tree Nut Group 14-12, Stone Fruit
Group 12-12, and Cotton Subgroup 20C at pages 22-27 in docket ID number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2017-0273.
B. Toxicological Points of Departure/Levels of Concern
Once a pesticide's toxicological profile is determined, EPA
identifies toxicological points of departure (POD) and levels of
concern to use in evaluating the risk posed by human exposure to the
pesticide. For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no
appreciable risk, the toxicological POD is used as the basis for
derivation of reference values for risk assessment. PODs are developed
based on a careful analysis of the doses in each toxicological study to
determine the dose at which no adverse effects are observed (the NOAEL)
and the lowest dose at which adverse effects of concern are identified
(the LOAEL). Uncertainty/safety factors are used in conjunction with
the POD to calculate a safe exposure level--generally referred to as a
population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a reference dose (RfD)--and a safe
margin of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold risks, the Agency assumes
that any amount of exposure will lead to some degree of risk. Thus, the
Agency estimates risk in terms of the probability of an occurrence of
the adverse effect expected in a lifetime. For more information on the
general principles EPA uses in risk characterization and a complete
description of the risk assessment process, see https://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/assessing-human-health-risk-pesticides.
A summary of the toxicological endpoints for etoxazole used for
human risk assessment is shown in Table 1 of this unit.
Table 1--Summary of Toxicological Doses and Endpoints for Etoxazole for Use in Human Health Risk Assessment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POD and uncertainty/ RfD, PAD, LOC for
Exposure/Scenario FQPA Safety factors risk assessment Study and toxicological effects
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chronic dietary (All populations) NOAEL = 4.62 mg/kg/ cPAD = cRfD = 0.046 Chronic Oral Toxicity Study--Dog.
day. mg/kg/day. LOAEL = 23.5 mg/kg/day based upon
UFA = 10x........... increased alkaline phosphatase
UFH = 10x........... activity, increased liver
FQPA SF = 1x........ weights, liver enlargement
(females), and incidences of
centrilobular hepatocellular
swelling in the liver.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 51865]]
Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhalation) EPA has classified etoxazole as ``not likely to be carcinogenic to humans''
according to EPA Proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (April
10, 1996).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. mg/kg/day =
milligram/kilogram/day. NOAEL = no-observed-adverse-effect-level. PAD = population-adjusted dose (a = acute, c
= chronic). RfD = reference dose. UF = uncertainty factor. UFA = extrapolation from animal to human
(interspecies). UFH = potential variation in sensitivity among members of the human population (intraspecies).
C. Exposure Assessment
1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary
exposure to etoxazole, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-for
tolerances as well as all existing etoxazole tolerances in 40 CFR
180.593. EPA assessed dietary exposures from etoxazole in food as
follows:
i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute dietary exposure and risk
assessments are performed for a food-use pesticide, if a toxicological
study has indicated the possibility of an effect of concern occurring
as a result of a 1-day or single exposure.
No such effects were identified in the toxicological studies for
etoxazole; therefore, a quantitative acute dietary exposure assessment
is unnecessary.
ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure
assessment EPA used the food consumption data from the USDA National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, What We Eat in America
(NHANES/WWEIA; 2003-2008). As to residue levels in food, EPA assumed
tolerance-level residues or tolerance-level residues adjusted to
account for the residues of concern, 100% crop treated (PCT), and in
the absence of empirical data, default processing factors.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
classified etoxazole as ``not likely'' to be carcinogenic to humans.
Therefore, a dietary exposure assessment for the purpose of assessing
cancer risk is unnecessary.
iv. Anticipated residue and percent crop treated (PCT) information.
EPA did not use anticipated residue and/or PCT information in the
dietary assessment for etoxazole. 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 etoxazole in drinking water. These simulation models
take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/transport
characteristics of etoxazole. Further information regarding EPA
drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be
found at https://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/about-water-exposure-models-used-pesticide.
Based on the First Index Reservoir Screening Tool (FIRST), and
Pesticide Root Zone Model Ground Water (PRZM GW) models, the estimated
drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) of etoxazole for chronic
exposures are estimated to be 4.761 parts per billion (ppb) for surface
water and <0.01 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 of value 4.761 ppb was used to
assess the contribution to drinking water.
3. From non-dietary exposure. The term ``residential exposure'' is
used in this document to refer to non-occupational, non-dietary
exposure (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control,
termiticides, and flea and tick control on pets). Etoxazole is not
registered for any specific use patterns that would result in
residential exposure.
4. Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of
toxicity. Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA requires that, when
considering whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the
Agency consider ``available information'' concerning the cumulative
effects of a particular pesticide's residues and ``other substances
that have a common mechanism of toxicity.''
EPA has not found etoxazole to share a common mechanism of toxicity
with any other substances, and etoxazole does not appear to produce a
toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the purposes of this
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that etoxazole does not
have a common mechanism of toxicity with other substances. For
information regarding EPA's efforts to determine which chemicals have a
common mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate the cumulative effects of
such chemicals, see EPA's 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 Food Quality
Protection Act Safety Factor (FQPA SF). In applying this provision, EPA
either retains the default value of 10X, or uses a different additional
safety factor when reliable data are available to EPA support the
choice of a different factor.
2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. No increased quantitative or
qualitative susceptibilities were observed following in utero exposure
to rats or rabbits in the developmental studies. There is evidence of
increased qualitative offspring susceptibility in the rat reproduction
study, but the concern is low since: (1) The effects in pups are well-
characterized with a clear NOAEL; (2) the selected endpoints are
protective of the doses where the offspring toxicity is observed; and
(3) offspring effects occur at the same doses as parental toxicity so
protecting for parental effects is protective of offspring effects.
There are no residual uncertainties for pre- and post-natal toxicity.
3. Conclusion. EPA has determined that reliable data show the
safety of infants and children would be adequately protected if the
FQPA SF were reduced to 1x. That decision is based on the following
findings:
i. The toxicity database for etoxazole is complete.
[[Page 51866]]
ii. There is no indication that etoxazole is a neurotoxic chemical
and there is no need for a developmental neurotoxicity study or
additional UFs to account for neurotoxicity.
iii. The observed qualitative postnatal susceptibility is protected
for by the selected endpoints.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure
databases. The dietary food exposure assessments were performed based
on 100 PCT and tolerance-level residues. EPA made conservative
(protective) assumptions in the ground and surface water modeling used
to assess exposure to etoxazole in drinking water. These assessments
will not underestimate the exposure and risks posed by etoxazole.
E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety
EPA determines whether acute and chronic dietary pesticide
exposures are safe by comparing aggregate exposure estimates to the
acute PAD (aPAD) and chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer risks, EPA
calculates the lifetime probability of acquiring cancer given the
estimated aggregate exposure. Short-, intermediate-, and chronic-term
risks are evaluated by comparing the estimated aggregate food, water,
and residential exposure to the appropriate PODs to ensure that an
adequate MOE exists.
1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk assessment takes into
account acute exposure estimates from dietary consumption of food and
drinking water. No adverse effect resulting from a single oral exposure
was identified and no acute dietary endpoint was selected. Therefore,
etoxazole is not expected to pose an acute risk.
2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to
etoxazole from food and water will utilize 15% of the cPAD for children
1-2 years old, the population group receiving the greatest exposure.
There are no residential uses for etoxazole.
3. Short- and Intermediate-term risks. Short- and intermediate-term
aggregate exposures take into account short- and intermediate-term
residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water
(considered to be a background exposure level).
A short- and intermediate-term adverse effect was identified;
however, etoxazole is not registered for any use patterns that would
result in either short- or intermediate-term residential exposure.
Short- and intermediate-term risks are assessed based on short- or
intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic dietary exposure.
Because there is no short- or intermediate-term residential exposure
and chronic dietary exposure has already been assessed under the
appropriately protective cPAD (which is at least as protective as the
POD used to assess short- or intermediate-term risks), no further
assessment of short- or intermediate-term risk is necessary, and EPA
relies on the chronic dietary risk assessment for evaluating short- and
intermediate-term risks for etoxazole.
4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. Based on the lack of
evidence of carcinogenicity in two adequate rodent carcinogenicity
studies, etoxazole is not expected to pose a cancer risk to humans.
5. Determination of safety. Based on these risk assessments, EPA
concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result
to the general population, or to infants and children from aggregate
exposure to etoxazole residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
Adequate methodologies (Valent Method RM-37, gas chromatography/
mass-selective detector (GC/MSD) or GC/nitrogen-phosphorus detector
(NPD)) are available to enforce the tolerance expression.
The method may be requested from: Chief, Analytical Chemistry
Branch, Environmental Science Center, 701 Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD
20755-5350; telephone number: (410) 305-2905; email address:
[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.
Codex has established maximum residue limits (MRLs) for residues of
etoxazole in or on pome fruit (0.07 ppm) and tree nut (0.01 ppm). The
relevant U.S. tolerances are harmonized with the tree nut MRL but
cannot be harmonized with the pome fruit MRL because doing so could
result in exceedances for application consistent with the domestic
registration.
C. Revisions to Petitioned-for Tolerances
Instead of the petitioned-for tolerance on Fruit, stone, group 12-
12 at 1.0 ppm, EPA is establishing separate subgroup tolerances for
this crop group including Cherry subgroup 12-12A at 1.0 ppm, Peach
subgroup 12-12B at 1.0 ppm, and Plum subgroup 12-12C at 0.15 ppm; and
is retaining the existing separate, lower tolerance on Plum, prune,
dried at 0.30 ppm as that remains necessary to cover the processed
commodity. Separate subgroup tolerances are being established because
there is more than a factor of five between the residue levels for the
cherry and peach subgroups and the residues levels for commodities in
the plum subgroup.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of etoxazole,
(2-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-ethoxyphenyl]-4,5-
dihydrooxazole, in or on Cherry subgroup 12-12A at 1.0 ppm; Corn,
sweet, forage at 1.5 ppm; Corn, sweet, kernel plus cob with husks
removed at 0.01 ppm; Corn, sweet, stover at 5.0 ppm; Cottonseed
subgroup 20C at 0.05 ppm; Fruit, pome, group 11-10 at 0.20 ppm; Nut,
tree group 14-12 at 0.01 ppm, Peach subgroup 12-12B at 1.0 ppm and Plum
subgroup 12-12C at 0.15 ppm. In addition, this regulation removes
existing tolerances in 40 CFR 180.593 for residues of etoxazole in or
on Fruit, pome, group 11 at 0.20 ppm; Fruit, stone, group 12, except
plum at 1.0 ppm; Nut, tree, group 14 at 0.01 ppm; Cotton, undelinted
seed at 0.05 ppm; Pistachio at 0.01 ppm; and Plum at 0.15 ppm that are
superseded by this action.
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 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
[[Page 51867]]
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); or 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: October 2, 2018.
Michael L. 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. Amend the table in Sec. 180.593(a) as follows:
0
a. Add alphabetically the entries for ``Cherry subgroup 12-12A'';
``Corn, sweet, forage''; ``Corn, sweet, kernel plus cob with husks
removed''; ``Corn, sweet, stover''; ``Cottonseed subgroup 20C'';
``Fruit, pome, group 11-10''; ``Nut, tree group 14-12''; Peach subgroup
12-12B''; and ``Plum subgroup 12-12C''.
0
b. Remove the entries for ``Cotton, undelinted seed''; ``Fruit, pome,
group 11''; ``Fruit, stone, group 12, except plum''; ``Nut, tree, group
14''; ``Pistachio''; and ``Plum.''
Sec. 180.593 Etoxazole; tolerances for residues.
(a) * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts per
Commodity million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Cherry subgroup 12-12A...................................... 1.0
* * * * *
Corn, sweet, forage......................................... 1.5
Corn, sweet, kernel plus cob with husks removed............. 0.01
Corn, sweet, stover......................................... 5.0
* * * * *
Cottonseed subgroup 20C..................................... 0.05
Fruit, pome, group 11-10.................................... 0.20
* * * * *
Nut, tree group 14-12....................................... 0.01
* * * * *
Peach subgroup 12-12B....................................... 1.0
* * * * *
Plum subgroup 12-12C........................................ 0.15
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-22279 Filed 10-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P