Sulfoxaflor; Pesticide Tolerances, 35546-35555 [2019-15648]
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Dated: July 19, 2019.
M.W. Mumbach,
Acting Chief, Office of Regulations and
Administrative Law, United States Coast
Guard.
enforcement, call or email Lieutenant
Commander Corinne Plummer, Sector
New Orleans, U.S. Coast Guard;
telephone 504–365–2281, email
Corinne.M.Plummer@uscg.mil.
[FR Doc. 2019–15693 Filed 7–23–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket No. USCG–2019–0554]
Safety Zone; New Orleans, LA
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of enforcement of
regulation.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard will enforce
a temporary safety zone between mile
marker (MM) 95.5 and MM 94.5 above
Head of Passes, Lower Mississippi
River, LA. This action is necessary to
provide for the safety of life on these
navigable waters near New Orleans, LA,
during a fireworks display on November
22, 2019. During the enforcement
periods, the operator of any vessel in the
regulated area must comply with
directions from the Patrol Commander
or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast
Guard ensign.
DATES: The regulations in 33 CFR
165.845 will be enforced from 5:45 p.m.
through 6:45 p.m. on November 22,
2019.
SUMMARY:
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The Coast
Guard will enforce the safety zone
located in 33 CFR 165.845 for the New
Orleans Tourism and Marketing
Corporation (NOTMC) firework display
event. The regulations will be enforced
from 5:45 p.m. through 6:45 p.m. on
November 22, 2019. This action is being
taken to provide for the safety of life on
navigable waterways during this event,
which will be located between mile
marker (MM) 95.5 and MM 94.5, above
Head of Passes, Lower Mississippi
River, LA. During the enforcement
period, if you are the operator of a
vessel in the regulated area, you must
comply with directions from Captain of
the Port Sector New Orleans or a
designated representative.
In addition to this notice of
enforcement in the Federal Register, the
Coast Guard plans to provide
notification of this enforcement period
via a Marine Safety Information Bulletin
and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: July 19, 2019.
K.M. Luttrell,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the
Port Sector New Orleans.
[FR Doc. 2019–15698 Filed 7–23–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
If
you have questions about this notice of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–0179; FRL–9995–63]
Sulfoxaflor; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of sulfoxaflor in
or on multiple commodities which are
identified and discussed later in this
document. Interregional Research
Project No. 4 (IR–4) and Dow
AgroSciences LLC requested these
tolerances under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective July
24, 2019. Objections and requests for
hearings must be received on or before
September 23, 2019, and must be filed
in accordance with the instructions
provided in 40 CFR part 178 (see also
Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION).
SUMMARY:
The docket for this action,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–0179, 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
ADDRESSES:
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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 Publishing Office’s eCFR site at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/
text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/
Title40/40tab_02.tpl.
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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–2018–0179 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
September 23, 2019. Addresses for mail
and hand delivery of objections and
hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR
178.25(b).
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In addition to filing an objection or
hearing request with the Hearing Clerk
as described in 40 CFR part 178, please
submit a copy of the filing (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–
2018–0179, 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
Tolerances
In the Federal Register of April 23,
2014 (79 FR 22602) (FRL–9907–39),
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 4F8237) by Dow
AgroSciences, LLC, 9330 Zionsville Rd.,
Indianapolis, IN 46268. The petition
requested to establish tolerances in 40
CFR part 180 for residues of the
insecticide, sulfoxaflor (N[methyloxido[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3pyridinyl]ethyl]-l4sulfanylidene]cyanamide), in or on
alfalfa, forage at 7 parts per million
(ppm); alfalfa, hay at 20 ppm; alfalfa,
seed at 30 ppm; alfalfa, silage at 9 ppm;
animal feed, non-grass, group 18, forage
at 15 ppm; animal feed, non-grass,
group 18, hay at 20 ppm; animal feed,
non-grass, group 18, silage at 9 ppm;
buckwheat, forage at 1 ppm; buckwheat,
grain at 0.08 ppm; buckwheat, hay at 1.5
ppm; buckwheat, straw at 2 ppm; cacao
bean, dried bean at 0.15 ppm; clover
forage at 15 ppm; clover hay at 20 ppm;
clover silage at 8 ppm; corn, field, forage
at 0.5 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.015
ppm; corn, field, stover at 0.8 ppm;
corn, pop at 0.015 ppm; corn, pop,
stover at 0.8 ppm; corn, sweet, at 0.01
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ppm; corn, sweet, forage at 0.6 ppm;
corn, sweet, stover at 0.7 ppm; millet,
forage at 0.4 ppm; millet, grain at 0.3
ppm; oat, grain at 0.4 ppm; oat, hay at
1 ppm; oat, straw at 2 ppm; pineapple
at 0.09 ppm; rye, forage at 1 ppm; rye,
grain at 0.08 ppm; rye, hay at 1.5 ppm;
rye, straw at 2 ppm; sorghum, forage at
0.4 ppm; sorghum, grain at 0.3 ppm;
sorghum, stover at 0.9 ppm; teff, forage
at 1 ppm; teff, grain at 0.08 ppm; teff,
hay at 1.5 ppm; teff, straw at 2 ppm;
teosinte, grain at 0.015 ppm; triticale,
forage at 1 ppm; triticale, grain at 0.08
ppm; triticale, hay at 1.5 ppm; and
triticale, straw at 2 ppm. That document
referenced a summary of the petition
prepared by Dow AgroSciences, the
registrant, which is available in docket
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0156,
https://www.regulations.gov. The
petition also requested revisions to the
certain existing animal commodity
tolerances, as follows: Milk at 1 ppm; fat
of cattle, goat, horse and sheep at 0.6
ppm; meat of cattle, goat, horse and
sheep at 1 ppm; meat byproducts of
cattle, goat, horse and sheep at 2.5 ppm;
hog, fat at 0.04 ppm; hog, meat at 0.07
ppm; hog, meat byproducts at 0.2 ppm;
egg at 0.08 ppm; poultry, meat at 0.09
ppm; poultry, fat at 0.03 ppm; poultry,
meat byproducts at 0.2 ppm. These
requested revisions were inadvertently
omitted from the April 23, 2014 Federal
Register notice (79 FR 22602) (FRL–
9907–39) but were included in the
summary of the petition that was
available in the docket. Comments were
received on the notice of filing. EPA’s
response to these comments is
discussed in Unit IV.C.
In the Federal Register of July 24,
2018 (83 FR 34968) (FRL–9980–31),
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 8E8666) by IR–4,
IR–4 Project Headquarters, Rutgers, The
State University of New Jersey, 500
College Road East, Suite 201W,
Princeton, NJ 08540. The petition
requested that 40 CFR part 180 be
amended by establishing tolerances for
residues of sulfoxaflor (N[methyloxido[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3pyridinyl]ethyl]-l4sulfanylidene]cyanamide) in or on the
following raw agricultural commodities:
Artichoke, globe at 0.70 ppm; asparagus
at 0.015 ppm; brassica, leafy greens,
subgroup 4–16B, except watercress at
2.0 ppm; bushberry subgroup 13–07B at
2.0 ppm; caneberry subgroup 13–07A at
1.5 ppm; celtuce at 2.0 ppm; florence
fennel at 2.0 ppm; fruit, stone, group
12–12 at 3.0 ppm; kohlrabi at 2.0 ppm;
leafy greens subgroup 4–16A at 6.0
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ppm; leaf petiole vegetable subgroup
22B at 2.0 ppm; nut, tree, group 14–12
at 0.015 ppm; sunflower subgroup 20B
at 0.30 ppm; and vegetable, brassica,
head and stem, group 5–16, except
cauliflower at 2.0 ppm. Additionally,
the petition requested to amend 40 CFR
180.668 by removing the established
tolerances for residues of sulfoxaflor in
or on the following raw agricultural
commodities: Fruit, stone, group 12 at
3.0 ppm; leafy greens, subgroup 4A at
6.0 ppm; leafy petiole, subgroup 4B at
2.0 ppm; nuts, tree, group 14 at 0.015
ppm; pistachio at 0.015 ppm; and
vegetable, brassica, leafy, group 5,
except cauliflower at 2.0 ppm. That
document referenced a summary of the
petition prepared by Dow AgroSciences,
the registrant, which is available in
docket number EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–
0179, 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 is
establishing tolerances that vary from
what the petitioner requested (PP
8E8666), as authorized under FFDCA
section 408(d)(4)(A)(i). Also, the
petitioner withdrew the tolerances
proposed for buckwheat and clover (PP
4F8237). Since clover is a representative
commodity for non-grass animal feeds
(group 18), a crop group tolerance
cannot be established for that crop
group. Additionally, existing tolerances
for livestock commodities (e.g., cattle,
goats, sheep, and horse) are being
revised based upon a recalculation of
the livestock dietary burden. The
reasons for these changes are explained
in Unit IV.D.
III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and
Determination of Safety
Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA
allows EPA to establish a tolerance (the
legal limit for a pesticide chemical
residue in or on a food) only if EPA
determines that the tolerance is ‘‘safe.’’
Section 408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA
defines ‘‘safe’’ to mean that ‘‘there is a
reasonable certainty that no harm will
result from aggregate exposure to the
pesticide chemical residue, including
all anticipated dietary exposures and all
other exposures for which there is
reliable information.’’ This includes
exposure through drinking water and in
residential settings but does not include
occupational exposure. Section
408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to
give special consideration to exposure
of infants and children to the pesticide
chemical residue in establishing a
tolerance and to ‘‘ensure that there is a
reasonable certainty that no harm will
result to infants and children from
aggregate exposure to the pesticide
chemical residue . . . .’’
Consistent with 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 sulfoxaflor
including exposure resulting from the
tolerances established by this action.
EPA’s assessment of exposures and risks
associated with sulfoxaflor 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.
Specific information on the studies
received and the nature of the adverse
effects caused by sulfoxaflor as well as
the no-observed-adverse-effect-level
(NOAEL) and the lowest-observedadverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the
toxicity studies are discussed in the
final rule published in the Federal
Register of May 17, 2013 (78 FR 29041)
(FRL–9371–4). Further discussion of the
toxicological profile for sulfoxaflor can
be found at https://www.regulations.gov
in section 4.0 titled ‘‘Hazard
Characterization and Dose-Response
Assessment’’ (pages 14–28) of the
document titled ‘‘Sulfoxaflor. Human
Health Risk Assessment for New Food
Uses on Avocado and Rice’’ and pages
13–26 of the document titled
‘‘Sulfoxaflor. Human Health Risk
Assessment for New Food Uses on
Artichoke, Asparagus, Bushberry,
Caneberry and Sunflower, and Multiple
Crop Group Conversions’’ in docket ID
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–0179.
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-pesticide.
A summary of the toxicological
endpoints for sulfoxaflor used for
human risk assessment is shown in the
table of this unit.
TABLE—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR SULFOXAFLOR FOR USE IN HUMAN HEALTH RISK
ASSESSMENT
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Exposure/scenario
Acute dietary (Females 13–49
years of age).
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Point of departure
and
uncertainty/
safety factors
NOAEL = 1.8 mg/kg/
day.
UFA = 3x
UFH = 10x
FQPA SF = 1x
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RfD, PAD, LOC for
risk assessment
Study and toxicological effects
Acute RfD = 0.06
mg/kg/day.
aPAD = 0.06 mg/kg/
day
Developmental Neurotoxicity Study (DNT).
LOAEL = 7.1 mg/kg/day based on decreased neonatal survival
(PND 0–4).
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TABLE—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR SULFOXAFLOR FOR USE IN HUMAN HEALTH RISK
ASSESSMENT—Continued
Exposure/scenario
Acute dietary (General population including infants and
children).
Chronic dietary (All populations)
Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhalation).
Point of departure
and
uncertainty/
safety factors
NOAEL = 25 mg/kg/
day.
UFA = 10x
UFH = 10x
FQPA SF = 1x
NOAEL= 5.13 mg/
kg/day.
UFA = 10x
UFH = 10x
FQPA SF = 1x
RfD, PAD, LOC for
risk assessment
Study and toxicological effects
Acute RfD = 0.25
mg/kg/day.
aPAD = 0.25 mg/kg/
day
Acute Neurotoxicity Study.
LOAEL = 75 mg/kg/day based on decreased motor activity.
Chronic RfD = 0.05
mg/kg/day.
cPAD = 0.05 mg/kg/
day
Chronic/Carcinogenicity Study—Rat.
LOAEL = 21.3 mg/kg/day based on liver effects including increased blood cholesterol, liver weight, hypertrophy, fatty
change, single cell necrosis and macrophages.
Classification: ‘‘Suggestive Evidence of Carcinogenic Potential.’’ Quantification of risk using a non-linear approach (i.e., reference dose (RfD)) will adequately account for all chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity,
that could result from exposure to sulfoxaflor.
FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. NOAEL = no-observed-adverse-effectlevel. 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 sulfoxaflor, EPA considered
exposure under the petitioned-for
tolerances as well as all existing
sulfoxaflor tolerances in 40 CFR
180.668. EPA assessed dietary
exposures from sulfoxaflor 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.
Such effects were identified for
sulfoxaflor. In estimating acute dietary
exposure, EPA used 2003–2008 food
consumption information from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s)
National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, What We Eat in
America, (NHANES/WWEIA). As to
residue levels in food, the acute
assessment was based on the maximum
observed residue levels from crop field
trials and 100 percent crop treated
(PCT).
ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting
the chronic dietary exposure assessment
EPA used the 2003–2008 food
consumption data from the USDA’s
NHANES/WWEIA. As to residue levels
in food, the chronic assessment
assumed average field trial residues and
100 PCT.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data
summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
concluded that quantification of risk
using a non-linear approach (i.e., RfD/
cPAD) will adequately account for all
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chronic toxicity, including
carcinogenicity. Cancer risk was
assessed using the same exposure
estimates as discussed in Unit III.C.1.ii.,
chronic exposure.
iv. Anticipated residue and PCT
information. Section 408(b)(2)(E) of
FFDCA authorizes EPA to use available
data and information on the anticipated
residue levels of pesticide residues in
food and the actual levels of pesticide
residues that have been measured in
food. If EPA relies on such information,
EPA must require pursuant to FFDCA
section 408(f)(1) that data be provided 5
years after the tolerance is established,
modified, or left in effect, demonstrating
that the levels in food are not above the
levels anticipated. For the present
action, EPA will issue such data call-ins
as are required by FFDCA section
408(b)(2)(E) and authorized under
FFDCA section 408(f)(1). Data will be
required to be submitted no later than
5 years from the date of issuance of
these tolerances.
2. Dietary exposure from drinking
water. The Agency used screening level
water exposure models in the dietary
exposure analysis and risk assessment
for sulfoxaflor in drinking water. These
simulation models take into account
data on the physical, chemical, and fate/
transport characteristics of sulfoxaflor.
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.
Environmental fate data indicate that
the use of sulfoxaflor is likely to result
in different residue profiles in surface
water and ground water. The residues in
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surface water are likely to include
parent sulfoxaflor and X11719474/
X11519540 degradates while
X11719474/X11519540 will
predominate in ground water. When the
residue profiles are coupled with the
toxicological database, it becomes
apparent that the EDWCs for assessing
acute dietary exposure for the general
population, acute dietary exposure for
women of child-bearing age, and
chronic dietary exposure for all
populations need to be addressed
differently. An explanation of the three
scenarios and the rationale for the
approaches taken by EPA is provided
below.
Acute Exposure: Separate acute
endpoints were selected for the general
population and females 13 to 49 years
of age. For the general population, the
point of departure is based on decreased
motor activity observed in the acute
neurotoxicity study. As there are no
data available to examine the potency of
X11719474 and X11519540 with respect
to this endpoint, EPA has assumed that
the two metabolites possess similar
toxicity relative to sulfoxaflor in order
to assess acute dietary risk for the
general population. The EDWC for
ground water is significantly greater
than the acute estimate for surface water
and, per Agency policy, is being used in
the acute dietary assessment for the
general population. As it is a ground
water EDWC, it represents residues of
the metabolites.
For females 13 to 49 years of age, the
developmental endpoint of increased
neonatal deaths was chosen because a
single exposure during late gestation
can adversely affect the developing fetus
via agonism of the muscle nicotinic
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acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), and the
age group represents women of childbearing age. Studies with the metabolite
X11719474 demonstrated that it does
not cause agonism of the fetal rat muscle
nAChR. Based on structural similarity
between X11719474 and X11519540,
the Agency further determined that
X1159540 is not likely to result in
agonism of the muscle nAChR.
Therefore, both metabolites have been
excluded from assessment scenarios
using the developmental endpoint.
Since the ground water EDWC
represents residues of only these
metabolites, the acute surface water
EDWC, which consists of only parent
sulfoxaflor, is the appropriate estimate
for assessing dietary exposure for
women of child-bearing age.
Chronic Exposure: The endpoint for
assessing chronic dietary exposure is
hepatotoxicity. The Agency has
determined that it is appropriate to
combine residues of sulfoxaflor,
X11719474, and X11519540 when
assessing chronic exposure and,
furthermore, there is sufficient evidence
to adjust the assessment to account for
the different potencies of the
metabolites. Based on NOAELs in the
28-day oral toxicity studies in rats, the
potencies of the metabolites, relative to
sulfoxaflor, are 0.3X for X11719474 and
3.4X for X11519540. To account for the
relative toxicity, the EDWCs for each
metabolite are multiplied by their
respective potency factors.
EDWCs Used in the Assessment: For
the acute dietary risk assessment of the
general population, the groundwater
EDWC is greater than the surface water
EDWC and was used in the assessment.
The residue profile in groundwater is 12
ppb X11719474 and 1.6 ppb X11519540
(totaling 13.6 ppb). Parent sulfoxaflor is
not expected in groundwater. For this
assessment, the regulatory toxicological
endpoint is based on neurotoxicity.
There is no information to relate the
neurotoxicity of the metabolites to that
of sulfoxaflor; therefore, no toxicity
adjustment was made to the EDWC.
For the acute dietary risk assessment
of females 13 to 49, the regulatory
endpoint is attributable only to the
parent compound (as previously
discussed); therefore, the surface water
EDWC is the most appropriate EDWC
for this assessment even though it is of
a lower value than the groundwater
EDWC, which reflects metabolites only.
The EDWC of 9.2 ppb was used and no
toxicological adjustment was made.
For the chronic dietary risk
assessment, the toxicological endpoint
is liver effects, for which it is possible
to account for the relative toxicities of
X11719474 and X11519540 as compared
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to sulfoxaflor. The groundwater EDWC
is greater than the surface water EDWC.
The residue profile in groundwater
consists of 8 ppb X11719474 and 1.1
ppb X11519540. Adjusting for the
relative toxicity results in 2.4 ppb
equivalents of X11719474 and 3.7 ppb
X11519540 (totaling 6.1 ppb). The
adjusted groundwater EDCW is greater
than the surface water EDWC and was,
therefore, used to assess the chronic
dietary exposure scenario.
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).
Sulfoxaflor 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 sulfoxaflor to
share a common mechanism of toxicity
with any other substances, and
sulfoxaflor does not appear to produce
a toxic metabolite produced by other
substances. For the purposes of this
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has
assumed that sulfoxaflor 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
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additional safety factor when reliable
data available to EPA support the choice
of a different factor.
2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity.
Developmental/offspring toxicity,
manifested as skeletal abnormalities and
neonatal deaths, was observed in rats
only. The skeletal abnormalities,
forelimb flexure, bent clavicles, and
hindlimb rotation likely result from
skeletal muscle contraction due to
agonism of the muscle nAChR in utero.
Similarly, contraction of the diaphragm
muscle prevents normal breathing in
neonates resulting in increased
mortality. The skeletal abnormalities
were observed at high doses in the
developmental and reproduction studies
and decreased neonatal survival was
consistently observed in the
reproduction and developmental
neurotoxicity studies. These
developmental effects were not
observed in the rabbit.
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 sulfoxaflor
is complete.
ii. In the acute neurotoxicity study,
decreased motor activity and clinical
signs associated with neurotoxicity
(increased muscle tremors and twitches,
convulsions, hindlimb splaying,
increased lacrimation and salivation,
decreased pupil size and response to
touch, gait abnormalities and decreased
rectal temperature) were observed.
However, the level of concern for
neurotoxicity is low because (1) the
effects are well characterized; (2) the
dose-response curve for these effects is
well characterized; (3) clear NOAELs
have been identified; and (4) the
endpoints chosen for risk assessment
are protective for the observed
neurotoxicity.
iii. Although there was quantitative
susceptibility observed in the DNT and
developmental rat studies, there is no
residual uncertainty because (1) the
effects are well characterized; (2) clear
NOAELs were identified; and (3) the
endpoints chosen for risk assessment
are protective of potential in utero and
developmental effects. Quantitative
susceptibility in the DNT was based on
an increased rate of neonatal deaths at
a dose where no maternal toxicity was
observed. Quantitative susceptibility
was also observed in the developmental
rat study as decreased fetal weight,
forelimb flexure, hindlimb rotation, and
bent clavicles at a dose that did not
cause maternal toxicity. However, the
apparent enhanced sensitivity in this
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study may be due to the limited number
of evaluations conducted in dams in the
study rather than a true sensitivity of
the young. In that regard, adverse liver
effects were observed in the 90-day rat
study at a LOAEL lower than the highest
dose tested in the developmental rat
study. The dams in the developmental
rat study had increased liver weights
but clinical chemistry and liver
histopathological analysis were not
investigated to determine if the effects
on the liver were adverse. Qualitative
susceptibility was observed in the twogeneration reproduction study since
neonatal deaths were observed at the
same dose that resulted in
hepatotoxicity in parental animals.
However, these effects occurred at a
higher dose compared to the offspring
effects observed in the DNT. Finally,
there was no evidence of quantitative or
qualitative susceptibility in the
developmental studies in the rabbit.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties
with regard to dietary exposure. The
dietary exposure assessments are based
on high-end residue estimates,
processing factors, and 100 PCT, as well
as upper-bound modeled estimates of
residues in drinking water. These
assessments will not underestimate the
exposure and risks posed by sulfoxaflor.
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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. Using the exposure
assumptions discussed in this unit for
acute exposure, the acute dietary
exposure from food and water to
sulfoxaflor will occupy 28% of the
aPAD for both children 1 to 2 years old
and females 13 to 49 years old, the
population groups receiving the greatest
exposure.
2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure
assumptions described in this unit for
chronic exposure, EPA has concluded
that chronic exposure to sulfoxaflor
from food and water will utilize 47% of
the cPAD for children 1 to 2 years old,
the population group receiving the
greatest exposure. There are no
residential uses for sulfoxaflor.
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3. Short- and Intermediate-term risk.
Short- and intermediate-term aggregate
exposure takes into account short- and
intermediate-term residential exposure
plus chronic exposure to food and water
(considered to be a background
exposure level).
Short- and intermediate-term adverse
effects were identified; however,
sulfoxaflor is not registered for any use
patterns that would result in short- or
intermediate-term residential exposure.
Short- and intermediate-term risk is
assessed based on short- and
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 risk), 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
risk for sulfoxaflor.
4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S.
population. EPA assessed cancer risk
using a non-linear approach (i.e., RfD)
since it adequately accounts for all
chronic toxicity, including
carcinogenicity, that could result from
exposure to sulfoxaflor. As the chronic
dietary endpoint and dose are protective
of potential cancer effects, sulfoxaflor is
not expected to pose an aggregate cancer
risk.
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 sulfoxaflor
residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
High performance liquid
chromatographic methods with positiveion electro spray interface (ESI) and
tandem mass spectrometric detection
(LC/MS/MS) were previously reviewed
and found to be acceptable for tolerance
enforcement of sulfoxaflor residues (the
two metabolites, X11719474 and
X11721061, are also quantitated). The
limit of quantitation (LOQ), determined
as the lowest level of method validation
(LLMV), is 0.010 ppm in all matrices.
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.
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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 MRLs for
residues of sulfoxaflor on broccoli (3
ppm) and head cabbage (0.4 ppm).
These commodities are covered in the
U.S. crop group 5–16 (vegetable,
brassica, head and stem), for which EPA
is establishing a tolerance at 2 ppm in
this rulemaking. This 2 ppm tolerance is
part of a conversion from the existing
group 5A, including broccoli and
cabbage, to the new crop group 5–16.
The old group was not harmonized with
the Codex MRL. EPA is not harmonizing
the new crop group 5–16 either because
the representative commodity data for
the new group 5–16 support
establishing one tolerance level for all
commodities in the group rather than a
higher broccoli and lower cabbage
tolerance.
In addition, Codex has established
MRLs for leafy vegetables at 6 ppm.
EPA’s leafy vegetable crop group 4–16 is
split into two subgroups: 4–16A for
leafy greens and 4–16B for Brassica,
leafy greens. Although EPA is
establishing a subgroup 4–16A tolerance
at 6 ppm, which harmonizes with the
Codex MRL, EPA is also establishing a
subgroup 4–16B tolerance at 2 ppm,
which is not harmonized with the
Codex MRL. This is because the
representative commodity data for
mustard greens indicates that lower
residues of the pesticide are present on
the brassica, leafy greens commodities.
The tolerances in meat and meat
byproducts of hogs and poultry are
being harmonized with the
corresponding Codex MRLs instead of
the levels proposed by the petitioner.
Therefore, tolerances in hog meat and
hog meat byproducts are being
established at 0.3 and 0.6 ppm,
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respectively (rather than 0.07 and 0.2
ppm), in order to harmonize with MRLs
of 0.3 mg/kg in meat from mammals
other than marine mammals, and 0.6
mg/kg in mammalian edible offal.
Similarly, tolerances in poultry meat
and poultry meat byproducts are being
established at 0.1 and 0.3 ppm,
respectively (rather than 0.09 and 0.2
ppm), in order to harmonize with Codex
MRLs of 0.1 mg/kg in poultry meat, and
0.3 ppm in poultry edible offal.
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C. Response to Comments
Thirteen comments were received in
response to the NOF for petition
4F8237. Nine of these comments were
primarily related to bee toxicity, which
is not an issue that is relevant to the
Agency’s evaluation of safety of the
sulfoxaflor tolerances under section 408
of the FFDCA, which requires the
Agency to evaluate the potential harms
to human health, not effects on the
environment.
Another four comments were
primarily related to a general
disapproval of pesticides in general.
Although the Agency recognizes that
some individuals believe that pesticides
should be banned on agricultural crops,
the existing legal framework provided
by section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) authorizes
EPA to establish tolerances when it
determines that the tolerance is safe.
Upon consideration of the validity,
completeness, and reliability of the
available data as well as other factors
the FFDCA requires EPA to consider,
EPA has determined that these
sulfoxaflor tolerances are safe. The
commenters have provided no
information supporting a contrary
conclusion.
D. Revisions to Petitioned-For
Tolerances
The Agency is establishing a tolerance
of 0.01 ppm in asparagus as opposed to
the 0.015 ppm proposed by the
petitioner. In the field trials that serve
as the basis for the tolerance level, the
application rates were exaggerated by
4.2–6.5X the proposed application rate,
and the resulting residues in all but one
trial were <0.01 ppm and in the other
trial the residues measured 0.011 ppm.
When sulfoxaflor is used in accordance
with the proposed label, all residues are
expected to be <0.01 ppm. Therefore,
the Agency is establishing the tolerance
at the limit of quantification (0.01 ppm).
Tolerances are not being established
in clover or buckwheat commodities (as
these proposed new uses were
subsequently withdrawn by the
registrant after submission of the
original petition), nor in non-grass feeds
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(group 18), for which clover is a
representative commodity.
In order to maximize global regulatory
harmonization, it became EPA policy in
April 2011 to use the OECD calculation
procedures to derive tolerance levels. As
such, the proposed tolerance of 0.9 ppm
in sorghum, grain, stover will be listed
as 1 ppm; the proposed tolerance of 30
ppm in alfalfa seed will be changed to
40 ppm; the proposed tolerance of 0.09
ppm in pineapple will be changed to 0.1
ppm; and the proposed tolerance of 0.15
ppm in cacao, dried bean will be
changed to 0.05 ppm.
For millet, there is no established
‘‘parent’’ millet term that covers more
than one millet. As such, the tolerances
are being established specifying both
proso and pearl millet individually.
Tolerances of 0.6 and 2.5 ppm in the
fat and meat byproducts, respectively, of
cattle, goats, horses and sheep were
proposed by the petitioner. However,
revised tolerances of 0.2 and 0.8 ppm in
these fat and meat byproducts are
appropriate since the clover use was
withdrawn, resulting in a lower dietary
burden to livestock and lower
anticipated residues in livestock
commodities than originally considered
by the petitioner.
Existing tolerances in cattle, meat;
goat, meat; sheep, meat; and horse, meat
is being revised in this action to 0.4
ppm, consistent with anticipated
residues based upon a recalculated
dietary burden of sulfoxaflor, and the
results of a lactating dairy cattle feeding
study.
For several commodities in the IR–4
petition (PP 8E8666), the requested
tolerances include an additional
significant figure (such as 1.0 ppm
rather than 1 ppm). EPA is establishing
the tolerances without the trailing zero
to be consistent with current rounding
practice.
E. International Trade Considerations
In this final rule, EPA is reducing the
existing tolerances for arugula; cress,
garden; and cress, upland from 6 ppm
to 2 ppm. Currently, these commodities
are included in leafy greens subgroup
4A, which has a tolerance of 6 ppm. In
2016, EPA moved these commodities to
the Brassica leafy greens subgroup 4–
16B. (81 FR 26471; FRL–9944–87 (May
3, 2016)). In today’s rule, EPA is
establishing a tolerance for residues of
sulfoxaflor in or on commodities in
Brassica leafy greens subgroup 4–16B,
which now includes arugula, garden
cress, and upland cress, at 2 ppm, based
on available residue data. This results in
a reduction of tolerance levels for these
three commodities.
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In accordance with the World Trade
Organization’s (WTO) Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
Agreement, EPA intends to notify the
WTO of this revision. In addition, the
SPS Agreement requires that members
provide a ‘‘reasonable interval’’ between
the publication of a regulation subject to
the agreement and its entry into force to
allow time for producers in exporting
member countries to adapt to the new
requirement. At this time, EPA is
establishing an expiration date for the
existing tolerances to allow those
tolerances to remain in effect for a
period of six months after the effective
date of this final rule, in order to
address the requirement to provide a
reasonable interval. After the six-month
period expires, residues of sulfoxaflor
on arugula; cress, garden; and cress,
upland cannot exceed the newly
established tolerances of 2 ppm.
This reduction in tolerance levels is
not discriminatory; the same food safety
standard contained in the FFDCA
applies equally to domestically
produced and imported foods. The new
tolerance levels are supported by
available residue data.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established
for residues of sulfoxaflor in or on
Alfalfa, forage at 7 ppm; Alfalfa, hay at
20 ppm; Alfalfa, seed at 40 ppm; Alfalfa,
silage at 9 ppm; Artichoke, globe at 0.7
ppm; Asparagus at 0.01 ppm; Brassica,
leafy greens, subgroup 4–16B, except
watercress at 2 ppm; Bushberry
subgroup 13–07B at 2 ppm; Cacao, dried
bean at 0.05 ppm; Caneberry subgroup
13–07A at 1.5 ppm; Celtuce at 2 ppm;
Corn, field, forage at 0.5 ppm; Corn,
field, grain at 0.015 ppm; Corn, field,
stover at 0.8 ppm; Corn, pop, grain at
0.015 ppm; Corn, pop, stover at 0.8
ppm; Corn, sweet, forage at 0.6 ppm;
Corn, sweet, kernel plus cob with husks
removed at 0.01 ppm; Corn, sweet,
stover at 0.7 ppm; Fennel, Florence,
fresh leaves and stalk at 2 ppm; Fruit,
stone, group 12–12 at 3 ppm; Kohlrabi
at 2 ppm; Leaf petiole vegetable
subgroup 22B at 2 ppm; Leafy greens
subgroup 4–16A at 6 ppm; Millet, proso,
forage at 0.4 ppm; Millet, pearl, forage
at 0.4 ppm; Millet, proso, grain at 0.3
ppm; Nut, tree, group 14–12 at 0.015
ppm; Oat, grain at 0.4 ppm; Oat, hay at
1 ppm; Oat, straw at 2 ppm; Pineapple
at 0.1 ppm; Rye, forage at 1 ppm; Rye,
grain at 0.08 ppm; Rye, hay at 1.5 ppm;
Rye, straw at 2 ppm; Sorghum, grain,
forage at 0.4 ppm; Sorghum, grain, grain
at 0.3 ppm; Sorghum, grain, stover at 1
ppm; Sunflower subgroup 20B at 0.3
ppm; Teff, forage at 1 ppm; Teff, grain
at 0.08 ppm; Teff, hay at 1.5 ppm; Teff,
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straw at 2 ppm; Teosinte, grain at 0.015
ppm; Triticale, forage at 1 ppm;
Triticale, grain at 0.08 ppm; Triticale,
hay at 1.5 ppm; Triticale, straw at 2
ppm; and Vegetable, brassica, head and
stem, group 5–16, except cauliflower at
2 ppm.
Additionally, the following existing
tolerances are revised as follows: Cattle,
fat at 0.2 ppm; Cattle, meat at 0.4 ppm;
Cattle, meat byproducts at 0.8 ppm; Egg
at 0.06 ppm; Goat, fat at 0.2 ppm; Goat,
meat at 0.4 ppm; Goat, meat byproducts
at 0.8 ppm; Hog, fat at 0.03 ppm; Hog,
meat at 0.3 ppm; Hog, meat byproducts
at 0.6 ppm; Horse, fat at 0.2 ppm; Horse,
meat at 0.4 ppm; Horse, meat
byproducts at 0.8 ppm; Milk at 0.3 ppm;
Poultry, fat at 0.02 ppm; Poultry, meat
at 0.1 ppm; Poultry, meat byproducts at
0.3 ppm; Sheep, fat at 0.2 ppm; Sheep,
meat at 0.4 ppm; and Sheep, meat
byproducts at 0.8 ppm.
The established tolerances for Fruit,
stone, group 12; Leafy greens, subgroup
4A; Leafy petiole, subgroup 4B; Nuts,
tree, group 14; Pistachio; and Vegetable,
Brassica, leafy, group 5, except
cauliflower are removed as unnecessary
due to the establishment of the above
tolerances.
Lastly, in order to provide a
reasonable interval for implementation
of certain tolerances being reduced
through this rule, EPA is leaving in
place the following individual
tolerances for a period of six months:
Arugula; cress, garden; and cress,
upland.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
This action establishes and modifies
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 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
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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 tolerances 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,
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4700
35553
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: July 12, 2019.
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 § 180.668, amend the table in
paragraph (a) as follows:
■ a. Add alphabetically the entries
Alfalfa, forage; Alfalfa, hay; Alfalfa,
seed; Alfalfa, silage; Artichoke, globe;
Arugula; Asparagus; Brassica, leafy
greens, subgroup 4–16B, except
watercress; Bushberry subgroup 13–07B;
Cacao, dried bean; Caneberry subgroup
13–07A; Celtuce; Corn, field, forage;
Corn, field, grain; Corn, field, stover;
Corn, pop, grain; Corn, pop, stover;
Corn, sweet, forage; Corn, sweet, kernel
plus cob with husks removed; Corn,
sweet, stover; Cress, garden; Cress,
upland; Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves
and stalk; Fruit, stone, group 12–12;
Kohlrabi; Leaf petiole vegetable
subgroup 22B; Leafy greens subgroup 4–
16A; Millet, proso, forage; Millet, pearl,
forage; Millet, proso, grain; Millet, pearl,
grain; Nut, tree, group 14–12; Oat, grain;
Oat, hay; Oat, straw; Pineapple; Rye,
forage; Rye, grain; Rye, hay; Rye, straw;
Sorghum, grain, forage; Sorghum, grain,
grain; Sorghum, grain, stover; Sunflower
subgroup 20B; Teff, forage; Teff, grain;
Teff, hay; Teff, straw; Teosinte, grain;
Triticale, forage; Triticale, grain;
Triticale, hay; Triticale, straw; and
Vegetable, brassica, head and stem,
group 5–16, except cauliflower;
■ b. Revise the entries for Cattle, fat;
Cattle, meat; Cattle, meat byproducts;
Goat, fat; Goat, meat; Goat, meat
byproducts; Hog, fat; Hog, meat; Hog,
meat byproducts; Horse, fat; Horse,
meat; Horse, meat byproducts; Milk;
Poultry, eggs; Poultry, fat; Poultry, meat;
Poultry, meat byproducts; Sheep, fat;
Sheep, meat; and Sheep, meat
byproducts; and
■ c. Remove the entries for Fruit, stone,
group 12; Leafy greens, subgroup 4A;
Leafy petiole, subgroup 4B; Nuts, tree,
group 14; Pistachio; and Vegetable,
Brassica, leafy, group 5, except
cauliflower.
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
■
E:\FR\FM\24JYR1.SGM
24JYR1
35554
§ 180.668
residues
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 24, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Sulfoxaflor; tolerances for
(a) * * *
Parts
per million
Commodity
Alfalfa,
Alfalfa,
Alfalfa,
Alfalfa,
7
20
40
9
*
*
*
*
*
*
Artichoke, globe ...................................................................................................................................................................................
Arugula 1 ..............................................................................................................................................................................................
Asparagus ............................................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4–16B, except watercress .............................................................................................................
Bushberry subgroup 13–07B ...............................................................................................................................................................
Cacao, dried bean ...............................................................................................................................................................................
Caneberry subgroup 13–07A ..............................................................................................................................................................
Cattle, fat .............................................................................................................................................................................................
Cattle, meat .........................................................................................................................................................................................
Cattle, meat byproducts .......................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Celtuce .................................................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
field, forage ................................................................................................................................................................................
field, grain ..................................................................................................................................................................................
field, stover ................................................................................................................................................................................
pop, grain ...................................................................................................................................................................................
pop, stover .................................................................................................................................................................................
sweet, forage .............................................................................................................................................................................
sweet, kernel plus cob with husks removed .............................................................................................................................
sweet, stover ..............................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Cress, garden 1 ....................................................................................................................................................................................
Cress, upland 1 ....................................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Egg .......................................................................................................................................................................................................
Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk ............................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Fruit, stone, group 12–12 ....................................................................................................................................................................
Goat, fat ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Goat, meat ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
Goat, meat byproducts ........................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Hog, fat ................................................................................................................................................................................................
Hog, meat ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Hog, meat byproducts .........................................................................................................................................................................
Horse, fat .............................................................................................................................................................................................
Horse, meat .........................................................................................................................................................................................
Horse, meat byproducts ......................................................................................................................................................................
Kohlrabi ................................................................................................................................................................................................
Leaf petiole vegetable subgroup 22B ..................................................................................................................................................
Leafy greens subgroup 4–16A ............................................................................................................................................................
Milk .......................................................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Millet, proso, forage .............................................................................................................................................................................
Millet, pearl, forage ..............................................................................................................................................................................
Millet, proso, grain ...............................................................................................................................................................................
Millet, pearl, grain ................................................................................................................................................................................
Nut, tree, group 14–12 ........................................................................................................................................................................
Oat, grain .............................................................................................................................................................................................
Oat, hay ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Oat, straw ............................................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Pineapple .............................................................................................................................................................................................
*
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
Corn,
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
forage .......................................................................................................................................................................................
hay ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
seed .........................................................................................................................................................................................
silage .......................................................................................................................................................................................
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E:\FR\FM\24JYR1.SGM
24JYR1
0.7
6
0.01
2
2
0.05
1.5
0.2
0.4
0.8
2
0.5
0.015
0.8
0.015
0.8
0.6
0.01
0.7
6
6
0.06
2
3
0.2
0.4
0.8
0.03
0.3
0.6
0.2
0.4
0.8
2
2
6
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.015
0.4
1
2
0.1
35555
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 24, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Parts
per million
Commodity
Poultry, fat ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Poultry, meat ........................................................................................................................................................................................
Poultry, meat byproducts .....................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
Rye, forage ..........................................................................................................................................................................................
Rye, grain ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Rye, hay ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Rye, straw ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Sheep, fat ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Sheep, meat ........................................................................................................................................................................................
Sheep, meat byproducts ......................................................................................................................................................................
Sorghum, grain, forage ........................................................................................................................................................................
Sorghum, grain, grain ..........................................................................................................................................................................
Sorghum, grain, stover ........................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Sunflower subgroup 20B .....................................................................................................................................................................
Teff, forage ..........................................................................................................................................................................................
Teff, grain .............................................................................................................................................................................................
Teff, hay ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Teff, straw ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Teosinte, grain .....................................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Triticale, forage ....................................................................................................................................................................................
Triticale, grain ......................................................................................................................................................................................
Triticale, hay ........................................................................................................................................................................................
Triticale, straw ......................................................................................................................................................................................
Vegetable, brassica, head and stem, group 5–16, except cauliflower ...............................................................................................
*
*
1
*
*
*
*
*
*
1
0.08
1.5
2
0.2
0.4
0.8
0.4
0.3
1
0.3
1
0.08
1.5
2
0.015
1
0.08
1.5
2
2
*
This tolerance expires on January 24, 2020.
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2019–15648 Filed 7–23–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–1005; FRL–9997–06]
Chlorpyrifos; Final Order Denying
Objections to March 2017 Petition
Denial Order
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Order.
AGENCY:
In this Order, EPA denies the
objections to EPA’s March 29, 2017
order denying a 2007 petition from the
Pesticide Action Network North
America (PANNA) and the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to
revoke all tolerances and cancel all
registrations for the insecticide
chlorpyrifos. This order is issued under
section 408(g)(2)(C) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and
constitutes final agency action on the
2007 petition. The objections were filed
by Earthjustice on behalf of 12 public
interest groups, the North Coast Rivers
SUMMARY:
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
0.02
0.1
0.3
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:37 Jul 23, 2019
Jkt 247001
Alliance, and the States of New York,
Washington, California, Massachusetts,
Maine, Maryland, and Vermont.
DATES: This Order is effective July 24,
2019.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–1005, 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:
Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division
(7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460–0001; telephone number: (703)
347–0206; email address:
OPPChlorpyrifosInquiries@epa.gov.
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
In this document, EPA denies all
objections in response to a March 29,
2017 order denying the 2007 PANNA
and NRDC petition requesting that EPA
revoke all tolerances and cancel all
pesticide product registrations for
chlorpyrifos. In addition to the
Petitioners, this action may be of
interest to agricultural producers, food
manufacturers or pesticide
manufacturers, and others interested in
food safety issues generally. 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),
e.g., agricultural workers; greenhouse,
nursery, and floriculture workers;
farmers.
• Animal production (NAICS code
112), e.g., cattle ranchers and farmers,
dairy cattle farmers, livestock farmers.
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311), e.g., agricultural workers; farmers;
E:\FR\FM\24JYR1.SGM
24JYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35546-35555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15648]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0179; FRL-9995-63]
Sulfoxaflor; Pesticide Tolerances
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of
sulfoxaflor in or on multiple commodities which are identified and
discussed later in this document. Interregional Research Project No. 4
(IR-4) and Dow AgroSciences LLC requested these tolerances under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective July 24, 2019. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before September 23, 2019,
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-2018-0179, 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
[[Page 35547]]
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
Publishing 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-2018-0179 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
September 23, 2019. 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-2018-0179, 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 Tolerances
In the Federal Register of April 23, 2014 (79 FR 22602) (FRL-9907-
39), 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
4F8237) by Dow AgroSciences, LLC, 9330 Zionsville Rd., Indianapolis, IN
46268. The petition requested to establish tolerances in 40 CFR part
180 for residues of the insecticide, sulfoxaflor (N-[methyloxido[1-[6-
(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-[lambda]\4\-
sulfanylidene]cyanamide), in or on alfalfa, forage at 7 parts per
million (ppm); alfalfa, hay at 20 ppm; alfalfa, seed at 30 ppm;
alfalfa, silage at 9 ppm; animal feed, non-grass, group 18, forage at
15 ppm; animal feed, non-grass, group 18, hay at 20 ppm; animal feed,
non-grass, group 18, silage at 9 ppm; buckwheat, forage at 1 ppm;
buckwheat, grain at 0.08 ppm; buckwheat, hay at 1.5 ppm; buckwheat,
straw at 2 ppm; cacao bean, dried bean at 0.15 ppm; clover forage at 15
ppm; clover hay at 20 ppm; clover silage at 8 ppm; corn, field, forage
at 0.5 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.015 ppm; corn, field, stover at 0.8
ppm; corn, pop at 0.015 ppm; corn, pop, stover at 0.8 ppm; corn, sweet,
at 0.01 ppm; corn, sweet, forage at 0.6 ppm; corn, sweet, stover at 0.7
ppm; millet, forage at 0.4 ppm; millet, grain at 0.3 ppm; oat, grain at
0.4 ppm; oat, hay at 1 ppm; oat, straw at 2 ppm; pineapple at 0.09 ppm;
rye, forage at 1 ppm; rye, grain at 0.08 ppm; rye, hay at 1.5 ppm; rye,
straw at 2 ppm; sorghum, forage at 0.4 ppm; sorghum, grain at 0.3 ppm;
sorghum, stover at 0.9 ppm; teff, forage at 1 ppm; teff, grain at 0.08
ppm; teff, hay at 1.5 ppm; teff, straw at 2 ppm; teosinte, grain at
0.015 ppm; triticale, forage at 1 ppm; triticale, grain at 0.08 ppm;
triticale, hay at 1.5 ppm; and triticale, straw at 2 ppm. That document
referenced a summary of the petition prepared by Dow AgroSciences, the
registrant, which is available in docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0156,
https://www.regulations.gov. The petition also requested revisions to
the certain existing animal commodity tolerances, as follows: Milk at 1
ppm; fat of cattle, goat, horse and sheep at 0.6 ppm; meat of cattle,
goat, horse and sheep at 1 ppm; meat byproducts of cattle, goat, horse
and sheep at 2.5 ppm; hog, fat at 0.04 ppm; hog, meat at 0.07 ppm; hog,
meat byproducts at 0.2 ppm; egg at 0.08 ppm; poultry, meat at 0.09 ppm;
poultry, fat at 0.03 ppm; poultry, meat byproducts at 0.2 ppm. These
requested revisions were inadvertently omitted from the April 23, 2014
Federal Register notice (79 FR 22602) (FRL-9907-39) but were included
in the summary of the petition that was available in the docket.
Comments were received on the notice of filing. EPA's response to these
comments is discussed in Unit IV.C.
In the Federal Register of July 24, 2018 (83 FR 34968) (FRL-9980-
31), 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
8E8666) by IR-4, IR-4 Project Headquarters, Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey, 500 College Road East, Suite 201W, Princeton,
NJ 08540. The petition requested that 40 CFR part 180 be amended by
establishing tolerances for residues of sulfoxaflor (N-[methyloxido[1-
[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-[lambda]\4\-
sulfanylidene]cyanamide) in or on the following raw agricultural
commodities: Artichoke, globe at 0.70 ppm; asparagus at 0.015 ppm;
brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4-16B, except watercress at 2.0 ppm;
bushberry subgroup 13-07B at 2.0 ppm; caneberry subgroup 13-07A at 1.5
ppm; celtuce at 2.0 ppm; florence fennel at 2.0 ppm; fruit, stone,
group 12-12 at 3.0 ppm; kohlrabi at 2.0 ppm; leafy greens subgroup 4-
16A at 6.0
[[Page 35548]]
ppm; leaf petiole vegetable subgroup 22B at 2.0 ppm; nut, tree, group
14-12 at 0.015 ppm; sunflower subgroup 20B at 0.30 ppm; and vegetable,
brassica, head and stem, group 5-16, except cauliflower at 2.0 ppm.
Additionally, the petition requested to amend 40 CFR 180.668 by
removing the established tolerances for residues of sulfoxaflor in or
on the following raw agricultural commodities: Fruit, stone, group 12
at 3.0 ppm; leafy greens, subgroup 4A at 6.0 ppm; leafy petiole,
subgroup 4B at 2.0 ppm; nuts, tree, group 14 at 0.015 ppm; pistachio at
0.015 ppm; and vegetable, brassica, leafy, group 5, except cauliflower
at 2.0 ppm. That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared
by Dow AgroSciences, the registrant, which is available in docket
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0179, 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 is
establishing tolerances that vary from what the petitioner requested
(PP 8E8666), as authorized under FFDCA section 408(d)(4)(A)(i). Also,
the petitioner withdrew the tolerances proposed for buckwheat and
clover (PP 4F8237). Since clover is a representative commodity for non-
grass animal feeds (group 18), a crop group tolerance cannot be
established for that crop group. Additionally, existing tolerances for
livestock commodities (e.g., cattle, goats, sheep, and horse) are being
revised based upon a recalculation of the livestock dietary burden. The
reasons for these changes are explained in Unit IV.D.
III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety
Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a
tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a
food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section
408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``there is a
reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure
to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary
exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable
information.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in
residential settings but does not include occupational exposure.
Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and
children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue . .
. .''
Consistent with 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 sulfoxaflor including exposure
resulting from the tolerances established by this action. EPA's
assessment of exposures and risks associated with sulfoxaflor 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.
Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the
adverse effects caused by sulfoxaflor as well as the no-observed-
adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-
level (LOAEL) from the toxicity studies are discussed in the final rule
published in the Federal Register of May 17, 2013 (78 FR 29041) (FRL-
9371-4). Further discussion of the toxicological profile for
sulfoxaflor can be found at https://www.regulations.gov in section 4.0
titled ``Hazard Characterization and Dose-Response Assessment'' (pages
14-28) of the document titled ``Sulfoxaflor. Human Health Risk
Assessment for New Food Uses on Avocado and Rice'' and pages 13-26 of
the document titled ``Sulfoxaflor. Human Health Risk Assessment for New
Food Uses on Artichoke, Asparagus, Bushberry, Caneberry and Sunflower,
and Multiple Crop Group Conversions'' in docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-
2018-0179.
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-pesticide.
A summary of the toxicological endpoints for sulfoxaflor used for
human risk assessment is shown in the table of this unit.
Table--Summary of Toxicological Doses and Endpoints for Sulfoxaflor for Use in Human Health Risk Assessment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point of departure
Exposure/scenario and uncertainty/ RfD, PAD, LOC for Study and toxicological effects
safety factors risk assessment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acute dietary (Females 13-49 NOAEL = 1.8 mg/kg/ Acute RfD = 0.06 mg/ Developmental Neurotoxicity Study
years of age). day. kg/day. (DNT).
UFA = 3x............ aPAD = 0.06 mg/kg/ LOAEL = 7.1 mg/kg/day based on
UFH = 10x........... day. decreased neonatal survival (PND
FQPA SF = 1x........ 0-4).
[[Page 35549]]
Acute dietary (General population NOAEL = 25 mg/kg/day Acute RfD = 0.25 mg/ Acute Neurotoxicity Study.
including infants and children). UFA = 10x........... kg/day. LOAEL = 75 mg/kg/day based on
UFH = 10x........... aPAD = 0.25 mg/kg/ decreased motor activity.
FQPA SF = 1x........ day.
Chronic dietary (All populations) NOAEL= 5.13 mg/kg/ Chronic RfD = 0.05 Chronic/Carcinogenicity Study--
day. mg/kg/day. Rat.
UFA = 10x........... cPAD = 0.05 mg/kg/ LOAEL = 21.3 mg/kg/day based on
UFH = 10x........... day. liver effects including increased
FQPA SF = 1x........ blood cholesterol, liver weight,
hypertrophy, fatty change, single
cell necrosis and macrophages.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhalation) Classification: ``Suggestive Evidence of Carcinogenic Potential.''
Quantification of risk using a non-linear approach (i.e., reference dose
(RfD)) will adequately account for all chronic toxicity, including
carcinogenicity, that could result from exposure to sulfoxaflor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. 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 sulfoxaflor, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-
for tolerances as well as all existing sulfoxaflor tolerances in 40 CFR
180.668. EPA assessed dietary exposures from sulfoxaflor 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.
Such effects were identified for sulfoxaflor. In estimating acute
dietary exposure, EPA used 2003-2008 food consumption information from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey, What We Eat in America, (NHANES/WWEIA).
As to residue levels in food, the acute assessment was based on the
maximum observed residue levels from crop field trials and 100 percent
crop treated (PCT).
ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure
assessment EPA used the 2003-2008 food consumption data from the USDA's
NHANES/WWEIA. As to residue levels in food, the chronic assessment
assumed average field trial residues and 100 PCT.
iii. Cancer. Based on the data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
concluded that quantification of risk using a non-linear approach
(i.e., RfD/cPAD) will adequately account for all chronic toxicity,
including carcinogenicity. Cancer risk was assessed using the same
exposure estimates as discussed in Unit III.C.1.ii., chronic exposure.
iv. Anticipated residue and PCT information. Section 408(b)(2)(E)
of FFDCA authorizes EPA to use available data and information on the
anticipated residue levels of pesticide residues in food and the actual
levels of pesticide residues that have been measured in food. If EPA
relies on such information, EPA must require pursuant to FFDCA section
408(f)(1) that data be provided 5 years after the tolerance is
established, modified, or left in effect, demonstrating that the levels
in food are not above the levels anticipated. For the present action,
EPA will issue such data call-ins as are required by FFDCA section
408(b)(2)(E) and authorized under FFDCA section 408(f)(1). Data will be
required to be submitted no later than 5 years from the date of
issuance of these tolerances.
2. Dietary exposure from drinking water. The Agency used screening
level water exposure models in the dietary exposure analysis and risk
assessment for sulfoxaflor in drinking water. These simulation models
take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/transport
characteristics of sulfoxaflor. 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.
Environmental fate data indicate that the use of sulfoxaflor is
likely to result in different residue profiles in surface water and
ground water. The residues in surface water are likely to include
parent sulfoxaflor and X11719474/X11519540 degradates while X11719474/
X11519540 will predominate in ground water. When the residue profiles
are coupled with the toxicological database, it becomes apparent that
the EDWCs for assessing acute dietary exposure for the general
population, acute dietary exposure for women of child-bearing age, and
chronic dietary exposure for all populations need to be addressed
differently. An explanation of the three scenarios and the rationale
for the approaches taken by EPA is provided below.
Acute Exposure: Separate acute endpoints were selected for the
general population and females 13 to 49 years of age. For the general
population, the point of departure is based on decreased motor activity
observed in the acute neurotoxicity study. As there are no data
available to examine the potency of X11719474 and X11519540 with
respect to this endpoint, EPA has assumed that the two metabolites
possess similar toxicity relative to sulfoxaflor in order to assess
acute dietary risk for the general population. The EDWC for ground
water is significantly greater than the acute estimate for surface
water and, per Agency policy, is being used in the acute dietary
assessment for the general population. As it is a ground water EDWC, it
represents residues of the metabolites.
For females 13 to 49 years of age, the developmental endpoint of
increased neonatal deaths was chosen because a single exposure during
late gestation can adversely affect the developing fetus via agonism of
the muscle nicotinic
[[Page 35550]]
acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), and the age group represents women of
child-bearing age. Studies with the metabolite X11719474 demonstrated
that it does not cause agonism of the fetal rat muscle nAChR. Based on
structural similarity between X11719474 and X11519540, the Agency
further determined that X1159540 is not likely to result in agonism of
the muscle nAChR. Therefore, both metabolites have been excluded from
assessment scenarios using the developmental endpoint. Since the ground
water EDWC represents residues of only these metabolites, the acute
surface water EDWC, which consists of only parent sulfoxaflor, is the
appropriate estimate for assessing dietary exposure for women of child-
bearing age.
Chronic Exposure: The endpoint for assessing chronic dietary
exposure is hepatotoxicity. The Agency has determined that it is
appropriate to combine residues of sulfoxaflor, X11719474, and
X11519540 when assessing chronic exposure and, furthermore, there is
sufficient evidence to adjust the assessment to account for the
different potencies of the metabolites. Based on NOAELs in the 28-day
oral toxicity studies in rats, the potencies of the metabolites,
relative to sulfoxaflor, are 0.3X for X11719474 and 3.4X for X11519540.
To account for the relative toxicity, the EDWCs for each metabolite are
multiplied by their respective potency factors.
EDWCs Used in the Assessment: For the acute dietary risk assessment
of the general population, the groundwater EDWC is greater than the
surface water EDWC and was used in the assessment. The residue profile
in groundwater is 12 ppb X11719474 and 1.6 ppb X11519540 (totaling 13.6
ppb). Parent sulfoxaflor is not expected in groundwater. For this
assessment, the regulatory toxicological endpoint is based on
neurotoxicity. There is no information to relate the neurotoxicity of
the metabolites to that of sulfoxaflor; therefore, no toxicity
adjustment was made to the EDWC.
For the acute dietary risk assessment of females 13 to 49, the
regulatory endpoint is attributable only to the parent compound (as
previously discussed); therefore, the surface water EDWC is the most
appropriate EDWC for this assessment even though it is of a lower value
than the groundwater EDWC, which reflects metabolites only. The EDWC of
9.2 ppb was used and no toxicological adjustment was made.
For the chronic dietary risk assessment, the toxicological endpoint
is liver effects, for which it is possible to account for the relative
toxicities of X11719474 and X11519540 as compared to sulfoxaflor. The
groundwater EDWC is greater than the surface water EDWC. The residue
profile in groundwater consists of 8 ppb X11719474 and 1.1 ppb
X11519540. Adjusting for the relative toxicity results in 2.4 ppb
equivalents of X11719474 and 3.7 ppb X11519540 (totaling 6.1 ppb). The
adjusted groundwater EDCW is greater than the surface water EDWC and
was, therefore, used to assess the chronic dietary exposure scenario.
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). Sulfoxaflor 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 sulfoxaflor to share a common mechanism of
toxicity with any other substances, and sulfoxaflor does not appear to
produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the
purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that
sulfoxaflor 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. Developmental/offspring
toxicity, manifested as skeletal abnormalities and neonatal deaths, was
observed in rats only. The skeletal abnormalities, forelimb flexure,
bent clavicles, and hindlimb rotation likely result from skeletal
muscle contraction due to agonism of the muscle nAChR in utero.
Similarly, contraction of the diaphragm muscle prevents normal
breathing in neonates resulting in increased mortality. The skeletal
abnormalities were observed at high doses in the developmental and
reproduction studies and decreased neonatal survival was consistently
observed in the reproduction and developmental neurotoxicity studies.
These developmental effects were not observed in the rabbit.
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 sulfoxaflor is complete.
ii. In the acute neurotoxicity study, decreased motor activity and
clinical signs associated with neurotoxicity (increased muscle tremors
and twitches, convulsions, hindlimb splaying, increased lacrimation and
salivation, decreased pupil size and response to touch, gait
abnormalities and decreased rectal temperature) were observed. However,
the level of concern for neurotoxicity is low because (1) the effects
are well characterized; (2) the dose-response curve for these effects
is well characterized; (3) clear NOAELs have been identified; and (4)
the endpoints chosen for risk assessment are protective for the
observed neurotoxicity.
iii. Although there was quantitative susceptibility observed in the
DNT and developmental rat studies, there is no residual uncertainty
because (1) the effects are well characterized; (2) clear NOAELs were
identified; and (3) the endpoints chosen for risk assessment are
protective of potential in utero and developmental effects.
Quantitative susceptibility in the DNT was based on an increased rate
of neonatal deaths at a dose where no maternal toxicity was observed.
Quantitative susceptibility was also observed in the developmental rat
study as decreased fetal weight, forelimb flexure, hindlimb rotation,
and bent clavicles at a dose that did not cause maternal toxicity.
However, the apparent enhanced sensitivity in this
[[Page 35551]]
study may be due to the limited number of evaluations conducted in dams
in the study rather than a true sensitivity of the young. In that
regard, adverse liver effects were observed in the 90-day rat study at
a LOAEL lower than the highest dose tested in the developmental rat
study. The dams in the developmental rat study had increased liver
weights but clinical chemistry and liver histopathological analysis
were not investigated to determine if the effects on the liver were
adverse. Qualitative susceptibility was observed in the two-generation
reproduction study since neonatal deaths were observed at the same dose
that resulted in hepatotoxicity in parental animals. However, these
effects occurred at a higher dose compared to the offspring effects
observed in the DNT. Finally, there was no evidence of quantitative or
qualitative susceptibility in the developmental studies in the rabbit.
iv. There are no residual uncertainties with regard to dietary
exposure. The dietary exposure assessments are based on high-end
residue estimates, processing factors, and 100 PCT, as well as upper-
bound modeled estimates of residues in drinking water. These
assessments will not underestimate the exposure and risks posed by
sulfoxaflor.
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. Using the exposure assumptions discussed in this
unit for acute exposure, the acute dietary exposure from food and water
to sulfoxaflor will occupy 28% of the aPAD for both children 1 to 2
years old and females 13 to 49 years old, the population groups
receiving the greatest exposure.
2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to
sulfoxaflor from food and water will utilize 47% of the cPAD for
children 1 to 2 years old, the population group receiving the greatest
exposure. There are no residential uses for sulfoxaflor.
3. Short- and Intermediate-term risk. Short- and intermediate-term
aggregate exposure takes into account short- and intermediate-term
residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food and water
(considered to be a background exposure level).
Short- and intermediate-term adverse effects were identified;
however, sulfoxaflor is not registered for any use patterns that would
result in short- or intermediate-term residential exposure. Short- and
intermediate-term risk is assessed based on short- and 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 risk), 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 risk for sulfoxaflor.
4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. EPA assessed cancer
risk using a non-linear approach (i.e., RfD) since it adequately
accounts for all chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity, that
could result from exposure to sulfoxaflor. As the chronic dietary
endpoint and dose are protective of potential cancer effects,
sulfoxaflor is not expected to pose an aggregate cancer risk.
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 sulfoxaflor residues.
IV. Other Considerations
A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
High performance liquid chromatographic methods with positive-ion
electro spray interface (ESI) and tandem mass spectrometric detection
(LC/MS/MS) were previously reviewed and found to be acceptable for
tolerance enforcement of sulfoxaflor residues (the two metabolites,
X11719474 and X11721061, are also quantitated). The limit of
quantitation (LOQ), determined as the lowest level of method validation
(LLMV), is 0.010 ppm in all matrices.
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 MRLs for residues of sulfoxaflor on broccoli
(3 ppm) and head cabbage (0.4 ppm). These commodities are covered in
the U.S. crop group 5-16 (vegetable, brassica, head and stem), for
which EPA is establishing a tolerance at 2 ppm in this rulemaking. This
2 ppm tolerance is part of a conversion from the existing group 5A,
including broccoli and cabbage, to the new crop group 5-16. The old
group was not harmonized with the Codex MRL. EPA is not harmonizing the
new crop group 5-16 either because the representative commodity data
for the new group 5-16 support establishing one tolerance level for all
commodities in the group rather than a higher broccoli and lower
cabbage tolerance.
In addition, Codex has established MRLs for leafy vegetables at 6
ppm. EPA's leafy vegetable crop group 4-16 is split into two subgroups:
4-16A for leafy greens and 4-16B for Brassica, leafy greens. Although
EPA is establishing a subgroup 4-16A tolerance at 6 ppm, which
harmonizes with the Codex MRL, EPA is also establishing a subgroup 4-
16B tolerance at 2 ppm, which is not harmonized with the Codex MRL.
This is because the representative commodity data for mustard greens
indicates that lower residues of the pesticide are present on the
brassica, leafy greens commodities.
The tolerances in meat and meat byproducts of hogs and poultry are
being harmonized with the corresponding Codex MRLs instead of the
levels proposed by the petitioner. Therefore, tolerances in hog meat
and hog meat byproducts are being established at 0.3 and 0.6 ppm,
[[Page 35552]]
respectively (rather than 0.07 and 0.2 ppm), in order to harmonize with
MRLs of 0.3 mg/kg in meat from mammals other than marine mammals, and
0.6 mg/kg in mammalian edible offal. Similarly, tolerances in poultry
meat and poultry meat byproducts are being established at 0.1 and 0.3
ppm, respectively (rather than 0.09 and 0.2 ppm), in order to harmonize
with Codex MRLs of 0.1 mg/kg in poultry meat, and 0.3 ppm in poultry
edible offal.
C. Response to Comments
Thirteen comments were received in response to the NOF for petition
4F8237. Nine of these comments were primarily related to bee toxicity,
which is not an issue that is relevant to the Agency's evaluation of
safety of the sulfoxaflor tolerances under section 408 of the FFDCA,
which requires the Agency to evaluate the potential harms to human
health, not effects on the environment.
Another four comments were primarily related to a general
disapproval of pesticides in general. Although the Agency recognizes
that some individuals believe that pesticides should be banned on
agricultural crops, the existing legal framework provided by section
408 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) authorizes EPA
to establish tolerances when it determines that the tolerance is safe.
Upon consideration of the validity, completeness, and reliability of
the available data as well as other factors the FFDCA requires EPA to
consider, EPA has determined that these sulfoxaflor tolerances are
safe. The commenters have provided no information supporting a contrary
conclusion.
D. Revisions to Petitioned-For Tolerances
The Agency is establishing a tolerance of 0.01 ppm in asparagus as
opposed to the 0.015 ppm proposed by the petitioner. In the field
trials that serve as the basis for the tolerance level, the application
rates were exaggerated by 4.2-6.5X the proposed application rate, and
the resulting residues in all but one trial were <0.01 ppm and in the
other trial the residues measured 0.011 ppm. When sulfoxaflor is used
in accordance with the proposed label, all residues are expected to be
<0.01 ppm. Therefore, the Agency is establishing the tolerance at the
limit of quantification (0.01 ppm).
Tolerances are not being established in clover or buckwheat
commodities (as these proposed new uses were subsequently withdrawn by
the registrant after submission of the original petition), nor in non-
grass feeds (group 18), for which clover is a representative commodity.
In order to maximize global regulatory harmonization, it became EPA
policy in April 2011 to use the OECD calculation procedures to derive
tolerance levels. As such, the proposed tolerance of 0.9 ppm in
sorghum, grain, stover will be listed as 1 ppm; the proposed tolerance
of 30 ppm in alfalfa seed will be changed to 40 ppm; the proposed
tolerance of 0.09 ppm in pineapple will be changed to 0.1 ppm; and the
proposed tolerance of 0.15 ppm in cacao, dried bean will be changed to
0.05 ppm.
For millet, there is no established ``parent'' millet term that
covers more than one millet. As such, the tolerances are being
established specifying both proso and pearl millet individually.
Tolerances of 0.6 and 2.5 ppm in the fat and meat byproducts,
respectively, of cattle, goats, horses and sheep were proposed by the
petitioner. However, revised tolerances of 0.2 and 0.8 ppm in these fat
and meat byproducts are appropriate since the clover use was withdrawn,
resulting in a lower dietary burden to livestock and lower anticipated
residues in livestock commodities than originally considered by the
petitioner.
Existing tolerances in cattle, meat; goat, meat; sheep, meat; and
horse, meat is being revised in this action to 0.4 ppm, consistent with
anticipated residues based upon a recalculated dietary burden of
sulfoxaflor, and the results of a lactating dairy cattle feeding study.
For several commodities in the IR-4 petition (PP 8E8666), the
requested tolerances include an additional significant figure (such as
1.0 ppm rather than 1 ppm). EPA is establishing the tolerances without
the trailing zero to be consistent with current rounding practice.
E. International Trade Considerations
In this final rule, EPA is reducing the existing tolerances for
arugula; cress, garden; and cress, upland from 6 ppm to 2 ppm.
Currently, these commodities are included in leafy greens subgroup 4A,
which has a tolerance of 6 ppm. In 2016, EPA moved these commodities to
the Brassica leafy greens subgroup 4-16B. (81 FR 26471; FRL-9944-87
(May 3, 2016)). In today's rule, EPA is establishing a tolerance for
residues of sulfoxaflor in or on commodities in Brassica leafy greens
subgroup 4-16B, which now includes arugula, garden cress, and upland
cress, at 2 ppm, based on available residue data. This results in a
reduction of tolerance levels for these three commodities.
In accordance with the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Sanitary
and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement, EPA intends to notify the
WTO of this revision. In addition, the SPS Agreement requires that
members provide a ``reasonable interval'' between the publication of a
regulation subject to the agreement and its entry into force to allow
time for producers in exporting member countries to adapt to the new
requirement. At this time, EPA is establishing an expiration date for
the existing tolerances to allow those tolerances to remain in effect
for a period of six months after the effective date of this final rule,
in order to address the requirement to provide a reasonable interval.
After the six-month period expires, residues of sulfoxaflor on arugula;
cress, garden; and cress, upland cannot exceed the newly established
tolerances of 2 ppm.
This reduction in tolerance levels is not discriminatory; the same
food safety standard contained in the FFDCA applies equally to
domestically produced and imported foods. The new tolerance levels are
supported by available residue data.
V. Conclusion
Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of sulfoxaflor
in or on Alfalfa, forage at 7 ppm; Alfalfa, hay at 20 ppm; Alfalfa,
seed at 40 ppm; Alfalfa, silage at 9 ppm; Artichoke, globe at 0.7 ppm;
Asparagus at 0.01 ppm; Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4-16B, except
watercress at 2 ppm; Bushberry subgroup 13-07B at 2 ppm; Cacao, dried
bean at 0.05 ppm; Caneberry subgroup 13-07A at 1.5 ppm; Celtuce at 2
ppm; Corn, field, forage at 0.5 ppm; Corn, field, grain at 0.015 ppm;
Corn, field, stover at 0.8 ppm; Corn, pop, grain at 0.015 ppm; Corn,
pop, stover at 0.8 ppm; Corn, sweet, forage at 0.6 ppm; Corn, sweet,
kernel plus cob with husks removed at 0.01 ppm; Corn, sweet, stover at
0.7 ppm; Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk at 2 ppm; Fruit,
stone, group 12-12 at 3 ppm; Kohlrabi at 2 ppm; Leaf petiole vegetable
subgroup 22B at 2 ppm; Leafy greens subgroup 4-16A at 6 ppm; Millet,
proso, forage at 0.4 ppm; Millet, pearl, forage at 0.4 ppm; Millet,
proso, grain at 0.3 ppm; Nut, tree, group 14-12 at 0.015 ppm; Oat,
grain at 0.4 ppm; Oat, hay at 1 ppm; Oat, straw at 2 ppm; Pineapple at
0.1 ppm; Rye, forage at 1 ppm; Rye, grain at 0.08 ppm; Rye, hay at 1.5
ppm; Rye, straw at 2 ppm; Sorghum, grain, forage at 0.4 ppm; Sorghum,
grain, grain at 0.3 ppm; Sorghum, grain, stover at 1 ppm; Sunflower
subgroup 20B at 0.3 ppm; Teff, forage at 1 ppm; Teff, grain at 0.08
ppm; Teff, hay at 1.5 ppm; Teff,
[[Page 35553]]
straw at 2 ppm; Teosinte, grain at 0.015 ppm; Triticale, forage at 1
ppm; Triticale, grain at 0.08 ppm; Triticale, hay at 1.5 ppm;
Triticale, straw at 2 ppm; and Vegetable, brassica, head and stem,
group 5-16, except cauliflower at 2 ppm.
Additionally, the following existing tolerances are revised as
follows: Cattle, fat at 0.2 ppm; Cattle, meat at 0.4 ppm; Cattle, meat
byproducts at 0.8 ppm; Egg at 0.06 ppm; Goat, fat at 0.2 ppm; Goat,
meat at 0.4 ppm; Goat, meat byproducts at 0.8 ppm; Hog, fat at 0.03
ppm; Hog, meat at 0.3 ppm; Hog, meat byproducts at 0.6 ppm; Horse, fat
at 0.2 ppm; Horse, meat at 0.4 ppm; Horse, meat byproducts at 0.8 ppm;
Milk at 0.3 ppm; Poultry, fat at 0.02 ppm; Poultry, meat at 0.1 ppm;
Poultry, meat byproducts at 0.3 ppm; Sheep, fat at 0.2 ppm; Sheep, meat
at 0.4 ppm; and Sheep, meat byproducts at 0.8 ppm.
The established tolerances for Fruit, stone, group 12; Leafy
greens, subgroup 4A; Leafy petiole, subgroup 4B; Nuts, tree, group 14;
Pistachio; and Vegetable, Brassica, leafy, group 5, except cauliflower
are removed as unnecessary due to the establishment of the above
tolerances.
Lastly, in order to provide a reasonable interval for
implementation of certain tolerances being reduced through this rule,
EPA is leaving in place the following individual tolerances for a
period of six months: Arugula; cress, garden; and cress, upland.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
This action establishes and modifies 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 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 tolerances 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: July 12, 2019.
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. 180.668, amend the table in paragraph (a) as follows:
0
a. Add alphabetically the entries Alfalfa, forage; Alfalfa, hay;
Alfalfa, seed; Alfalfa, silage; Artichoke, globe; Arugula; Asparagus;
Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4-16B, except watercress; Bushberry
subgroup 13-07B; Cacao, dried bean; Caneberry subgroup 13-07A; Celtuce;
Corn, field, forage; Corn, field, grain; Corn, field, stover; Corn,
pop, grain; Corn, pop, stover; Corn, sweet, forage; Corn, sweet, kernel
plus cob with husks removed; Corn, sweet, stover; Cress, garden; Cress,
upland; Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk; Fruit, stone, group
12-12; Kohlrabi; Leaf petiole vegetable subgroup 22B; Leafy greens
subgroup 4-16A; Millet, proso, forage; Millet, pearl, forage; Millet,
proso, grain; Millet, pearl, grain; Nut, tree, group 14-12; Oat, grain;
Oat, hay; Oat, straw; Pineapple; Rye, forage; Rye, grain; Rye, hay;
Rye, straw; Sorghum, grain, forage; Sorghum, grain, grain; Sorghum,
grain, stover; Sunflower subgroup 20B; Teff, forage; Teff, grain; Teff,
hay; Teff, straw; Teosinte, grain; Triticale, forage; Triticale, grain;
Triticale, hay; Triticale, straw; and Vegetable, brassica, head and
stem, group 5-16, except cauliflower;
0
b. Revise the entries for Cattle, fat; Cattle, meat; Cattle, meat
byproducts; Goat, fat; Goat, meat; Goat, meat byproducts; Hog, fat;
Hog, meat; Hog, meat byproducts; Horse, fat; Horse, meat; Horse, meat
byproducts; Milk; Poultry, eggs; Poultry, fat; Poultry, meat; Poultry,
meat byproducts; Sheep, fat; Sheep, meat; and Sheep, meat byproducts;
and
0
c. Remove the entries for Fruit, stone, group 12; Leafy greens,
subgroup 4A; Leafy petiole, subgroup 4B; Nuts, tree, group 14;
Pistachio; and Vegetable, Brassica, leafy, group 5, except cauliflower.
The revisions and additions read as follows:
[[Page 35554]]
Sec. 180.668 Sulfoxaflor; tolerances for residues
(a) * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts per
Commodity million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfalfa, forage......................................... 7
Alfalfa, hay............................................ 20
Alfalfa, seed........................................... 40
Alfalfa, silage......................................... 9
* * * * * * *
Artichoke, globe........................................ 0.7
Arugula \1\............................................. 6
Asparagus............................................... 0.01
* * * * * * *
Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4-16B, except 2
watercress.............................................
Bushberry subgroup 13-07B............................... 2
Cacao, dried bean....................................... 0.05
Caneberry subgroup 13-07A............................... 1.5
Cattle, fat............................................. 0.2
Cattle, meat............................................ 0.4
Cattle, meat byproducts................................. 0.8
* * * * * * *
Celtuce................................................. 2
* * * * * * *
Corn, field, forage..................................... 0.5
Corn, field, grain...................................... 0.015
Corn, field, stover..................................... 0.8
Corn, pop, grain........................................ 0.015
Corn, pop, stover....................................... 0.8
Corn, sweet, forage..................................... 0.6
Corn, sweet, kernel plus cob with husks removed......... 0.01
Corn, sweet, stover..................................... 0.7
* * * * * * *
Cress, garden \1\....................................... 6
Cress, upland \1\....................................... 6
* * * * * * *
Egg..................................................... 0.06
Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk................ 2
* * * * * * *
Fruit, stone, group 12-12............................... 3
Goat, fat............................................... 0.2
Goat, meat.............................................. 0.4
Goat, meat byproducts................................... 0.8
* * * * * * *
Hog, fat................................................ 0.03
Hog, meat............................................... 0.3
Hog, meat byproducts.................................... 0.6
Horse, fat.............................................. 0.2
Horse, meat............................................. 0.4
Horse, meat byproducts.................................. 0.8
Kohlrabi................................................ 2
Leaf petiole vegetable subgroup 22B..................... 2
Leafy greens subgroup 4-16A............................. 6
Milk.................................................... 0.3
* * * * * * *
Millet, proso, forage................................... 0.4
Millet, pearl, forage................................... 0.4
Millet, proso, grain.................................... 0.3
Millet, pearl, grain.................................... 0.3
Nut, tree, group 14-12.................................. 0.015
Oat, grain.............................................. 0.4
Oat, hay................................................ 1
Oat, straw.............................................. 2
* * * * * * *
Pineapple............................................... 0.1
[[Page 35555]]
Poultry, fat............................................ 0.02
Poultry, meat........................................... 0.1
Poultry, meat byproducts................................ 0.3
* * * * * * *
Rye, forage............................................. 1
Rye, grain.............................................. 0.08
Rye, hay................................................ 1.5
Rye, straw.............................................. 2
Sheep, fat.............................................. 0.2
Sheep, meat............................................. 0.4
Sheep, meat byproducts.................................. 0.8
Sorghum, grain, forage.................................. 0.4
Sorghum, grain, grain................................... 0.3
Sorghum, grain, stover.................................. 1
* * * * * * *
Sunflower subgroup 20B.................................. 0.3
Teff, forage............................................ 1
Teff, grain............................................. 0.08
Teff, hay............................................... 1.5
Teff, straw............................................. 2
Teosinte, grain......................................... 0.015
* * * * * * *
Triticale, forage....................................... 1
Triticale, grain........................................ 0.08
Triticale, hay.......................................... 1.5
Triticale, straw........................................ 2
Vegetable, brassica, head and stem, group 5-16, except 2
cauliflower............................................
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This tolerance expires on January 24, 2020.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-15648 Filed 7-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P