Pesticides; Proposed Removal of PFAS Chemicals From Approved Inert Ingredient List for Pesticide Products, 56051-56053 [2022-19008]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 13, 2022 / Notices
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Permit
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CWA Section 402
Stormwater and
Construction
Dewatering Permits.
NHPA Section 106
Consultation.
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Tennessee State Historic Preservation
Office.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
ESA Section 7 Consultation.
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This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for the Project which
includes the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, federal, state, and
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agencies; elected officials;
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groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries
and newspapers. This list also includes
all affected landowners (as defined in
the Commission’s regulations) who are
potential right-of-way grantors, whose
property may be used temporarily for
Project purposes, or who own homes
within certain distances of aboveground
facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the Project and includes a
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Commission staff will update the
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analysis proceeds to ensure that
Commission notices related to this
environmental review are sent to all
individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or
potentially affected by the proposed
Project. State and local government
representatives should notify their
constituents of this proposed project
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If you need to make changes to your
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remove your name from the mailing list,
please complete one of the following
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(1) Send an email to
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VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:30 Sep 12, 2022
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Additional information about the
Project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC
website at www.ferc.gov using the
eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link,
click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the
docket number in the ‘‘Docket Number’’
field, excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
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events along with other related
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Dated: September 7, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022–19720 Filed 9–12–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–10194–01–OA]
National Environmental Justice
Advisory Council Notice of Charter
Renewal
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of charter renewal.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has determined that, in
accordance with the provisions of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), the National Environmental
Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) is
necessary and in the public interest in
connection with the performance of
duties imposed on the agency by law.
Accordingly, NEJAC will be renewed for
an additional two-year period. The
purpose of the NEJAC is to provide
advice and recommendations to the
Administrator about issues associated
with integrating environmental justice
concerns into EPA’s outreach activities,
public policies, science, regulatory,
enforcement, and compliance decisions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Inquiries may be directed to Paula
Flores-Gregg, NEJAC Designated Federal
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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56051
Officer, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW (Mail Code 2202A),
Washington, DC 20460; by telephone at
(214) 665–8123; via email at nejac@
epa.gov.
Matthew Tejada,
Director for the Office of Environmental
Justice.
[FR Doc. 2022–19668 Filed 9–12–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2022–0542; FRL–9985–01–
OCSPP]
Pesticides; Proposed Removal of
PFAS Chemicals From Approved Inert
Ingredient List for Pesticide Products
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
EPA is proposing to remove
twelve chemicals from the current list of
inert ingredients approved for use in
pesticide products because these inert
ingredients have been identified as perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
and they are no longer used in any
registered pesticide product.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before October 13, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2022–0542,
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments. Do not submit electronically
any information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Additional
instructions on commenting and visiting
the docket, along with more information
about dockets generally, is available at
https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marietta Echeverria, Registration
Division (7505T), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; main
telephone number: (202) 566–1030;
email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Executive Summary
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you engage in activities
related to the registration of pesticide
products, including but not limited to,
the use of approved inert ingredients
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 13, 2022 / Notices
used in registered pesticide products.
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:
• Entities engaging in the formulation
and preparation of agricultural and
household pest control chemicals or
pesticide and other agricultural and
household pest control chemicals or
inert manufacturers and those who
make proprietary inert ingredient
formulations or pesticide and other
agricultural chemical manufacturing
generally (NAICS code 325320).
If you have any questions regarding
the applicability of this action to a
particular entity, consult either person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
B. What is the Agency’s authority for
taking this action?
This action is issued under the
authority of the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136–136y.
C. What action is the Agency taking?
EPA is proposing to remove the
following twelve chemicals from the
current list of inert ingredients
approved for use in pesticide products:
• 2-Chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane
(CAS Reg. No. 2837–89–0)
• a-(Cyclohexylmethyl)-whydropoly(difluoromethylene) (CAS
Reg. No. 65530–85–0)
• Dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CAS
Reg. No. 1320–37–2)
• Ethane, 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoro- (CAS
Reg. No. 354–33–6)
• Hexafluoropropene, polymer with
tetrafluoroethylene (CAS Reg. No.
25067–11–2)
• Montmorillonite-type clay treated
with polytetrafluoroethylene (No CAS
Reg. No.)
• Poly(difluoromethylene), a-chlorow-(1-chloro-1-fluoroethyl) (CAS Reg. No.
131324–06–6)
• Poly(difluoromethylene), a-chlorow-(2,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)(CAS Reg. No. 79070–11–4)
• Poly(difluoromethylene), a-(2,2dichloro-2-fluoroethyl)-, w-hydro- (CAS
No. 163440–89–9)
• Poly(difluoromethylene), a-fluorow-[2-[(2-methyl-1-oxo-2propenyl)oxy]ethyl]- (CAS Reg. No.
65530–66–7)
• Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), a-hydrow-hydroxy-, ether with a-fluoro-w-(2hydroxyethyl)poly(difluoromethylene)
(1:1) (CAS Reg. No. 65545–80–4); and
• Propane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro(CAS Reg. No. 431–89–0).
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17:30 Sep 12, 2022
Jkt 256001
None of these twelve chemicals are
currently being used as an inert
ingredient in a pesticide product. EPA
believes it is appropriate to remove
these chemicals from the inert
ingredient list in order to prevent the
introduction of these PFAS into
pesticide formulations without
additional EPA review.
Once an inert ingredient is removed
from the list, any proposed future use of
the inert ingredient would need to be
supported by data provided to and
reviewed by the EPA as part of a new
inert ingredient submission request. The
type of data needed to evaluate a new
inert ingredient may include, among
others, studies to evaluate potential
carcinogenicity, adverse reproductive
effects, developmental toxicity,
genotoxicity as well as environmental
effects associated with any chemical
substance that is persistent or
bioaccumulative. Information regarding
the inert ingredient approval process
may be found at https://www.epa.gov/
pesticide-registration/inert-ingredientsregulation.
EPA suggests that pesticide registrants
review their records to ensure that the
chemical substances, listed by chemical
name and Chemical Abstracts Service
Registry Number (CAS Reg. No.), listed
in the docket for this action are, in fact,
no longer used as inert ingredients in
their registered pesticide products.
While EPA has endeavored to prepare
an accurate list, if a pesticide registrant
is aware of a registered product
containing any of the twelve chemical
substances, that registrant should
contact the Agency directly, using the
contact listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Similarly, producers of proprietary
mixtures currently approved for use as
inert ingredients in pesticide products
should also review their records to
ensure that the chemical substances
listed in the docket for this action are,
in fact, not currently used in their
proprietary mixtures.
D. What should I consider as I prepare
my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through https://
www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information
that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD–ROM that
you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the
disk or CD–ROM as CBI and then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD–ROM the specific information that
is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments.
When preparing and submitting your
comments, see the commenting tips at
https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
II. Background
A. What are inert ingredients?
Most pesticide products contain
substances in addition to the active
ingredient(s) that are referred to as inert
ingredients or sometimes as ‘‘other
ingredients.’’ An inert ingredient
generally is any substance (or group of
similar substances) other than an active
ingredient that is intentionally included
in a pesticide product. Examples of inert
ingredients include emulsifiers,
solvents, carriers, aerosol propellants,
fragrances, and dyes. Additional
information about inert ingredients,
including requirements, guidance and
the InertFinder tool, can be accessed at
https://www.epa.gov/pesticideregistration/inert-ingredients-regulation.
B. Why is EPA taking this action?
PFAS are synthetic organic
compounds that do not occur naturally
in the environment but have widespread
use in commerce. The strong carbonfluorine bonds of PFAS make some of
them resistant to degradation and thus
highly persistent in the environment.
Some PFAS have been detected in
wildlife and in humans, indicating that
at least some PFAS have the ability to
bioaccumulate. Thus, exposure to PFAS
is an urgent public health and
environmental issue in the United
States. As part of its strategic roadmap
to address risks posed by PFAS (https://
www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/
2021-10/pfas-roadmap_final-508.pdf),
EPA identified some specific actions to
further the Agency’s directives to
research, restrict, and remediate PFAS.
EPA maintains a list of chemical
substances that have been approved for
use as inert ingredients in pesticide
products. Inert ingredients on this list
do not need further approval prior to
inclusion in a pesticide formulation for
a non-food use. These individual
formulations are subject to data
requirements in 40 CFR part 158,
regardless of whether the inert
ingredient is on the approved list. If an
application for registration of a pesticide
product includes inert ingredients not
on the approved list, the inert ingredient
will need approval and require payment
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 13, 2022 / Notices
of a fee in accordance with section 33
of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136w–8.
As part of the ‘‘whole-of-agency’’
approach to reduce PFAS use and
releases, EPA has reviewed the Agency’s
list of chemical substances that have
been approved for use as inert
ingredients in pesticide products to
determine whether any of these inert
ingredients are PFAS. Based on that
review, EPA is proposing the removal of
twelve chemicals from the current list of
inert ingredients approved for use in
pesticide products (given in Unit I.C.)
that have been identified as PFAS and
for which there are no uses as inert
ingredient in any currently registered
pesticide products.
After the close of the comment period,
EPA will consider all comments
received and determine appropriate
action.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: August 29, 2022.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022–19008 Filed 9–12–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
ACTION: Notice, request for comment.
AGENCY:
The Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (Board) invites
comment on a proposal to extend for
three years, with revision, the Payment
Systems Surveys (OMB No. 7100–0332).
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before November 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by FR 3054, by any of the
following methods:
• Agency Website: https://
www.federalreserve.gov/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments at
https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/
foia/proposedregs.aspx.
• Email: regs.comments@
federalreserve.gov. Include the OMB
number or FR number in the subject line
of the message.
• Fax: (202) 452–3819 or (202) 452–
3102.
• Mail: Federal Reserve Board of
Governors, Attn: Ann E. Misback,
Secretary of the Board, Mailstop M–
4775, 2001 C St. NW, Washington, DC
20551.
All public comments are available
from the Board’s website at https://
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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17:30 Sep 12, 2022
Jkt 256001
www.federalreserve.gov/apps/foia/
proposedregs.aspx as submitted, unless
modified for technical reasons or to
remove personally identifiable
information at the commenter’s request.
Accordingly, comments will not be
edited to remove any confidential
business information, identifying
information, or contact information.
Public comments may also be viewed
electronically or in paper in Room M–
4365A, 2001 C St. NW, Washington, DC
20551, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
on weekdays. For security reasons, the
Board requires that visitors make an
appointment to inspect comments. You
may do so by calling (202) 452–3684.
Upon arrival, visitors will be required to
present valid government-issued photo
identification and to submit to security
screening in order to inspect and
photocopy comments.
Additionally, commenters may send a
copy of their comments to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Desk
Officer for the Federal Reserve Board,
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, New Executive Office Building,
Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20503, or by fax to
(202) 395–6974.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Federal Reserve Board Clearance
Officer—Nuha Elmaghrabi—Office of
the Chief Data Officer, Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, nuha.elmaghrabi@frb.gov, (202)
452–3884.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June
15, 1984, OMB delegated to the Board
authority under the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) to approve and
assign OMB control numbers to
collections of information conducted or
sponsored by the Board. In exercising
this delegated authority, the Board is
directed to take every reasonable step to
solicit comment. In determining
whether to approve a collection of
information, the Board will consider all
comments received from the public and
other agencies.
During the comment period for this
proposal, a copy of the proposed PRA
OMB submission, including the draft
reporting form and instructions,
supporting statement, and other
documentation, will be made available
on the Board’s public website at https://
www.federalreserve.gov/apps/
reportforms/review.aspx or may be
requested from the agency clearance
officer, whose name appears above.
Final versions of these documents will
be made available at https://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, if
approved.
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 4703
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56053
Request for Comment on Information
Collection Proposal
The Board invites public comment on
the following information collection,
which is being reviewed under
authority delegated by the OMB under
the PRA. Comments are invited on the
following:
a. Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the Board’s functions,
including whether the information has
practical utility;
b. The accuracy of the Board’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
information collection, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
c. Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
d. Ways to minimize the burden of
information collection on respondents,
including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology; and
e. Estimates of capital or startup costs
and costs of operation, maintenance,
and purchase of services to provide
information.
At the end of the comment period, the
comments and recommendations
received will be analyzed to determine
the extent to which the Board should
modify the proposal.
Proposal Under OMB Delegated
Authority To Extend for Three Years,
With Revision, the Following
Information Collection
Collection title: Payment Systems
Surveys.
Collection identifier: FR 3054.
OMB control number: 7100–0332.
Frequency: FR 3054a, five times per
year; FR 3054b, annually; FR 3054c,
semi-annually; FR 3054d, five times per
year; and FR 3054e, ten times per year.
Respondents: The FR 3054 panel
comprises financial institutions
(including depository institutions), law
enforcement, nonfinancial businesses
(retailers, banknote equipment
manufacturers, or global wholesale bank
note dealers), and individuals within
the general public.
Estimated number of respondents: FR
3054a, 4,000; FR 3054b, 500; FR 3054c,
25; FR 3054d, 250; and FR 3054e, 250.
Estimated average hours per response:
FR 3054a, 0.75; FR 3054b, 0.50; FR
3054c, 30; FR 3054d, 2.5; and FR 3054e,
0.50.
Estimated annual burden hours: FR
3054a, 15,000; FR 3054b, 250; FR 3054c,
1,500; FR 3054d, 3,125; and FR 3054e,
1,250.
General description of collection: The
Payment Systems Surveys are used to
E:\FR\FM\13SEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 13, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56051-56053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19008]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0542; FRL-9985-01-OCSPP]
Pesticides; Proposed Removal of PFAS Chemicals From Approved
Inert Ingredient List for Pesticide Products
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to remove twelve chemicals from the current
list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide products
because these inert ingredients have been identified as per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and they are no longer used in any
registered pesticide product.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 13, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0542, through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information
you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Additional
instructions on commenting and visiting the docket, along with more
information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marietta Echeverria, Registration
Division (7505T), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-
0001; main telephone number: (202) 566-1030; email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Executive Summary
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you engage in
activities related to the registration of pesticide products, including
but not limited to, the use of approved inert ingredients
[[Page 56052]]
used in registered pesticide products. 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:
Entities engaging in the formulation and preparation of
agricultural and household pest control chemicals or pesticide and
other agricultural and household pest control chemicals or inert
manufacturers and those who make proprietary inert ingredient
formulations or pesticide and other agricultural chemical manufacturing
generally (NAICS code 325320).
If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this
action to a particular entity, consult either person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?
This action is issued under the authority of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136-136y.
C. What action is the Agency taking?
EPA is proposing to remove the following twelve chemicals from the
current list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide
products:
2-Chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS Reg. No. 2837-89-
0)
[alpha]-(Cyclohexylmethyl)-[omega]-
hydropoly(difluoromethylene) (CAS Reg. No. 65530-85-0)
Dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CAS Reg. No. 1320-37-2)
Ethane, 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoro- (CAS Reg. No. 354-33-6)
Hexafluoropropene, polymer with tetrafluoroethylene (CAS
Reg. No. 25067-11-2)
Montmorillonite-type clay treated with
polytetrafluoroethylene (No CAS Reg. No.)
Poly(difluoromethylene), [alpha]-chloro-[omega]-(1-chloro-
1-fluoroethyl) (CAS Reg. No. 131324-06-6)
Poly(difluoromethylene), [alpha]-chloro-[omega]-(2,2-
dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)- (CAS Reg. No. 79070-11-4)
Poly(difluoromethylene), [alpha]-(2,2-dichloro-2-
fluoroethyl)-, [omega]-hydro- (CAS No. 163440-89-9)
Poly(difluoromethylene), [alpha]-fluoro-[omega]-[2-[(2-
methyl-1-oxo-2- propenyl)oxy]ethyl]- (CAS Reg. No. 65530-66-7)
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), [alpha]-hydro-[omega]-hydroxy-,
ether with [alpha]-fluoro-[omega]-(2-
hydroxyethyl)poly(difluoromethylene) (1:1) (CAS Reg. No. 65545-80-4);
and
Propane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro- (CAS Reg. No. 431-89-
0).
None of these twelve chemicals are currently being used as an inert
ingredient in a pesticide product. EPA believes it is appropriate to
remove these chemicals from the inert ingredient list in order to
prevent the introduction of these PFAS into pesticide formulations
without additional EPA review.
Once an inert ingredient is removed from the list, any proposed
future use of the inert ingredient would need to be supported by data
provided to and reviewed by the EPA as part of a new inert ingredient
submission request. The type of data needed to evaluate a new inert
ingredient may include, among others, studies to evaluate potential
carcinogenicity, adverse reproductive effects, developmental toxicity,
genotoxicity as well as environmental effects associated with any
chemical substance that is persistent or bioaccumulative. Information
regarding the inert ingredient approval process may be found at https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/inert-ingredients-regulation.
EPA suggests that pesticide registrants review their records to
ensure that the chemical substances, listed by chemical name and
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CAS Reg. No.), listed in
the docket for this action are, in fact, no longer used as inert
ingredients in their registered pesticide products. While EPA has
endeavored to prepare an accurate list, if a pesticide registrant is
aware of a registered product containing any of the twelve chemical
substances, that registrant should contact the Agency directly, using
the contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Similarly, producers of proprietary mixtures currently approved for
use as inert ingredients in pesticide products should also review their
records to ensure that the chemical substances listed in the docket for
this action are, in fact, not currently used in their proprietary
mixtures.
D. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
https://www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk
or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM
as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting
your comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
II. Background
A. What are inert ingredients?
Most pesticide products contain substances in addition to the
active ingredient(s) that are referred to as inert ingredients or
sometimes as ``other ingredients.'' An inert ingredient generally is
any substance (or group of similar substances) other than an active
ingredient that is intentionally included in a pesticide product.
Examples of inert ingredients include emulsifiers, solvents, carriers,
aerosol propellants, fragrances, and dyes. Additional information about
inert ingredients, including requirements, guidance and the InertFinder
tool, can be accessed at https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/inert-ingredients-regulation.
B. Why is EPA taking this action?
PFAS are synthetic organic compounds that do not occur naturally in
the environment but have widespread use in commerce. The strong carbon-
fluorine bonds of PFAS make some of them resistant to degradation and
thus highly persistent in the environment. Some PFAS have been detected
in wildlife and in humans, indicating that at least some PFAS have the
ability to bioaccumulate. Thus, exposure to PFAS is an urgent public
health and environmental issue in the United States. As part of its
strategic roadmap to address risks posed by PFAS (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-10/pfas-roadmap_final-508.pdf), EPA
identified some specific actions to further the Agency's directives to
research, restrict, and remediate PFAS.
EPA maintains a list of chemical substances that have been approved
for use as inert ingredients in pesticide products. Inert ingredients
on this list do not need further approval prior to inclusion in a
pesticide formulation for a non-food use. These individual formulations
are subject to data requirements in 40 CFR part 158, regardless of
whether the inert ingredient is on the approved list. If an application
for registration of a pesticide product includes inert ingredients not
on the approved list, the inert ingredient will need approval and
require payment
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of a fee in accordance with section 33 of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136w-8.
As part of the ``whole-of-agency'' approach to reduce PFAS use and
releases, EPA has reviewed the Agency's list of chemical substances
that have been approved for use as inert ingredients in pesticide
products to determine whether any of these inert ingredients are PFAS.
Based on that review, EPA is proposing the removal of twelve chemicals
from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in
pesticide products (given in Unit I.C.) that have been identified as
PFAS and for which there are no uses as inert ingredient in any
currently registered pesticide products.
After the close of the comment period, EPA will consider all
comments received and determine appropriate action.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: August 29, 2022.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-19008 Filed 9-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P