Pesticides; Proposed Removal of PFAS Chemicals From Approved Inert Ingredient List for Pesticide Products, 56051-56053 [2022-19008]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 13, 2022 / Notices Additional Information Permit Agency 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. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES Environmental Mailing List 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 local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest 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 mailing address with their comments. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list as the 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 and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of the following steps: (1) Send an email to GasProjectAddressChange@ferc.gov stating your request. You must include the docket number CP22–493–000 in your request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to accept comments. OR (2) Return the attached ‘‘Mailing List Update Form’’ (appendix 2). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Sep 12, 2022 Jkt 256001 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., CP22–493). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. Any planned public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/ events along with other related information. 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 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 E:\FR\FM\13SEN1.SGM 13SEN1 56052 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). VerDate Sep<11>2014 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 Frm 00065 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 E:\FR\FM\13SEN1.SGM 13SEN1 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: VerDate Sep<11>2014 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 Sfmt 4703 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 13SEN1

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

[[Page 56053]]

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


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